Blaser R8 - Help Needed

[Kevin Peacocke]

I've seen Kevin's, it is gorgeous

I have to admit that I have become a firm Blaser R8 fan. It is compact and purposeful, but far more than the looks this rifle shoots so well. Put that down to fit, floating barrel, excellent trigger, recoil management, solid sight platform. It has it all in one package, which may not be unique, but rare.

 

[EuroOptic]

My mother looking for X-Mas gift ideas for my father. I have suggested an R-8, which she seems open to exploring. Is the rifle below what I should recommend? I know there has been some talk of aluminum vs. steel receivers - I assume I want steel for heavy recoiling rifles? I'll eventually buy a .500 Jeffery barrel for this thing. Hard for me to tell if the rifle below is a steel or aluminum receiver - Maybe Jake @EuroOptic can shine some light on that for me?

https://www.eurooptic.com/blaser-r8-professional-2-american-package-375-handh-olive-safari-selous-bbl-cust

Hi Beck,
I see you PM'd me as well - I'll respond to you there next

This rifle is a aluminum receiver, the barrel is std contour with sights
this would make a fine "light" 375 rifle, to go up to a 500 jeff barrel you would need to have the stock opened up to Safari / Match contour

https://www.eurooptic.com/blaser-r8...us-bbl-cust?utm_source=eoic2018&utm_medium=JT
If you are wanting to run both barrels off the same stock, I would recommend this package which comes with the Safari Selous barrel - it will be plug and play w/ the 500 jeff barrel

my opinion on the package rifle w selous barrel & no kickstop -
it will be barrel heavy, as you can assume
it will be lighter (Obviously)
I actually kinda prefer a barrel heavy rifle, when shooting off of sticks / bipod / tripod It feels like setting down a cannon and IMO helps with driving the rifle out on target when shooting freehand. Kind of like a 32" or longer sporting shotgun.

 

[R eight]

If that’s the case, I’d recommend getting two complete rifles, one in each configuration.

The 375H&H will be too heavy with the steel receiver and Selous barrel. While the 500J will (most likely) be too light with the aluminum receiver.

Plus, I’d like to have the 500J on the older Professional stock so you can add a kickstop if you want. The kickstop can’t be installed on the 2.0 stock because of the adjustable comb.

plus 1.

I’ve got a steel receiver for my 500J, 416RM and 375 H&H selous barrels and two aluminium receivers for my standard contour barrels for .22lr to 9.3 barrels.

With hindsight it should have gone with a standard barrel for the 375 H&H.

The steel receiver rifle is very heavy. But shooting her with the 416 RM barrel is very pleasant and will the 500J barrel its very shoot able.
I shot the below target at the Australian BGR National shoot last weekend with the 500J barrel with a red dot. 50 and 25 meters standing unsupported. It’s a very shoot able rifle.

I love my Blasers.

 

[BeeMaa]

@R eight - My compliments on your marksmanship with a cartridge beyond the skill of many. Myself included.

How much does your 500J weigh with the optic?

 

[R eight]

@R eight - My compliments on your marksmanship with a cartridge beyond the skill of many. Myself included.

How much does your 500J weigh with the optic?

Thanks BeeMaa.

As to weight I’m not sure. However, I’ll throw her onto the kitchen scales later today and post up the results.

 

[WC86]

I hope (for the sake of your bank account) that you are able to limit yourself to just one. Most who've invested in them have three or more stocks.

My name is BeeMaa and I'm an addict. With a side of enabler.

Yes, your posts helped me to my “gateway stock”

Then I got another from Toby458 (“I’ll sell the one I like the least”——nope, not looking like it)

I’m now 3 barrels deep and one is headed to Tip Burns for threads

And I’m thinking about having him build another barrel

And this is all since I purchased my gateway stock in July of this year

You, beemaa, are one of about 5-10 folks on here who have hurt (helped) me with this addiction and I blame (thank) you in part for it

Redleg, one day, daisy, toby458, nomspc, r eight, and several others (not intentionally forgotten) are on that list as well

To the OP: welcome to the rabbit hole

 

[BeeMaa]

@WC86 - Congratulations on your purchases! Always happy to assist (or enable) others into the Blaser world. Feel free to DM me if you need anything further or just want to chat. Cheers mate.

 

[R eight]

@R eight - My compliments on your marksmanship with a cartridge beyond the skill of many. Myself included.

How much does your 500J weigh with the optic?

PH (steel stock) IC bolt carrier, 500 J barrel and Aimpoint H2. All up just over 5Kg / about 13 pounds.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

To the point of barrel choice, go with the 375 H&H on the steel frame and a kickstop inserted. Then when you acquire the rifle, or borrow it, fit the 500Jeffery barrel. You don't need to go for anything in between, just jump over the rest and go to the top of the class.