Blaser Rifles

[dchamp]

The R93 aside, a few points on the R8.

(MINUTIA)


Barrel Lengths: Blaser list their barrels with overall lengths, from tip of muzzle to very end of breach opening. Barrel lengths measured from bolt face to muzzle is about 2cm less or somewhere between 3/4 to 7/8th's of an inch.

Iron Sights: If you have std. iron sights on your barrel then the rear sight can be adjusted for windage and the front sight adjusted for elevation. The Selous barrels have a rear leaf sight that can be adjusted for windage but the front sight is non adjustable requiring either a different height insert or filing the leaf sight if POI is too low.

Fire Control Group & Magazines: The R8's fire control group is designed to be removed from the stock for changing out magazines and/or loading cartridges. Cartridges can also be top loaded. When the fire control group is removed from the stock/receiver the safety automatically engages.
Magazines are somewhat caliber specific. Since in general magnum length cartridges are longer than say short action cartridges you will have a difference in the way they feed and in the distance the bolt cycles. Blaser takes that into consideration with their magazines, controlling both the feed angle and bolt throw.

 

[dchamp]

or filing the leaf sight if POI is too low

oops should be POI is too high.

Also I am not sure how Blaser deals with this, whether or not they sell a different rear leaf or a new front bead insert. I know CZ sells different height front inserts.

Another alternative is pretty handy to carry in your pocket as a backup.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I bought my R8 a couple years ago on a road trip, after locating in on gun broker. I have the 300 WM with wood stock. I love that I can easily swap out the parts and shoot another caliber in a matter of minutes. However, at this point I don't have more than one. I did choose to thread and suppress mine. While it did throw off the brilliant balance of the gun, I found the benefit to my ears while hunting to be a worthy trade-off. I didn't have much difficulty in stalking with rifle on shoulder, I just kept a hand on the sling. The PH was also grateful for the pew instead of BANG.
I'll be buying another caliber or two in the future without question.

 

[Rimbaud]

One final Q on the Blaser. I got the catalog yesterday and cannot say I truly understand the difference between the Kilombero and the regular R8. I plan to use this rifle for Buffalo, and bear in Alaska, and cannot figure out if the Kilombero and the others are just separated by marketing hype or if the Kilombero is needed to handle bigger calibers. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[MMAL]

According to blaser the safari models which include the kilombero have a steel receiver that is stronger to handle the increased recoil. The stock barrel channel is larger as well. This allows the safari caliber and match barrels width of 22mm. The regular model can only accommodate the regular or semi weight barrel. Max of 19 mm. Couple of other small differences but these are the main ones

 

[MMAL]

So really to sum up. The regular r8 models can shoot a semi weight 375 H&H as the biggest caliber. With the kilombero you can go bigger

 

[Rimbaud]

According to blaser the safari models which include the kilombero have a steel receiver that is stronger to handle the increased recoil. The stock barrel channel is larger as well. This allows the safari caliber and match barrels width of 22mm. The regular model can only accommodate the regular or semi weight barrel. Max of 19 mm. Couple of other small differences but these are the main ones

Thanks for clarifying. I couldn't get that from the marketing materials. Leaving shortly for Namibia, and then will start preparing for the next hunt. All best.

 

[dchamp]

Since the Kilombero is a wood stock you will need to specify it to be left or right handed. The professional synthetic stocks, both Safari and Standard are ambidextrous. The difference between the Kilombero and a standard wood stocked R8 is the Kilombero and any other Safari model R8 have a steel receiver and the standard R8's are aluminum.

 

[Red Leg]

I would note that the aluminum receiver rifles make up into a wonderful "light" .375 with the sporter barrel. Thanks to superb ergonomics - recoil is a non-issue.

 

[dchamp]

For reference my Kilombero stock receiver weighs 6lb 1-3/8oz. My synthetic Safari weighs 6lb 1-1/8 oz. My standard Professional model weighs 3lb 8-3/4oz.
The only reason I have the two Safari models are for my .416Rem and .458 Lott. If I were to only shoot .375 H&H and smaller I would only use a std. Professional stock/receiver.

