Blaser R8 - Why do African PH’s and Alaskan Bear Guides Choose Not To Use Blaser R8’s?

[BeeMaa]

George Gibbs .470 yes, R8 any caliber no. I do not know of any DG PH that would prefer a R8 over his or her dbl.

Lon

Stuart Williams of @Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS uses a Blaser R8 in 416RM to backup clients on DG hunts.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/blaser-r8-for-dangerous-game.53390/post-581040

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Don’t know him must be RSA PH?

 

[BeeMaa]

Don’t know him must be RSA PH?

Yes, I believe he's in RSA.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - You know Bob, you are yelling kinda loud about how much you hate the R8. Usually that means exactly the opposite and that you are actually in love with it. It's OK Bob...embrace your feelings...come over to the Dark Side!
“Good, I Can Feel Your Anger.”

 

[WAB]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - You know Bob, you are yelling kinda loud about how much you hate the R8. Usually that means exactly the opposite and that you are actually in love with it. It's OK Bob...embrace your feelings...come over to the Dark Side!
“Good, I Can Feel Your Anger.”

Bob’s probably got an R8 in .243 hidden in his closet!

 

[Hunting Hitman]

The 3 R8’s I own suck…

HH

 

[TOBY458]

The 3 R8’s I own suck…

HH

The 6 I've owned were pretty bad too...

 

[WAB]

The 3 R8’s I own suck…

HH

I’m happy to look after them for you…

 

[colorado]

Bob’s probably got an R8 in .243 hidden in his closet!

Ooh ooh ooh another troll! I love it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen - You know Bob, you are yelling kinda loud about how much you hate the R8. Usually that means exactly the opposite and that you are actually in love with it. It's OK Bob...embrace your feelings...come over to the Dark Side!
“Good, I Can Feel Your Anger.”

@BeeMaa
I don't hate the R8. I just find them very uncomfortable to shoulder. There's something obout the stock that just doesn't suit me. The action is slick but it's no use if the rifle is uncomfortable. Spending upwards of 8K then getting a custom stock so I can use it doesn't make sense to me.
My plain old Savage Whelen fits me like a glove and with the mighty Whelen it's rare to need a fast follow up shot, but IF NEEDED I can get another shot off PDQ. So I will use the money I save to hunt more and or more holidays with the wife.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob’s probably got an R8 in .243 hidden in his closet!

@WAB
At the price of an R8 if I had one I couldn't afford a closet.
I will never own a Barbie R8 or a pissant 243.
Bob

 

[colorado]

I'll stick with my crappy CZ 550 as well but I wish you R8 owners that love them well!

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa
I don't hate the R8. I just find them very uncomfortable to shoulder. There's something obout the stock that just doesn't suit me. The action is slick but it's no use if the rifle is uncomfortable. Spending upwards of 8K then getting a custom stock so I can use it doesn't make sense to me.
My plain old Savage Whelen fits me like a glove and with the mighty Whelen it's rare to need a fast follow up shot, but IF NEEDED I can get another shot off PDQ. So I will use the money I save to hunt more and or more holidays with the wife.
Bob

I understand if they are uncomfortable for you, but certainly not in the neighborhood of $8K...at least in USD. Here is a 375H&H and 300WM two barrel/one stock set (used) for $6500.
Blaser two barrel/one stock set

This would be a steal for a guide in the US getting started in the business. But again, that guide would need the $ now. It's a matter of "pay me now" or "pay me later". Many young guides getting started don't have this kind of money (or credit) laying around, so instead they get a $1K-3K rifle and make modifications to it as they can afford to. The Blaser option is more akin to ripping off the Band-Aid all at once.

 

[Opposite Pole]

In OZ you can get a decent second hand one for 6k AUD give or take.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

In OZ you can get a decent second hand one for 6k AUD give or take.

@Opposite Pole
To me there's no such thing as a decent R8. Now a K95 is a different story, pure elegance.
Bob

 

[Opposite Pole]

You're really quite wrong about the R8 mate. Anyway, no point discussing it online, better to have that conversation over a beer. I'll be back in oz at the end of the month, I'll try to come up your way for a chat and a drink.

 

[Tam Dl]

Ears tucked back?....BULLSHIT.....show me footage....
Legaslation sais 10 yards.....good ph 6 yards....BULLSHIT.....

You might be a little late to take it up with him, he is dead. Carry your own rifle: There is either video, or roll of him nearly getting flattened by an elephant in just such a circumstance. Of course one can see that in different ways...

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This place has 3 threads ongoing, just that I am getting reminders on, where people are hammering the dead. Makes one wonder exactly when they turned up to take their shots on their DG hunts.

 

[R eight]

You're really quite wrong about the R8 mate. Anyway, no point discussing it online, better to have that conversation over a beer. I'll be back in oz at the end of the month, I'll try to come up your way for a chat and a drink.

Better take some ear plugs just incase Bob starts raving on about that bloody Whelan cartridge.

 

[WAB]

Better take some ear plugs just incase Bob starts raving on about that bloody Whelan cartridge.

Is that the .243 Whelen?

 

[Forrest Halley]

Bob’s probably got an R8 in .243 hidden in his closet!

With dies, bullets and lube... I mean powder too.

The 6 I've owned were pretty bad too...

What happened? They leave a mark on the kitchen counter?

Better take some ear plugs just incase Bob starts raving on about that bloody Whelan cartridge.

I heard he snores Whelen...Whelen...Whelen at night too.

Is that the .243 Whelen?

What would that be exactly? A .22 Hornet necked up to .243?