R8 Semi weight vs std barrel for 375 H&H

[JoeSoap]

Assuming both fit into the R8 receiver ... Is it better to get a semi weight barrel vs a standard one for a 375H&H? Thought the heavier barrel would help to get the weight up for recoil perhaps??… Would it help accuracy being beefier?? It seem a lot more expensive so trying to figure out if it is worth it. Thx

 

[R eight]

I’d go with the standard weight. Whilst I don’t own a standard 375 H&H barrel I do own a standard in 9.3 x 62 which I consider nearly perfect.
As to differences in accuracy between semi weight and standard? If there’s a measurable difference then I’d be surprised. As to recoil management….well probably not an issue for most. In my opinion the R8’s are pretty comfortable to shoot.

My opinion is to just buy a standard with iron sights and buy a decent scope and or a red dot with the money saved to finish it off.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Shotgun Coach]

I have a Standard weight .375 R8 Barrel and I did not want to pay for the extra weight in the heavier barrel. Just my .05 worth (inflation you know)

 

[One Day...]

I am probably one of the rare R8 owners who has owned both.
I started with a standard barrel on an alloy insert receiver, and when I bought a steel insert receiver I resold the standard barrel and bought a semi weight,
The net difference is added weight. Some dislike it, some like it.
My own experience is that steel insert + semi weight barrel result in a .375 H&H that is a joy to shoot with really soft recoil, hence considerably increased accuracy for most shooters.
As to weight, if an 11 lbs double is considered appropriate, I fail to see why a 10+ lbs .375 would be problematic. I cannot tell if the rifle on my shoulder weighs one pound more or less, but I know that I am in a minority on this question…
As to accuracy, both of my barrels shot/shoots sub MOA with both Barnes TSX and Swift AFrame factory ammo, and around 1+ MOA with cheap practice PPU ammo.

 

[BeeMaa]

My current rig is a Blaser R8 Professional with aluminum receiver and standard (17 mm) barrel and weighs 3.5 kg (< 7.75 lbs) with a steel bolt knob and stock extension. I'm not a big guy coming in at 178 cm (70") and 72.5 kg (160 lbs) and handle the recoil very easily. Video below. Plus it's easy to carry all day and still shoot accurately. With a scope, 4 cartridges and a sling it's a touch over 4.5 kg (10 lbs) ready to hunt.

I also owned a 375H&H Selous (22 mm) barrel and found it to be EXTREMELY heavy. It threw off the overall balance of the rifle and almost needed the kickstop to even it out. Of course this would just make it heavier.

FYI - Both barrels were better shooters than I was. Turned in MOA or better 3-shot groups at 100 and 200 yards with 300 grain PPU, Barnes TSX and Woodleigh Hydros. I was using a Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 with an illuminated scope.

EDIT - If I were to do it again, I'd get a fluted standard barrel to reduce the weight a little more but that's all I'd change. They are hard to find and not currently in production...but they are out there.

 

[R eight]

After reading a few comments I’ve come to the conclusion that the R8 has one major flaw. The platform offers too many options for the average person to choose from.

Which stock should I choose ? Aluminium or steel receiver ? To install or not install the kick stop? Standard, standard fluted, semi weight or selous barrels, iron sights fitted or not? barrel length? And we haven’t even got to optics, bipods or suppression.

Anyway, it’s a good problem to have.

 

[R eight]

Further to my other warbling thoughts…

I own 2 x standard R8 Professionals and one R8 PH (steel receiver) . I’ve got about 10 barrels from 22LR to 500J. Three of the barrels are Selous, 375, 416 and 500J. In relation to the 375 barrel. With the benefit of hindsight I would now choose a standard barrel for the Professional. Only because I’d probably have more use for it that way. I’d happily hunt the hills of North America with that rifle. But humping the PH with a Selous barrel up hills for days would be….too interesting.

Anyway. I love my PH. With the 375 barrel it’s a pussy cat to shoot. I also love my 9.3x62 in my standard R8 Professionals and, yeah it’s pretty comfortable to shoot. ( and yes the 9.3 is not a 375 but it’s that bloody close in performance it’s hard to pick the difference. I know there is but it’s pretty hard to define)

So, it’s really up to your preferences, prejudice and its intended use.

