Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

[Inline6]

@Inline6
I will stick with my 25 with a 100gn TTSX at 3,600fps or a 115gn/117gn at 3,300 plus fps over any 6mm even the 240 Weatherby.
There's something about the 6mm that doesn't work for me.
A mate shot a fallow on the weekend using a 243 with 100gn Remington corelocks. The first one went down after a bit of a run. The second one went down but as he was walking over to it it got up and ran of. Despite his best efforts he couldn't find it. He is starting to dislike the 243.
Bob

Follow are pretty tough critters, my boys have killed Elk (cows) with my 6XC using 105 Berger Hybrid bullets 3040fps. They all folded up where they stood, they were all neck shot. I can't shoot the 115s that fast out of the 6XC. Had a 6CM barrel that was fast, was running the 105s out of it at 3280.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Follow are pretty tough critters, my boys have killed Elk (cows) with my 6XC using 105 Berger Hybrid bullets 3040fps. They all folded up where they stood, they were all neck shot. I can't shoot the 115s that fast out of the 6XC. Had a 6CM barrel that was fast, was running the 105s out of it at 3280.

@Inline6
Fallow are pretty easy to knock over. A good fart is enough.
You sure as hell won't get those velocities out of a 243. It's battling to get 2,800 with a 100gn with a max load of H4350 or H4831SC.

 

[BeeMaa]

Although not a DG caliber, this may accompany me on an African safari. AHer's talk about drinking and GB/GI...I'm blaming being hopped up one enough coffee to bump start a diesel. Should be here next week sometime.

Blaser R8 300WM standard profile 25.75" barrel, 1:11 twist with sights and threaded M15x1 (threaded cap included)

 

[TOBY458]

Although not a DG caliber, this may accompany me on an African safari. AHer's talk about drinking and GB/GI...I'm blaming being hopped up one enough coffee to bump start a diesel. Should be here next week sometime.

Blaser R8 300WM standard profile 25.75" barrel, 1:11 twist with sights and threaded M15x1 (threaded cap included)
View attachment 493562

The dept of finance finally let you spend some of that rusty money you've been holding on to? Lol! You planning on a suppressor?

 

[BeeMaa]

The dept of finance finally let you spend some of that rusty money you've been holding on to? Lol! You planning on a suppressor?

I sold the Selous 375H&H barrel my wife had bought but rarely shot. She shot it well, but didn't care for the recoil. Said she would stick with the 300WM 19mm barrel. The sale of that barrel just triggered the revolving door attached to my vault for what to get next. The new 300WM barrel gives us the ammo compatibility that I very much appreciate along with the ability to add a can to it.

I have a 7.62mm DeadAir Sandman and have just added a M15x1 flash hider to adapt it in the event I want to use it. For now it will stay with the thread protector while I test out some Barnes 165 grain TTSX.

 

[Tra3]

Although not a DG caliber, this may accompany me on an African safari. AHer's talk about drinking and GB/GI...I'm blaming being hopped up one enough coffee to bump start a diesel. Should be here next week sometime.

Blaser R8 300WM standard profile 25.75" barrel, 1:11 twist with sights and threaded M15x1 (threaded cap included)
View attachment 493562

Good plan here!

Who did the threading?

 

[BeeMaa]

Good plan here!

Who did the threading?

I just got off the phone with Somarriba and they informed me that the barrel is in fact new. However the part number listed on GB comes back to a 300WM standard profile barrel with no sights. Which means they could have added the threads and sights after the fact. They should be getting back to me before the end of the day on whether it's Blaser factory or was done by a gunsmith.

Even if they did it after the fact, it wouldn't change my mind on the purchase. Especially considering the price I paid for it. My 22lr barrel was threaded by a gunsmith by Van at Top Dog...no problems with that one.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I wonder why blaser uses a 1-11 twist instead of the standard 1-10? Good purchase, now you don’t have to use that 375 on deer.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Tra3 - Just heard from Somarriba and it's 100% Blaser factory. It was part of a special run they did to incorporate the threaded barrel & iron sights. I've not seen a new factory threaded R8 barrel from Blaser for less than $1800, so this one was a steal.

