Blaser R8 Field Evaluation

[Monty3006]

My .223 shoots the 69gr TMKs extremely well. I do wish it was 1-8 twist though.

 

[ndlawrence]

My knock against the Blaser is the cost of barrels and the wide range of actions when I’d want a Rokstock on it.

They’re more expensive than rebarreling a bolt gun for sure. You can pick most caliber barrels up in standard contour for $1500. Plus side is no down time for a barrel swap and no gunsmith needed. Also, the Blaser barrels also seem to do pretty well as for longevity. I’m not sure what you mean by wide range of actions.

 

[atmat]

They’re more expensive than rebarreling a bolt gun for sure. You can pick most caliber barrels up in standard contour for $1500. Plus side is no down time for a barrel swap and no gunsmith needed. Also, the Blaser barrels also seem to do pretty well as for longevity. I’m not sure what you mean by wide range of actions.

I was under the auspice last time I looked into it that there’s several different receivers for Blasers — meaning fitment for stocks isn’t consistent. But it’s been a while and I may be misremembering!

 

[ndlawrence]

I was under the auspice last time I looked into it that there’s several different receivers for Blasers — meaning fitment for stocks isn’t consistent. But it’s been a while and I may be misremembering!

I believe there are essentially two receiver variations. The professional style, where the receiver is embedded in the stock. And the “other style” (wood stock variations, ultimate, etc) that has the receiver as a standalone part that the buttstock and forend bolt onto. The later would certainly be easy to make an aftermarket stock for.

 

[Southern Lights]

I shoot the pro success one piece thumbhole stock and it's by far the most shootable stock I've ever used. Not just prone which a lot of people focus on, but all field positions, shooting off tripod, weird angles, offhand, etc. It's also tough as. I don't deliberately beat my rifles up, but the plastic is really hard wearing so far.

The multi piece stocks are nice, especially if you want wood. But that one piece stock has less to worry about. The only thing I lose out on is the potential to get a carbon stock made to lighten it up a bit. But there's basically nothing to go wrong with the stock.

I have shot my Blaser barrels a lot and am nowhere near to wearing one out. My 223 won't shoot 77gr bullets, but a mate shoots 69gr and it's really accurate in his Blaser barrel and he shoots a lot of 223 culling, etc.

Do I wish the barrels were cheaper? Sure, but consider the cost of ordering a standard barrel, taking or shipping the rifle to a gunsmith, having it fitted and *waiting* to have it fitted, getting it back and hoping it was done right, that the barrel maker quality is good, etc. It adds up vs. I just take my Blaser Barrel, put it on the rifle with the right bolt head and I'm away without any trouble. I know the barrel will always work and has consistently good quality. I can put on the 223 barrel for cheap practice, then swap on the bigger calibers for longer range practice. Also, they always maintain zero when swapping so I don't have to waste time re-zeroing or hoping my scope adjustments are correct when I swap from one to the other.

Sure you pay more, but what's your time worth?