But seriously you can’t go too far wrong with whatever option you choose.

 

[Lopehunter]

I don't have a ton of experience with the various barrels in the R8. However, I can confirm my standard weight barrel in .375 shoots less that 1/2 in. at 100 yds off the bench with the right hand-load.

I would add that in the field I am much steadier with quad sticks than with a tripod. With quad sticks I can easily hold on game at 200 yds . I believe getting quad sticks will yield much more improvement in field accuracy than a heavier barrel.

 

[JoeSoap]

Further to my other warbling thoughts…

I own 2 x standard R8 Professionals and one R8 PH (steel receiver) . I’ve got about 10 barrels from 22LR to 500J. Three of the barrels are Selous, 375, 416 and 500J. In relation to the 375 barrel. With the benefit of hindsight I would now choose a standard barrel for the Professional. Only because I’d probably have more use for it that way. I’d happily hunt the hills of North America with that rifle. But humping the PH with a Selous barrel up hills for days would be….too interesting.

Anyway. I love my PH. With the 375 barrel it’s a pussy cat to shoot. I also love my 9.3x62 in my standard R8 Professionals and, yeah it’s pretty comfortable to shoot. ( and yes the 9.3 is not a 375 but it’s that bloody close in performance it’s hard to pick the difference. I know there is but it’s pretty hard to define)

So, it’s really up to your preferences, prejudice and its intended use.

But seriously you can’t go too far wrong with whatever option you choose.

Can your 22LR barrel or other mid-size calibers go into the selous stock? I had heard people opening the Professional to accommodate a 416 but wondered if it all worked the other way around for the larger receiver and smaller calibers.

 

[BeeMaa]

Can your 22LR barrel or other mid-size calibers go into the selous stock? I had heard people opening the Professional to accommodate a 416 but wondered if it all worked the other way around for the larger receiver and smaller calibers.

Yes. I have a 22lr kit and can use it with ANY receiver and stock. The 22lr barrel is 17mm so it fits anything.

There will be a larger gap between the barrel and a stock opened up for a Selous barrel, but it's of little consequence. Only an aesthetic.

I found this picture of my 22lr barrel in my PH stock that is opened up to accept the Selous barrels.

 

[375Ruger416]

Can your 22LR barrel or other mid-size calibers go into the selous stock? I had heard people opening the Professional to accommodate a 416 but wondered if it all worked the other way around for the larger receiver and smaller calibers.

Yes, they will fit there will just be a gap between the barrel and barrel channel.

I have an r8 professional (aluminum receiver) with a 300 WM and 375 H&H 25.6” barrel with sights in a standard profile. Mine weighs 8 lb 14 oz with Leupold VX6HD 1-6 mounted. The standard weight profile is great for a 375.

 

[R eight]

Can your 22LR barrel or other mid-size calibers go into the selous stock? I had heard people opening the Professional to accommodate a 416 but wondered if it all worked the other way around for the larger receiver and smaller calibers.

Yes. Completely compatible. I often shoot my standard 9.3 x62 barrel in the PH stock. All R8 barrels will fit, without alteration, into the PH/Selous stock. Well…..maybe the “silenced barrel “ could be an exception. I can’t own one here so I don’t know.

 

[Green Chile]

Here are the two .375 barrels being discussed...accuracy from either is better than you can hold in the field.

 

[Steve O]

That is what I was going to add; you will never shoot well enough to discern an accuracy difference between the R8 barrel weights/contours.

 

[Muskox]

I have 3 R8 semi-weights and 3 R8 standard weights. All are factory barrels.

10,3x68 25 inch semiweight
10,3x68 22 inch semiweight
8x57 22 inch semiweight
6.5 Creedmoor 22 inch standard
7x64 22 inch standard
338 Blaser 25 inch standard

The most accurate is the 25 inch 10,3x68. Sub .5 inch 5 shot groups.

