Blaser R8 accuracy vs semi custom rifles, which one wins??

[gixer1]

And there’s the rub, that rifle will do that all day. It always has been a shooter and the bolt throw is slick and feeding 100%. My sensible head says stick with old faithful but then this little voice whispers ……..Blaser!!
Must stop listening to those voices

If you want one - get one, life is too short!

They are lovely rifles and cycle very well and feel very comfortable to carry and shoot - I don’t own one but have shot one and have a number of friends with them.

It’s like the old Ferrari/Fiesta argument, sure, they do the same job but one is way nicer to do the job with!

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Buchan]

But hell man, have you no dignity

Glad I'm not alone in this thought!!

 

[Cris]

Seems to have turned into the usual Blaser bashing thread as usual.
Having owned one for a few years now, I have seen no rust on the barrel having had it out in all weathers, trigger is sharp and releases crisply.
Well built and easy to maintain.

A lot of crxp spoken by those that don’t own one on this site.

Sure there are other good alternatives out if you want and no issue with that. It’s personal preference after all.

 

[Craigsaun]

Ok this will hopefully be interesting. For a lot of years I have used semi custom rifles for stalking that had been pillar bedded and rebarreled with match grade tubes from a variety of quality makers. I have always viewed the Blaser rifles as being overpriced and perhaps overly complex with some distinct advantages that may or may not be tangible in the field.
Recently I have been bitten by some sort of affliction that is seriously making me consider a Blaser R8. I have tried the usual remedies like cold showers, self flagellation etc and have listened to the threats that no one will ever talk to me again if I got one but still that itch is there!

So what I am after is a photographic study of actual groups shot by the Blaser R8 owners out there in order to justify in my mind whether to make a jump that way or not before I lose my friends, family and all self respect by purchasing one!! As a comparison I will offer up a representative group from my current semi custom .308 which is aTikka 595 with a Border cut rifled tube in a pillar bedded factory wood stock and a 2.5-10x scope, essentially a good solid stalking rifle and not a range toy. This group was shot off a Harris bipod with rear bag whilst checking zero a few weeks ago using stalking ammunition (130gr TTSX@ approx 3000fps). Is the Blaser better and is it worth changing??

I was in the same situation as you, i Had two T3’s both semy custom that shot really well and I had them for many years . Then a good friend was looking for a new rifle (s20) . Any way I reminded him of the R8 and low and behold he bought one , and I must say it is amazing, fluted barrel carbon stock a thing of beauty, that was it I had to have one . Two weeks later and job done , and I must say I haven’t looked back. And why did I bye one ? Because it’s a BLASER

 

[JH83]

Blaser de cock

Great idea if the operator uses the detent correctly without having finger on trigger ,,,,,

I’ve had to look over several R8 due to misfires that careless operators blame for their inability to follow basic a basic system of operation

Change barrels - R8 barrel start around 1200 if I am correct and the match versions are a few hundred more

That’s more than a re barrel for a “traditional bolt gun”

Watch out for corrosion in and on barrels ,,

Accuracy - well we have stood side by side on range days and watched targets being shot by numerous people - I don’t recall any of the R8 being used have anything other than mediocre grouping (one my argue operator failings here )

Trigger - the unit is numb and dead to the touch (similar to a light switch)

Overall cost - high, more so than a custom from my stable at least

Yes they work, yes one May strip and carry several barrels in a small attaché case and have a very portable system

But hell man, have you no dignity












I mean no offence to Blaser owners

Honestly


Caveat

I used to own a Tac 2 that was them most ergonomic and accurate rifle (factory rifle) I’ve owned , so I’m not a hater

Said better than I ever could

Ditto

 

[jthyttin]

Seems to have turned into the usual Blaser bashing thread as usual.

I'd rather say, Blaser owners have praised their possession and try to cancel out everybody having less than stellar comment about them. If you want to be pointy about it.

 

[Cris]

I'd rather say, Blaser owners have praised their possession and try to cancel out everybody having less than stellar comment about them. If you want to be pointy about it.

