Straight pull or bolt action

[Alantoo]

Going for it .makes sense too me

Do you have a mate with one so you can try them and see if it feels good for you. And you are happy with the accuracy? You are welcome to try mine if you happen to be in Gloucestershire at any time. Your Custom Sako 75s will be a hard act to follow. I have every confidence that an R8 would rise to the challenge though.

Alan

 

[nick.308]

I can only speak from my limited experience of straight pull rifles for which I have an AR15. I rarely use it for stalking/foxing from a noise point of view. Its noisy to load etc so I always end up going to my trusty bolt actions which I can load quietly even in pitch black. I don't know If anyone else has the same feelings.

 

[Alantoo]

I can only speak from my limited experience of straight pull rifles for which I have an AR15. I rarely use it for stalking/foxing from a noise point of view. Its noisy to load etc so I always end up going to my trusty bolt actions which I can load quietly even in pitch black. I don't know If anyone else has the same feelings.

I wonder what people with noisy Blaser's are doing...in stealth mode I find them much quieter than my Finnfire Turnbolt...I made a video with db meter in the foreground to show the relative noises levels...the Automatic level control on the camera tended to make them closer than they actually are. When I am in stealth mode proper, I rest a finger on top of the cartridge in the magazine and that takes out even that click.

 

[Blobby159]

I wonder what people with noisy Blaser's are doing...in stealth mode I find them much quieter than my Finnfire Turnbolt...I made a video with db meter in the foreground to show the relative noises levels...the Automatic level control on the camera tended to make them closer than they actually are. When I am in stealth mode proper, I rest a finger on top of the cartridge in the magazine and that takes out even that click.


Yes Alan, point proven I feel...
Incidentally I was waiting for a "BANG"! and it unnerved me... Hahahahahaaaa!!

ATB ..... and shoot safely

 

[zambezi]

I wonder what people with noisy Blaser's are doing...in stealth mode I find them much quieter than my Finnfire Turnbolt

100% agree that quiet closure of R8 bolt is possible. But it definitely requires practice. The collet lock-up takes place in perhaps the last 12mm of bolt throw. A fast throw of the bolt per the Blaser sales vids always achieves lock-up. But it is not quiet. A finessed/slow close of the bolt requires a firm final push to be assured of closure.

On a recent safari one PH quipped that some hunters call the Blaser the "click-click". That alludes to the fact that the Blaser fails safe if the locking collet is not fully engaged when the trigger is pulled. After the click of the trigger you hear the click of the firing spring decompressing. Even experienced adherents of the R8 platform can misjudge the bolt closure on occasion if they forget to apply the final push.

In UK woodland stalking environments, the argument re bolt noise using a fast-cocking action becomes moot: Because it is utterly safe to walk with a round chambered [firing spring de-cocked], the first operation of the bolt can usually be made some distance before the stalk begins. In the event that a follow up shot is required, the noise of the bolt is probably irrelevent.

 

[Alantoo]

In UK woodland stalking environments, the argument re bolt noise using a fast-cocking action becomes moot: Because it is utterly safe to walk with a round chambered [firing spring de-cocked], the first operation of the bolt can usually be made some distance before the stalk begins. In the event that a follow up shot is required, the noise of the bolt is probably irrelevent.

I agree there are more levels of “what ifs” before you can achieve a ND with a Blaser. I love the de-cocking safety system. But following the discussion on here a few months ago lead by @dodgyknees , and given it is perfectly possible to chamber a round silently with the R8, I have extended my previous Empty Chamber Protocol from when crossing obstacles/climbing into the high seat...empty until whenever stationary pre-ambush or moment of firing.

Prior to @dodgyknees exhortations I only ever did the “empty chamber for obstacles” as a good habit to maintain should I happen to be out with a turn bolt rifle, and not because I did not feel the Blaser was safe de-cocked with one in the chamber. I have just extended the good habit.

Alan

 

[Sako75Hunter]

following the discussion on here a few months ago lead by @dodgyknees , I have extended my previous Empty Chamber Protocol from when crossing obstacles/climbing into the high seat...empty until whenever stationary pre-ambush or moment of firing.

Me too. That was one of the most important (to me) threads I've ever read on SD.