Blaser Rifles

Rimbaud

AH enthusiast
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Messages
253
Reaction score
465
Location
USA
Media
7
Hunting reports
Africa
2
Member of
SCI, DSC
Hunted
England, Hungary, United States, Scotland, Namibia, Argentina
I'm interested in a Blaser R8, .375 H&H. I shoot LH, and my son shoots RH,, which creates some challenges. Thanks for any insight into how these rifles handle, safety issues, if any, with the bolt, and any relevant info.
 
Very long story short. I have a r8 kilombero in .458 Lott and .300 win mag coming my way the end of June. It comes with a grade 7 wood stock. Thus I HAD to buy a professional hunter composite stock to save the wood stock. . But my son shoots lefty and I righty. I bought a left hand bolt and a 6.5 creedmore match barrel with it. I absolutely love the gun. I shot factory ammo federal loaded Sierra matchking bullets and shot a 9 shot group that measured .71 inches at 100 yards. Trigger is awesome. Safety takes getting used to but I had it on my s2 which I sold. Craftsmanship, shooting, handling are all awesome but as you know you pay for it. The composite stock is ambidextrous so all you need for your son is an additional bolt assembly.
 
Is the wood stock ambidextrous , or just the synthetic? Thanks MMAL.
 
No, the wood stocks are made either right or left handed. A lefty could shoot the right handed butt stock but probably wouldn't care for it. The Synthetic stock is completely ambidextrous. You will want to have a a bolt housing and bolt head each for right handed and one for left handed.

My R8 synthetic Safari stock with kick stop and steel receiver weighs 6lbs.1-1/4oz. It's barrel channel is also bigger for their Semi Weight 19mm & Safari 22mm at the muzzle barrels. My Standard synthetic with aluminum receiver weighs 3lbs.8-3/4oz. Its barrel channel is made for their standard barrels which are 17mm at the muzzle. I think Blaser will open the standard stock barrel channel for you but it is something you should check. Both stocks will do fine with the .375H&H.
 
Dchamp is right about the stock. The bolt head will work in either bolt housing it just ejects on the wrong side so to speak. Just an FYI.
 
I am convinced that the R8 is the best repeater currently in production anywhere by anyone (and I own a few others). Mine shoots MOA with nearly anything I feed it, and in it’s .375 guise has taken everything from Suni to Cape Buffalo. It’s design is a tour de force of ergonomic brilliance - perfect form following perfect function.
 
I've got the Professional Success stock with a 375H&H barrel. As stated above, without any tools you can swap the bolt and bolt head (or just the bolt if you don't mind the cases being ejected the wrong way) so no problems there, but only some of their stocks are ambidextrous. My rifle functions flawlessly and I'm very happy with it. I've got the standard profile barrel with standard magnum length (26" vs 24" for non magnum)), the weight of the rifle is quite sufficient for the recoil though if you get bothered by it you can screw in a recoil reducer - this DIY job and only takes a few minutes so you can put in and take it out as desired (on the synthetic stock at least not sure about the timber ones). You can get heavier profile barrel and the synthetic stocks can be ordered ready to or opened up to accept them (this is just removal of some plastic, does not affect any hard parts and you can still use standard barrels). Standard barrel is 17mm, semi heavy 19mm and heavy 22mm so even standard one is not "pencil thin". For 375 I wouldn't bother with heavier profile unless you particularly prefer heavier profile barrels. I've asked Blaser and was told that the lighter alloy receiver is strong enough for all of the calibres available (up to 500 Jeffery) but they don't recommend it for anything above 375 due to recoil getting rough due to lighter weight. I think I've mentioned this in some other post, you can get two types of sights with their barrels and the HIVIZ ones are much better than standard and in my opinion well worth the upcharge. I bought my barrels with standard ones and ended up upgrading.
 
I'm interested in a Blaser R8, .375 H&H. I shoot LH, and my son shoots RH,, which creates some challenges. Thanks for any insight into how these rifles handle, safety issues, if any, with the bolt, and any relevant info.
Rimbaud,
I just bought a Professional S left hand 7mm for my 12 yo son. He really likes it and is shooting well as we prepare for our May Safari to Namibia. I have a Professional Success in .375 coming soon but not sure in time for this safari.
Everyone online likes to talk about a couple incidents with the R93 and likely suped up hand loads. The R8 is a completely re-engineered rifle so let’s put all that nonsense to rest.
If you can get past the price tag and understand how the Germans engineered this fine rifle you will never look back. It is incredible and the possibilities are endless.
To answer your question this gun handles very well in many respects. The design allows it to be shorter than a standard bolt gun and that is worth a lot to me. Check out the many videos online on Blasers site.
I first used one in Austria when my gun got lost by the airlines. It wowed me and here I am getting my own.
Caution: many people who can’t afford an R8 will bash them so just keep that in mind.
Enjoy the journey to your new R8!
Philip
 
I am convinced that the R8 is the best repeater currently in production anywhere by anyone (and I own a few others). Mine shoots MOA with nearly anything I feed it, and in it’s .375 guise has taken everything from Suni to Cape Buffalo. It’s design is a tour de force of ergonomic brilliance - perfect form following perfect function.
I’ve also heard from professional shooting instructors that it will shoot most any kind of ammo very well. This is important and I’m tired of hunting for the right load for some of my guns.
 
