Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

[Philip Glass]

I was surprised to not find a thread that had "Blaser" and "DG" in the title and that's why I started this thread.
Now onto the topic at hand.

My wife and I are on the market for a new rifle for her and she has shown an interest in the Blaser R8.
There are several other rifles in the running right now that are traditional bolt action rifles, but I'm keeping my options open.
Her caliber of choice would be 300WM and I already have a CZ550 375H&H.

If we were to go the R8 route, I would get at least a two barrel set with 300WM and 375H&H.
Potentially replacing my CZ, although at this point I would be reluctant to part with it.
So this is as much about her as it is me.
Call it consolidation, having one rifle (with a smaller case) that shoots two calibers is tempting...like the DARK SIDE.

For as long as the Mauser '98 action has been around it has been recommended for use with DG for it's reliability and toughness.
I understand CRF, double-square bridge, drop box magazine...etc.
I also get how the Blaser R8 operates outside of the "traditional" set of operating parameters.

My question is for those who have used the R8 for Dangerous Game and potential problems vs. a traditional bolt.
Would you go to Africa armed with a 375H&H Blaser R8 as your only rifle for Buffalo or other DG?
Any insight or personal experiences (positive or negative) would be appreciated.

BeeMaa,

I am a new R8 guy with my youngest son (the baby of the family always gets more) and myself each having one. I am remiss in not posting about my new gun and will do so soon. It’s sick!
It is quite a story how I got here and you can refer to my leopard story as the main back story.(Leopard Charge: My Nightmare in Zim) The bottom line is my Ruger let me down on the leopard charge and nearly got me killed. It failed to eject the first round under pressure. As I was waiting in line in ATL to clear customs I relayed my story to a well known hunter who I had seen in magazines etc. Without missing a beat he said “that’s why I shoot a Blaser”. Then the search began for info and advice. What did he know that I didn’t? I spoke to the Blaser rep at SCI as well at Tim Fallon at SAAM and others. I did the same at other hunting shows. When I picked up my .470 K Gun I spoke to that dealer about the R8. I did my due diligence and although the German engineering in these guns is truly hard to understand their complete brilliance won me over.
My youngest is 13 and cross dominant. He is right handed but strongly left eye dominant. As we were planning and preparing for Namibia again I bent the ear of dealer and shooting instructors. I wanted him to be able to stay on the sticks and in the scope and fire and reload quickly. With his lefty Ruger American rifle in .308 he could shoot it well but just had lots of trouble working the bolt with his left hand. I chose to buy him the R8 Pro S in 7Mag which is the entry level R8. Although costly it was he right thing to do.
The only caveat that I have been made aware of is that if you are going to use the R8 for DG then you should only use the R8 for DG. (Double rifles excepted) It would be hard to break the turn bolt habit in a dangerous situation. Know you gun!
I wish more people would at least explore the R8 and learn about it even if they don’t ever own one. They are fascinating!
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

What an extraordinary lengthy reply from someone who doesn’t own a R8. Have you actually even fired one? Come on now, holding one at a show doesn’t count.

I am tempted to dismiss the whole essay over just the weight comment. Anyone who knows anything about the rifles understands the resulting weight of a .375 depends on the rifle one creates. With an aluminum receiver, sporter barrel, and light weight stock like a classic sporter, one can get down to a 7.5 pound rifle before scope and ammunition or added. I absolutely love the result. It is like carrying an ‘06 all day. I find the recoil to be a non-issue. And I have fired mine in that livery a lot - and taken it after buffalo and PG. BUT, should the buyer prefer a heavier rifle, a steel receiver and semi-weight barrel creates a traditionally weighted .375. I suspect most choose those configurations. At the moment I have a steel receiver platform set up as a .300 Win Mag. It provides a very stable package for shots out there a bit. Fluted barrels, the heavier barrels of the African series like the Selous, etc can change the solution again. It is something you should really look at and understand.

