Blaser R8 Professional

[AJP458]

I recently purchased a new R8 professional safari in 375 H&H and also bought a 458 Lott barrel. My intention was to add a Kick Stop recoil reducer to it however I realized with the adjustable combo, the location where the Kick Stop would normally be housed , is taken up by the adjustment device. I’m wondering if anyone has run into this situation and how it was dealt with.

 

[BeeMaa]

In the past it was dealt with by using a non-adjustable stock that had room for a kicksto, a steel receiver & steel trigger group to add much needed weight for dealing with the recoil of the 458LOTT.

I’d highly recommend buying a second (standard professional with steel receiver & trigger group) stock at a minimum. Adding a bolt assembly would make changing even easier.

The 375H&H is best with a standard profile (17mm) barrel and aluminum receiver and trigger group.

 

[TOBY458]

I have that same set up on my new 416. I personally prefer the lighter weight of the standard aluminum receiver with no kick stop. But I understand some people prefer the heavier configurations. Eurooptic had the standard stocks still available the last time I looked. So maybe it’s best to sell your Pro 2 stock and buy a standard pro stock. But you’d have to have the barrel channel opened up for your Selous barrel. Blaser will do that for around $150.

 

[Mekaniks]

I recently purchased a new R8 professional safari in 375 H&H and also bought a 458 Lott barrel. My intention was to add a Kick Stop recoil reducer to it however I realized with the adjustable combo, the location where the Kick Stop would normally be housed , is taken up by the adjustment device. I’m wondering if anyone has run into this situation and how it was dealt with.

to AH

 

[AJP458]

Actually the reason I chose this particular rifle was the adjustable comb. I’ve found when I make the correct adjustment and I go to the open sight, my sight picture lines up perfectly.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Welcome to AH and welcome to the Blaser R8, I always say Blaser is like a disease and can be very expensive in life!

I'm a big R8 fan & user, I agree with most of what BeeMaa said above, a kickstop reduces felt recoil a lot but does add a pound or so in extra weight to the gun. I did not consider adding a kickstop until I was moving up to a .416RM R8.

If you want a kickstop my recommended ideal configuration would be:

• Standard Professional stock (old style, not 2.0, non adjustable). Kickstop fitted.
• Standard Aluminum receiver
• Standard profile .375 H&H barrel with open sights fitted.
• for .458 Lott I believe it only comes in Selous profile.

My son and I have used the professional success thumbhole (non kickstop) stocks with standard profile .375 H&H for a couple of hunting trips, we found the R8 very shootable with recoil very manageable in this configuration. Remember you are not bench shooting while hunting.

The real question is can you manage the recoil of the new rifle you have purchased or do you start spending more money to change the stock and add a kickstop. I see that you also purchased a .458 Lott barrel, if it were me I would be using a kickstop if shooting the .458 Lott.

My .416RM with standard professional stock fitted with kickstop is very pleasant to shoot, the heavier Selous barrel profile of the .416 and kickstop add additional weight, I don't mind the weight.

Good luck with your new rifle.

 

[dchamp]

You should weigh your stock. I have three R8 Professional stocks. One is standard (aluminum) and two are Safari (steel) with one Safari having a kick stop. I weighed each one with it’s trigger group and magazine installed. Here is what mine weighs:

Standard aluminum - 3lbs 8.6oz
Safari w/o kick stop - 5lbs 0.2oz
Safari w kick stop - 6lbs 0.7oz

I don’t have a clue about your adjustable comb as I don’t have one. Hope this helps.

Good Luck

 

[TOBY458]

You should weigh your stock. I have three R8 Professional stocks. One is standard (aluminum) and two are Safari (steel) with one Safari having a kick stop. I weighed each one with it’s trigger group and magazine installed. Here is what mine weighs:

Standard aluminum - 3lbs 8.6oz
Safari w/o kick stop - 5lbs 0.2oz
Safari w kick stop - 6lbs 0.7oz

I don’t have a clue about your adjustable comb as I don’t have one. Hope this helps.

Good Luck

The Pro 2 stock is actually a little lighter than the older pro aluminum stocks. My 2.0 with the 416 Selous barrel weighs 8lbs 1.5oz. While my standard Pro in 458 with Selous weighs 8lbs 4.5oz. So 3 ounces lighter.

 

[dchamp]

Wow that is way lighter. I don’t know anything about the Pro 2.

I threw the .416 Selous barrel and bolt assembly on the stock and my scale read 10lbs.14.8oz. I think I like mine better, although eight and a quarter lbs is nicer when on a long day of walking. And then again the extra weight should help stabilize your shot.

 

[Rafiki]

Is there something about a R8 stock that makes a 375 H&H uncomfortable to shoot? A 375 just doesn't have all that much recoil; does the stock have too much drop. Never had an R8, probably never will, so just curious.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

375 H&H on a non kick stop synthetic stock Blaser is easy to shoot and average recoil for a medium bore rifle. If you step up to large bore calibers that start with a 4 or 5 then you will want to add a kick stop and if possible by your stock choice a Selous barrel.

HH

 

[dchamp]

I have the 375H&H in both the R8 Professional, standard (aluminum) synthetic stock, and Winchester M70. I think the recoil is much milder in the R8 than the M70 or a R8 with a wood stock. I include the R8 wood stock only because I use to have a Blaser R8 Selous .458Lott and noticed a significant difference in the recoil between the wood stock and the synthetic stock.

 

[AJP458]

With the 375, I agree, recoil is very manageable. It’s with the 458 I feel this rifle could use some extra weight. To expand further this is my setup without ammo.

375/ Leupold VX6 HD 2 x 12 x 42- 9 lb. 14.7 oz
458/ Trijicon 1x6x24- 9 lb. 8.3 oz

I also own a CZ 550 in 458 Lott without a scope it’s - 9lb. 8.4 oz
I will say with the CZ I’m good for the first 6 rounds, past that it starts to turn into a handful. Once I get to that point, I normally stop.
I as thinking the sweet spot for the R8 in 458 would be in the 10.5 to 11 lb. range. Am I on the correct track with this or just overthinking?

 

[BeeMaa]

Is there something about a R8 stock that makes a 375 H&H uncomfortable to shoot? A 375 just doesn't have all that much recoil; does the stock have too much drop. Never had an R8, probably never will, so just curious.

I’ve found it very comfortable to shoot and shoot well. With no optic, my R8 comes in at 7.75 lbs.

 

[Daisy]

Is there something about a R8 stock that makes a 375 H&H uncomfortable to shoot? A 375 just doesn't have all that much recoil; does the stock have too much drop. Never had an R8, probably never will, so just curious.

This is just verifiably. Wrong.

 

[Daisy]

My 2.0 stock is noticeably lighter.

You can change to non adjustable butt pad, put a thicker 1 or 1.5” recoil pad, and add a kickstop.

I agree shooting a 400 caliber round I would want a heavier rifle.

 

[K-man]

I would adjust the comb to what feels/works the best, then buy a pro stock and get an aftermarket comb to match the profile that fits. Then you can add a kick stop if needed. (Edit) I meant to add keep the adjustable comb for the .375 and the pro with kick stop for the 458.

 

[Rafiki]

This is just verifiably. Wrong.

Just a question cuz I really have no idea what it's like to shoot a R8. There does seem to be quite a bit of conversation on this very thread of people making some sort of modifications to the R8 stock so [shrug].

 

[Daisy]

Didn’t meant to be harsh. Just we can get where we can shoot 375 well. I have. But it’s still alot of recoil.