Well I've Done It Now!!! (Joining The R8 Cult)

[TOBY458]

Just need blaser to buy all my others off me

Oh you'll probably need to sell quite a few to buy the Safari 500J!

 

[TOBY458]

One thing I will say about this rifle is. It's the only gun that I've ever studied that I can't fully understand how it operates. It's definitely a TOTALLY different animal than a Mauser or Winchester 70! It's kind of like the Ipad of rifles. Haha!

Well now that I've spent a little time with it, the operation is actually quite simple. It's just so much different from a standard bolt action, it takes a little reverse engineering in your mind. I hate not knowing how something mechanical works! But I was actually impressed with the simplicity of the design once I figured it out.

 

[BeeMaa]

Well now that I've spent a little time with it, the operation is actually quite simple. It's just so much different from a standard bolt action, it takes a little reverse engineering in your mind. I hate not knowing how something mechanical works! But I was actually impressed with the simplicity of the design once I figured it out.

It took me about 10 shots with my R8 to forget how to work a traditional bolt rifle.

I was shooting my new (to me) R8 300WM and my friend his MK4 303BRIT.
After about 10 shots each, we decided to switch.
Took me about 5 seconds to realize I was trying to straight pull a MK4.
My friend didn't fair much better with the R8.

The point is...once you have it, you have it.
To me it just feels natural now.
Muscle memory is real.

 

[TOBY458]

It took me about 10 shots with my R8 to forget how to work a traditional bolt rifle.

I was shooting my new (to me) R8 300WM and my friend his MK4 303BRIT.
After about 10 shots each, we decided to switch.
Took me about 5 seconds to realize I was trying to straight pull a MK4.
My friend didn't fair much better with the R8.

The point is...once you have it, you have it.
To me it just feels natural now.
Muscle memory is real.

Yes. I find the R8 is easy to get used to. My issue was figuring out how the actual mechanism of the action works. It is very different from the way a typical Mauser or Winchester action works. But if you study it a bit, it's pretty simple, and nothing really to fail.

 

[AZDAVE]

@TOBY458 Now that you have owned your R8 for more than two weeks, I will trade you for a Ruger #1 in 475 Linebaugh

Looks like you finally found a rifle that you will hang on to and hunt with a lot.

 

[TOBY458]

@TOBY458 Now that you have owned your R8 for more than two weeks, I will trade you for a Ruger #1 in 475 Linebaugh

Looks like you finally found a rifle that you will hang on to and hunt with a lot.

Two weeks is definitely pushing it! Hahaha! I'm expecting my 375 barrel and scope mount to arrive today, so I'm getting in pretty deep!

 

[AES]

Shot my Blaser 30-06 at the range for the first time today. 3 round groups w/ all holes touching. I figure it’s a .5 moa gun in the right hands. Really an impressive firearm. Great trigger and comfy to shoot!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Shot my Blaser 30-06 at the range for the first time today. 3 round groups w/ all holes touching. I figure it’s a .5 moa gun in the right hands. Really an impressive firearm. Great trigger and comfy to shoot!

What ammo were you using?

 

[rinehart0050]

Congrats on joining the club!

 

[TOBY458]

I got my 375 H&H barrel today. I installed the 2-7×33 Leupold scope and bore sighted it. Hoping to shoot it tomorrow. The rifle with the 375 barrel only weighs 7lbs 8oz.
The 375 rifle with the 2-7×33 scope weighs 8lbs 9oz.
The 375 rifle with the 2-7×33 scope and 4 rounds of 300gr TSX ammo weighs 8lbs 14 oz.
This is a perfect package for a 375!
So for anyone wondering, the 7mm Rem Mag barrel weighs 4oz more than the 375 H&H barrel. They are both standard contour.

 

[AES]

What ammo were you using?

Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X

 

[TOBY458]

Well, I took the 375 barrel out for a very small spin today. Shot 4 rounds to check zero of the iron sights and overall function. I was surprised at how little felt recoil there was from a 7lbs 8oz rifle. Also the action seems even smoother when cycling the larger 375 cartridges. This thing needs a buffalo in it's sights!

 

[Ridgewalker]

This thing needs a buffalo in it's sights!

+1

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Well, I took the 375 barrel out for a very small spin today. Shot 4 rounds to check zero of the iron sights and overall function. I was surprised at how little felt recoil there was from a 7lbs 8oz rifle. Also the action seems even smoother when cycling the larger 375 cartridges. This thing needs a buffalo in it's sights!

Make sure the scope is out of the way this time.

 

[TOBY458]

Make sure the scope is out of the way this time.

No more Sako issues for me!

 

[Philip Glass]

No one sells a Blaser. It just doesn’t happen.

 

[TOBY458]

Well, I got my replacement scope mount yesterday. I received a defective one a couple of weeks ago, and had to send it back. Now today I had a chance to mount a new Leupold VX3 3.5-10×40 on the 7mm Rem Mag barrel. Now I have a complete package. The 375 barrel wears a Leupold 2-7×33 scope on it. So either scope could stand in for the other, if problems should arise.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Well, I got my replacement scope mount yesterday. I received a defective one a couple of weeks ago, and had to send it back. Now today I had a chance to mount a new Leupold VX3 3.5-10×40 on the 7mm Rem Mag barrel. Now I have a complete package. The 375 barrel wears a Leupold 2-7×33 scope on it. So either scope could stand in for the other, if problems should arise.

View attachment 387875

Excellent idea!

 

[Tra3]

Redundancy! I love that if something were to fail, you can swap it.
This spring I plan to test accuracy by swapping bolt mechanisms between R8’s to see what difference, if any, were to happen. I also am going to swap scopes to find out approximate changes, then maybe makes some notes. (And I suppose I’ll report back)

And Toby, the deer in the middle is quite nice.

 

[TOBY458]

Redundancy! I love that if something were to fail, you can swap it.
This spring I plan to test accuracy by swapping bolt mechanisms between R8’s to see what difference, if any, were to happen. I also am going to swap scopes to find out approximate changes, then maybe makes some notes. (And I suppose I’ll report back)

And Toby, the deer in the middle is quite nice.

Thanks! I shot him about 1/4 mile from my house in Georgia. Uncommonly thick rack for the deer we usually see around here.