I've got the Professional Success stock with a 375H&H barrel. As stated above, without any tools you can swap the bolt and bolt head (or just the bolt if you don't mind the cases being ejected the wrong way) so no problems there, but only some of their stocks are ambidextrous. My rifle functions flawlessly and I'm very happy with it. I've got the standard profile barrel with standard magnum length (26" vs 24" for non magnum)), the weight of the rifle is quite sufficient for the recoil though if you get bothered by it you can screw in a recoil reducer - this DIY job and only takes a few minutes so you can put in and take it out as desired (on the synthetic stock at least not sure about the timber ones). You can get heavier profile barrel and the synthetic stocks can be ordered ready to or opened up to accept them (this is just removal of some plastic, does not affect any hard parts and you can still use standard barrels). Standard barrel is 17mm, semi heavy 19mm and heavy 22mm so even standard one is not "pencil thin". For 375 I wouldn't bother with heavier profile unless you particularly prefer heavier profile barrels. I've asked Blaser and was told that the lighter alloy receiver is strong enough for all of the calibres available (up to 500 Jeffery) but they don't recommend it for anything above 375 due to recoil getting rough due to lighter weight. I think I've mentioned this in some other post, you can get two types of sights with their barrels and the HIVIZ ones are much better than standard and in my opinion well worth the upcharge. I bought my barrels with standard ones and ended up upgrading.
So you are shooting the .375 in a standard weight barrel? At the shows I only got to handle a heavy weight barrel which is ridiculously heavy. I was afraid of the standard barrel being too light so was going to get the semi weight. What do you think I should do? Still waiting on mine and can likely change barrel on the order.
Philip
 
Rimbaud,
I just bought a Professional S left hand 7mm for my 12 yo son. He really likes it and is shooting well as we prepare for our May Safari to Namibia. I have a Professional Success in .375 coming soon but not sure in time for this safari.
Everyone online likes to talk about a couple incidents with the R93 and likely suped up hand loads. The R8 is a completely re-engineered rifle so let’s put all that nonsense to rest.
If you can get past the price tag and understand how the Germans engineered this fine rifle you will never look back. It is incredible and the possibilities are endless.
To answer your question this gun handles very well in many respects. The design allows it to be shorter than a standard bolt gun and that is worth a lot to me. Check out the many videos online on Blasers site.
I first used one in Austria when my gun got lost by the airlines. It wowed me and here I am getting my own.
Caution: many people who can’t afford an R8 will bash them so just keep that in mind.
Enjoy the journey to your new R8!
Philip

phillip i could probably afford one but have no desire to ....as they are fugly .....to put it politely.....but @Red Leg knows my opinion :D.....but each to their own :D Beers:
 
@Philip Glass , I only use the sporter weight barrels on my R8 now. In that weight, I get a sub 8 lb rifle in .375 - an ounce or so over nine with ammo and scope on board. Mine has the “classic” sporter stock. It is like carrying a 30-06 and because of the ergonomics, recoil is a non-issue on any shot from the field. I use a lead sled for serious sight in work - but two or three verification shots from the outfitter’s bench are not an issue.

And @spike.t doesn’t know shite about fugly.(y)
 
Last edited:
That’s right Philip. When I got mine the shop owner convinced me there was no point getting heavier barrel though they had them available. I was quite frightened of the recoil as the biggest gun I shot till then was 308 so I got mine with threaded barrel and got the Blaser brake for it as well as a mercury recoil reducer. Took the brake off after the first few shots (hate the noise of the thing) and also took the recoil reducer out. I am able to shoot it off the bench without issues and it’s perfectly tolerable though 22LR it is not. Mind you the standard magnum barrel length for R8 is 2” longer than non magnum which adds a little more weight to the front of the gun. Since the gun itself is quite compact it’s still very handy. If I was to buy it all over again, having shot over half a thousand rounds through it I’d still get the standard barrel profile. No doubt heavier barrel would reduce muzzle rise but with the 375 it’s not an issue. For those recoil shy - with the muzzle brake and mercury reducer installed 300grain high power loads felt like 22-250.
 
