Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

[dchamp]

Now BeeMaa, don't let pragmatism and logic get in the way of desire and fun. I have a .416 Rem, .416 Rigby and a .458 Lott. Every time I think about selling them I remember how much fun they are and that one day I will make it back to Africa or some other place that would warrant any of these calibers. My other excuse is I have two sons, a son in law and two grandsons. I would rather hand them down as to sell them. These excuses work for me.

 

[ve7poi]

I’ve got the same in savanna color safari in 458 Lott + 300 win mag bbl
Both shoot sub moa Lott at 100yds with aimpoint & 300 Win mag at 200yds


Do I need it no but why not also have rifles in 470NE dbl, 475 Turnbull, 404 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, several 375 H&H’s 9.3x62
Biggest decision is always what I’m I going to take this time lol

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve never hunted elephant. But I feel if I were in the same position as you @BeeMaa I would probably go with the 375. That is unless can’t import two rifles of the same caliber when the Mrs. goes with you.

 

[BeeMaa]

I’ve never hunted elephant. But I feel if I were in the same position as you @BeeMaa I would probably go with the 375. That is unless can’t import two rifles of the same caliber when the Mrs. goes with you.

True, you can not import two rifles of the same caliber. So if we did each bring a 375, she will have one and I'll have the other. Double the paperwork, but not a deal breaker.

 

[TOBY458]

All of this talk has really made me second guess me decision to sell my R8. But then again I WAS looking for a semiweight receiver a few weeks ago for a Semiweight J Sip barrel in 416 RM. I'm thinking a fluted 375 Semiweight barrel to go along with it might be a good combo....
@One Day... how much does your fluted Semiweight 375 barrel weigh again? Seems to me if it's fluted, the weight would be close to a non fluted standard weight barrel. Then you'd have the luxury of using both standard and Semiweight barrels on the same receiver, without too much of a gap between the barrel and the forend. Am I wrong?

 

[One Day...]

My semi-weight 375 H&H is not fluted TOBY, so I cannot give you a factual answer

If you asked me to guess, I would say that a pretty educated guess is that the fluting takes about 4 ounces off the barrel weight, therefore I would think that a fluted semi-weight .375 H&H barrel is very likely around 3 lbs. 8 oz.

See here under verified weights (except for the 25.6" .416 22 mm barrel - NOT the 23.6 Selous .416 22 mm barrel). You can configure at will your DG R8

Note that you can reduce the rifle weight by selecting a Leupold VX-6HD 1-6X24 instead of a Euro 1-6x24 scope. This will typically shave 3 oz.

I am assuming that by "semi-weight receiver" you mean an alloy receiver with a barrel channel that accommodates a semi weight barrel, right? FYI, my semi weight .375 H&H measures 21.5 mm at the end of the fore-end, and 19 mm at the muzzle. I do not know what the Selous barrel measures at the end of the fore-end, but it could be (?) that a semi weight barrel tappers outside of the stock from 21.5 to 19 mm, while a Selous barrel does not tapper and stays at 22 mm from fore-end to muzzle. Maybe BeeMaa can check that for us?

What I know is that a semi weight barrel fills up very nicely the barrel channel designed for the Selous barrels on the steel receiver stock:

Note: observe upon close examination that the widening of the stock channel to "safari/Selous" barrel contour is obviously done by Blaser by hand, as there were numerous tool marks inside the channel and the widening is not strictly geometrically regular. I have verified with other steel receiver owners, who have observed the same thing, our own BeeMaa being one of them...

This is only visible up close, and is fixed by polishing with fine grit sand paper, but I would have expected better from Blaser. I am reasonably sure that I would have done a cleaner job with sand paper wrapped around a wood dowel, and if I needed an alloy receiver stock with large barrel channel, I would not spend $300 additional to buy a so-so job from Blaser but I would buy the standard stock and I would enlarge the barrel channel myself...

Based on the above table, a .375 H&H semi-weight fluted barrel .375 on a alloy receiver stock, without kickstop installed, and with a Leupold scope will likely weigh in at 9.5 lbs.:

The same configuration with a .416 barrel will likely be about 3 oz. lighter because the bore hole is larger. This would give you a scoped & "slinged" .416 Rem around 9 lbs. 5 oz. Take the sling off, and you have an even 9 lbs.....