Do you own one?

 

[Shootgun]

I wouldn’t be without mine …

 

[Overlay]

I'd rather say, Blaser owners have praised their possession and try to cancel out everybody having less than stellar comment about them. If you want to be pointy about it.

Yep whatever
I moved from the 93 to the R8 pro because the rifle felt and fitted me nicely and it works perfectly, and for me-being able to change over scopes in seconds to NV or back to day scope and not lose zero is a godsend, I struggled to do that with previous makes of rifles to any degree of accuracy, I did try a lot, wouldnt call it pointy I feel I’ve got a bit of kit that works for me rather than faffing about trying or hoping it’s on zero

nothing special about a Blaser except it works as I want true to aim and faultless, I use all my rifles constantly and changing scopes or from lead to NTX to NV it’s no problem once you’ve set them up
if you use one calibre with 1 scope fixed find the one make that suits that job you want it for no big deal

 

[CBH Australia]

If you want one - get one, life is too short!

They are lovely rifles and cycle very well and feel very comfortable to carry and shoot - I don’t own one but have shot one and have a number of friends with them.

It’s like the old Ferrari/Fiesta argument, sure, they do the same job but one is way nicer to do the job with!

Regards,
Gixer

I don't have one and probably won't but yes. If it what's you like then have it and be happy.

Unfortunately price puts it out if reach for any but like everything it's partly what you want most.

 

[Selous]

Blaser de cock

Great idea if the operator uses the detent correctly without having finger on trigger ,,,,,

I’ve had to look over several R8 due to misfires that careless operators blame for their inability to follow basic a basic system of operation

Change barrels - R8 barrel start around 1200 if I am correct and the match versions are a few hundred more

That’s more than a re barrel for a “traditional bolt gun”

Watch out for corrosion in and on barrels ,,

Accuracy - well we have stood side by side on range days and watched targets being shot by numerous people - I don’t recall any of the R8 being used have anything other than mediocre grouping (one my argue operator failings here )

Trigger - the unit is numb and dead to the touch (similar to a light switch)

Overall cost - high, more so than a custom from my stable at least

Yes they work, yes one May strip and carry several barrels in a small attaché case and have a very portable system

But hell man, have you no dignity












I mean no offence to Blaser owners

Honestly


Caveat

I used to own a Tac 2 that was them most ergonomic and accurate rifle (factory rifle) I’ve owned , so I’m not a hater

I now feel humbled and ashamed

 

[scotch_egg]

I now feel humbled and ashamed

You could also look at the trigger in a different light. They are either on or off. I never found any creep on the R93 I had.

They are a guilty pleasure, the 6mmbr target barrel I had was incredibly accurate. But then anything in 6mmbr usually is. Then again the .243 barrel I had cut down to 18” was unbelievably accurate with factory PPU ammunition.

Talking of the attaché case, that is a huge benefit if travelling. I took mine on s family get away and managed a few stalks without the kids even realising. They would have wanted to tag along and three girls under 7 at the time would not have been conducive to a successful outing

I did nearly slip a few months ago and priced up a magnum target barrel and a couple of spare .473 barrels. What I remembered was the ease of just grabbing a rifle already setup in the calibre for the situation without having to swap scopes and barrels about. The reality is you need a scope per barrel and the cost of barrels is nigh on that of a tikka with new barrel.

I would say everyone needs to scratch the itch and only you know if the system would work for after hands on experience. There is a very well priced .223 target barre with bolt head and magazine in the classifieds to get you started. Add a 6.5 creedmoor and 6XC barrel then a 7mm PRC when they come out and you set up

 

[Ronin]

The simple solution is buy one

You are not in the position you will rest a finger on the trigger if activating the safety de cock (unlike some folk then claim mechanical defect)

Uou look after your weapons so it won’t suffer from surface rust internally or externally

You are a proficient shot so will get the best out of the rifle whatever calibre you choose

You reload match accurate ammunition consistently

It will feel different to your normal bolt gun

If it were me I would look at the fluted barrel versions with the adjustable match trigger

I’d own an R8, but not an R93 again for reasons that have been discussed ad infinitum in other threads

You won’t save anything on weight as the R8 can be a bit of a lump with a variable scope and mod

You are not likely to lose much should you decide they are not for you either

 

[jthyttin]

Do you own one?

