Blaser R8 In Large Calibers

[TheWhitetailNut]

Well ... since I have been driving for a few years a Mercedes S500, and a BMW 740 before that, I understand the comparison, and for what it is worth my other rifles are made by Griffin & Howe, Dumoulin, Sauer, Steyr, Mauser, Kreighoff, etc. - and also Weatherby since the others pain to produce stainless/kevlar bang sticks, which I personally find most desirable in some climates - so I am not entirely sure that all these need to take a second seat to Blaser when it comes to quality, performance, etc.

Good "one liner" HWL, but a tad out of context [/Q

My analogy would read more like this: I like a Blaser because I like my F-250 Superduty. It is just as at home taking us to dinner in downtown Chicago, as it is towing a 16,000# trailer full of gravel or equipment. It has better air conditioned seats than my wifes GLE 43 AMG. The Ford gives up no features buttons or gizmos to the Mercedes. It is the worlds best crescent wrench.

Still, my true favorite part of the Blaser is a functional one. Because of short thick arms and I don't know what else I find trouble cycling a 90 deg bolt and keeping it on my shoulder and the R8 solves this for me.

 

[TOBY458]

Hi all
One thing to add here
Be clever on choosing the calibre/barrel combination
If you choose say a 30 mag and a big cal mag calibre then u have the added benefit of no bolt head change and sometimes no different in magazine either
This just adds to the convenience

Also just a note u can get the third and fourth shots off extremely quickly!!!

Regards

Stuart

Very good point! Did you pick the same barrel profile for both calibers?

 

[TOBY458]

I had no idea that by starting this thread, I would cause so much of an internal struggle within people! Lol!
I like the idea of the interchangeability of the barrels as well. But, I do agree that if the stock or action have problems for some reason, the whole redundancy thing is out the window.
As to owning many more rifles than needed, and having most of them overlap each other in application, that's something I'm always struggling with as well. (If you call that a struggle). I love the idea of pairing my collection down to the bare minimum, but when I take them out of the safe and fondle them a bit, most of the time they go right back into there respective slots, with me mumbling something like, "Thats just too nice to sell!" So in the end, we end up with 5 or more deer/PG rifles and 5 or more DG rifles in the safe. I'm just glad to know that I'm not the only one with this affliction! Before I started talking with you guys on AH, I was considering committing myself.

 

[BeeMaa]

Before I started talking with you guys on AH, I was considering committing myself.

Hello, my name is BeeMaa and I am an addict.
And I appreciate all those that have gotten me here.

 

[TTundra]

With the entrance of the "what if" comments, does anyone have any stories of failure while using the R8?

I have only used the R8 at SHOT show media day at the range. While unbelievably fast, I had 2 failure to feed. Granted, this is where every Tom, Dick, and Harry gets to use and abuse the rifles before you and it's been shot hundreds of rounds that day also before you. Not the best environment for the equipment come end of the day.

Any actual 'problems' with the R8 in first hand experience?

 

[Red Leg]

None and never heard of any among the half-dozen owners whom I know. Can give you a couple of Model 98 stories if interested.

 

[One Day...]

OK, confirming my analytical approach to the question at end , I am happy to provide a little more data, TOBY458:

• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) semi weight 25.75" barrel in 300 Win. Mag: 8 lbs 1 oz.
• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) full profile 23.75" barrel in 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H: 9 lbs 13 oz.
  
• Blaser Kickstop tungsten beads Recoil Reducer: 1.3 lbs (.458 and .500 ?).
• Rifle Overall Length: 40.25" to 42.25".
  
• Trigger: 1.9 pound pull standard. No wonder Red Leg extols its virtues LOL.

Note 1: Obviously, the 9 lbs 13 oz weight is only representative. Since all Selous barrels have the same profile, the larger bores will be a tad lighter...

Note 2: I am a bit lost in the bewildering number of possible combinations, but it seems to me that with aluminum receiver and standard profile barrel, the lightest R8 .375 H&H (Blaser R8 Professional) is 7 lbs 2 oz. The same stock/receiver will go to 7 lbs 6 oz with the semi-weight barrel and 9 lbs 4 oz with the safari barrel.

