Blaser R8 for Dangerous Game

Unless your push feed happens to be a straight pull.
But I know what you meant.

I understand exactly your question TTundra and I do not think that it was answered.

I would say that the answer is: neither.

The Sako-style extractor tension relies on a spring loaded plunger:
View attachment 383557
The M16-style extractor tension relies on a spring loaded pivot:
View attachment 383559
The Blaser extractor tension relies on a very strong and quite heavy-duty external clip spring:

View attachment 383562

My personal experience confirms the experience of BeeMaa, Red Leg, Stuart at Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS, dchamp, etc.: the Blaser extractor has been 100% reliable for me.

Regarding modern cartridges extraction in general, here is what I wrote in my recent R8 review at https://www.africahunting.com/threa...o-months-500-rounds-review.60483/#post-719044:
"I am on record for observing that one of the reasons CRF and its characteristic big external claw extractor were perfected in the 1890’s by Paul Mauser, at the request of the German Imperial Army, was to prevent extraction failure of the pure copper shells loaded with black powder, that were notorious for sticking in dirty chambers after sustained fire. I reckon that brass shells loaded with smokeless powder resolved this issue a long time ago.​
If a case gets stuck nowadays, Mauser claw extractor or not, the action itself is stuck, short of a rubber mallet.​
I do not mourn a Mauser claw extractor on the R8..."​

Regarding CRF feeding, I am on record for observing that the other reason CRF was perfected was to prevent 1890’s peasant conscripts who had never handled a bolt action rifle before:
1) to jam the rifle by double feeding and risk detonating the cartridge in the chamber with the tip of the spitzer bullet of the cartridge being rammed into it;​
2) to load the rifle inadvertently by pushing a cartridge in the chamber and leaving it there.​

I continue to appreciate the fact that in a true Mauser CRF rifle it is impossible to close the bolt on a cartridge inadvertently pushed in the chamber - and I only wish that no CRF extractor would be beveled to allow it to jump the rim of a cartridge already pushed into the chamber, as some manufacturers do. This would make it impossible to load a CRF rifle inadvertently, and to fire it accidentally.

Can one close a R8 action on a cartridge inadvertently present in the chamber? Yes. Is this an accident waiting to happen? My answer is that a R8 decocks automatically when the trigger group/magazine is removed to load it, and that a decocked R8 cannot fire. From the perspective of accidental loading and discharge, I therefore judge the R8 to be as safe as a CRF rifle…

Regarding double feeding, yes the R8 allows double feeding. From this perspective, the Mauser 98 design remains unsurpassed. Is this an issue in the hand of a seasoned hunter? Who knows...


PS: To emphasize the difference between Sako, M16 or Blaser extractor with a Rem 700 extractor, it may be useful to show a Rem 700 extractor. It is a very small piece of stamped metal located inside a recess machined inside the bolt head, Various iterations have come with, then without, a small rivet to maintain it in place. It has a documented history of failure with hot loads generating sticky cases, but it is not as bad as some would let you believe. My own experience with a Remington Defense .300 Win Mag Mk 13 sniper rifle civilian clone in which the shells of the Black Hills190 gr match factory loads stuck, was that it was impossible to open the action without a rubber mallet and that the tiny extractor never released its grip on the stuck cases...

View attachment 383563

PS2: as to R8 steel rings, FYI based on Blaser USA, these were discontinued by Blaser when they transitioned from R93 to R8.
@One Day... yes, this is exactly what I was after with that particular question. I do believe the M16 style and R8 have similarities in size and placement, though the tensioner is quite different.

This only reaffirms that the advancement beyond the 700 extractor in push feed actions is proving reliable. Again, I also believe the linear force is also of benefit to rotational camming for primary extraction. More direct force pulled direct back to your shoulder can only aid in extraction over a push feed that relies on the rotational camming for primary extraction. Going back to the ARC Archimedes action, as the owner states, you'll rip the rim off a stuck case before the extractor fails. I see similar in the R8, a robust extraction design that utilizes the operators leverage and shooting position to its advantage.
 
