Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffrey, shootability?

The R8 rifle is the queen of marketing; as a premium modern rifle, the Sauer 505 is more reliable, though for big game hunting, a Mauser system is essential—or a high-quality over-and-under.
 
Carcajou said:
The R8 rifle is the queen of marketing; as a premium modern rifle, the Sauer 505 is more reliable, though for big game hunting, a Mauser system is essential—or a high-quality over-and-under.
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That is absolutely true, Blaser is excellent when it comes to marketing.

It is beyond question that their rifles and particularly the R8, are of high quality; however, for something as brutal as the cartridge 500 Jeffery, one should choose a device that better fit with it.

The cartridge 500 Jeffery is, moreover, a traditional cartridge, one that perhaps never possessed the aura of many others from the same era and earlier, but his history is inextricably linked to the Mauser bolt actions, and in particular to the standard Mauser 98 bolt action. By the way, she is better suited for a Mauser Magnum action than for a standard one.
 
Schüler Jumbo said:
.500 Jeff recoil in perspective:
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I was slinging 570gr bullets at 2300fps from a 505 Gibbs. If the gun is built properly the recoil is manageable.

My current rifle throws a 1200gr bullet at 1300fps... you would be surprised how much recoil can be mitigated by a well-built gun.
 
Carcajou said:
The R8 rifle is the queen of marketing; as a premium modern rifle, the Sauer 505 is more reliable, though for big game hunting, a Mauser system is essential—or a high-quality over-and-under.
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Right, but the 505 is only available in 2 DG cartridge...375H&H and 10.3x60R (basically a 450/400NE).

While the R8 is available from the factory in 375H&H, 416RM, 458LOTT or 500J. There have also been special runs of the 458WM, but it's not listed in their catalog.

FYI - The Sauer & Sons is owned by the same company that owns Blaser, L&O Holdings.
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
Greetings to you all. We have just finished a buffalo hunt, which I will be writing up, but the experience has left me seriously considering a larger calibre rifle, and the one on offer is a Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffrey. I shot one and the recoil was stout, but not extreme. What are your experiences?
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Very high quality reliable rifle. You won’t be disappointed.
 
@R eight has one

pretty sure it’s steel
 
Aussie_Hunter said:
I have owned both the PH (composite stock) and Kilombero models in 500 Jeffery and hunted with both extensively. The stock on the Kilombero model fits me much better, I hd a 1" decelerator pad fitted and hand loaded 535 grain Woodleighs with 100 grains of 2208 and a foam filler in Norma brass, which gave me around 2250-2300fps. Very accuracte and very easy to shoot for a 500 Jeffery. I've used it with a Blaser red dot and a Leupold VX-3 HD 1-5 scope, I prefered the low power scope on this rifle over the red dot and never had any issues with eye relief. I really like the safety feature of the decocker especially when hunting in Africa when there is several people in the hunting party. With practice it can be fired nearly as quick as a double, the takedown feature makes it great for travel. My opinion is it is one of the best rifles in the world you.

I also know several other hunters from Australia with the R8 in 500 Jeffery that swear by them.

And the 500 Jeffery cartridge, well there is not much that needs to be said about it, the 500's just hit different compared to other calibres.

Aussie_Hunter

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: 10 Day Non-Trophy Buffalo Hunt'

I just got home from a 10 day non-trophy buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe with @DAVE LANGERMAN Safaris, the hunt was in the BVC out of Fimbiri camp.

I chose to use my Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffery for the hunt, firing handloaded 535 grain Woodleigh RNSN bullets at right on 2300fps. Rifle is topped with a Leupold VX3-HD 1.5-5 scope. I also took my Highland Stalker in 9.3 as a back up rifle and for warthog but with the thick bush we didn't end up with a warthog unfortunately.

The first bull came on the afternoon of day 3, after seeing the bull on a small waterhole we got into position on the...
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AH, the 500 I have bought has the composite PH stock, but I like wood. Do you think that the Kilombero stock is up to the task strength wise?
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
AH, the 500 I have bought has the composite PH stock, but I like wood. Do you think that the Kilombero stock is up to the task strength wise?
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Absolutely!

The Kiloembero stock is the standard wood stock for the Selous (22mm profile) barrel set.
1779540346084.png


The Selous complete set has upgraded wood and color case hardened receiver.
1779540380492.png
 
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Tintin said:
@R eight has one

pretty sure it’s steel
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Yes, he has - definitely in steel. Because of the uncertainty of importing the R8 (Bondi massacre with a straight-pull rifle - Beretta BRX-1 - the government has banned import of straight-pulls), R-eight took his Rigby (416) to hunt his elephant (still in Africa now).

His 500 Jeff is stout but very shootable - and very accurate (better than the Sako 85).
 
Why the change in rifle @Kevin Peacocke did the double not do it for you?
Or it just left you wanting more. I do understand if you want to leave these answers till your trip report……so come on get to it!;)
 
Hunting Hitman said:
Kevin,
I have an R8 Selous that weighs 12.5 pounds and shot a few buffs with it this past season. The recoil is stout but manageable. All were buffs that went no further than 30 yards.
I’m shooting a load developed by Pendleton Ammunition using 570 grain Swift A-Frames.

HHView attachment 765718
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That is the most GORGEOUS wood I have ever seen on an R8!
 
Beck said:
How long are the barrels on these things? Are they really 25"?
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Selous barrels are 600 mm (23.6") long and 22 mm in diameter, with the exception of the 300WM and 300BLASER barrels that are 600 mm long and 19 mm in diameter.

I currently have one of the 300WM Selous barrels.
 
Sideshow said:
Why the change in rifle @Kevin Peacocke did the double not do it for you?
Or it just left you wanting more. I do understand if you want to leave these answers till your trip report……so come on get to it!;)
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The decision was based purely on safety @Sideshow , I plan to bring my kids into buffalo hunting and need to stack things in their favour.
 
Hunting Hitman said:
Kevin,
I have an R8 Selous that weighs 12.5 pounds and shot a few buffs with it this past season. The recoil is stout but manageable. All were buffs that went no further than 30 yards.
I’m shooting a load developed by Pendleton Ammunition using 570 grain Swift A-Frames.

HHView attachment 765718
Click to expand...
HH, what is that scope? And mounts?
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
AH, the 500 I have bought has the composite PH stock, but I like wood. Do you think that the Kilombero stock is up to the task strength wise?
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Yeah absolutely, I haven't had any issues. Nothing wrong with the synthetic/composite stock PH model though it will serve you well if thats what you have bought. My opinion is the standard Blaser recoil pads on those PH models do absolutely nothing for the 500 Jeffery recoil, I would change it to a 1" decelerator straight away.
 
Folks, what DG scope and base can you recommend for the Blaser R8 500 Jeffrey? I am looking for something as compact as possible, low mounting and of course long eye relief to avoid half moons.
 
@Beethoven

What do you find so funny about my posts?

Using emoticons is easy, but some and particularly those with negative connotation, require a follow-up post to justify them. If you are not able to do that, or if you have nothing to contribute to the topic, it is better to simply refrain from this. It may well be that you also own a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery caliber, but I also own one myself for 30 years. I have shot it very often, using maximum loads, not reduced ones as many people do it, and have taken a fair amount of game with it. Consequently, I know how firearms of this type age over time. Furthermore, no one actually needs a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery, not even for stopping elephants, so one must assume that a liking for the cartridge itself plays a role and consequently, it would be logical also to acquire the appropriate firearm to go with it, which is rather a classic safari rifle with a Mauser bolt action.
 
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