In terms of prices:

• It seems that the cheapest Blaser .375 (Blaser R8 Professional with aluminum receiver and standard barrel) is $3,713.

If you buy the Big Bore one piece at a time:

• The real enchilada we have been discussing and seeing at SCI (R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver, Selous style barrel and kickstop) is $7,863.
• Should you fancy a .300 Win Mag Selous barrel to go along with it, add a whopping $2,405 (Man! steel pipes must be expensive in Germany ).
• A Blaser Pelican can be had for $525.
  
• Two detachable scope mounts will only set you back an additional $276.
• You would not want to put crappy glass in top of that, would you? So, a Zeiss Victory V8 1.8-14x50 for the .300 pipe is $3,174 and a Zeiss Victory V8 1-8x30 T* Illum for the .375 pipe is $2,849.
• The mandatory Blaser sling will relieve you of an additional $181. A gift!
• Total ready to fly to Africa: $17,273 *

You can save about $2,000 by buying the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package (R8 Professional Big Bore stock with steel receiver + choice of Selous Safari barrel 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H + Selous style semi weight barrel in 300 Win. Mag + Pelican case).

Note 3: Hopefully you are buying on line from a lenient State and sparing yourself state taxes. Otherwise, plan on adding ~ $1,500.

Note 4: to put things in perspective, a Rigby Big Game Single Square Bridge .375 H&H Wood Grade 7 Rifle is $15,508 * so the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package remains a bargain

BeeMaa, you need to log out of here RIGHT NOW !!!!!!

* All Blaser and Rigby prices and data retrieved from https://www.eurooptic.com

 

[One Day...]

"One Day...'s wife has the regret to inform the africahunting.com community that her husband's EuroOptics browsing privileges have been permanently revoked and that his electronic payment cards and other electronic funds transfer vehicle have been terminally canceled.
In her immense kindness, she is nonetheless opening a legal fund to pay for his divorce costs."

Ahhhh, just awoke from a nightmare

 

[MMAL]

I have a s2 and love it. Thinking of the r8 and a lot of great info here. Thank you. Question for anyone, how do the African countries treat a blazer r8 with multiple barrels? Is it one gun or two. I know in the USA the trigger is the gun but then add bringing in ammo only for the guns you import. You get my question?

 

[One Day...]

I have a s2 and love it. Thinking of the r8 and a lot of great info here. Thank you. Question for anyone, how do the African countries treat a blazer r8 with multiple barrels? Is it one gun or two. I know in the USA the trigger is the gun but then add bringing in ammo only for the guns you import. You get my question?

I believe that IF each barrel has a different serial number they would be considered as different line items on the SAPS 520 temporary import form, which would give you the paper trail for different calibers ammo.

I would also make sure to have the different serial numbers (if there are different numbers) listed on the US Customs Form 4457.

This is a question for Red Leg, since he owns several barrels. Red Leg, does each barrel have it own individual serial number?

Thanks
Pascal

 

[stug]

Yes each barrel has it's own serial number, the receiver has it's own number too, but you often have to remove the receiver to see it.

 

[BigSteve57]

You can use a smaller case such as the Pelican im3100 to take your stock, slide, 2 barrels and 1 scope (I don't think you'd get 2 scopes to fit in an im3100). I used the im3100 on a recent hunting trip and this saved me $200 US EACH way since I didn't need the standard Pelican 1750 long case. Had I used the 1750 the airline told me it would be considered as oversize and subject to the $200 charge. That kind of surcharge can add up over time.

 

[TOBY458]

OK, confirming my analytical approach to the question at end , I am happy to provide a little more data, TOBY458:

• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) semi weight 25.75" barrel in 300 Win. Mag: 8 lbs 1 oz.
• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) full profile 23.75" barrel in 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H: 9 lbs 13 oz.
  
• Blaser Kickstop tungsten beads Recoil Reducer: 1.3 lbs (.458 and .500 ?).
• Rifle Overall Length: 40.25" to 42.25".
  
• Trigger: 1.9 pound pull standard. No wonder Red Leg extols its virtues LOL.

Note 1: Obviously, the 9 lbs 13 oz weight is only representative. Since all Selous barrels have the same profile, the larger bores will be a tad lighter...