I am convinced that the R8 is the best repeater currently in production anywhere by anyone (and I own a few others). Mine shoots MOA with nearly anything I feed it, and in it’s .375 guise has taken everything from Suni to Cape Buffalo. It’s design is a tour de force of ergonomic brilliance - perfect form following perfect function.

WOW! Can I submit my posts to you for suggestions prior to posting?
I'll try and make a few points that haven't already been made albeit without Red Leg's flair.

I think everyone here knows I'm a Blaser fan and I can't say enough about my Blaser.
My setup is a R8 Kilombero with safari grade .300 Win Mag and .375 H&H barrels.
I get sub-moa accuracy from a bench with both barrels using Zeiss Victory scopes. (yes I know they're not cheap)
I would suggest that you NOT get a superlight rifle in .375 H&H - get a Negrini sling that lets you carry the rifle on your back like a back pack. I'm not a fan of light rifles in anything 30-06 or over - that's just me.

One of the real obvious advantages of Blaser is the fact that the scope mounts on the barrel - I get return to zero. These rifles don't have a receiver like you're used to seeing on a traditional rotary bolt gun which is why this works.

Open sights come with the safari barrels which I insist upon having in case of any issues with the scope.
The modular system allows not only for the exchange of barrels, but as earlier posters said, LH & RH bolts.

Regarding the scope mounts. Blaser has a unique "saddle mount" so your scope mounts will work & interchange with Blaser barrels.

If you would like to use the scope(s) that you use on the Blaser with another rifle you can get what's called an "Innomount" that has the saddle mount milled into to a picatinny rail which bolts to your traditional rifle.
They make one that will fit my Browning rifles and I have considered them but have not tried them; height above bore might be an issue.
REF - this one is for a Remington: https://www.innogun-shop.de/jagd/ba...-picatinny-blaser-remington-mod.-700-sa?c=267

Try and get to a NRA or SCI show to see these rifles and get the Blaser folks to build you different rifle combinations while you watch. They did this for me at their booth at the 2012 NRA show in St Louis, MO and I was hooked.

My Blaser setup:

IMG_3477s.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 8.47.06 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 8.47.06 AM.png
    506.6 KB · Views: 327
  • Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 8.47.17 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2019-04-10 at 8.47.17 AM.png
    465.9 KB · Views: 385
Hi Guys
I don’t own Blaser R8’s, but a good friend of mine does. He has the Professional Success in .300 Win Mag and the Professional in .243 Win and 7x64.

Being uninformed and a traditionalist at heart,I used to dislike Blaser with a passion! That has all changed now. They shoot like target rifles with nearly anything you feed them. Their trigger is like snot on glass as is the action.

Fantastic rifles! Get one (or two, or three...)!!!
 
Anyone with a R8 try out the new Atzl Match-Hunt Trigger? Supposedly with a flip of a button can change the trigger from the standard 1 lb 6.9oz pull to a match trigger at .88lbs. The button is located on the outside of the trigger/mag housing so not for when on the sticks but a nice feature. Not sure why but I believe I read it is not available for the safari calibers. Trying to find out more information.

I agree BigSteve about the open sights on the safari barrels. The 22mm safari barrel is the only ones that come with open sights. I will be a traditionalist with big bore rifles until my eyes make it impossible.
 
Anyone with a R8 try out the new Atzl Match-Hunt Trigger? Supposedly with a flip of a button can change the trigger from the standard 1 lb 6.9oz pull to a match trigger at .88lbs. The button is located on the outside of the trigger/mag housing so not for when on the sticks but a nice feature. Not sure why but I believe I read it is not available for the safari calibers. Trying to find out more information.

I agree BigSteve about the open sights on the safari barrels. The 22mm safari barrel is the only ones that come with open sights. I will be a traditionalist with big bore rifles until my eyes make it impossible.

Regarding the open sights:
The open sights are tough too - no folding down leaf to catch on brush and break. They are zeroed at 100M if I recall correctly.
 
I'm with Red Leg on using sporter (17mm) weight barrels. I have experienced nothing negative about them, even in .300Wby they are superb. .
 
I'm with Red Leg on using sporter (17mm) weight barrels. I have experienced nothing negative about them, even in .300Wby they are superb. .
And my .375 and 300 Win Mag sporter weight barrels have the same open sights as the Safari series. And they are superb.

But the amazing thing is that you can configure your rifle exactly as you prefer. I like light - as noted above others prefer a heavier rifle. The R8 accommodates all with superb accuracy.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,635
Messages
1,131,659
Members
92,723
Latest member
edwardsrailcarcom00
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top