Blaser R8 Field Evaluation

[rbutcher1234]

For a Swfa 3-9 or 3-9, can I get away with the standard? The 3-9 has a smaller body to bell than the 3-15

 

[omicron1792]

For a Swfa 3-9 or 3-9, can I get away with the standard? The 3-9 has a smaller body to bell than the 3-15

Probably yes.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate it. This is a helpful but very dangerous community to be in.

 

[omicron1792]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate it. This is a helpful but very dangerous community to be in.

Yea. Yes it is.

 

[Southern Lights]

Thought Blaser was renowned for it's return to zero.
Assemble, shoot, disassemble, assemble, shoot. always back to zero.

So I've read everywhere.

This is always what I've found and I've run R8 for years now. Swap stocks, barrels, take scopes on and off. Always return to zero and I'm very particular about this.

For drop testing, I don't deliberately abuse my gear but have taken some hard spills and carried the rifles a lot they always hold zero. I don't think I've re-zeroed my 223 for instance in nearly 7 years and pretty consistent use. This also includes countless miles of travel bouncing around in the back of a truck.

As for intentional drop testing, my money is it holds zero because the rifle is completely designed around this idea of interchangeable parts that hold zero as a complete system. I could see the possibility of a Blaser mount being damaged, but so far I've found them strong for the task. But again, I've never dumped one on the top turret from 4 ft. up. If I was really concerned, I'd run a Blaser compatible picatinny mount and NF rings which I've done in the past with larger scopes.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Are people removing the R8 professional screws that attach the receiver into the stock and doing a degrease/loctite/retorque at all? Or are we trusting from the factory that Blaser has put this receiver into the stock in the most durable way possible?

 

[Southern Lights]

Ain't broke. Don't fix it. I trust the Germans to do it right.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Anybody tried this, or the barrel extension piece at least?

Custom Blaser Pre-fit | Carbon Fiber

Evolved Ballistics offers a comprehensive selection of PROOF Research barrels, rifles, optics, and accessories for precision shooting enthusiasts.

evolvedballistics.com

 

[omicron1792]

Anybody tried this, or the barrel extension piece at least?

Custom Blaser Pre-fit | Carbon Fiber

Evolved Ballistics offers a comprehensive selection of PROOF Research barrels, rifles, optics, and accessories for precision shooting enthusiasts.

evolvedballistics.com

Yep. It’s great. Can buy directly through the gunsmith too. Tipton Burns at Texas sporting arms.

Services | Texas Sporting Arms

www.txsportingarms.com

 

[rbutcher1234]

Awesome.

@Formidilosus what do we think the Blaser mount is holding on the ring torque for no slippage? 20 in lbs on a good scope like a NF or SWFA? Or 25 like I always do in NF rings?

 

[Formidilosus]

Awesome.

@Formidilosus what do we think the Blaser mount is holding on the ring torque for no slippage? 20 in lbs on a good scope like a NF or SWFA? Or 25 like I always do in NF rings?

I have mine at 25’ish in-lbs.

But, I did have a zero shift- though it wasn’t from rings slipping.

 

[Formidilosus]

I had a zero shift. The rifle along with another rifle fell out of the truck when I opened the door.




I have not had a chance to shoot it more.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Uh oh.

Wonder if it’s a nature of the R8 QD mount and if loctite 380’ing their non qd pic rail would be better.

 

[Southern Lights]

There would be no need to loctite the rail to the rifle with the Pic rail, or even the QD rail. I feel as if I could hang my entire body from one and it would not detach if properly set. I've never had one come loose and I take them on and off all the time to switch between day / thermal optics on my rifles.

If the Blaser QD rail has any weakness, I'd say it would be the rings from Blaser. They are well made, but feel very thin and snap over the scope tube with a spring like action. When I bought aftermarket Gunstar mounts I always go for the steel rings vs. alloy for very slight weight penalty but they feel stronger to me.

 

[43.6N]

I have mine at 25’ish in-lbs.

But, I did have a zero shift- though it wasn’t from rings slipping.

Interesting… looking forward to the root cause analysis on this one.

How did the other rifle system that fell hold up?

 

[Formidilosus]

Interesting… looking forward to the root cause analysis on this one.

How did the other rifle system that fell hold up?

Blaser center, T3x in a wood ROKStok light on right fell with it. MRC 6cm on left after elk and deer hunts, being dropped 3-4 times, and being strapped to the back of the pack and having my full weight plus a 105’ish pound pack smash it when I flopped on it.

 

[atmat]

Blaser center, T3x in a wood ROKStok light on right fell with it. MRC 6cm on left after elk and deer hunts, being dropped 3-4 times, and being strapped to the back of the pack and having my full weight plus a 105’ish pound pack smash it when I flopped on it.

View attachment 963050

Your killing us. What actually failed on the Blaser?

 

[Formidilosus]

Your killing us. What actually failed on the Blaser?

I don’t know. My guess is the mount in some way. The rings are very thin, the ring spacing is very close which doesn’t support the scope at the ends well, the rings themselves are held on by a screw from the bottom, etc.

The mount does not give me the warm fuzzies and was always my concern. It’s rezeroed now and I am hunting with it. After season I will drop eval it and see what it does, but I will be surprised if it holds zero.

 

[rbutcher1234]

The new gen rings are recessed into the mount base, so they are at least rotationally limited compared to the old rings I believe.

When I was putting my new Blaser together (that I’ve mentioned in this thread a page or two ago), I was a little apprehensive at the thinness of the rings. So much so that I have ordered one of the non-QD picatinny rail mounts so I can use my nightforce rings.

 

[Snowwolfe]

Yep. The standard is the low. I use the +3 and it’s still pretty low.

I’ve tried them all and it’s my fave Blaser r8 mount.

That said, that company has most all of the Blaser mounts. Great to buy from and ships to USA. He even sends a bar of German chocolate my kids love

If you were going to mount a scope with a 44mm objective which height mount would you suggest?