What problems have you encountered with your Blaser R8?

[BeeMaa]

Nothing at all
Only one I returned was a 500j because the Canadian importer failed to obtain a bolt head after 8 months

Was it a Canada government bureaucracy problem or the importer had issues?

 

[Philip Glass]

We've just had our first problem. My son evidently put the rifle on safe with the bolt open. Now it won't fire. Why or how he did this is a mystery to me.

 

[nomspc]

Don’t need to run the R8 bolt hard. A smooth, efficient stroke is reliable under pressure.

 

[steve white]

Don’t need to run the R8 bolt hard. A smooth, efficient stroke is reliable under pressure.

Sez a man shouldering the tip of the buttstock onto his collarbone...

 

[ve7poi]

Was it a Canada government bureaucracy problem or the importer had issues?

Both I beleave

 

[Opposite Pole]

We've just had our first problem. My son evidently put the rifle on safe with the bolt open. Now it won't fire. Why or how he did this is a mystery to me.

Any updates on the issues?

 

[30.06king]

We've just had our first problem. My son evidently put the rifle on safe with the bolt open. Now it won't fire. Why or how he did this is a mystery to me.

Did he do this by toggling the thumb operated button / lever on the rear of the bolt ?
Don't know about the R8 but if I did this on my R93 I would simply reinsert the bolt into the action, possibly also fully closing the bolt, and the safety on / off function, by toggling the button / lever, works perfectly. I would think this should also be the case with an R8.

 

[Philip Glass]

Did he do this by toggling the thumb operated button / lever on the rear of the bolt ?
Don't know about the R8 but if I did this on my R93 I would simply reinsert the bolt into the action, possibly also fully closing the bolt, and the safety on / off function, by toggling the button / lever, works perfectly. I would think this should also be the case with an R8.

Thank you for this. I did try removing the bolt and messing with the safety back and forth. I realized after I drove to San Antonio and dropped it off at Blaser that there must be an easy fix and I just needed a pro to walk me through it. I should have just FaceTimed my hunting buddy @TOBY458 and he could have probably helped me figure it out. Now no gun for early deer season!

 

[Philip Glass]

Any updates on the issues?

No, Blaser still has it. I leave for Spain Monday. I am hoping to have it for my son to hunt at Christmas time.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

We have had Blaser R8's for five years now and have only come up with one major problem...it's boring.

Boringly accurate, boringly reliable, with boringly repeatable results.

Never been happier with a rifle system over a period of time like these.

@BeeMaa
As Forest Gump said boring is as boring does.
Well he would have if he had an R8. We all know you have a soft spot for your Barbie gun.
I would have to get a special stock so I could use one as the stock just plain don't fit me at all. If'n I was normal size and not a big bastard maybe it would be fine. Then again not many rifles fit me straight out of the box. I usually have to add a bit of length.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[BeeMaa]

@BeeMaa
As Forest Gump said boring is as boring does.
Well he would have if he had an R8. We all know you have a soft spot for your Barbie gun.
I would have to get a special stock so I could use one as the stock just plain don't fit me at all. If'n I was normal size and not a big bastard maybe it would be fine. Then again not many rifles fit me straight out of the box. I usually have to add a bit of length.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

I added 20mm in stock spacers to achieve proper fit.

 

[TOBY458]

I added 20mm in stock spacers to achieve proper fit.

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen only gave 20mm to his last girlfriend, and she left him for a magnum man.

 

[Tra3]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen only gave 20mm to his last girlfriend, and she left him for a magnum man.

What? We can hunt with a 20 MM? Wow, I feel undergunned now.

 

[bowjijohn]

I can now officially say I’ve had (still have) a problem with my R8

Was changing calibres yesterday- 404 Jeff to .22RF

During the change over a tiny piece of metalwork came shooting out of somewhere, landing on the bench

Turns out that it is very likely to be the rimfire firing pin

Pics don’t upload which is a shame

Anyone else had such an issue??

J

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Is a general description, can you tell us more details? I asume this came during changing the head bolt ?

 

[bowjijohn]

Is a general description, can you tell us more details? I asume this came during changing the head bolt ?

It’s a bit difficult to be particularly forensic about it as I was only aware of the issue when the bit of metal went scooting across the table

I had been struggling to seat the .22LR bolt in the carrier- something I’ve done many times -

The cross lever that holds the bolt in place wouldn’t close and I do admit to trying to force it

I removed the .22 bolt and replaced the 404 to check that that would seat correctly- it did!

However I subsequently discovered that the bolt handle had been pushed into the close position- that made it difficult to seat the bolt in the carrier properly

Speculation of course but I must have damaged the firing pin when trying to force the leaver that holds the bolt into position

I don’t, though, know that the cause and affect are related

They did however coincide

My next issue is …

how easy is it to reseat the firing pin

Have i damaged it

If so

Can I purchase a replacement and fit it without sending it back to Blaser

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

This is something else!
When you change the head bolt you need to be sure that is closed properly and the lever lock is in his place. Forsing the bolt with head bolt without rimfire firing pin completely on his place can cause the problem you described.
Without pictures is difficult to evaluate the damages.
All those operations need a primary care and training. Best is to be shown by a professional gunsmith.

 

[bowjijohn]

.

 

[Justbryan]

My only issue was finding scope mounts and rings when I needed them. Then paying $500 dollars for a mount seems too high for me!

 

[BeeMaa]

My only issue was finding scope mounts and rings when I needed them. Then paying $500 dollars for a mount seems too high for me!

True. But that's not a problem with the rifle, it's a problem you have with the pricing.

The Blaser brand QD mounting system locks up like a bank vault when installed, maintains zero every time and can be removed in under 5 seconds if necessary. Not a lot of other mounts out there that can accomplish these things for less money.