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

[Overlay]

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

now you’ve torn it, there was no need for that word K95
sussex fallow had one of those and it was a beautiful bit of kit

big sigh

i’m not getting one , I’m not, I mean it

oh crap he ho ho off to work I go to earn some doubloon's for some more herman engineering I wish for

got no cabinet room ( sell summink)

it could be my one calibre for all deer stalking though
no will power phil

 

[Tazz]

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??

It will become another tale of diminishing returns and spending lots of money chasing a marginaly tighter group. In real world stalking and general hunting once you get to circa 1MOA or less than a 1 inch group it’s not going to make any difference and most of us off sticks or a bipod can’t achieve that. If however you are in to the “ Extreme” long range hunting and want to head shoot squirrels from 3 thousand meters while factoring in the humidity and the curvature of the earth meet chasing those 0.01 of an MOA

 

[bowji john]

I have a @Ronin rifle - it is superb for the purpose for which I commissioned it

I have a M98 in 9.3 x 62 - fantastic for reds in the UK , boar when I get round to it, and shooting for the pot in Africa

I have a Vudoo - it is cracking for long range .22LR

I have a CZ 452 - workhorse on the range

I have a Blaser in .22LR; .223; 6.5 x 55 and 404 Jeff
Which fulfils all stalking, ratting, Rabbiting and ‘Stopping a charge’ functions

They are all great for the purpose for which they were bought

I’ve had the Blaser for a little under 10 years

Fortunately neither it, nor the barrels have read the messages on rust or wearing out

Just get what you want

 

[Cris]

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.

I think you do if you have spent that much time on running targets! Your just in denial.

 

[jthyttin]

It's just pastime, being offered rifle and free cartridges. Having a shot with almost anything, makes you better. It's just that having as many shots with my own rifle(s) would've made be even better, for the season that is. The skill is perisheable.

You can of course make almost any rifle fit you, but I just find decent bolt action (e.g. Tikka T3) more natural and faster to shoot than R8. Yes there are certain techniques with certain Blaser stocks and I've researched / been guided to them. But to me R8 (or K95 FWIW) is just a solution finding a problem, as I believe was said in this or some other thread recently.

 

[Cris]

It's just pastime, being offered rifle and free cartridges. Having a shot with almost anything, makes you better. It's just that having as many shots with my own rifle(s) would've made be even better, for the season that is. The skill is perisheable.

You can of course make almost any rifle fit you, but I just find decent bolt action (e.g. Tikka T3) more natural and faster to shoot than R8. Yes there are certain techniques with certain Blaser stocks and I've researched / been guided to them. But to me R8 (or K95 FWIW) is just a solution finding a problem, as I believe was said in this or some other thread recently.

The Tikka T3!is a fine rifle and if you have worked up a good method to shoot, all good.
However there are a lot of very satisfied Blaser users / owners that are using the solution without finding a problem. In fact quite the opposite.

 

[CBH Australia]

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

No seperate thread needed

Try a .280a.i.

 

[Rafter]

Or a K95 in 7x65R.

Problem then is, no need for anything else - maybe a 6xc or .223, or.....

 

[Heym SR20]

K95 - vastly overated IMHO. Feel very plasticky, machine made. They work. Many rave about them. But if you are buying a top end one save your money and go and have a look at

Kipplaufbüchse NO.1 | Prinz Waffen

Büchsenmacher Oswald Prinz

www.prinz-waffen.de

I looked at these closely at Jagd & Hund a few years ago. Gentleman who designed these deaigned the K95. This is how they should be built. Feel really beautifully made from solid steel and walnut.

Or do Haenel or a Bergara B13 and spend the rest on hunting.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

A friend commented recently that the fired cases from a Blaser that he was attempting to reload for, varied in base to shoulder datum measurement more than he expected.
From my own observations, I don't see Blasers being used in either PRS or F-Class.
Regards
JCS

Brad Bourner used a baser to pretty good effect in the competitions he entered a few years ago.

I’d say that the blasers I’ve seen have been as accurate that you would never notice an improvement - it would be pretty theoretical.

If I had the money and was starting again, I would have one in 6.5 creedmoor I think.

 

[Utectok]

I mean semi custom vs blaser it’s a no brainer clearly a hand built rifle will be more accurate, a bit, is that relevant? In most cases no but that is the answer.

 

[Briar]

When I bought my R8 it was in addition to two “semi custom rifles” not to replace. I did not expect better accuracy ( have a 6ppc and a 260 crafted near Tomintoul).
My reason for purchase was for a lighter, more pointable “walk up” rifle following a shoulder injury with acceptable accuracy. It doesn’t disappoint.

 

[mchughcb]

Well here's a blaser group with two barrels at 200 yards and either one us good enough for hunting. And shooting flying birds with the 3rd barrel

 

[woodlandvenison1]

Iv had many custom rifles and my blaser shoots factory ammo just as good as them and it’s shooting deer out to 500 regularly I would never spend the money on building one again

 

[Bowland blades]

Not a fan and the spare barrels might be handy but they are more expensive than a replacement from a good barrel maker . On one Estate i frequent the staff who use Blazer do go through their barrels faster , not sure is its shallow rifling , their care of the barrel ( its just worth saying Blazer must make a lot of money selling extra barrels , so a shorter barrel life will lead to a new purchase off them ) .
Rifles are personal to the user personally i dont like them

 

[mchughcb]

I find that hard to believe but in any case 30 seconds later and you change the barrel not months at the gunsmith.

 

[Cris]

Would like to see real statistics on Blaser barrel ware rather than hear say and unsupported statements.

 

[mchughcb]

A couple more groups with the older blaser straight pull

 

[Overlay]

that’s torn it, chap on here said you can’t top load a blaser, mine all do and so does yours

Hmmmm

 

[mchughcb]

Would like to see real statistics on Blaser barrel ware rather than hear say and unsupported statements.

I'd have to dig it out somewhere but there were some posts decades back where R93 barrels in 308 at target clubs for training had done over 10K rounds and some approaching 13K with factory ammo.