The least accurate is the 8x57 22 inch Semi-weight. The only thing it really shoots well is RWS Cineshot .5 inches for 5 shots. Everything else I have tried, which is not a ton is 1-1.25 inch five shot groups.

The rest are all about .75-1.2 inch guns.

The 8x57 recoils less than the 7x64, but not less than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

the 338 Blaser and both 10,3x68 RWS barrels have no discernible difference in recoil.

 

[TOBY458]

Standard weight all the way for me. A 375 in the R8 is not an unpleasant round to fire, even in the lightweight configuration of the 17mm barrel. My rifle, all in, weighs 9lbs with a 2-7x33 Leupold scope, sling and 4 rounds of ammo. It carries like a deer rifle and is very accurate. Not sure why you’d want to lug around any extra weight for zero benefit in accuracy. After all, we’re not shooting prairie dogs with a 375.

 

[Red Leg]

The first R8 that I acquired was a steel receiver with semi-weight forend and .300 Win Mag barrel. It was very, very heavy for that chambering. Next barrel was a semi-weight .375. Yes it was pleasant to shoot, but for a rifle that will be carried a lot and fired relatively little. it was far too heavy.

I next acquired the sadly discontinued classic stock with alloy action designed for standard weight barrels and have never looked back. The standard .375 barrel so configured made the perfect hunting rifle for Africa. I eventually added a professional stock and a number of other barrels (to include a standard weight .300 for the original Jaeger steel action) as a go anywhere in any terrain or weather option. The Success variant came last also configured for the standard barrels.

 

[One Day...]

Here are the two .375 barrels being discussed...accuracy from either is better than you can hold in the field.

View attachment 719702

Just to add one more piece of data to the equation, the pic provided by Green Chile probably shows a 25.5" standard barrel and a 22.8" semi weight barrel.

FYI, JoeSoap, the semi weight .375 H&H is also available in 25.5". This is the option I selected as I believe that the additional 2.7" are relevant for the .375 H&H which is a caliber that can use all the velocity possible (i.e. flatter trajectory) when it comes to its use as a one-rifle option for both PG and DG.

The weight data is the following, based on actual weight measurement of actual components:

A few ounces can be shaved by using a lighter scope. For example, the Zeiss V6 1-6x24 on my 9.3x62 barrel weighs 496 grams (1 lb. 1 oz) and would shave 3 ounces from either total.

To put things in perspective both Win 70 Safari Express and CZ 550 .375 H&H with the same Leica Magnus 1-6x24 scope, weigh 10 lbs 9 oz (9 lbs naked), that is to say 1 lb 6 oz more than the light weight option for the R8 .375 H&H.

In summary, as emphasized by R eight, Blaser's endless options give you the choice, JoeSoap, to go either 1 lb lighter or 1 lb heavier than the "typical" .375 H&H weight.

I agree with Red Leg and others that the standard barrel mounted on the alloy insert stock (the so-called "Professional") makes a perfectly viable option at 9 lbs 3 oz. Yes it (logically) recoils more than the semi weight barrel on top a steel insert stock (the so-called "Professional Hunter" or "Safari" in various marketing pieces), but it is still perfectly acceptable (46 ft/lbs with 300 gr loads) and well below a .458 Lott 500 gr load out of a 11.5 lbs rifle (58 ft/lbs).

But to put things in perspective, the semi weight barrel on top a steel insert stock only generates 38 ft/lbs...

So here you go, in quantified terms, the trade-off between standard barrel on alloy insert stock, and semi weight barrel on steel insert stock is 25% less recoil for 2 additional pounds.

Your call

 

[One Day...]

Argh! Typo!!! the above should read "17% less recoil for 2 additional pounds."

Also, the weight of the semi weight barrel is better stated as 3 lbs 12 oz rather than 2 lbs 28 oz (dang Excel!)

 

[Green Chile]

Argh! Typo!!! the above should read "17% less recoil for 2 additional pounds."

Also, the weight of the semi weight barrel is better stated as 3 lbs 12 oz rather than 2 lbs 28 oz (dang Excel!)

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