Note 2: I am a bit lost in the bewildering number of possible combinations, but it seems to me that with aluminum receiver and standard profile barrel, the lightest R8 .375 H&H (Blaser R8 Professional) is 7 lbs 2 oz. The same stock/receiver will go to 7 lbs 6 oz with the semi-weight barrel and 9 lbs 4 oz with the safari barrel.

In terms of prices:

• It seems that the cheapest Blaser .375 (Blaser R8 Professional with aluminum receiver and standard barrel) is $3,713.

If you buy the Big Bore one piece at a time:

• The real enchilada we have been discussing and seeing at SCI (R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver, Selous style barrel and kickstop) is $7,863.
• Should you fancy a .300 Win Mag Selous barrel to go along with it, add a whopping $2,405 (Man! steel pipes must be expensive in Germany ).
• A Blaser Pelican can be had for $525.
  
• Two detachable scope mounts will only set you back an additional $276.
• You would not want to put crappy glass in top of that, would you? So, a Zeiss Victory V8 1.8-14x50 for the .300 pipe is $3,174 and a Zeiss Victory V8 1-8x30 T* Illum for the .375 pipe is $2,849.
• The mandatory Blaser sling will relieve you of an additional $181. A gift!
• Total ready to fly to Africa: $17,273 *

You can save about $2,000 by buying the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package (R8 Professional Big Bore stock with steel receiver + choice of Selous Safari barrel 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H + Selous style semi weight barrel in 300 Win. Mag + Pelican case).

Note 3: Hopefully you are buying on line from a lenient State and sparing yourself state taxes. Otherwise, plan on adding ~ $1,500.

Note 4: to put things in perspective, a Rigby Big Game Single Square Bridge .375 H&H Wood Grade 7 Rifle is $15,508 * so the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package remains a bargain

BeeMaa, you need to log out of here RIGHT NOW !!!!!!

* All Blaser and Rigby prices and data retrieved from https://www.eurooptic.com

Thanks for all the info! Makes my rifles seem like a bargain! I think if you played your cards right, you could maybe find a used barrel or two to bring the price down, but still overall a lot to pay over and above a good serviceable standard bolt rifle. But, I'd still like to at least shoot one to better form my opinion.

 

[Graba]

Does anyone have experience with the Blaser R8 in something like a 458 Lott or similar caliber, with second barrel in something like 300 Win mag? Seems almost as fast as a double rifle, and very versatile.

Have 300 win mag and 416 rem mag. Love them for big game and plains game. Can’t say enough of the action. Absolutely loved the 416 in the jungle for dwarf buff and the 250 yds shot on Elan in Tanzania.

Get dusty ? Dunk it in the river.
G

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Very good point! Did you pick the same barrel profile for both calibers?

hi there

both barrels (300wm and 416RM) have same diameter, but the 300wm is fluted barrel. main reason is i didnt want different diameter barrels is when they are fitted i dont like a big gap between the barrel and the stock this just is ugly and is a space for all kinds of dirt etc to get in there.
personally i prefer a heavy gun, the thicker barrels add a bit of weight, but shoot so much nicer.
any decent strap and you can lug your gun around all day. i have thick barrels and a kickstop in the stock and this balances the gun out well. i have 18 weapons currently and the R8 is by far my favourite
i have a second R8 with a 6.5X55 barrel and a 9.3X62 barrel. another great combo where u dont have to change anything on the bolt

for a few extra bucks buy yourself a second magazine/trigger. u can keep this filled up for quick access.
or if you have very different calibres that may need a spacer in the mag then u dont have any issues sorting this out

kind regards

 

[Red Leg]

I have a s2 and love it. Thinking of the r8 and a lot of great info here. Thank you. Question for anyone, how do the African countries treat a blazer r8 with multiple barrels? Is it one gun or two. I know in the USA the trigger is the gun but then add bringing in ammo only for the guns you import. You get my question?

Yes, I list the extra barrel as a separate entry. As noted they have individual serial numbers. However, the last two trips to Africa, I have just brought the .375 and have only listed the receiver SN. It is the most visible.

