8,5x55 blaser Is it as good as it seems?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Greetings.

I’ve read a lot about this cartridge and it seems clear that the 8,5x55 was designed to perform efficiently in shorter barrels, especially with suppressors. Of course, here in Spain the use of suppressors is currently prohibited, but even so, for our monterías the 52–58 cm barrels are perfect for fast, intuitive shots in thick cover, and also make for a more comfortable rifle on stalks.

Looking at the numbers, it seems to stay just a bit below the .338 Win Mag in terms of velocity and energy, but I don’t think that will make a real difference in actual hunting conditions. Have you tried it?

Overall, for a compact rifle with a shorter barrel, the cartridge offers a very interesting balance between power, recoil, and handling, that’s why I’m thinking of getting one. I’m curious if anyone has experience shooting it past 300–400 meters: does the energy drop feel significant compared to more traditional magnums with longer barrels? In the video mentioned earlier they hunt an ibex at 185 meters and a goat at 355 meters. It seems to work perfectly, although the rifle they are using appears to have a longer 65 cm barrel, and they describe the cartridge as a kind of “European short magnum.” It’s in Spanish, but I’ll post the link below.

@Stutzen
Advertising sells rifles people didn't realise they need. Whilst the 8.7 Blaser looks good on paper and in video I look at sales and how long similar cartridges Eg the 338RCM have lasted. Not very long. To me is it worth spending money on a cartridge that is possibly a flash in the pan and going to be difficult to impossible to get in just a few years.
To me personally despite all the good points the bad point out weighs them. Life expectancy of the new cartridge is short. It is after all another proprietary cartridge that is doomed at birth.
Bob

 

[Stutzen]

Thanks for your advice, you’ve made some very good points and I think you’ve convinced me.

Until I actually meet someone who bought one, has used it in the field, and can explain why they chose it over more established cartridges, it’s probably wiser for me to stick with the proven options.

Sometimes the old classics are classics for a reason.

 

[Stutzen]

If you're so fired up, then buy 8.5. I know for sure that it will work properly. I'm not sure what kind of recoil it has, but I believe it's decent (without mufflers). (the software says 32J, which is at the magnum level). If you have already mentioned the calibers that you consider to be the best in the world, and you imagine yourself with an R8, then my recommendation is the 8x68. I have been hunting with him for many years. The action of the Blaser R8 is significantly shorter than that of most carbines, so a 65cm barrel would be at your desired level. And, you will have a bullet for all distances up to ……

From what they say in the video, the recoil seems quite manageable for the level of power the cartridge delivers.

 

[Miletic]

Yes, but I think it has a compensator

 

[Miletic]

Calibers that have a thick and short case have an unpleasant recoil. The recoil also differs in the way it works. There are those who push and those who push. For example, 8x68 pushes. 8.5x55 is similar to 6.5PRC, .300WSM

 

[Muskox]

The Spanish answer doesn't include a silencer. As they are still illegal there.

So the option of the 8x68S or 300 Winchester and the distances would give a better result.

8x68s is also a bloody expensive thing to buy ammo for, even here in Germany where there are about 10-12 options.

The 300 Winchester will be cheaper and offer the same result.

Since you probably aren't stuck with lead free bullets, you could do well with the 180 Grain Interlock European Hunter.

 

[Miletic]

I said compensator, not suppressor.
The difference in the price of bullets between 300 and 8 is present.
8 is one of the most expensive bullets on the market. I don't pay attention to the factory price of ammunition because I'm full. I use several grain models that I test in different ways. Of the unleaded, I currently use GMX and TTSX and Evo Green. Among other calibers, I also have a 300 winmag for which I also load. I am currently installing Speed Tip Pro, SST and KS in it.

 

[Muskox]

Not to derail things, for the R8, I have four barrels. I have two 10,3x68 RWS, a 6.5 CM, and a 8x57. I would love to have something fast like a 300 Weatheby. But I can't seem to find one of those in Germany.

