Blaser R8 Field Evaluation

[chizelhead]

I recommend following scope torque specs not ring torque specs. They can be different. I learned the hard way by over torquing a scope once.

 

[Formidilosus]

I recommend following scope torque specs not ring torque specs. They can be different. I learned the hard way by over torquing a scope once.

That’s not how that works. Every single ring and screw size has different clamping forces at the same torque. The scope manufacture has no idea what rings the scope is going into. There are “quality” rings that at 18in-lbs will crush most scope tubes, and there are rings that at 18in-lbs the scope can be nearly moved with your hand.

By and large, scope manufacturers do not care about your scope holding zero- they care about people whining from ring marks.

 

[Southern Lights]

I put witness marks on ring screws to make sure they don't move. But now I will put witness marks on the scope tube to ring interface. I'll do horizontal mark on scope where it meets the ring to see if there is any forward/backward shift. Then vertical from ring to scope to see if there is any scope twist vs. rings.

 

[Stocky]

I’ve been torquing Blaser and Innomount rings to 25 in-lbs…

Opinions on your innomounts?

 

[BjornF16]

Opinions on your innomounts?

I’ve got more Innomounts than Blaser mounts.

Not sure what the tariff situation has done to their cost but I was buying from Titanium Gunworks in Germany. They are good to deal with and subtract the VAT. Shipping is fast.

I buy the Innogun Quick Detach, 0 MOA, +3mm

Innogun Quick Release Mount for Blaser - Ring Mount

The reliable scope mount for your Blaser hunting rifle and your rifle scope – mounted using classic ring mounts.

www.titanium-gunworks.com

 

[omicron1792]

I’ve got more Innomounts than Blaser mounts.

Not sure what the tariff situation has done to their cost but I was buying from Titanium Gunworks in Germany. They are good to deal with and subtract the VAT. Shipping is fast.

I buy the Innogun Quick Detach, 0 MOA, +3mm

Innogun Quick Release Mount for Blaser - Ring Mount

The reliable scope mount for your Blaser hunting rifle and your rifle scope – mounted using classic ring mounts.

www.titanium-gunworks.com

That’s where I have bought from too. But last shipment ups charged 100% import cost. Owner told me they have been doing that to all his shipments. I fought the charges and got it delivered without paying the cost but probably took 10 hours of my time and 1.5 months.

 

[RockAndSage]

That’s not how that works. Every single ring and screw size has different clamping forces at the same torque. The scope manufacture has no idea what rings the scope is going into. There are “quality” rings that at 18in-lbs will crush most scope tubes, and there are rings that at 18in-lbs the scope can be nearly moved with your hand.

By and large, scope manufacturers do not care about your scope holding zero- they care about people whining from ring marks.

What should you actually go by then?

 

[Stocky]

I’ve got more Innomounts than Blaser mounts.

Not sure what the tariff situation has done to their cost but I was buying from Titanium Gunworks in Germany. They are good to deal with and subtract the VAT. Shipping is fast.

I buy the Innogun Quick Detach, 0 MOA, +3mm

Innogun Quick Release Mount for Blaser - Ring Mount

The reliable scope mount for your Blaser hunting rifle and your rifle scope – mounted using classic ring mounts.

www.titanium-gunworks.com

Luckily no Tariffs to NZ.

Thinking I might buy a fixed mount to have a look. +3 being extension or height? For clearance under the scope how do they compare to the blaser mounts the March doesnt have much clearance in the factory mount.

Also do you have any of the 20MOA mounts?

 

[Formidilosus]

What should you actually go by then?

Use good rings where the manufacturer knows what they are doing- pic rings, NF UL are easy and use their torque spec.

 

[BjornF16]

Luckily no Tariffs to NZ.

Thinking I might buy a fixed mount to have a look. +3 being extension or height? For clearance under the scope how do they compare to the blaser mounts the March doesnt have much clearance in the factory mount.

Also do you have any of the 20MOA mounts?

+3 is height. Some scopes have a large enough bell housing that protrudes below turret section that requires the additional height (e.g. Tenmile and NX8). I had to get the higher rings on my Blaser mounts as well.

I don’t have any of the 20MOA mounts

 

[Stocky]

+3 is height. Some scopes have a large enough bell housing that protrudes below turret section that requires the additional height (e.g. Tenmile and NX8). I had to get the higher rings on my Blaser mounts as well.

I don’t have any of the 20MOA mounts

Interesting I have a 3-24x50 march on the 22LR in a standard Blaser Mount. Its highest clearance is from the base of the erector area to the blaser base. I guess those NX8s are short.

 

[BjornF16]

Interesting I have a 3-24x50 march on the 22LR in a standard Blaser Mount. Its highest clearance is from the base of the erector area to the blaser base. I guess those NX8s are short.

Picture’s worth a 1,000 words:

 

[Stocky]

Picture’s worth a 1,000 words:

View attachment 997647

Thanks thats perfect

 

[omicron1792]

Luckily no Tariffs to NZ.

Thinking I might buy a fixed mount to have a look. +3 being extension or height? For clearance under the scope how do they compare to the blaser mounts the March doesnt have much clearance in the factory mount.

