Blaser R8 Field Evaluation

[Formidilosus]

Yeah, all in one would definitely be a stretch and would probably be in too big of a case the carry on a plane. But even if it didn't quite work out that way I would at least have a rifle I've debated buying for years.

Haha. The Blaser is a rifle system that if a person travels and hunts and does not need to constantly modify their rifle for fun- most people would prefer it to anything else. I have used them twice in my life for a relatively extended period, and each time I am reminded what an overall excellent system they are. If it weren’t for me liking classic turn bolt actions for nostalgia and sentimental reasons, I would buy two Blasers and maybe one turn bolt and be done for hunting rifles.

 

[Southern Lights]

Haha. The Blaser is a rifle system that if a person travels and hunts and does not need to constantly modify their rifle for fun- most people would prefer it to anything else. I have used them twice in my life for a relatively extended period, and each time I am reminded what an overall excellent system they are. If it weren’t for me liking classic turn bolt actions for nostalgia and sentimental reasons, I would buy two Blasers and maybe one turn bolt and be done for hunting rifles.

This happened to me. I bought one, then bought another which I leave as a 223 and use the other for larger caliber swapping. I keep a few nice turn bolts, but virtually never pick them from the safe for a hunt vs. the Blaser. I sold off other rifles.

 

[RockAndSage]

Haha. The Blaser is a rifle system that if a person travels and hunts and does not need to constantly modify their rifle for fun- most people would prefer it to anything else. I have used them twice in my life for a relatively extended period, and each time I am reminded what an overall excellent system they are. If it weren’t for me liking classic turn bolt actions for nostalgia and sentimental reasons, I would buy two Blasers and maybe one turn bolt and be done for hunting rifles.

How would you say their long-term durability is, compared to something like a Tikka or a CRF M70 - things like small parts commonly breaking, or bigger durability issues?

Any thoughts or info on them as big-bore Dangerous Game guns, for Cape Buffalo, etc?

 

[omicron1792]

How would you say their long-term durability is, compared to something like a Tikka or a CRF M70 - things like small parts commonly breaking, or bigger durability issues?

Any thoughts or info on them as big-bore Dangerous Game guns, for Cape Buffalo, etc?

My man. Check out the major forum for Africa hunting. Blaser is used a ton there for dangerous game hunting. The straight pull is ideal for fast and accurate follow up shots.

My R8 is a robust piece of equipment. Really no little parts to break. Cool thing is that If one did break, the platform is modular and the broken part could be swapped in one minute by you with no gunsmith.

 

[Formidilosus]

How would you say their long-term durability is, compared to something like a Tikka or a CRF M70 - things like small parts commonly breaking, or bigger durability issues?

I haven’t seen anything break regularly. Most of my use has been on the R93 and the TAC 2 versions of it- and I don’t remember anything failing.

Any thoughts or info on them as big-bore Dangerous Game guns, for Cape Buffalo, etc?

They are used pretty regularly for that- probably ideal for it actually. I have probably around 1,000 rounds of 375 H&H through one and a few hundred of various 458, 416’s etc. No issues.

 

[RockAndSage]

I haven’t seen anything break regularly. Most of my use has been on the R93 and the TAC 2 versions of it- and I don’t remember anything failing.




They are used pretty regularly for that- probably ideal for it actually. I have probably around 1,000 rounds of 375 H&H through one and a few hundred of various 458, 416’s etc. No issues.

Great info, thank you.

 

[RockAndSage]

My man. Check out the major forum for Africa hunting. Blaser is used a ton there for dangerous game hunting. The straight pull is ideal for fast and accurate follow up shots.

My R8 is a robust piece of equipment. Really no little parts to break. Cool thing is that If one did break, the platform is modular and the broken part could be swapped in one minute by you with no gunsmith.

Lol, thanks for this...I'm now about 9 pages into this thread: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/blaser-r8-for-dangerous-game.53390/

 

[plebe]

I haven’t seen anything break regularly. Most of my use has been on the R93 and the TAC 2 versions of it- and I don’t remember anything failing.

What kind of maintenance do you do/recommend with Blaser? Cleaning/preserving different from how you treat a SS Tikka? Thanks.

 

[wind gypsy]

Sept 5th:

Made two loads up using 30gr Varget, virgin Norma brass, and Fed205 primers.


