Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

[dchamp]

Congratulations and welcome to the club. You won't regret your purchase. I think you will find the .416 Rem relatively pleasant to shoot in the R8 or at least easier than the .458 Lott or a .416 Rigby.

 

[Red Leg]

How big are your Quail?! We normally use #6 shot...

Texas quail are indeed something to behold Opposite Pole! Even top predators are quite careful of them...
BeeMaa is right, Red Leg's S2 in its largest chambering is but a minimum...

View attachment 315525

Funny. But to be fair, even the cock birds are only dangerous when they charge.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

The Department of Finance has allocated funds for firearms and we have taken the first steps to becoming a Blaser family.
I just ordered a used R8 300WM from Euro Optic, too good a deal to pass on any longer.
We will be getting the rest of the parts/optics/etc as funds become available, probably at the end of January 2020.

great choice, now for the second barrel you get a 416RM and you are all set for anything that you may ever fancy hunting

enjoy it, they are great guns!!!!

 

[Philip Glass]

You will be happy! Was just out back yesterday with my .300 Win Mag (and new Leica scope). Have a quail and Nilgai hunt upcoming on King Ranch next month. Will use the .300 with the Hornady 200 gr eld-x Precision Hunter loading. Like nearly everything else, the rifle loves it. Bore-sighted at 100 yards - two shots to get it close - and a final three-shot group. This rifle is configured with the semi-weight barrel.

Wow good shooting! Let us know how the Nilgai hunt goes. I used to raise them and guide hunts for them but have never hunted them myself.

 

[Philip Glass]

It seems there is a bit of confussion between semi weight and Selous barrel weights and partly the fault of Euro Optic.
Semi weight is the 19mm diameter, Safari barrel is 22mm diameter and available on the Selous, Kilombero & PH stocks.
The barrel I'm getting is the 22mm 300WM with the barrel band sling swivel and iron sights, I made them check it.
Yes the stock is the PH version with the steel receiver which adds about 550g (or ~ 1 lb 3 oz).
All of their other stocks can be channeled out to accept the 22mm, but most are for the 17mm (standard) & 19mm (semi weight) barrels.

Not too concerned about it being used, a good cleaning does everything good and the marks from use only tell tales...


I hope mine shoots even close to as good.
If not, it's more likely me than the rifle .
Planning on Norma Oryx, Swift AF and Barnes TTSX all in various weights to see what works the best.
Also switched from the Blaser scope mounts to Contessa and will be going with a Swaro Z8i 1.7-13x42 4A-IF railmount.

Good luck on your hunt.
Let us know how it goes.
And since when are you concerned about what a guide thinks about the caliber you are shooting?
Especially in TX where bigger is always better!

It seems there is a bit of confussion between semi weight and Selous barrel weights and partly the fault of Euro Optic.
Semi weight is the 19mm diameter, Safari barrel is 22mm diameter and available on the Selous, Kilombero & PH stocks.
The barrel I'm getting is the 22mm 300WM with the barrel band sling swivel and iron sights, I made them check it.
Yes the stock is the PH version with the steel receiver which adds about 550g (or ~ 1 lb 3 oz).
All of their other stocks can be channeled out to accept the 22mm, but most are for the 17mm (standard) & 19mm (semi weight) barrels.

Not too concerned about it being used, a good cleaning does everything good and the marks from use only tell tales...


I hope mine shoots even close to as good.
If not, it's more likely me than the rifle .
Planning on Norma Oryx, Swift AF and Barnes TTSX all in various weights to see what works the best.
Also switched from the Blaser scope mounts to Contessa and will be going with a Swaro Z8i 1.7-13x42 4A-IF railmount.

Good luck on your hunt.
Let us know how it goes.
And since when are you concerned about what a guide thinks about the caliber you are shooting?
Especially in TX where bigger is always better!

What is the Contessa scope mount you mention?

 

[dchamp]

What is the Contessa scope mount you mention?

Yeah I was wondering the same, I have Blaser mounts and have Innomounts but I've not come across Contessa mounts.

 

[Red Leg]

I bought one off of ebay. I don't really think it is more dependable than the basic Blaser system, but it is a single lever design that locks up like a bank vault. Not sure who actually stocks them on this side of the pond.

https://www.portaotticacontessa.it/content/uploads/2019/10/Contessa_2019_Catalog_9-27-29.pdf

 

[BeeMaa]

Contessa mounts are carried by Euro Optic in central PA.
For the R8 Swaro rail mount I'm looking at they are $280 each, which is a $170 savings over the Blaser mount.
Also posted a thread on them in Hunting Equipment, Gear & Optics.

 

[BeeMaa]

great choice, now for the second barrel you get a 416RM and you are all set for anything that you may ever fancy hunting

enjoy it, they are great guns!!!!

We are getting 4 barrels total for 2 stocks...22lr, 300WM, 375H&H and 416RM.
After all this thread is about DG, couldn't go without a couple mid bores.
Now I gotta figure a way to take 2 stocks and 3 barrels in one Pelican 1700 case and keep it under weight.
But a good problem to have...