No. Why? Is the next question, have you used one? Yes, on several occasions, few hundred rounds (almost exclusively running target). Would never own one.

 

[tackb]

blaser marketing is up there with hornady for getting you to buy things you don't need!

its a superb CNC made rifle that can interchange easily , it's also a solution to a problem that does not exist. although if you struggle to operate a normal bolt action then simplifying to a simple forwards backwards movement could help you out?

i would have a semi or full custom all day long and have what i wanted

blasers are ok rifles but a bit like bum holes , everyone has one now..............

 

[Jax]

Interesting thread. With 2 full custom rifles, amongst others in the cabinet, I’m drawn to a R8. Mainly because I’d like a stalking/foxing 6 creedmoor with 24” or so barrel, but save 3” on overall length with the Blaser action.

The custom barrel is something I’ve yet to work out though and is probably for a separate thread.

 

[artschool]

No. Why? Is the next question, have you used one? Yes, on several occasions, few hundred rounds (almost exclusively running target). Would never own one.

 

[Dickie]

FFS just go and buy one then report back on how you love it or it's the biggest regret you've had of gun ownership.
WE will then get another post probably twice as long. "Told you so"

 

[Heym SR20]

Blasers are built by precision machinery to create lots of bits that any body can just assemble together with a Torx screw. And they work. I have used R8, R93, K95, combination guns and the Blaser F3, all in a number of different guises. And they all have just worked well. Blaser F3 shooting clays - just made it easy.

To be honest they remind me of a latest generation German Merc, Audi or Porsche. Performance is there in spades, and even for a very average driver the levels of traction, grip etc will well out perform them. The dual clutch gear boxes sound fantastic especially on the over run changing down with the flappy paddles, and when you press the button that opens the valve on the exhaust pipe you get a nice burble, but otherwise it doesn’t offend any green senses.

Whereas a proper custom or semi custom is built by hand on a work bench. The barrel is not air guaged for fit. Instead it’s measured with micrometer by hand. The threads are cut with years of experience and the tolerances will tight and measured by feel. There will be a perfect fit between the action and the barrel shoulder because smoke or die will used to fit them perfectly.

There is not a huge investment in precision machinery, but there is a big investment in skill and time.

And when it comes to hardening and finishing. The custom gun will hardened in a forge and then heat soaked in oil or cooled down on steel. The parts will then be finally fitted by hand using stones. And parts will be blued by rust, boil and carding.

The machine made will use nitride and ceramic coatings.

End result will be the custom gun will have soul and it will be yours and chances are it will be much more satisfying to use. It might perform better or it might not.

But loading a properly built custom rifle, or closing a fine sidelock shotgun is a spine tingling experience. I would far rather use my hand built Ferlach combination gun to take a deer, or shoot a phaesant with a side by side.

In the same way changing gear manually in a high performance Merc, Audi or Porsche from the late 1990’s or early 2000’s is far more satisfying than just flicking a paddle. I love driving my brother in laws RS4 - the last one with a naturally aspirated V8 and manual box. It’s a pig to drive when its cold, or in traffic, but out on the open road it’s joyous. I have been in the latest generation- yes its great but boring

Or putting it another way compare the new Defender with grin factor of properly restored and well set up classic rangerover or Series land rover.

As a daily driver new Defender makes sense, but jumping in an old land rover to head up the Glen to start a stalk or go fishing …….

Trying to compare a Blaser with a custom gun is actually impossible- they fulfill totally different things.

 

[tackb]

forgot all about the K95 , now thats a sexy bit of kit !