I own a few rifles, and have owned a few others (around fifty in the gun room at the moment). Those rifles include stock production pieces, improved production pieces (with things like after market triggers), and full blown custom rifles. I have exactly two, with as good a trigger as my Blasers, and have never seen another production rifle out of the box with a better one. Ever.

And every rifle is a takedown? Sure. I own screwdrivers as well. It isn’t exactly the same thing.

And yes, other dismount systems exist for scopes. They do indeed work. I somehow missed the point.

I like the the multi-caliber option, but normally travel with just one. As I have noted elsewhere, I have an abhorrence to bag drags. The case I use contains rifle scope and dismounted barrel in something smaller than most suitcases.

Before getting into the real estate business, you really should try a double tap with your favorite CZ or Weatherby and the Blaser. Would it ever make a difference between loosing an animal or perhaps saving someone in a DG situation? I have no idea. I know the R93 I was using two weeks ago made the difference in taking a fallow stag. (I’m not repeating the story - you can check out the hunting report).

Yes, the Blaser is a 3+1 in .375. Of course, I can actually truly safely carry a round in the chamber with my R8, which I suppose makes it a four. How many rounds do you normally need?

But this is easy. If plastic parts offend you don’t buy the rifle. I have yet to hear of an example where something has failed - rather like the Glock. Traditionalists hated it, and Armies and police forces loved it because it was indestructible. But if that bothers you, don’t buy it.

If the cost seems unreasonable, then don’t buy it. I think it is one of the finest shooting and hunting investments that I have ever made. Moreover, it’s perceived value to me goes up every time I take one afield. But that is just the perception of someone who actually has a R8.

My purchase of a R8 is an “irrational”act ........ There is some truth to the fact that I have little patience with spread sheets, decision matrices, and detailed lists or the people who seem so fixated on them. I have indeed been served well over the years in both the military and a civilian career with a solid intuitive sense for decision making. And your point is?

There is indeed much to subjectively like about the R8 and other Blaser designs. They do indeed “feel” better than the typical production rifle. I am sure that has much to do with being willing to start with a clean sheet of paper rather than merely repeating century-old solutions.

Because they are supremely accurate, have wonderful ergonomics, and that special trigger, I believe that they inspire better shooting. I have not a shred of objective evidence to that effect, but I sense that is the case. I suspect, that is one reason they have continued to gain in popularity in spite of the grumbling of traditionalists. For that matter I am a traditionalist. I shoot English and Continental SxS shotguns, numerous quality Mauser actioned rifles, exquisite singles, etc. But the Blaser S2 opened my eyes to the notion of progress. The R8 confirmed it.

But as I say, this is easy. Based on your observations of the R8 you have concluded that it is not worth the investment, that is fine. You have the absolute right to that decision. If you even wish to believe that you are more rational than someone who invests in a Blaser, that is fine also. Give yourself a pat on the back. I would simply note that a number of other experienced and informed people obviously have concluded that there are both rational and, allow me to use the word - subjective - reasons to make a very different decision.

Well said. Another’s point to ponder is that there are virtually no used R8’s for sale. Hmmm, wonder why.
On weight we’ve missed pointing out the kickstop adds a pound and helps with recoil quite a bit. That is if you want to add weight.
Philip

 

[BeeMaa]

The only caveat that I have been made aware of is that if you are going to use the R8 for DG then you should only use the R8 for DG. (Double rifles excepted) It would be hard to break the turn bolt habit in a dangerous situation. Know you gun!
I wish more people would at least explore the R8 and learn about it even if they don’t ever own one. They are fascinating!
Regards,
Philip

Thanks Philip.

I am a big believer in dancing with the one you came with theory.
In other words...practice consistently with what you are going to use.

If in fact we decide to go this route, we may very well be falling down a worm hole.
A worm hole that could easily include another full R8 receiver and stock for the cost of our first born son.
A cost I may offset by selling my beloved CZ, but I will not be hurried in that direction all at once.