 

[Opposite Pole]

@Tra3 - Just heard from Somarriba and it's 100% Blaser factory. It was part of a special run they did to incorporate the threaded barrel & iron sights. I've not seen a new factory threaded R8 barrel from Blaser for less than $1800, so this one was a steal.

Blaser does offer threaded barrels with sights. I have 4 such barrels.

 

[BeeMaa]

Blaser does offer threaded barrels with sights. I have 4 such barrels.

Yes, but the majority are kept in the EU because suppressor use and driven hunts using open sights are more common. Finding them in the US is not the norm.

 

[Inline6]

I wonder why blaser uses a 1-11 twist instead of the standard 1-10? Good purchase, now you don’t have to use that 375 on deer.

They need to update their twist rates across all lines. Over spinning is a none issue.

 

[BeeMaa]

I wonder why blaser uses a 1-11 twist instead of the standard 1-10?

They need to update their twist rates across all lines. Over spinning is a none issue.

I agree with you both on this point, a 1:10 is the norm for a .30 caliber. Being able to stabilize a 200-220 grain bullet would be really nice. I believe @Red Leg uses a 200 grain (or maybe 220) with his 300WM Blaser barrel and punches 3-shot dime sized holes.

I'm planning on using the Barnes TTSX 165 or 150 grain ammo so I checked the bullet stability calculator on Berger Bullets for my specific gravity (SG) for 1:11 and 1:10 twist rates.

Barnes TTSX 165 grain with 1:11 twist rate is marginally stable at 1.44 SG
Barnes TTSX 165 grain with 1:10 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.74 SG
Barnes TTSX 150 grain with 1:11 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.6 SG
Barnes TTSX 150 grain with 1:10 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.94 SG

I'll buy a box of each and see how they do, although Mrs BeeMaa's 300WM likes the 165 grain TTSX and it's a 1:11 twist.

 

[TOBY458]

I agree with you both on this point, a 1:10 is the norm for a .30 caliber. Being able to stabilize a 200-220 grain bullet would be really nice. I believe @Red Leg uses a 200 grain (or maybe 220) with his 300WM Blaser barrel and punches 3-shot dime sized holes.

I'm planning on using the Barnes TTSX 165 or 150 grain ammo so I checked the bullet stability calculator on Berger Bullets for my specific gravity (SG) for 1:11 and 1:10 twist rates.

Barnes TTSX 165 grain with 1:11 twist rate is marginally stable at 1.44 SG
Barnes TTSX 165 grain with 1:10 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.74 SG
Barnes TTSX 150 grain with 1:11 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.6 SG
Barnes TTSX 150 grain with 1:10 twist rate is comfortably stable at 1.94 SG

I'll buy a box of each and see how they do, although Mrs BeeMaa's 300WM likes the 165 grain TTSX and it's a 1:11 twist.

I have some 168gr TTSX and it says on the box that it requires 1:11 twist.

 

[BeeMaa]

I have some 168gr TTSX and it says on the box that it requires 1:11 twist.

I looked on the Barnes website and you are indeed 100% right about the 308WIN 168 grain TTSX...with the caveat that they also state "or faster" right after the 1:11 twist rate.

If using the recommended 1:11 twist, it gives 1.31 SG, but if you up it to 1:10 it goes up to 1.59 SG. Berger is saying that a SG at or above 1.5 will properly stabilize a bullet.

Of course every barrel is a fingerprint and what works well in some, may not in others. For the most part, I'll say that a faster twist rate of 1:10 is more desirable for a .30 caliber barrel.

 

[TOBY458]

I looked on the Barnes website and you are indeed 100% right about the 308WIN 168 grain TTSX...with the caveat that they also state "or faster" right after the 1:11 twist rate.