 

[Fastrig]

I bought one off of ebay. I don't really think it is more dependable than the basic Blaser system, but it is a single lever design that locks up like a bank vault. Not sure who actually stocks them on this side of the pond.

https://www.portaotticacontessa.it/content/uploads/2019/10/Contessa_2019_Catalog_9-27-29.pdf

EuroOptic carries the Contessa mounts

 

[Philip Glass]

I bought one off of ebay. I don't really think it is more dependable than the basic Blaser system, but it is a single lever design that locks up like a bank vault. Not sure who actually stocks them on this side of the pond.

https://www.portaotticacontessa.it/content/uploads/2019/10/Contessa_2019_Catalog_9-27-29.pdf

Wow they have a large selection and look really good. Could they be any better than Blaser?

 

[Philip Glass]

Contessa mounts are carried by Euro Optic in central PA.
For the R8 Swaro rail mount I'm looking at they are $280 each, which is a $170 savings over the Blaser mount.
Also posted a thread on them in Hunting Equipment, Gear & Optics.

Looks heavier what do you think?

 

[BeeMaa]

Looks heavier what do you think?

It does look a bit heavier, but height was my main concern.
I didn't want the mount to lift the scope any higher off the bore of the rifle than the Blaser version.
Lifting my head further off the rifle would compromise my cheek weld and possibly how the rifle came to my shoulder.
I had a talk over the phone with a company rep for Contessa, and they assured me the height was very close to the Blaser.

What I really like is the speed of the Contessa over the Blaser.
In a stressed situation, like DG hunting can be, the fewer fine motor skill movements...the better.
If I need to remove the scope quickly, I will have the ability to do so.
And to that end I will practice doing it several times each time I go to the range.

The Blaser R8 is built for speed.
Shouldn't the scope mount be the same?

As for the weight...I'll be toting a R8 with the steel receiver, kickstop and 22mm safari weight barrel.
A few ounces more aren't going to make much of a difference IMO.

 

[Fastrig]

Looks heavier what do you think?

I recently got a Contessa mount along with my RX Helix. Unfortunately the mount wouldn't work with the built in rail setup on the Helix so had to return it. I looked at the Contessa pretty closely and thought it was an impressive unit and will definitely be buying two of them when I purchase the R8, one for each barrel. I didn't feel it was heavy. I'm going with the swarvo Z8i 1-8 and 2.3-18 scopes for the 375 H&H and 300 win mag, respectively, in the rail configuration and will get the Contessa mount that's design specifically for the R8 and Swarvo rail scopes.

 

[USMA84DAB]

And BeeMaa swears he will still talk to me with my lowly Ruger Alaskan!

 

[Philip Glass]

I recently got a Contessa mount along with my RX Helix. Unfortunately the mount wouldn't work with the built in rail setup on the Helix so had to return it. I looked at the Contessa pretty closely and thought it was an impressive unit and will definitely be buying two of them when I purchase the R8, one for each barrel. I didn't feel it was heavy. I'm going with the swarvo Z8i 1-8 and 2.3-18 scopes for the 375 H&H and 300 win mag, respectively, in the rail configuration and will get the Contessa mount that's design specifically for the R8 and Swarvo rail scopes.

Sounds like a great setup!

 

[Philip Glass]

It does look a bit heavier, but height was my main concern.
I didn't want the mount to lift the scope any higher off the bore of the rifle than the Blaser version.
Lifting my head further off the rifle would compromise my cheek weld and possibly how the rifle came to my shoulder.
I had a talk over the phone with a company rep for Contessa, and they assured me the height was very close to the Blaser.

What I really like is the speed of the Contessa over the Blaser.
In a stressed situation, like DG hunting can be, the fewer fine motor skill movements...the better.
If I need to remove the scope quickly, I will have the ability to do so.
And to that end I will practice doing it several times each time I go to the range.

The Blaser R8 is built for speed.
Shouldn't the scope mount be the same?

As for the weight...I'll be toting a R8 with the steel receiver, kickstop and 22mm safari weight barrel.
A few ounces more aren't going to make much of a difference IMO.

That’s a very heavy barrel!

 

[BeeMaa]

And BeeMaa swears he will still talk to me with my lowly Ruger Alaskan!

I have to talk to you.
Who else is gonna bust my chops when I can't hit a barn wall from the inside of the barn?

 

[BeeMaa]

That’s a very heavy barrel!

I felt one set up for 458LOTT when I was at Euro Optic and although it is heavy, it balanced well so it didn't feel bulky.
It also came up nicely, very natural shooting position for me and my eyes found the front sight like I was using a shotgun.

I pick up the rifle on Tuesday, sorry guys I'm on-call until Monday and can't make it out to grab it.
Pics when I get it...

 

[Red Leg]

That’s a very heavy barrel!

My thought as well. My .300 set-up uses the long semi-weight barrel and makes up into a very heavy rifle indeed - one reason I used standard/sporter profile for the .375. Recoil on the .300 is nonexistent, and yet, I find the lighter .375 very manageable. And of course it is a joy to carry mile after mile. Nice to be able to configure a preference.

When you get the Contessa, be sure and get the one specifically designed for the R8.