I want a 375 barrel because I know my wife can shoot it and I also know I enjoy shooting my 375.
In theory the 300WM would be mostly "hers" and the 375H&H would be mostly "his".
Making a neatly packaged set for world-wide hunting.
However, if we both really love the R8...room could be made in the safe for an additional one....with a bit of OT.

 

[One Day...]

What an extraordinary lengthy reply from someone who doesn’t own a R8. Have you actually even fired one? Come on now, holding one at a show doesn’t count...

I apologize Red Leg, I truly did not mean to push a button, touch a tender spot, or be personal in any way.

I fully respect your opinion and the fact that you and many others believe that the R8 is worth the money Blaser asks for it (especially the safari pro). I do not doubt its ergonomics, its take-down ability, its trigger, the confidence it inspires, etc.

I have actually shot a few boxes of ammo through a friend's R8, I shot several R93's in the past, I do know something about the R8 (although not owning one), I really looked at and I understand, but I am not sure I agree with, the point re. swapping heavy and light stocks and heavy (Selous), semi-weight, and light (fluted) barrels, because it really seems to me at this point that someone who owns both heavy & light receivers/stocks, plastic and wood stocks, and heavy & light barrels mostly owns several R8, rather than one interchangeable one, but this too is just my opinion (and if there is only one bolt for all of those, I see the point that it is only, sort of, one rifle).

What I was trying to discuss is that, factually, none of what people like in the R8 is exclusive to the R8 (weight, compactness, accuracy, ergonomics, trigger, take-down, detachable scope, etc.), not even all the above in one package. I am not sure why these are so often spoken about as unique characteristics, and I thought that I was specific that TO ME, the R8 is not worth twice the money, which is indeed why I did not buy one.

I apologize if the word "irrational" came across as insulting, this was not the intent. I meant it in the sense that the dispassionate analytical processing of the data does not seem to justify the asking price (e.g. $2,000 for a barrel), hence some level of emotion has to be involved in the purchasing decision, which I hasten to say is entirely OK. I have bought many things myself that rational thinking alone could not justify... Let us just say that the R8 did not trigger that emotion IN ME, and it is OK if it triggered it in you.

I still use my Gen 1 Glock 17 that was not issued in the forces I served with at the time, but which was a personal purchase because I recognized in it (and still do) genuinely game-changing new functions and new characteristics. I am sorry if I do not see those in the R8, but I just do not... the R8 is a great rifle, undoubtedly, and it clearly elicits a lot of passion from its owners, which is wonderful, but TO ME it is more different than it is better, and I would hope that this can be accepted and respected.

Sorry if I came across the wrong way, it was not meant, but I stand behind the facts and analysis I offered, and it is entirely OK with me if we do not process information the same way. I am just happy that you are happy with the content of your Pelican 1700, and I hope that you are happy that I am happy with the content of mine

 

[CBH Australia]

@BeeMaa thats a slippery slope, this will be costly. But your logic is sound.
I guess if there is. His & Hers she can have an alloy receiver going to .300 a true gentleman would provide second smaller calibre barrel for practice and small game,
Should you go the steel receiver you can give us an in depth review and comparison.
Would you have reason to buy a .416 or other large bore being this is a DG thread? With suitable sub calibre option to ensure that have the complete shooting system and two platforms to take advantage of the versatility and cover more situations in your travels.
I am interested in rifles and hunting so I’ve asked many questions regarding these.
@One Day... you don’t need to go to such a lengthy apology. Red Leg dressed me down in another thread saying that he had tried to address all of my questions with his knowledge, experience. Good education and articulate response. He missed the point that I am asking open questions for all to answer. His is not the only opinion. I value his opinion like any others on here. I only ask the questions to learn as I haven’t seen a Blaser in the flesh, I see a few other options like the Strasser R14 that I like the look of.
I’m smart enough to know Blaser have good following, therefore there is good reason.
My preference for an aesthetically pleasing rifle is nice timber, so to buy a nice rifle at >$8K carry it in the scrub is hard to fathom. You have it use it, but I personally would be worried I would scratch it or damage it. Would I spend similar on a Synthetic version? Yes if I had more disposable income and it suited my needs , for that money I would be inclined to want nice timber. But, it’s all still relevant to how and where I would hope to use it.

