Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffrey, shootability?

I use a Zeiss V8 1.1-8x30 on my R8 in .458 Lott and even from the bench, I have never had any problem with the eye relief.
11.jpg


Unfortunately, I have never tried the .500 Jeffery, but I keep dreaming about it. I would say with this caliber, my favourite choice would have been the Swarovski Z6i EE 1-6x24 but it's a bit like the unicorn nowadays. It's a true sadness to know Swarovski discontinued it.
 
Kevin375 said:
I use a Zeiss V8 1.1-8x30 on my R8 in .458 Lott and even from the bench, I have never had any problem with the eye relief.
View attachment 766701

Unfortunately, I have never tried the .500 Jeffery, but I keep dreaming about it. I would say with this caliber, my favourite choice would have been the Swarovski Z6i EE 1-6x24 but it's a bit like the unicorn nowadays. It's a true sadness to know Swarovski discontinued it.
Click to expand...
I have a Swarovski 1-6i x 24 EE on my Ruger No1 in 30-06. They are like hen's teeth, but you can get them. What of their robustness for such a stout recoil?
 
I would put the EE on the .500j and get another scope for the .30-06. They were made for big bore rifles, and I assume it would hold up.

I apologize for not saying it sooner. Congratulations!
 
Regards Kevin.
What caliber did you hunt with and were not satisfied, so now you are thinking about 500J?
My opinion is that anything above 458 makes no sense for hunting. This applies to carbines. Calibers like 500 and larger only make sense to use in double barrel and only with mechanical sights.
(We all know that a 120mm grenade from a 375 will stop a daga boy sooner, but no one is in the business of hunting with a tank)
If we use an optical lens, anything larger than 416 will hurt us sooner or later. I ordered a 416 barrel for the R8, on which I plan to install a red dot.
Although I don't have any recoil phobia and regularly adjust optical sights for clients, I believe that larger calibers are used for hunting big game and with them it is not necessary to schoot precisely. A red dot or mechanical scope is an excellent choice for hunting big five and similar animals.
I would like to point out that this is my opinion and that I do not dispute the opinion of other hunters.
I would advise you to try the R8 in that caliber first. All the same, I wish you successful hunting in the future and send pictures
 
I wouldnt be against owning a Blaser in 500 Jeffery. What stops me in the price. At $10,000 for the least expensive model, they come pretty close to the price of a double... And id rather get a double.
 
Hi
Miletic said:
Regards Kevin.
What caliber did you hunt with and were not satisfied, so now you are thinking about 500J?
My opinion is that anything above 458 makes no sense for hunting. This applies to carbines. Calibers like 500 and larger only make sense to use in double barrel and only with mechanical sights.
(We all know that a 120mm grenade from a 375 will stop a daga boy sooner, but no one is in the business of hunting with a tank)
If we use an optical lens, anything larger than 416 will hurt us sooner or later. I ordered a 416 barrel for the R8, on which I plan to install a red dot.
Although I don't have any recoil phobia and regularly adjust optical sights for clients, I believe that larger calibers are used for hunting big game and with them it is not necessary to schoot precisely. A red dot or mechanical scope is an excellent choice for hunting big five and similar animals.
I would like to point out that this is my opinion and that I do not dispute the opinion of other hunters.
I would advise you to try the R8 in that caliber first. All the same, I wish you successful hunting in the future and send pictures
Click to expand...
Hi @Miletic
I agree that under 'normal circumstances' a 375 H&H would be adequate, I have seen it done. But what of when it isn't normal, when the buff charges? In our group the sample set I gave was eleven cases, of which one charged. There are nine others in our wider group that I am aware of and will add them in when I get all the facts. What I do know already is that of the broader number of twenty, two wounded buffalo charged. That is 10%. One was shot with a 375 H&H and one with a 450/400. I hear that the general statistics say about 5% charge, but ours is double that.
I wasn't at the second charge, but paced and did a lot of analysis on it afterwards and I am convinced that if the PH didn't have his 500 Jeffrey the outcome would have been disasterous. His three shots into that buff were decisive in this case.
So my decision, which I made right there and then at the charge site was that at least one person in the follow up group must always have a serious stopping rifle, by which I am defining it to be a 470 or above. Preferably a double, but that is asking a lot. Not all PH's have a good stopper but I am personally insisting that one is there, so I decided to supply one myself and if there are two, even better.
The reason that I am putting a scope on the 500J is because in our group the preference has been to use my 450/400 for anything close, say up to 30 metres, so the lead shooter carries the double. And to switch out to the scoped 375H&H for longer shots out to a maximum of about 100 metres. All that is changing is that the 500J takes that scoped role and the scope comes off for a followup.
So what of the 450/400 double? I will be actively looking to replace it with a 470 or a 500. Yes, I know this is over the top. But the people in the group that will be using it, not just me, must be given the maximum reasonable means to hunt these very dangerous animals. Why wouldn't I do that?
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
Hi