I installed this Leupold 2-7×33 on my R8 today. It's what I plan to use on my 375 H&H barrel when it arrives. This is it mounted on my 7mm Rem Mag barrel. Weight is 8lbs 12oz. So, the 375 will weigh a few ounces less I would assume. Should make a perfect package.
One question I do have, are the alloy rings that are mounted on the QD base strong enough for a 375? The base is steel, but the rings are alloy. Wonder if I should use steel rings instead?
Any Blaser mount and/or ring is designed to be strong enough for any cartridge that Blaser chamber. I still don't understand how those two piddly little lugs that hold the mount to the barrel can be so strong, but strong they definitely are. Ditto for the rings. The previous generation of Blaser mounts were less strong, and I have seen those live happily on a hot loaded 375H&H that would have been at least 12ounces lighter than yours. Scope would have been 18/20 ounces.

DO NOT lap the rings. The current rings are designed and shaped to close around the scope tube, not just clamp down on it. Lapping them will interfere with this and very likely reduce grip.

I've never seen ring marks on a scope removed from a genuine Blaser mount/rings, which must say something for the precision of manufacture. I have never had an older gloss finished scope in Blaser rings.

One thing that I do is leave the two screws holding the rings to the base less than fully tight until I have nipped up the rings a little. Plan is that any microscopic play can adjust itself and then the retaining screws can be torqued fully. Could just easily be that doing this encourages some equally microscopic fore/aft play. Realistically, I doubt that it matters much either way, but it keeps me busy. Also there is a risk that you may forget to tighten them, as I have done once.

Worth repeating - DO NOT lap the rings.
 
I have also found the configurator a little confusing and inflexible. I believe that this is due to the Euro clientele that Blaser sells to. Many wouldn't even dream of sighting in a rifle, as this is left to the "expert". The consumer is not as gun savvy as many consumers outside Europe, so the manufacturer doesn't give too much leeway to muck with the already wide range of options.

FWIW. my 2019 hard copy catalog states quite explicitly that the R8 Professional Hunter has the steel receiver. Therefore if it doesn't have the steel receiver, it is simply an R8 Professional with whatever barrel channel the stock has been opened out to. Structurally, I believe that the stocks are the same.

No problem to order either, but Blaser list the PH as coming with a Safari barrel (22mm). That should be able to be changed if desired.

I strongly agree that it is up to the buyer to know their way around the choices, because finding a salesman who does will be difficult.
 
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This would be an option for someone wanting a safari barrel, but not the steel receiver. You could add the kickstop if you wanted more weight, but the cost is half of what the steel receivers sell for.

20210110_175620.jpg
 
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This would be an option for someone wanting a safari barrel, but not the steel receiver. You could add the kickstop if you wanted more weight, but the cost is half of what the steel receivers sell for.
It certainly looks attractive, BUT Blaser does not list an R8 Professional Safari, so what EXACTLY is the seller offering ?

This ad is another example of the need for any prospective buyer to inform themselves about the product prior to parting with money.
 
It certainly looks attractive, BUT Blaser does not list an R8 Professional Safari, so what EXACTLY is the seller offering ?

This ad is another example of the need for any prospective buyer to inform themselves about the product prior to parting with money.
The "safari" portion of that is simply stating that it accepts 22mm barrels.
If you look at the Euro Optic website...they offer "semi weight" and "safari" stocks.
But strangely do not state "standard" for their 17mm stocks.
So yes, they buyer absolutely needs to be informed.
 
I've had several dealing with Van at Top Dog Guns Global.
He's gone above and beyond what I would expect from a dealer several times.
Made me a few really good deals and just a great guy.
He sells on GB a good bit, but also will take phone calls and orders.
And willing to configure your R8 however you want it.
And they have a big inventory and can get anything. I got my R8 in stingray leather from them as well as the Pro S for my son.
 
No. They seemed to fit very well as is. I doubt they will ever slip, but just wonder how well they will hold up under recoil due to the softer alloy material.
Get a rail scope and then there won’t be any issues with rings. For me it’s part of the point of having a Blaser.
 
The Safari weight barrel is too heavy! I would never carry that thing around.
 
The Safari weight barrel is too heavy! I would never carry that thing around.

semi-weighted is where I'm going when I order mine....what I put on my son's...semi-wieghted fluted version has the the better barrel mass but only weighs a few ounces more than the standard barrel.
 
The Safari weight barrel is too heavy! I would never carry that thing around.
Hopefully this isn't a thread derail but the weight issue has come up before in R8 with safari barrel discussions.

I used a double sling which allows me to carry the rifle like a backpack and found I really didn't mind the weight. When I'm actually shooting I'm (almost) always on some kind of support be it standing, seated or prone. In prone I'll use a bipod but I consider my left non-shooting arm as a support and is almost as good as a bipod.