 

[rookhawk]

BeeMaa,

I am a new R8 guy with my youngest son (the baby of the family always gets more) and myself each having one. I am remiss in not posting about my new gun and will do so soon. It’s sick!
It is quite a story how I got here and you can refer to my leopard story as the main back story.(Leopard Charge: My Nightmare in Zim) The bottom line is my Ruger let me down on the leopard charge and nearly got me killed. It failed to eject the first round under pressure. As I was waiting in line in ATL to clear customs I relayed my story to a well known hunter who I had seen in magazines etc. Without missing a beat he said “that’s why I shoot a Blaser”. Then the search began for info and advice. What did he know that I didn’t? I spoke to the Blaser rep at SCI as well at Tim Fallon at SAAM and others. I did the same at other hunting shows. When I picked up my .470 K Gun I spoke to that dealer about the R8. I did my due diligence and although the German engineering in these guns is truly hard to understand their complete brilliance won me over.
My youngest is 13 and cross dominant. He is right handed but strongly left eye dominant. As we were planning and preparing for Namibia again I bent the ear of dealer and shooting instructors. I wanted him to be able to stay on the sticks and in the scope and fire and reload quickly. With his lefty Ruger American rifle in .308 he could shoot it well but just had lots of trouble working the bolt with his left hand. I chose to buy him the R8 Pro S in 7Mag which is the entry level R8. Although costly it was he right thing to do.
The only caveat that I have been made aware of is that if you are going to use the R8 for DG then you should only use the R8 for DG. (Double rifles excepted) It would be hard to break the turn bolt habit in a dangerous situation. Know you gun!
I wish more people would at least explore the R8 and learn about it even if they don’t ever own one. They are fascinating!
Regards,
Philip

Hi @Philip Glass , I like everything about your post except the cross-eye dominance thing about your son. I gotta be honest, I'm particularly concerned when I read these stories because everything that can go wrong, will go wrong with these lefty-righty scenarios.

How about he shoots right eye, right shoulder like a normal person? It's imperative he has comfort operating his weapon and rapidly loading it. Righties should shoot righty.

Now for the eye dominance thing... A.) Get him a quick attach reflex sight. Eye dominance doesnt' matter. Where the dot is, there the bullet goes. (solved close dangerous game scenarios). B.) Get him a quick detach scope. Close left eye, shoot through scope at distance. (solved non-dangerous game scenarios)

All these modern gimmicks to deal with crossover stock issues, dominance issues, etc. just beg for danger because you can't build instinctive shooting and muscle memory when ever gun you touch is slightly different than the last in how the problem is addressed. My suggestions above are a way to get him to shoot "standard" safely with any gun. The only rule in his life is that he should never shoot iron sights, always a reflex sight. That's a super simple compromise he can carry with him through his life when he's not using optics for hunting. He'll be safe. He'll continue to gain proficiency. He can shoot any right-handed gun ever made.

Just my opinion after seeing piles of ruined shooters and dangerous situations with too much nonsense in this world. Right handed bolts with lefty stocks. Central vision stocks. Crossover stocks. Tape on eyeglasses. Neutral stocks that fit no one correctly. Left handed bolt/stock weapons shot by naturally right handed shooters solely because of eye dominance, etc.

 

[Opposite Pole]

Hi @Philip Glass , I like everything about your post except the cross-eye dominance thing about your son. I gotta be honest, I'm particularly concerned when I read these stories because everything that can go wrong, will go wrong with these lefty-righty scenarios.

How about he shoots right eye, right shoulder like a normal person? It's imperative he has comfort operating his weapon and rapidly loading it. Righties should shoot righty.