 

[Paul Homsy]

OK, confirming my analytical approach to the question at end , I am happy to provide a little more data, TOBY458:

• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) semi weight 25.75" barrel in 300 Win. Mag: 8 lbs 1 oz.
• R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver and Selous style (barrel band front sight & barrel band swivel mount) full profile 23.75" barrel in 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H: 9 lbs 13 oz.
  
• Blaser Kickstop tungsten beads Recoil Reducer: 1.3 lbs (.458 and .500 ?).
• Rifle Overall Length: 40.25" to 42.25".
  
• Trigger: 1.9 pound pull standard. No wonder Red Leg extols its virtues LOL.

Note 1: Obviously, the 9 lbs 13 oz weight is only representative. Since all Selous barrels have the same profile, the larger bores will be a tad lighter...

Note 2: I am a bit lost in the bewildering number of possible combinations, but it seems to me that with aluminum receiver and standard profile barrel, the lightest R8 .375 H&H (Blaser R8 Professional) is 7 lbs 2 oz. The same stock/receiver will go to 7 lbs 6 oz with the semi-weight barrel and 9 lbs 4 oz with the safari barrel.

In terms of prices:

• It seems that the cheapest Blaser .375 (Blaser R8 Professional with aluminum receiver and standard barrel) is $3,713.

If you buy the Big Bore one piece at a time:

• The real enchilada we have been discussing and seeing at SCI (R8 Professional Big Bore with steel receiver, Selous style barrel and kickstop) is $7,863.
• Should you fancy a .300 Win Mag Selous barrel to go along with it, add a whopping $2,405 (Man! steel pipes must be expensive in Germany ).
• A Blaser Pelican can be had for $525.
  
• Two detachable scope mounts will only set you back an additional $276.
• You would not want to put crappy glass in top of that, would you? So, a Zeiss Victory V8 1.8-14x50 for the .300 pipe is $3,174 and a Zeiss Victory V8 1-8x30 T* Illum for the .375 pipe is $2,849.
• The mandatory Blaser sling will relieve you of an additional $181. A gift!
• Total ready to fly to Africa: $17,273 *

You can save about $2,000 by buying the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package (R8 Professional Big Bore stock with steel receiver + choice of Selous Safari barrel 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H + Selous style semi weight barrel in 300 Win. Mag + Pelican case).

Note 3: Hopefully you are buying on line from a lenient State and sparing yourself state taxes. Otherwise, plan on adding ~ $1,500.

Note 4: to put things in perspective, a Rigby Big Game Single Square Bridge .375 H&H Wood Grade 7 Rifle is $15,508 * so the $8,650 Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package remains a bargain

BeeMaa, you need to log out of here RIGHT NOW !!!!!!

* All Blaser and Rigby prices and data retrieved from https://www.eurooptic.com

One Day,

Just curious, which detachable scope mounts you are referring to "two detachable .... for $276.00". Are these different mounts than standard Blaser saddle mounts? I have an R8 with several barrels and saddle mounts for my scopes, each cost $450.00.
thank you much.

 

[One Day...]

One Day,

Just curious, which detachable scope mounts you are referring to "two detachable .... for $276.00". Are these different mounts than standard Blaser saddle mounts? I have an R8 with several barrels and saddle mounts for my scopes, each cost $450.00.
thank you much.

You are right Paul!
I guess that I randomly clicked on the cheapest one. What are the chances of that, among all the $450 ones !?!?!?
Sorry for the obviously misleading sampling, even though it was truly random...

https://www.eurooptic.com/Blaser-36mm-Ring-Set.aspx

 

[Paul Homsy]

You are right Paul!
I guess that I randomly clicked on the cheapest one. What are the chances of that, among all the $450 ones !?!?!?
Sorry for the obviously misleading sampling, even though it was truly random...

https://www.eurooptic.com/Blaser-36mm-Ring-Set.aspx
View attachment 266771

No worries at all One Day !

Thank you much for your reply. Can't believe the low price on the 36mm you've included in your reply, I can see how you could have gotten the price you initially quoted.

I use 30 mm, probably the most in demand.

Paul

 

[TOBY458]

I think that price is for the rings only. Not the base and ring combo. Looks like the rings screw onto the base if I'm not mistaken.