 

[Longwalker]

oops should be POI is too high.
View attachment 278176

May I suggest a correction to the correction - if Point Of Impact is too low, the front sight must be replaced with one shorter or filed down. The first post was correct.

 

[dchamp]

Yep you are correct but as I reread it I see my error. So, I buggered it up not only once but twice. You see while proof reading it I read the words rear sight and yet failed to type the key word rear. Figuring it would be easier to file the rear express sight of the Selous barrel than messing with the front sight if the POI is too high.

 

[Opposite Pole]

Yep you are correct but as I reread it I see my error. So, I buggered it up not only once but twice. You see while proof reading it I read the words rear sight and yet failed to type the key word rear. Figuring it would be easier to file the rear express sight of the Selous barrel than messing with the front sight if the POI is too high.

Not sure about Selous sights but the regular front sight is user adjustable without any filing.

 

[Lkhntr]

I could be wrong, but my understanding on what I read on a different site (I think blaserbuds, I'll have to see if I can find it) is that the strength of the aluminum receiver/standard stock vs the steel receiver/safari stock is a non issue. The steel receiver/safari stock adds weight which helps with the harder kicking calibers. The barrel channel on the standard stock will have to be opened to fit the safari barrels.

 

[Lkhntr]

oops should be POI is too high.

Also I am not sure how Blaser deals with this, whether or not they sell a different rear leaf or a new front bead insert. I know CZ sells different height front inserts.

Another alternative is pretty handy to carry in your pocket as a backup.

View attachment 278176

I see you have an aimpoint with the single point attachment, do you find it sturdy enough to not move/shift? does it clamp sufficiently so it will not accidently come off? and is it repeatable when removing and reattaching? I am thinking of doing the same thing. I would appreciate seeing a picture of it mounted on the rifle. Do you have a preference using the aimpoint or the reflex sight. Thanks in advance.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I could be wrong, but my understanding on what I read on a different site (I think blaserbuds, I'll have to see if I can find it) is that the strength of the aluminum receiver/standard stock vs the steel receiver/safari stock is a non issue. The steel receiver/safari stock adds weight which helps with the harder kicking calibers. The barrel channel on the standard stock will have to be opened to fit the safari barrels.

Several of Blaser reps including from Blaser in Germany said that to me.

 

[dchamp]

I could be wrong, but my understanding on what I read on a different site (I think blaserbuds, I'll have to see if I can find it) is that the strength of the aluminum receiver/standard stock vs the steel receiver/safari stock is a non issue. The steel receiver/safari stock adds weight which helps with the harder kicking calibers. The barrel channel on the standard stock will have to be opened to fit the safari barrels.

Yes that is my understanding too. I believe the aluminum stocked receiver would handle the 416 Rem and .458 Lott with out much, if any, problem. Don't know about the .500 Jeffery. But I wouldn't want to shoot it a lot. Mainly, I suspect, because of the punishing recoil I would receive. The only differenceI see between the Standard and the Safari models are the opening of the barrel channel, the addition of their kickstop recoil reducer and the the two different receivers.

 

[dchamp]

I see you have an aimpoint with the single point attachment, do you find it sturdy enough to not move/shift? does it clamp sufficiently so it will not accidently come off? and is it repeatable when removing and reattaching? I am thinking of doing the same thing. I would appreciate seeing a picture of it mounted on the rifle. Do you have a preference using the aimpoint or the reflex sight. Thanks in advance.

I haven't shot enough to say with certainty but I think it will. It seems solid when mounted and I have no fear of it coming loose. I plan on shooting this weekend and will test it and take a picture to post.

 

[Opposite Pole]

Here’s a video of R8 Professional Success stock in 500 Jeffery which only comes in alloy receiver. I myself would not be too keen to shoot a big bore with a thumbhole stock.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I haven't shot enough to say with certainty but I think it will. It seems solid when mounted and I have no fear of it coming loose. I plan on shooting this weekend and will test it and take a picture to post.

Blaser said they have updated the design to a 2 point one in order to address people’s concerns, not due to it been not strong enough.