Blaser R8 for 18 yo

[Halligan]

Funny you wrote this as I edited my post to address exactly that lol

 

[Blaserwannabe]

So a tikka you can spin on a new barrel pretty easily for another caliber.

If you have a Blaser. For a new caliber it’s 1600 for barrel. 400 for a scope mount. And 1000 for a new scope. So 3k for every new caliber you add.

The main appeal is the caliber conversion and the straight pull action.

He shot a mil surp( k31 I think) and prefers that style of bolt action.

 

[omicron1792]

The main appeal is the caliber conversion and the straight pull action.

He shot a mil surp( k31 I think) and prefers that style of bolt action.

Well. You’re mind is made up.

I love my Blaser. It’s awesome.

 

[Sam Colt]

Buy the Tikka and put $5000 in an IRA instead of buying an R8. Starting at 18 and with no other contributions he'd have over $100,000 and a mountain of just as dead animals when he retires.

 

[Steve O]

They make it easy to travel. And they make load development easy; you can take them apart like this between every shot of a five shot group and see no change from leaving it all together and pretty much anything you feed into them shoots great. I have .243, 264 WM, 300WM, and 375 H&H.

You could take the same scope and move it from barrel to barrel but that’s just too much, you would probably have to have a little cheat sheet to move a few clicks between each barrel.

They are an engineering masterpiece.

 

[Southern Lights]

The R8 is nice and it's my primary rifle here in NZ. Keep in mind they will likely come out with a new model to replace the R8 eventually and phase out R8 parts like they did with the R93, so I wouldn't count on it being a lifelong purchase. Although, you could certainly keep it running a long time.

Pros:

- Convertible with no zero shift. I mainly use 270, 6.5CM and .223 barrels. I can swap them in the field with no shift.

- You can also swap out optics. I routinely use day optic and put on the thermal/IR for night hunts on the same rifle without any shifts.

- You have the same stock/trigger pull when you swap calibers so your stay more consistent.

- They are about 4" shorter than a standard bolt action as the trigger/magazine is combined. If you run suppressed it means you can run a full length 22" barrel, with same length as people needing to cut to 18".

- They can cycle about as fast as a semi-auto assuming you are not doing spray and pray and taking aimed shots.

- The safety is a true de-cocker so you can walk with a round in the chamber if need requires and safety disengaged and it cannot fire. But I really only do this when I think will need a quick shot such as a cull hunt where I may jump something. However it's far safer than standard rifle safety alone if you need it.

- The plastic stocks are tough and can take hard use. I don't know anything about the wood stocks to comment.

Cons:

- Barrels are expensive. But I've never heard of anyone here shooting one out. I'm sure it happens, but in any standard caliber they will last a long time. I have shot my 223/270 barrels thousands and thousands of times and they are still accurate.

- Blaser mounts/etc. can sometimes be a pain to source. I'm not sure how much better it is in the US, but if there is a problem coming out of Germany then you are downstream and third-party options are limited except for mounts which you can buy easily from other makers.

- They are 7.5lbs bare rifle if you are a weight weeny. No real way to make the lighter unless you get a third-party stock and risk that entails.

- People think you are a rich snob that can't shoot when you show up with one so make sure you kid practices with it to not make us Blaser owners look bad.

They have gotten ridiculously expensive vs. when I bought mine. If I had to do it today, I'd consider a lightweight Sako/Tikka in 6.5CM and one in .223. Because of my use case going day/night, de-cocker, etc. the Blaser is still worth it to me, but just barely vs. a simpler/lighter rifle like the Tikka/Sako.

Used R8s are around and rarely are used that hard from what I've seen by many hunters. He could get a good deal. I got mine used and saved a significant mount of money off a new rifle and has never given me any trouble.

I'd get a good middle-of-the-road hunting caliber like 308/270/6.5CM and a 223 barrel and call it a day. No need to go crazy with calibers unless he had some really specific and legit reason.

I'm mainly a meat hunter. Myself and hunting mates run them a lot and really hard. They always work and I've never had one jam or fail to operate in rain, etc.


Photos of 270 22" barrel.

 

[howco]

I've had and shot about every rifle brand and customs. Probably had 30 plus different tikkas, then I customize them all, it's never ending. I sold a blaser r8 and 3 barrels, the blaser had been a catch and release for multiple guys......I didn't lose a thing on any of the parts and or barrels I sold. I say let him save a bit more and buy the blaser from Jake a eurooptic.com . Jake has a nice combo price currently, Jake even has a deposit from me........
Really listen to Steve O , look at how practical those rifles are and can save space, especially if he's moving,build out as you need. If he buys the 6.5 creedmoor barrel, then shoot the peak+ when he feels the need, add a 223 barrel and mini bolt head when he has more saved. I'd be waaaay ahead if I stuck with Blaser vs constantly buying/trying/ upgrading everything else I had for the same end results......Plus, like Form has said, it's the perfect rifle system if you don't d^ck with things.

 

[schmidty3]

Buy the Tikka and put $5000 in an IRA instead of buying an R8. Starting at 18 and with no other contributions he'd have over $100,000 and a mountain of just as dead animals when he retires.

I was about to say the same thing!

This is kinda like buying a Ferrari as a first car but you dont even have a drivers license yet.

A tricked out tikka or nice semi custom rifle and a good scope is all in under $4k. Buy a bunch of ammo, do that s2h course, or get into NRL and actually learn how to shoot.

But damned I wish I wouldve invested money at 18

Im definitely guilty of wanting the nice thing. I might treat myself here or there. But efficiency usually wins

My brother sounds like your boy...theoretical expert (but never does anything), like really nice toys (but never really uses them...unless i drag him out) ). He's building an ar-10 6.5 prc all carbon gun with a nx6 6-36. Its still gonna be heavy asf to hunt with. Doesn't make sense to me! But the heart wants what the heart wants!

 

[Aussie Dan]

He's nearly 18, is working and saving, not planning to go into any kind of debt for a "fun" purchase. He doesn't sound like a typical 17yo whose wasting money on partying and other usual teenage BS.

For those reasons I'd help and encourage him to buy exactly what he wants.

 

[Cyril]

I’ve discussed the Beretta but hear nothing but bad things about it, and growing up with savage rifles ( not for hunting ) they have been very hit or miss with quality in our experience.

What other options are out there that are fairly modular and can change caliber? I’m aware of Merkle and iirc saur makes a straight pull as well.

Seekins element M3. Quick change barrel system with milled pick rail in action. Means single scope for multiple caliber. Could start with standard element and add a chassis later. Not straight pull but more economical with aftermarket barrel support and single scope.

I bought one in 308, mounted a trijicon credo on it. Added a 6 creed barrel from PVA. All in less cost than single caliber of the R8.

 

[Blaserwannabe]

I was actually considering one for myself, but I’m falling apart too much to go hunting anymore unfortunately.

 

[LightFoot]

The Blaser is amazing, but not the right answer as a first rifle, or even as a gift. It’s like getting a Maserati as your first car. Everything about Blaser is expensive… nice… but, expensive.

Tikka T3X in 7mm or 30-06. Then his experiences will guide his next rifle.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[land cruiser]

I got my first R93 about 20 years ago. Older, but not much older than your son. With time I bought five additional barrels for it and of course, optics and mounts and magazines etc. I trained with a 22 WMR and hunted in a lot of different states and countries with it. My most used barrel was 300 Remington ultra mag and it got shot out eventually, but I had a spare one. Many guns later, when I’m going for something I’m really serious about I’m reaching for my blaser. I can trust it and that’s all that matters.

Good luck to your son and I hope he gets his blaser.