Now for the eye dominance thing... A.) Get him a quick attach reflex sight. Eye dominance doesnt' matter. Where the dot is, there the bullet goes. (solved close dangerous game scenarios). B.) Get him a quick detach scope. Close left eye, shoot through scope at distance. (solved non-dangerous game scenarios)

All these modern gimmicks to deal with crossover stock issues, dominance issues, etc. just beg for danger because you can't build instinctive shooting and muscle memory when ever gun you touch is slightly different than the last in how the problem is addressed. My suggestions above are a way to get him to shoot "standard" safely with any gun. The only rule in his life is that he should never shoot iron sights, always a reflex sight. That's a super simple compromise he can carry with him through his life when he's not using optics for hunting. He'll be safe. He'll continue to gain proficiency. He can shoot any right-handed gun ever made.

Just my opinion after seeing piles of ruined shooters and dangerous situations with too much nonsense in this world. Right handed bolts with lefty stocks. Central vision stocks. Crossover stocks. Tape on eyeglasses. Neutral stocks that fit no one correctly. Left handed bolt/stock weapons shot by naturally right handed shooters solely because of eye dominance, etc.

I’m right handed and left eye dominant. I’ve tried shooting from right and left and settled on right. With low powered scopes I shoot with both eyes open, illuminated reticle speeds things up with right eye taking over instantly, with open sights I squint my left eye when mounting the gun, forcing the right one to take over. I find that once the sight picture is established it stays that way. Handguns I shoot right hand left eye but I’m a “plinker” not an olympian so my experience may not apply to those more serious in the field. The only real problem I had was with a shotgun. A small reflex sight fixed it (I posted a review of it in the shotgun section).

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa thats a slippery slope, this will be costly. But your logic is sound.
I guess if there is. His & Hers she can have an alloy receiver going to .300 a true gentleman would provide second smaller calibre barrel for practice and small game,
Should you go the steel receiver you can give us an in depth review and comparison.
Would you have reason to buy a .416 or other large bore being this is a DG thread? With suitable sub calibre option to ensure that have the complete shooting system and two platforms to take advantage of the versatility and cover more situations in your travels.
I am interested in rifles and hunting so I’ve asked many questions regarding these.
My preference for an aesthetically pleasing rifle is nice timber, so to buy a nice rifle at >$8K carry it in the scrub is hard to fathom. You have it use it, but I personally would be worried I would scratch it or damage it. Would I spend similar on a Synthetic version? Yes if I had more disposable income and it suited my needs , for that money I would be inclined to want nice timber. But, it’s all still relevant to how and where I would hope to use it.

@CBH Australia - let me get the foot in the door with 2 calibers before we start worrying about me being a gentleman with 3 or 4.
Just messing around, I would love to have 4, 5 or even 6 calibers available but $ is real and SHE is in charge of it for a good reason.
If I were to go bigger to a +.40 cal it would most likely be 458Lott.
Not that I don't like the 416RM and 404J, but that I believe there is too much overlap between those and a 375H&H.
Go big or go home...and the 458Lott is about I could possibly handle on my narrow little frame.
Although, I will admit that 2 years ago I would never had imagined that I could easily shoot a 375.
Who knows what the future holds as far as a caliber is concerned.
Rest assured, if we do get a Blaser (or two) I will be reporting my findings on AH.
As for the stock, I'm more for the utilitarian synthetic, but my wife leans toward fine figured wood...go figure she likes the pricey stuff.
Either way, it will get used for hunting...no safe queens allowed.

Cheers mate.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I know @Tally-Ho Hunting Safaris is a PH in South Africa and uses an R8 in 416RM and 300WM.