 

[Miletic]

I also use R8.
You can order from Blaser or Franconia .300 weath

 

[Muskox]

Thank you, I have not seen this as a possibility.

 

[JFE]

To me it looks more or less like a 338 based on a WSM case. If it’s going into a Blaser platform what’s wrong with just using a 338 Win mag? You’d have a lot less headaches trying to find ammo for it.

 

[Muskox]

I don't think it is a WSM.

It is about 200 foot pounds of energy less than a 338 with the same bullets.

 

[Stutzen]

To me it looks more or less like a 338 based on a WSM case. If it’s going into a Blaser platform what’s wrong with just using a 338 Win mag? You’d have a lot less headaches trying to find ammo for it.

The main appeal to me is being able to use a shorter barrel, maybe around 52 cm (20.5”), while still keeping close to .338 Win Mag performance. For driven hunts, monterías, and stalking out to a maximum of 400 meters (440 yards), it seems more than sufficient, with the advantage of less weight and a handier rifle.

 

[Muskox]

Here in Germany ammo is available, but it's about $80-150 a box.

338 Winchester ammo is pretty unavailable.

If it isn't 30-06, 308, 8x57, 7x64, 6.5x55, 300 Winchester, 6.5 CM, 8x68s, 9.3x62, 9.3x64, 375, 243, 222, 22 hornet, or 223 it is kind of tough finding ammo for it. The rimmed 8x57R, 7x65R, and 9,3x74R are also available.

 

[JFE]

Not sure you will gain much by using a short barrel on a long action. Besides, a cartridge of that capacity will produce a lot of muzzle blast in a short barrel.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't think it is a WSM.

It is about 200 foot pounds of energy less than a 338 with the same bullets.

@Muskox
So it's nowhere near the equal of the humble Whelen. What the use of it.
Bob

 

[Odinsraven]

DG calibres sorted before the Great War

plainsgane before WW2.

Since then 17HMR is the only thing to warrant buying IMHO and only if I lived in UK.. .Where perfect for 100m bunny or 50m fox....But what do I know I still think 303 Brit is a cool round.....

 

[Muskox]

@Muskox
So it's nowhere near the equal of the humble Whelen. What the use of it.
Bob

Optimized for short barrels and silencers for driven hunts. That is the point of it.

 

[Theleatherman]

Not my personal experience, but here’s an interesting article from Blaser, of course for them is the best caliber ever built https://www.blaser.de/en/Article/Tight-Grouping

 

[Stutzen]

Not my personal experience, but here’s an interesting article from Blaser, of course for them is the best caliber ever built https://www.blaser.de/en/Article/Tight-Grouping

Thanks for the article, but I don’t think I’m going to continue down that path.

What originally caught my attention were all these articles praising the cartridge as if it were the definitive do-it-all caliber. I’m not saying it isn’t a very capable cartridge, in fact, it was exactly what I was looking for: a possible replacement for the three “universal” calibers I mentioned at the beginning (8x68, 338 wm and 300WbyMag), but in a shorter and handier rifle to reduce weight and improve comfort during stalking and monterías.

When I was almost convinced to go for it, I came across this article calling it “the perfect solution”:
https://www.passion-magazin.de/en/85x55-blaser-die-neue-dimension/ The thing is, maybe it’s the perfect solution for a problem I don’t really have right now. In any case, I recommend reading the article to understand whats the use of it.

But as many of you have pointed out, I also don’t think the cartridge has much future. In Madrid, Spain, where I’m from, there is only one gun shop with some ammo and variety for this caliber, but the price is around 130€ per box.

I’d rather keep my 30-06 with a 51 cm (20”) barrel for stalking, my 9,3x62 for monterías, and my 7mm Rem Mag for long range shooting, than buy a single cartridge that tries to do all of that but may become useless in a few years because ammunition disappears from the market. And even for reloaders, components are not exactly easy to find either