If a 9 lbs. .416 Rem is too heavy for you, you are much more man than I am when it comes to shooting it

Admittedly, my Mauser 66 .458 Lott is 8 lbs. 13 oz., but I will be the first to say that it is distinctly unpleasant to shoot and I never dared put a scope on it

By comparison, a .375 H&H standard barrel .375 on a alloy receiver stock, without kickstop installed, and with a Leupold scope has a verified weight of:

 

[BeeMaa]

I checked both my 375 and 416 and the exterior dimensions are identical. They are 22mm outside diameter from about 2 inches behind the rear sight all the way to the front of the barrel. With the exception of the two barrel bands, one for the front sling swivel and the other for the front sight. They are 24mm outside diameter.

 

[TOBY458]

My semi-weight 375 H&H is not fluted TOBY, so I cannot give you a factual answer

If you asked me to guess, I would say that a pretty educated guess is that the fluting takes about 4 ounces off the barrel weight, therefore I would think that a fluted semi-weight .375 H&H barrel is very likely around 3 lbs. 8 oz.

See here under verified weights (except for the 25.6" .416 22 mm barrel - NOT the 23.6 Selous .416 22 mm barrel). You can configure at will your DG R8

View attachment 391976

Note that you can reduce the rifle weight by selecting a Leupold VX-6HD 1-6X24 instead of a Euro 1-6x24 scope. This will typically shave 3 oz.

I am assuming that by "semi-weight receiver" you mean an alloy receiver with a barrel channel that accommodates a semi weight barrel, right? FYI, my semi weight .375 H&H measures 21.5 mm at the end of the fore-end, and 19 mm at the muzzle. I do not know what the Selous barrel measures at the end of the fore-end, but it could be (?) that a semi weight barrel tappers outside of the stock from 21.5 to 19 mm, while a Selous barrel does not tapper and stays at 22 mm from fore-end to muzzle. Maybe BeeMaa can check that for us?

What I know is that a semi weight barrel fills up very nicely the barrel channel designed for the Selous barrels on the steel receiver stock:

View attachment 391970

Note: observe upon close examination that the widening of the stock channel to "safari/Selous" barrel contour is obviously done by Blaser by hand, as there were numerous tool marks inside the channel and the widening is not strictly geometrically regular. I have verified with other steel receiver owners, who have observed the same thing, our own BeeMaa being one of them...

This is only visible up close, and is fixed by polishing with fine grit sand paper, but I would have expected better from Blaser. I am reasonably sure that I would have done a cleaner job with sand paper wrapped around a wood dowel, and if I needed an alloy receiver stock with large barrel channel, I would not spend $300 additional to buy a so-so job from Blaser but I would buy the standard stock and I would enlarge the barrel channel myself...

Based on the above table, a .375 H&H semi-weight fluted barrel .375 on a alloy receiver stock, without kickstop installed, and with a Leupold scope will likely weigh in at 9.5 lbs.:

View attachment 391978

The same configuration with a .416 barrel will likely be about 3 oz. lighter because the bore hole is larger. This would give you a scoped & "slinged" .416 Rem around 9 lbs. 5 oz. Take the sling off, and you have an even 9 lbs.....

If a 9 lbs. .416 Rem is too heavy for you, you are much more man than I am when it comes to shooting it

Admittedly, my Mauser 66 .458 Lott is 8 lbs. 13 oz., but I will be the first to say that it is distinctly unpleasant to shoot and I never dared put a scope on it

By comparison, a .375 H&H standard barrel .375 on a alloy receiver stock, without kickstop installed, and with a Leupold scope has a verified weight of:

View attachment 391979

Thanks for the in depth reply! The rifle I'm currently looking at is a wood stocked Jaeger with a semiweight fluted 375 barrel. It includes a kickstop, which I would remove. So if your'e correct about the barrel diameter at the forend, the semiweight and safari forend opening should be the same. Meaning the rifle I'm looking at will accommodate all barrel profiles. The standard weight barrels would just have somewhat of a gap. The semi and safari barrels should both fit the forend the same. My goal in a 375 is always to end up with a total weight under 9lbs with a Leupold 2-7×33 scope installed. My goal for a 416 is 10lbs total which is what my Winchester 416 weighs with a Leupold 1-5×20 scope installed.