I was flipping back to another thread and reading where @Red Leg and @One Day... don't exactly see eye to eye on the R8.
That statement may be a little of an understatement, but we all have our views and are entitled to them.
I appreciate you both for your honest opinions.

hey all

i do own 2 R8 rifles
one is 416 RM plus 300wm(fluted), wooden stock, heavy barrels
one with 9.3X62 and 6.5X55 barrels, synthetic stock, semi weight barrels

i like heavy guns and dont worry me walking after buff all day with a heavy gun on my shoulder

i cant say enough about the blaser R8, best investment i ever made!!!! great guns, shoot great, no hassles, feel awesome etc etc, list goes on and on

 

[TTundra]

hey all

i do own 2 R8 rifles
one is 416 RM plus 300wm(fluted), wooden stock, heavy barrels
one with 9.3X62 and 6.5X55 barrels, synthetic stock, semi weight barrels

i like heavy guns and dont worry me walking after buff all day with a heavy gun on my shoulder

i cant say enough about the blaser R8, best investment i ever made!!!! great guns, shoot great, no hassles, feel awesome etc etc, list goes on and on

Thanks @Tally-Ho Hunting Safaris . So you have no reservations on using an R8 on DG hunts as the PH? If so, very glad to hear.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Absolutely no reservation in any situation
Choose it first over any other in my selection of around 18 rifles

 

[Philip Glass]

Hi @Philip Glass , I like everything about your post except the cross-eye dominance thing about your son. I gotta be honest, I'm particularly concerned when I read these stories because everything that can go wrong, will go wrong with these lefty-righty scenarios.

How about he shoots right eye, right shoulder like a normal person? It's imperative he has comfort operating his weapon and rapidly loading it. Righties should shoot righty.

Now for the eye dominance thing... A.) Get him a quick attach reflex sight. Eye dominance doesnt' matter. Where the dot is, there the bullet goes. (solved close dangerous game scenarios). B.) Get him a quick detach scope. Close left eye, shoot through scope at distance. (solved non-dangerous game scenarios)

All these modern gimmicks to deal with crossover stock issues, dominance issues, etc. just beg for danger because you can't build instinctive shooting and muscle memory when ever gun you touch is slightly different than the last in how the problem is addressed. My suggestions above are a way to get him to shoot "standard" safely with any gun. The only rule in his life is that he should never shoot iron sights, always a reflex sight. That's a super simple compromise he can carry with him through his life when he's not using optics for hunting. He'll be safe. He'll continue to gain proficiency. He can shoot any right-handed gun ever made.

Just my opinion after seeing piles of ruined shooters and dangerous situations with too much nonsense in this world. Right handed bolts with lefty stocks. Central vision stocks. Crossover stocks. Tape on eyeglasses. Neutral stocks that fit no one correctly. Left handed bolt/stock weapons shot by naturally right handed shooters solely because of eye dominance, etc.

Rook,
All good points. I also had top shooting instructors suggest just learning to shoot right handed. But after trying that again, see we had this scenario long ago getting him into a shotgun, he is just very left eye dominant. I have been a 4H shotgun instructor so I’ve learned much about starting kids off right and eye dominance issues. He couldn’t hit a baseball right handed then switched and all good. Right handed shotgun no go so bought him the first Beretta auto I could find left handed. Being 12 at the time I went with the left handed R8 so that he can grow up with one gun he is used to. He may never hunt DG. If he does, daddy will be there with the K Gun backing him up.
Thanks again, Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Thanks Philip.

I am a big believer in dancing with the one you came with theory.
In other words...practice consistently with what you are going to use.

If in fact we decide to go this route, we may very well be falling down a worm hole.
A worm hole that could easily include another full R8 receiver and stock for the cost of our first born son.
A cost I may offset by selling my beloved CZ, but I will not be hurried in that direction all at once.

I want a 375 barrel because I know my wife can shoot it and I also know I enjoy shooting my 375.
In theory the 300WM would be mostly "hers" and the 375H&H would be mostly "his".
Making a neatly packaged set for world-wide hunting.
However, if we both really love the R8...room could be made in the safe for an additional one....with a bit of OT.

