Question for those who have Blaser R8’s

[Ravensview]

Does anybody who has an R8 also have any expierence with the .22lr bbl, do you find it worthwhile as a training tool and for small game, I do not have a Blaser but have been eyeballing them ever since a buddy of mine brought them up, one attribute that I never see brought up is the portability of the whole system, for someone who moves a lot or needs To be mobile. Another question does Blaser put out a catalogue of the R8 and it’s many options?

 

[TucsonFX4]

For a rifle like that, I feel like a .223 barrel would be a better training caliber for it, plus have much more hunting usefulness.
I don’t own not have I shot an R8, so take my post with a grain of salt.

 

[Longwalker]

The Blaser web site displays all the specifications and versions of the R8. You could email them to request a catalogue and browse the website as you wait for the mail.

 

[Muskox]

You can mess with their virtual rifle builder programs on their German website.

Will show you exactly what the rifle looks like in every configuration.

You can also download their catalogs on the website.

As far as getting a print catalog, you can call Blaser USA in Texas or email them and ask.

In previous years the American version of the catalog was dogshit, compared to the German ones.

I picked up the catalogs I have (German ones) at Jagd and Hund in 2018-2019.

The problem I have with a 22LR trainer rifle is that it will be so different in action system, I don't think you will get used to it.

I have an R8, and have owned many R8's and R93's. Great rifles, but I am not sure of the value of a 22lr as a trainer.

 

[jcnelsn1]

I decided on a Blaser R8 largely for the ability to practice with the exact rifle I am taking to Africa but with a cheaper and lighter recoiling caliber. I got a .375 H&H and .300 win mag. I went with the .223 barrel for the small caliber. Not as cheap as a .22 but still cheap and much more useful for longer range practice. That said, it is all theoretical for me at this point! My R8 hasn’t been delivered yet.

 

[Tra3]

I have the .22lr barrel along with 6 other barrels. The .22lr setup is the same as the other barrels, just a bit shorter. The action is shorter on the .22, but it is the same movement. As a training tool, it is really awesome and absolutely worth the cost. As a small game hunting tool, superb.

it seems most .22 rifles are, shall we say, not high end. An R8 .22 is quite a bit nicer than any other .22 I’ve used.

Last fall I brought the .22lr barrel along with the 7 mag and .300wm in one Pelican 1700 case with 2 stocks. I hunted elk in the morning and small game in the evening. My dad doesn’t keep up that well on an elk hunt with a lot of hiking. The small game afternoons and evenings allowed us to use a side by side and get into birds and squirrels. My buddy and dad hunted with shotguns, I used the .22lr with great success and really a lot of fun.

I agree that the .223 barrel is probably more realistic for a training tool, but I don’t think I would hunt with a .223 as it is too big for small game and too small for big game. My small caliber is a 6.5CM, but with ammo prices i will probably just get a .223 so practice is cheaper.

The .22lr combo travels with me quite a bit. When we leave town on weekends the case is small enough to sneak in to the car, and a .22 quiet enough to use for practice off the sticks close to the house.

 

[Tra3]

Transitioning To A Blaser R8 - A Two Months / 500 Rounds Review

Transitioning to a Blaser R8 - A two months / 500 rounds review series of articles So, the deed is done, I have purchased a Blaser R8 and 4 barrels. This came as a shock to some friends on AH.com who know me to be a fervent advocate of the CZ 550 as the best value in the affordable DG rifle...

www.africahunting.com

See also this great thread. @One Day... put a lot of time and thought into this, it is worth the read. I believe @BeeMaa has a .22lr barrel and can inform about his opinion.

 

[R eight]

I’ve also got a .22 rimfire barrel for the R8. Without a doubt the most accurate.22 I’ve ever owned .

 

[bowjijohn]

I have the .22LR for the R8

Works very well and a great tool for cheap practice with both irons and the RD20

I'm in the process of getting rid of my Mauser 98s in 9.3 and 404 jeff and moving lock stock and barrel to Blaser Barrels

I thoroughly recommend both one day.. s input as well as Red leg and others

They are helping with advice at the moment on a 404 j conversion for the R8

 

[BeeMaa]

My wife and I each have R8's. She has an Intuition stock with a 300WM and 375H&H barrel. I have 2 synthetic Professional stocks, one with a 375H&H barrel the other is the 22lr with a suppressor.

The 22lr is the most used of all three and sits at the ready for varmint control. It being inexpensive to shoot and deadly accurate play a big role in its use. The quality and craftsmanship (like others have displayed) is not like your typical rimfire, this is a real rifle not a kids toy. Lastly is rifle fit, although I probably should put that first seeing how important it is. Having the exact same fit, feel and trigger pull when going from the 22lr to 375 is a huge benefit. My eye comes to the scope in the same way and everything just falls into place.

