R 8

[mitch4570]

How reliable is your Blaser R8?i keep thinking I need one. Anyone here use them on dangerous game?

 

[Datchew]

you need one. They work fine on buffalo. Cycle the action like you mean it and you have no reliability worries.

 

[Red Leg]

I have three R8 receiver/stock groups and barrels in .404, .375. 300 Win Mag, 6.5x55, and .257 WBY. My .375 has taken two Cape Buffalo Bulls and a host of plains game; the .300 has taken three Nilgai; and three whitetail have been taken with the 6.5. My normal outfitter in Spain is also a believer in the R8 and I have taken Sika, Fallow, and several Ibex, Roe Deer, and Boar with one in .270 WSM.

I have never had a bobble on three continents. With the professional stock and .375 barrel firing a 300 gr A Frame, it is my one rifle solution for all things African.

I own a number of very fine rifles, but I am absolutely convinced the R8 is the finest production rifle made anywhere. Ergonomics are perfect, the trigger is the best ever put into a factory rifle, accuracy is consistently sub MOA, and it is very nearly indestructible under any conditions. No rifle is more easily transportable.

R8 with 6.5x55 barrel and suppressor. My "backyard" deer rifle.

R8 with .257 barrel. My North American do almost anything rifle.

 

[K-man]

Hello
I use my r8 exclusively now for travel hunting. Two buffalo, one elephant, one hippo, one bison, over a dozen plains game. Lots of choices in barrels and the detachable scope returns to zero every time. Good luck when, not if, you get one.

 

['68boy]

I have an r93 with 3 barrels—.257, .300 wsm, .338 wm. Does anyone see a reason I should get an r8 other than being spoiled and kinda greedy and a rifle nut? I’ve taken my r93 all over the world and the American west and it has performed flawlessly. I have heard that the r93 actually cycles more smoothly than the r8 but have no personal experience. Please respond and protect me from myself!

 

[Red Leg]

I have an r93 with 3 barrels—.257, .300 wsm, .338 wm. Does anyone see a reason I should get an r8 other than being spoiled and kinda greedy and a rifle nut? I’ve taken my r93 all over the world and the American west and it has performed flawlessly. I have heard that the r93 actually cycles more smoothly than the r8 but have no personal experience. Please respond and protect me from myself!

The R8 did significantly improve the bolt lock of the R8 over the 93.

 

['68boy]

Does that really mean anything in day to day practical use? To be honest I don’t know what it means

 

[TOBY458]

I’ve used a couple of R8s in 375 and 458 to kill two Cape Buffalo, Two Elephants, and several head of PG. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Does that really mean anything in day to day practical use? To be honest I don’t know what it means

I haven’t heard of anyone getting an R8 Bolt through the Face I don’t know if that is practical

 

[meigsbucks]

I’m going to give you a little different take on the R8 than the previous esteemed posters. Mine has yet to see Africa or much hunting… YET. for me, the RB was a dream rifle. The highest end rifle I’ll own. I have five barrels ranging from ..257 Wby to .375 Wby. As far as game: only three coyotes and a ground hog. Not an auspicious beginning. However, in the four or so years I’ve owned mine, I’ve sent well over a 1000 rounds down range.
Accuracy: Rare to shoot a 100yd group over an inch and if I do, it is usually my fault.
Ease of changing barrels: If you can use an Allen wrench, no problem.
Scope mount: Easy to attach and detach. No noticeable change in point of impact. I have a designated scope and mount for each barrel. One caveat here is that if you switch one mounted scope to other barrels, you’ll probably have to adjust the mount’s tension to fit the other barrel.
“Safety”: As I’m sure you’re aware, it is really a cocker and not a safety. I’ve found it takes a little extra thumb pressure than you’d be used to, to cock it. Decocking, for me, took a little getting used to.
Feeding: flawless
Ejection: flawless
Changing the bolt head: If you have a barrel for a standard round like a .308 and another barrel for a magnum barrel (.375 H&H), you’ll need to purchase and change the bolt head. This is simple: lift a little clip, rotate the bolt head and remove. IMO, this clip looks a little fragile to me. I purchased another bolt and just have to use the appropriate bolt / bolt head combo.
Trigger: Approximately 2# and extremely crisp.
Downsides: When you work the bolt, you do need to slam it forward, otherwise, you will just hear a click. The other is price. As I stated, this was my dream rifle as it was out of my normal price range and took some saving, but I don’t regret the purchase in the least.

 

[Green Chile]

Buffalo and lioness so far with my R8 along with numerous PG and deer and bear in North America. Perfect score so far and the track record of consistency with takedown and various scopes have been 100%.

 

[Weatherby10]

Not on dangerous game but i took my r8 in 300 wby to africa for plains game. I use the heck out of mine and ive never really had any issues. The interchangeability and accuracy claims hold true with repeatability. Spendy but a top shelf piece of hit that you can add to and last a lifetime

 

[R eight]

Avoid them like the plague !

The barstards breed in the safe. You’ll have a plague of them before you know what’s what.

 

[458JCE]

I have 10 barrels for my R8 now - 22lr, 222REM, 223REM, 240WBY, 270WSM, 308WIN, 30-06 SPRG, 300WBY, 338WM, 9.3x62.
R eight convinced me to own a Blaser and he's right, they breed like rabbits

The only problem I have had is with handloads of the belted magnums. The FLS die does not resize the last 3mm of the case above the belt and this can prevent the cartridge from chambering all the way - and there's no camming action in the Blaser to drive the cartridge all the way home. A Larry Willis Collet Die fixed the problem and no issues since.

 

[R eight]

Does that really mean anything in day to day practical use? To be honest I don’t know what it means

It means you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

Enjoy your R93.

 

[Sabre]

Avoid them like the plague !

The barstards breed in the safe. You’ll have a plague of them before you know what’s what.

Them breeding in the safe wouldn't be so bothersome, but their primary food source is your money.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

How reliable is your Blaser R8?i keep thinking I need one. Anyone here use them on dangerous game?

probably the best rifle you will ever own
my daily back up gun is an R8 in 416 RM topped with a burris fast fire 3
yes not a common PH rifle but i guess i am not a common PH
never had an issue i guess in around 10yrs now, prob more
i also have a 300wm fluted barrel for that stock, and then a synthetic stock with a 9.3x62 and 6.5x55 barrels

my advice is, just think a little when matching calibres to a stock, my combo i dont need to change bolt heads or magazine inserst, just change the barrels