 

[BeeMaa]

Here is the current R8 DG battery.
Top is the lighweight 375H&H.
Middle, safari weight 416RM.
Bottom...the pretty one, Mrs BeeMaa's safari weight Intuition in 375H&H.

 

[TOBY458]

Here is the current R8 DG battery.
Top is the lighweight 375H&H.
Middle, safari weight 416RM.
Bottom...the pretty one, Mrs BeeMaa's safari weight Intuition in 375H&H.
View attachment 392851

Your wife's rifle is beautiful! She probably scoffs at your lowly synthetic rifles. Lol!

 

[TOBY458]

Well in a few days I'll have the R8 Jaeger in hand. It's a 2014 model that is unfired. It comes with a 23" fluted Semiweight barrel, and has the safari style stock with the pancake cheekpiece. I hope it shoots as well as it looks!

 

[BeeMaa]

@TOBY458 Congratulations.
The biggest question will be if a Safari weight barrel would fit into a semi-weight channel. Between you, @One Day... and myself, we should be able to figure it out.

 

[TOBY458]

Oh I forgot. It's a 375 H&H.

 

[Tra3]

That is a nice looking rifle. You will have to weigh it and report back.

@TOBY458 In a full circle sorta way I seem to have picked up a 7 mag barrel that needs to be tested out here in MN!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@BeeMaa I guess you decided to keep the standard weight 375?

 

[BeeMaa]

@Wyatt Smith Yes, keeping the lightweight 375 that I got from @TOBY458 and I’ve put the 416RM on the trading block. We will see how it goes.

 

[BeeMaa]

The trading block was very kind to me. The 416RM complete with PH steel receiver and kickstop will be mounted on someone else's shoulder this hunting season. It didn't last 12 hours in the classifieds.

For our DG rifles we now each have a 375.
And in our house H&H will translate to His & Hers.

 

[Red Leg]

The trading block was very kind to me. The 416RM complete with PH steel receiver and kickstop will be mounted on someone else's shoulder this hunting season. It didn't last 12 hours in the classifieds.

For our DG rifles we now each have a 375.
And in our house H&H will translate to His & Hers.

Rapier or broadsword. Both kill. I too prefer the rapier.

 

[BeeMaa]

Rapier or broadsword. Both kill. I too prefer the rapier.

Always good to have a wife backing you up with a broadsword.

 

[One Day...]

It also depends on circumstances

The .375 H&H rapier is great in orderly duels with clean deadly shots (spot & stalk), but not so great when things turn nasty and the focus shifts from killing to stopping, at which time the .45+ broadsword can become a lifesaver, just like the rapier never made it to the battlefield where cuirassiers wielded relatively heavy sabers.

Sure, as a client D'Artagnan you will have at least one PH musketeer to provide assistance, so you can adopt the perspective that YOU do not need the broadsword, although HE is most likely to bring one to the brawl...

Interestingly, there is ample evidence that the .416 occupies a somewhat ambivalent place: amply proven more powerful than needed for surgical killing, and also amply proven less powerful than desired for blunt stopping. I too had one when the mythical .416 Rigby was revived affordably by CZ, but I did not buy a .416 barrel when I transitioned to the R8...

I am sort of in-between. My largest barrel on the R8 is a .375 H&H (the rapier), but I love hunting the big stuff up close and personal with the double .470 (the broadsword) although I readily admit that I so prefer more for romantic than purely practical reasons. Oh well...

I was lucky to pick up a trophy bull elephant cancellation hunt in Zim this coming August at a price I can finally afford (dare I say Thank You COVID?), and I will have both rapier and broadsword. I will carry the .470 K gun with 500 gr persuasion in the thick jess around the irascible Zambesi Ladies, but one tracker will carry the scoped .375 R8 in case a dream 60 pounder walks across a wide clearing and requires 350 gr surgical attention...