The generic [edit: name for this] type of sling is called a biathlon style sling and there are several vendors.

The brand I used was Vero Vellini and I can attest to the claim that the springiness in the material reduces stress & fatigue.

REF: Vero Vellini Double Sling
 

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You won't see it in America the way we do here, sitting on the edge of the Blaser Center's plate.
What really bothers me about the company is that they think they have to jump on every crap to get a few more euros and market share.
For a renowned gun manufacturer, I find some things downright ridiculous:
Blaser.jpg




Blaser the underpants specialist,when you go on DG :rolleyes:
 
You won't see it in America the way we do here, sitting on the edge of the Blaser Center's plate.
What really bothers me about the company is that they think they have to jump on every crap to get a few more euros and market share.
For a renowned gun manufacturer, I find some things downright ridiculous:
View attachment 383884



Blaser the underpants specialist,when you go on DG :rolleyes:
I'll continue with my whitey-tighty Hanes underwear thank you very much.
 
You won't see it in America the way we do here, sitting on the edge of the Blaser Center's plate.
What really bothers me about the company is that they think they have to jump on every crap to get a few more euros and market share.
For a renowned gun manufacturer, I find some things downright ridiculous:
View attachment 383884



Blaser the underpants specialist,when you go on DG :rolleyes:
I'll definitely need the Selous Profile. Even though my standard weight barrel may have a slight gap around the edges. Lol!
 
Hopefully this isn't a thread derail but the weight issue has come up before in R8 with safari barrel discussions.

I used a double sling which allows me to carry the rifle like a backpack and found I really didn't mind the weight. When I'm actually shooting I'm (almost) always on some kind of support be it standing, seated or prone. In prone I'll use a bipod but I consider my left non-shooting arm as a support and is almost as good as a bipod.

The generic [edit: name for this] type of sling is called a biathlon style sling and there are several vendors.

The brand I used was Vero Vellini and I can attest to the claim that the springiness in the material reduces stress & fatigue.

REF: Vero Vellini Double Sling
Interesting. I just know with my R8 (Pro Success, standard wt barrel with kickstop) was very heavy on my 13 day Cameroon safari where we were walking all day everyday. The heavy barrel I’ve handled at SCI and it’s a trot line weight. I could not imagine owning one.
Philip
 
Since this seems to be the go to R8 thread i would like to get some clarification. I spent about an hour on the phone today with euro optics. Fella named Derek, really helpful with all my questions. What I need to know is do I "have to have" the steel reciever to shoot the big cartridges like a 458 Lott for instance. I'm looking at getting one set up in 338 lapua or maybe a 300 win/375H&H combo that seems to be popular but I shoot a ton of lapua and would also like to be able to shoot the Lott in it. Do I need the $2000 more expensive steel reciever for that or will the normal R8 professional handle the big calibers too. He kept saying they reccomended it but then would say I mean if you're not gonna shoot it a bunch it probably wont hurt. Euro optics is 12hr away so I want to have a pretty solid plan before I drive up there
 
The alloy receiver will function perfectly with ALL Blaser calibers. The lighter stock will yield more "felt recoil". Not sure what "felt" recoil means. If you don't feel the recoil, there isn't any, so all recoil must be "felt recoil". Contact Cove Creek Outfitters. The prices you are quoting are much higher than I have paid for the Professional Synthetic stock or the Safari (steel) synthetic stock.
 
Since this seems to be the go to R8 thread i would like to get some clarification. I spent about an hour on the phone today with euro optics. Fella named Derek, really helpful with all my questions. What I need to know is do I "have to have" the steel reciever to shoot the big cartridges like a 458 Lott for instance. I'm looking at getting one set up in 338 lapua or maybe a 300 win/375H&H combo that seems to be popular but I shoot a ton of lapua and would also like to be able to shoot the Lott in it. Do I need the $2000 more expensive steel reciever for that or will the normal R8 professional handle the big calibers too. He kept saying they reccomended it but then would say I mean if you're not gonna shoot it a bunch it probably wont hurt. Euro optics is 12hr away so I want to have a pretty solid plan before I drive up there
It's not needed for strength. It just ads weight to absorb recoil. But if you add a kick stop in the stock, it seems to me like you can get the weight up without needing the expensive steel receiver.
 

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