Hi @Miletic
I agree that under 'normal circumstances' a 375 H&H would be adequate, I have seen it done. But what of when it isn't normal, when the buff charges? In our group the sample set I gave was eleven cases, of which one charged. There are nine others in our wider group that I am aware of and will add them in when I get all the facts. What I do know already is that of the broader number of twenty, two wounded buffalo charged. That is 10%. One was shot with a 375 H&H and one with a 450/400. I hear that the general statistics say about 5% charge, but ours is double that.
I wasn't at the second charge, but paced and did a lot of analysis on it afterwards and I am convinced that if the PH didn't have his 500 Jeffrey the outcome would have been disasterous. His three shots into that buff were decisive in this case.
So my decision, which I made right there and then at the charge site was that at least one person in the follow up group must always have a serious stopping rifle, by which I am defining it to be a 470 or above. Preferably a double, but that is asking a lot. Not all PH's have a good stopper but I am personally insisting that one is there, so I decided to supply one myself and if there are two, even better.
The reason that I am putting a scope on the 500J is because in our group the preference has been to use my 450/400 for anything close, say up to 30 metres, so the lead shooter carries the double. And to switch out to the scoped 375H&H for longer shots out to a maximum of about 100 metres. All that is changing is that the 500J takes that scoped role and the scope comes off for a followup.
So what of the 450/400 double? I will be actively looking to replace it with a 470 or a 500. Yes, I know this is over the top. But the people in the group that will be using it, not just me, must be given the maximum reasonable means to hunt these very dangerous animals. Why wouldn't I do that?
Click to expand...
I have no doubt at all that you saw on the field that you need a 500. When you find yourself in such a difficult situation, you really need a large caliber. You explained everything and I agree with your hunting plan and group setup. But, again, I must emphasize that your 450 with a good bullets and a good shot .... I wish you happy hunting and that you enjoy the 500J when you buy it.
 
LimbNoMo said:
I would put the EE on the .500j and get another scope for the .30-06. They were made for big bore rifles, and I assume it would hold up.

I apologize for not saying it sooner. Congratulations!
Click to expand...
@LimbNoMo I was toying with the same idea.
Does anyone know how the Swarovski 1-6x24i EE would stand up to the 500J recoil?
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
Hi

Hi @Miletic
I agree that under 'normal circumstances' a 375 H&H would be adequate, I have seen it done. But what of when it isn't normal, when the buff charges? In our group the sample set I gave was eleven cases, of which one charged. There are nine others in our wider group that I am aware of and will add them in when I get all the facts. What I do know already is that of the broader number of twenty, two wounded buffalo charged. That is 10%. One was shot with a 375 H&H and one with a 450/400. I hear that the general statistics say about 5% charge, but ours is double that.
I wasn't at the second charge, but paced and did a lot of analysis on it afterwards and I am convinced that if the PH didn't have his 500 Jeffrey the outcome would have been disasterous. His three shots into that buff were decisive in this case.
So my decision, which I made right there and then at the charge site was that at least one person in the follow up group must always have a serious stopping rifle, by which I am defining it to be a 470 or above. Preferably a double, but that is asking a lot. Not all PH's have a good stopper but I am personally insisting that one is there, so I decided to supply one myself and if there are two, even better.
The reason that I am putting a scope on the 500J is because in our group the preference has been to use my 450/400 for anything close, say up to 30 metres, so the lead shooter carries the double. And to switch out to the scoped 375H&H for longer shots out to a maximum of about 100 metres. All that is changing is that the 500J takes that scoped role and the scope comes off for a followup.
So what of the 450/400 double? I will be actively looking to replace it with a 470 or a 500. Yes, I know this is over the top. But the people in the group that will be using it, not just me, must be given the maximum reasonable means to hunt these very dangerous animals. Why wouldn't I do that?
Click to expand...
Hi All, well an amazing thing happened. I got in touch with a friend of mine who had bought a Heym 89b in 470 and asked if she wanted to sell it? "Yes", came the reply, "I want to get a 450/400 instead."

Absolutely amazing, overhead I think, so we did a swap and the 470 is in my new arsenal, complete with a new red dot Trijicon on Henneburger mount.
 
I managed to get some Barnes TSX bullets in 570 grain for the 500 Jeffery and 500 grain for the 470. Buffalo beware!
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
I managed to get some Barnes TSX bullets in 570 grain for the 500 Jeffery and 500 grain for the 470. Buffalo beware!
Click to expand...
So you’re hanging onto the 500J! Good to see you got another double after waiting so long to scratch that itch. 470 should keep you happy……got any pics:E Shocked:
 
Sideshow said:
So you’re hanging onto the 500J! Good to see you got another double after waiting so long to scratch that itch. 470 should keep you happy……got any pics:E Shocked:
Click to expand...
A bit too long for me, and the case, so my gunsmith is shortening the stock.
IMG_5925.jpeg
 
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