Baser R8 Professional Success 9.3x62 mm + Z6i 2nd gen 1,7-10x42 BT SR for first safari in RSA

This is the combination I will be using this summer for our first safari in RSA:

Blaser R8 professional success 9.3x62 mm with semi-weight flutted barrel
Zwarovski Z6i 2nd generation 1,7-10x42 BT SR



I sold my Blaser Express in 9.3x74R and my CZ in 7x64 to keep only this ONE rifle for all the hunt I will be doing now.

2 wild boars, 1 roedeer and 1 fox were taken with that R8 and my Aimpoint Hunter 34S, at the very end of the driven hunt season in France. The thumbhole is magic.

For a few weeks now, I have been testing a wide variety of ammunitions (15), to select the one that offer the best grouping at 100m and 200m in this rifle. So far only only two 286 grs rounded soft nose with bonded core remain in the short list. The final selection should be completed in a few weeks now.

Herve

Nice rifle!

Mechanically, optically - probably even ergonomically - a wonderful weapon. It is just not my style. Give me that same rifle and scope nested in a fine piece of walnut with classic express rifle lines and then you would have something! But that is just me. Your rifle will serve you extremely well in the RSA.

Yes Red leg. Mechanics, optics, ergonomy, in one word: function. After 10 years of hunting and several rifles, this is all I am looking for in a rifle now. And this one is for me.

I also appreciate very much fine piece of walnut, fine gunsmith work, and all the hours of work that is behind. But this is not for me. This is also what I like in hunting: the wide variety of style, people, hunts, weapons, animals, places... This endless discovery is really rewarding.

as you say herve its good that people like variety, and if its your idea of perfect then great. i dont mind synthetic stocks and have a couple of rifles with them, but only "normal shape" on mine, yours is a bit space age for me...

spike.t, of course it is space age, I am a rocket scientist!

well you should put that on your profile as i dont think we have many of them on here, a few space cadets maybe ....

Originally Posted by enysse

Nice rifle!

times 2
that stock looks very comfortable

Love those straight pull bolt guns laser fast. I keep waiting to get my hands on a R8 to try it vs my R93 Blaser's I would like to try there 500 Jeffrey out. I have 4 complete R93's and about 12 barrels for them and love the way they shoot. I do like the feel and look of wood better but they all shoot great.
Attachment 19058 here is my tactical 2 I had to modify and fit my suppressor on

How have you found it for fast follow-up shots??

I havent had any experience with the Blaser myself but i did see a comprehensive review on a hunting show and while every aspect of the rifle was positive there was a question about the stock. It was evident from watching that the tester was not familiar with the stock type as he had hesitation in coming out of the large thumbhole and getting back in after a lightening fast bolt throw. He would have prefered the standard stock and opined that it would be the fastest rifle about if standard type stock was used for fast follow-up or multiple shots.

Originally Posted by Von Gruff

How have you found it for fast follow-up shots??

I havent had any experience with the Blaser myself but i did see a comprehensive review on a hunting show and while every aspect of the rifle was positive there was a question about the stock. It was evident from watching that the tester was not familiar with the stock type as he had hesitation in coming out of the large thumbhole and getting back in after a lightening fast bolt throw. He would have prefered the standard stock and opined that it would be the fastest rifle about if standard type stock was used for fast follow-up or multiple shots.

I'm sure it does make a difference between a straight stock and a thumbhole stock. I have a few thumbhole stock and think they are super steady, but I would not term them rapid shooters.

Hi Von Gruff. I can be very fast with my R8 Pro Success. Though I had to do some training, because firstly, I was taking my thumb out from the thumbhole to grip the lever with the thumb and 2 fingers. It was not easy to insert back the thumb into the thumbhole. With some training at home (and thanks to my big hands), I have found that I can keep my thumb sliding straight in the thumbhole while only 2 fingers pull the lever and 2 fingers+the tip of the palm push the lever. Thus I can be really fast. You can see it on this video that I have prepared for you yesterday evening:



Enjoy!

Nice shooting, that was fast!

Thanks Herve, The stock has such a large opening for the hand and so I did wonder why they called it the profesional if it was going to be a slow to use stock. I had thought that it might be a matter of practice makes perfect and your rapid rechambering of a new round certainly makes that clear. Thanks for the vid.

Very nice rifle & scope setup. I look forward to handling the success stock.