If using the recommended 1:11 twist, it gives 1.31 SG, but if you up it to 1:10 it goes up to 1.59 SG. Berger is saying that a SG at or above 1.5 will properly stabilize a bullet.

Of course every barrel is a fingerprint and what works well in some, may not in others. For the most part, I'll say that a faster twist rate of 1:10 is more desirable for a .30 caliber barrel.

Sako also uses 1:11. The good thing is, with today's bullets, there's really no need for anything over 200gr in a conventional bullet, such as Swift A Frame or Sirocco. And with a copper bullet at 165gr, you're probably covered for about anything you'd hunt with a 300.

 

[Red Leg]

Sako also uses 1:11. The good thing is, with today's bullets, there's really no need for anything over 200gr in a conventional bullet, such as Swift A Frame or Sirocco. And with a copper bullet at 165gr, you're probably covered for about anything you'd hunt with a 300.

I would agree. I use my .300 almost exclusively for Nilgai - hence the 200 gr bullet. Were I using it to reach out for mule deer or mountain game, the 165 would be ideal. It would be fine for most PG, though I would likely stay with the 200's.

 

[Inline6]

I looked on the Barnes website and you are indeed 100% right about the 308WIN 168 grain TTSX...with the caveat that they also state "or faster" right after the 1:11 twist rate.

If using the recommended 1:11 twist, it gives 1.31 SG, but if you up it to 1:10 it goes up to 1.59 SG. Berger is saying that a SG at or above 1.5 will properly stabilize a bullet.

Of course every barrel is a fingerprint and what works well in some, may not in others. For the most part, I'll say that a faster twist rate of 1:10 is more desirable for a .30 caliber barrel.

Don't get to caught up in the numbers. The truth is, you don't honestly know if your barrel is a 1:11 or a 1:10.78 or the other way. The barrel will tell you what it likes. I shoot Berger 185s out of a few of my 308s that are 1:11.25, at a much slower speed than you can push a 200 out of a 300wm. Your best bet is load so up and take them to the range. If it works, don't worry about the numbers. You are not shooting a mile. The longest shot you plan to make put it on paper at that distance. You will have your answer. I'm not sure what elevation you are compared to where you hunt (I use DA not only elevation), that is a factor that needs to be considered when on the edge. If you are lower and hunting higher will not be a problem.

Numbers are good to look at and Litz has put a lot of work in. I do trust his numbers. That said, the bullet has the final word.

 

[Nhoro]

So I never really had experience with the Blaser and kept my mouth shut. I had a chance to handle a 7 mm rem mag. Seems like a good, well made gun. I would say it is a custom factory rifle ie you pay a whole lot more and they put in more effort. I did find some issues- top loading into the mag was not easy, you have to fiddle around. But accuracy is awesome. However a beratta brx1 seems to offer exactly the same features with the addition of a left/ right bolt. And it cheaper. It will be interesting to see if it creates the cult following that the blaser enjoys. I am guessing it doesn't boast the snob value and so will fade away.

And the PH in zambia that I just finished a 10 day hunt with said you need to clean the action every day. That place was dusty and he has had 2 Blasers jam up. Looking at the action and understanding the engineering, I can see the flaw. So blaser is great if you clean it. But a PH rifle gets carried for long periods without shooting- and when it needs to go bang, you better hope it does. No use asking a buffalo or elephant to just hold on.

 

[Tanks]

...

And the PH in zambia that I just finished a 10 day hunt with said you need to clean the action every day. That place was dusty and he has had 2 Blasers jam up. Looking at the action and understanding the engineering, I can see the flaw. So blaser is great if you clean it. But a PH rifle gets carried for long periods without shooting- and when it needs to go bang, you better hope it does. No use asking a buffalo or elephant to just hold on.

I used a Blaser R8 in .300 RUM in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the course of 21 days of hunting in August. Shot 7 species overall. Never cleaned it and did not have any jamming issues.

Now, I did wipe the outside of the barrel and action as a matter of course each day but that has nothing to do with possible jamming.