I tend to agree with @Tra3 about the caliber debate of 22lr vs 223REM, I prefer the 22lr for the same reasons he mentioned. I'd only add that having a threaded barrel and using subsonic ammo makes it sound like a hand clap when I pull the trigger. Wicked quiet.

Welcome to the world of the Blaser R8. Here is a link so you can download their latest catalog. It can get a little confusing with all the options, but a little time at a good Blaser dealer will sort you out quickly. Or if you want to talk, you can send me a PM.
https://www.blaser.de/us/services/information-material-us/catalogs-flyers/

 

[Challer]

You can download the entire catalog from the Blaser DE site. The BlaserBuds boards have a ton of information there (Mauser too being a Blaser company). Most people with an R8 experience Barrel Madness. I have 22/223/308/30-06/9.3/375. Three chassis. 22 Hornet and 22wmR have been announced and there is already a queue for them.

22/223/308 are all mostly range/practice rounds for me. But the 22 with subs and a suppressor is amazing for “close in work” while the 223 can be made an excellent long range varmint round.

If you go R8, make your budget and triple it. And don’t ignore the used parts and barrels market. Still less expensive than custom guns.

Blaser USA service is first rate.

You will find some serious R8 haters here; it’s best to ignore them as we can’t help what happened to them in early childhood.

 

[Ravensview]

Thanks for the responses and information, you guys provided some great info.

 

[BeeMaa]

I'm in the process of getting rid of my Mauser 98s in 9.3 and 404 jeff and moving lock stock and barrel to Blaser Barrels

I thoroughly recommend both one day.. s input as well as Red leg and others

They are helping with advice at the moment on a 404 j conversion for the R8

We did this a few years ago and are not sorry at all. Best of luck with it.

Love to see what you come up with in a 404J. The heavier 22mm (Selous Safari) barrel contour has me hesitant.

 

[bowjijohn]

We did this a few years ago and are not sorry at all. Best of luck with it.

Love to see what you come up with in a 404J. The heavier 22mm (Selous Safari) barrel contour has me hesitant.

Well I had thought of going for a 22mm barrel, and a 12 or 16 oz kick stop

To be honest I'm just glad I can move to R8 in this calibre

Those of you who know UK law know what a ''buggers muddle'' getting permission to own a fire arm is - let alone a medium calibre

I am hesitant to go to the ''grown-ups'' and ask for a change in calibre as is gives them an opportunity to withdraw permission

I also have a shed load of 404 j ammo, cases and dies

3 years ago I had a Mauser 98 made in 404 j - in all that time I've had it for just a month! It was poorly built and wouldn't cycle properly.

Now after $5000 spent on it, I have the equivalent of a wall decoration - I'm told that the action is so poorly modified that I need to start again

It was never supposed to be so complicated !!

I already had an R8 and should have gone this route in the first place - It was @One Day... ' and his excellent research that revealed that medium calibres could be used in the lighter weight R8 pro

So now - with a fair wind I'll own a .22LR, .223, 6.5 x 55, 9.3 x 62 and 404 J in a Blaser R8 pro success.

That should suffice for the moment

 

[TOBY458]

I have the .22LR for the R8

Works very well and a great tool for cheap practice with both irons and the RD20

I'm in the process of getting rid of my Mauser 98s in 9.3 and 404 jeff and moving lock stock and barrel to Blaser Barrels

I thoroughly recommend both one day.. s input as well as Red leg and others

They are helping with advice at the moment on a 404 j conversion for the R8

If shooting normal 404J loads, you should be easily able to get away with a lighter contour barrel than the Selous. A fluted Semiweight comes to mind.

 

[bowjijohn]

If shooting normal 404J loads, you should be easily able to get away with a lighter contour barrel than the Selous. A fluted Semiweight comes to mind.

Thanks for that

400 grain softs and solids @ approx 2300 ft per sec is what I'm after

 

[TOBY458]

Thanks for that

400 grain softs and solids @ approx 2300 ft per sec is what I'm after

What stock are you using?

 

[bowjijohn]

What stock are you using?

Just the plastic thumb hole version with iron sights, RD 20 and swarovski Z8i 2 - 16 x 50 P scope

 

[TOBY458]

Just the plastic thumb hole version with iron sights, RD 20 and swarovski Z8i 2 - 16 x 50 P scope

Does it have the standard barrel channel?

 

[bowjijohn]

Does it have the standard barrel channel?

Yes but that can be opened very easily