103gr ELD-X. First shot out of the rifle is #1 (the highest)-
View attachment 931830

105gr Berger Hybrid-
View attachment 931831


Cont….

While not ugly by any means, I was expecting a heavyish barreled 6br blaser to shoot tighter than that without fuss.

 

[MountainSide]

FWIW, I have had a couple things break on my R8...one of the aluminum rings on a 1" saddle mount; and, a couple rear iron site blades (actually I think three at this point). We are on/off ATVs and boats a lot here, and I think the rear sight blade breaks when knocked against the gunwales/seats of the boat, or rack of the atv. I think the 1" ring faced a similar fate when it cracked. The site blade has a clear point of weakness at the screw adjustment point. The scope ring cracked just above the screw holes.

For comparison, my 375 Ruger guide gun has a lot of similar miles on it, and the iron sights have never budged.

With that said, Blaser has quickly replaced the parts, free of charge.

 

[Formidilosus]

While not ugly by any means, I was expecting a heavyish barreled 6br blaser to shoot tighter than that without fuss.

Yes. I don’t have the reloading dies yet and so used the virgin Norma brass that was pretty ugly- dented case mouths, etc. But still.

 

[p3t3rsn]

Haha. The Blaser is a rifle system that if a person travels and hunts and does not need to constantly modify their rifle for fun- most people would prefer it to anything else. I have used them twice in my life for a relatively extended period, and each time I am reminded what an overall excellent system they are. If it weren’t for me liking classic turn bolt actions for nostalgia and sentimental reasons, I would buy two Blasers and maybe one turn bolt and be done for hunting rifles.

@Formidilosus your comment of two Blasers and a turn bolt hits home for me. As I have gotten older, less has become more for me. Curious, if you did two Blaser and a bolt action, what calibre’s would each be in? I assume Rokstok Lites for the Blasers?

 

[Steve O]

Haha. The Blaser is a rifle system that if a person travels and hunts and does not need to constantly modify their rifle for fun- most people would prefer it to anything else. I have used them twice in my life for a relatively extended period, and each time I am reminded what an overall excellent system they are. If it weren’t for me liking classic turn bolt actions for nostalgia and sentimental reasons, I would buy two Blasers and maybe one turn bolt and be done for hunting rifles.

That’s not a horrible plan. Could add a little challenge to it all and add in a single shot.

 

[Reddish]

That’s not a horrible plan. Could add a little challenge to it all and add in a single shot.

View attachment 934032

The K-95's are pretty sweet. What is yours chambered in?

 

[Steve O]

The K-95's are pretty sweet. What is yours chambered in?

.308

Saving up for a 22 Hornet.

 

[nm.otter]

If Blaser ever decides to offer the K95 in 6mm GT, I'm gong to be several thousand dollars poorer.

 

[Snowwolfe]

My reasonings behind buying a R8 are numerous. Some, people will disagree with but that's OK. Your money, your choices. Here are some of mine.
1. Most of my hunts are fly in or we go in on ATV's. Take down rifles are much easier to travel with.
2. Blasers do not require any tinkering or messing around. No trigger jobs, no glass bedding, no messing around trying to find out if you need to add forearm pressure, etc. They just shoot good.
3. I often hunt in cold, wet, and freezing weather. Based on my own personal experiences these conditions can cause a rifle with an enclosed style trigger, such as a Remington or Tikka, to freeze up because once water gets inside the trigger it is hard to get it out. This is a primary reason why many old Alaskan hunters stick with the old style Winchester 70's or Ruger 77's because of the open style triggers. The R8 allows me to take the trigger inside the tent at night to completely dry it out every night if needed. Generally it is not good advice to bring in a entire rifle into a warm tent every night and then expose it to freezing conditions again due to condensation and potential freezing issues.
4. As a lefty Blaser offers many more calibers than any other manufacture. Period. Pricey, yes. However different barrels take up less room in the safe than complete rifles. And 99% of thieves wouldn't know what a Blaser barrel was anyhow so the chance of them being stolen are less.
5. You never hear of hunters having feeding issues with a Blaser. The straight pull bolt and magazine system just works well. And once you are used to it, a conventional bolt action can't come close to the speed you can work the Blaser bolt.
Cheers.