It has been said that once the Blaser takes root in your mind you will be hooked. It is just unbelievable.
I have not reported yet as I am just getting going with my new calibers. I have two custom barrels from J. Sip & Sons in Utah. It’s nice to have more choices for such a fine rifle. I’ve just got the .375 Ruger sighted in and now too busy to go shoot
Philip

 

[Ridgewalker]

I too have suffered from an eye dominance flip flop issue. Not a problem using a scope, but a shotgun can cause major issues since both eyes are open. I have to focus very hard to make certain my right eye (I shoot right handed) takes over. It’s a particular issue using a SxS.

 

[johnnyblues]

Simple put I don’t think you could go wrong with the Blazer. If I were maybe younger and thought I had many more African hunts for DG to do I’d invest in one. I’ll just have to live with my Ruger guide rifle in 375 Ruger if by some slim chance I have the opportunity to hunt elephant in the future or hippo. For now don’t think too hard on buying one I doubt you will regret it. Good luck in your decisions.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I too have suffered from an eye dominance flip flop issue. Not a problem using a scope, but a shotgun can cause major issues since both eyes are open. I have to focus very hard to make certain my right eye (I shoot right handed) takes over. It’s a particular issue using a SxS.

Check out Noblex Quicksight, works wonders for me

 

[BeeMaa]

It has been said that once the Blaser takes root in your mind you will be hooked. It is just unbelievable.

And by "unbelievable" you mean how quickly your bank account is drained...

It's in my mind (can you feel the DARK SIDE calling you?).
Even worse, it's in my wife's mind so we are on the hook.
If the R8 fits her (we are going to Euro Optic in a couple of weeks) she will get one with 2 barrels.
If I like it but don't like the shorter LOP, another chassis could be gracing the safe as well, possibly with 2 more barrels.

I'm thinking of selling a kidney on the black market to get a jump on things.

 

[Philip Glass]

And by "unbelievable" you mean how quickly your bank account is drained...

It's in my mind (can you feel the DARK SIDE calling you?).
Even worse, it's in my wife's mind so we are on the hook.
If the R8 fits her (we are going to Euro Optic in a couple of weeks) she will get one with 2 barrels.
If I like it but don't like the shorter LOP, another chassis could be gracing the safe as well, possibly with 2 more barrels.

I'm thinking of selling a kidney on the black market to get a jump on things.

BeeMaa,
You don’t want to know how much I’ve spent . R8 Pro Success with Stingray leather, two barrels, two Z8’s. Don’t look it up you might have a heart attack.
I got the Blaser spacer kit to adjust LOP. It comes with 3 spacers and the screws to install. For me I used two of them and it looks great. Another plus for the R8- no gunsmith needed for me to adjust LOP.
Philip

 

[BigSteve57]

BeeMaa,
You don’t want to know how much I’ve spent . R8 Pro Success with Stingray leather, two barrels, two Z8’s. Don’t look it up you might have a heart attack.
I got the Blaser spacer kit to adjust LOP. It comes with 3 spacers and the screws to install. For me I used two of them and it looks great. Another plus for the R8- no gunsmith needed for me to adjust LOP.
Philip

By Z8's do you mean Zeiss Rapid Z 8 scopes?

 

[BeeMaa]

BeeMaa,
You don’t want to know how much I’ve spent . R8 Pro Success with Stingray leather, two barrels, two Z8’s. Don’t look it up you might have a heart attack.
I got the Blaser spacer kit to adjust LOP. It comes with 3 spacers and the screws to install. For me I used two of them and it looks great. Another plus for the R8- no gunsmith needed for me to adjust LOP.
Philip

What is the method of attachment between the stock and the recoil pad?
Meaning are they wood screws with plastic anchors OR machine screws with a metal insert sunk into the wood/synthetic?
Either way, the stock may need to be shortened to ~12.5 - 13 inches LOP.
I know she will like the rifle, it's a matter of fit...and for the price it should fit correctly without me having to make modifications.
From the specs I've seen there is no significant difference between the standard LOP and the one on the "Compact" & "Intuition".

Anyone out there make LOP modifications to the stock after purchase?