Also do you have any of the 20MOA mounts?

Thing is it’s not tariffs. It’s the shipping company using the uncertainty of tariffs to add a huge fee to profit.

Tariff from Germany is 15%, not 100%, anyway.

 

[Kjc103]

Just finding this post.

The rifle being tested is mine which I sent up. A few of the questions being asked I can probably answer.

1. Blaser does make 6BR barrels and magazines. They are now special order I believe. The magazine in this rifle is specifically designed for 6BR, it is a Blaser factory mag that has that caliber listed if I remember correctly. It feeds and functions flawlessly.

A Blaser 22-250 mag also works. A 308 mag will work too but can get touchy. Use the 22-250 mag.

That barrel was an old match barrel my dealer still had from years before. I had him send it out to get cut and threaded to 5/8x24. It was m15x 1 or something weird like that. If you want a standard barrel contour, they will make you one in their custom shop. You’ll wait a long time. I think all 6br barrels are custom shop now actually and pricey.

2. Regarding accuracy. I used varget, rl 15.5 and staball match. BR4 primers, alpha brass.

I landed on the 107 smk and staball match. It was considerably more accurate than varget. Rl 15.5 was more accurate than varget too, less so than staball match.

Varget was the worst powder accuracy wise.

I don’t have the groups but for 10 shots it was sub moa with staball match. I shot 5 .25 moa training targets in a row with it at 100 yards.

3. The Blaser mount is a 30mm either medium or high….i don’t even think they list them that way. I had the standard and it was too low so my dealer sent me the next level up. Worked great for a maven.

The standard (low) works for a SWFA 3-9 or fixed 6/10just fine.

4. I now have two Akila extensions in 6BR made by Tipton burns. One is 18 inches, in a bartlein 1/8 #3 cut to 18 inches. It’s the most accurate barrel I own currently and have probably ever shot. A bit haven’t though for my liking.

The second is an 18 inch carbon 1/7 that I just got today. Couldn’t tell you how it will shoot yet. It’s really not that much lighter than the bartlein (I wouldn’t spend the money on carbon, not worth it). The standard Blaser contour is lighter.

A third on order that’s going to be a light steel contour cut to 16.5 inches. Should be really light and handy.

My point? If you want a 6BR, Tipton can make it happen. No need to wait or pay for a Blaser barrel though they are my preference. Meaning, if it’s a caliber Blaser chambers, just spend the money on a Blaser barrel. They’re worth it.

5. Blaser makes pic rails. I just messaged form to see if he wanted to test those out. They seems extremely sturdy to me.

6. Someone asked about the spartan adapter. It fits any spartan product. Not Blaser proprietary at all.

Hope that helps.

 

[Kjc103]

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.

I’m with you on this.

Setting the scope and mount aside…..the Blaser design requires the entire system to stay within 1/10000 of an inch in order to function. The tolerances are measured in microns, which apparently, is even less. So if dropping it causes the alignment of the barrel to shift, the bolt simply would not lock up and the rifle wouldn’t fire.

Any shift from a drop would have to be either in the scope itself, or somewhere in the mount/rings.

The have only experienced total return to zero with the saddle mounts personally. Like, exactly back to zero. Of course, I’m not dropping the rifle intentionally etc

If one were truly concerned with this, they could get an Akila Bear8 with integral picattiny rail. That would 100 percent rule out anything other than the scope and rings.

 

[Kjc103]

Factory .243 R8 barrel with the carbon stock.


View attachment 938038



View attachment 938039

The rifle is just over 8# with my 27” fluted Kreiger .264 Winchester barrel with the S&B.

Where did you snag this carbon stock? Who makes it?

 

[BjornF16]

Where did you snag this carbon stock? Who makes it?

I have one of those stocks as well. The maker is out of the business of making them

 

[RockAndSage]

the Blaser design requires the entire system to stay within 1/10000 of an inch in order to function. The tolerances are measured in microns, which apparently, is even less.

If this is the case, how are they in actual field use, in rougher, dirtier conditions? Or just in high-volume shooting?

 

[Kjc103]

Great wuestikn

If this is the case, how are they in actual field use, in rougher, dirtier conditions? Or just in high-volume

For me it’s been great.

I have seen basically three things of note:

1. Sand (I’m in the desert) can get into the barrel screws if you’re changing barrels in the field. It hasn’t caused any problems but torque-ing the barrel down and hearing/feeling sand in there doesn’t feel good.

2. The barrel screws can get superficial rust from rain. Again, not an issue but something to note.

3. Any ammo problems are more apparent. I loaded 1,200 compressed loads on a progressive press with ball powder. Some of them have slight bulges in the neck. If this was a turn bolt, with camming power, I don’t think it would be much of an issue at all.

High volume is zero percent an issue. Other than the ammo problem, which ultimately was my fault, it’s never failed to fire in thousands of rounds. I beat mine up pretty hard too, I don’t treat it like a princess, regardless of how much it cost.

Ah, one more thing:

I had a spartan adapter fail. The housing is a really tough plastic but I cracked it stuffing it into a saddle scabbard. The dealer is sending me a new one free of charge.