Advice on Blaser R8 pro success

[Robj84]

So I have decided that I’m going to go for a new R8 PS in 308.
Blaser owners what would you recommendations please.

17mm or 19mm barrel?
Which is best, my understanding is that a 17mm barrel will fit in a 19mm stock but not the other way around.

Which moderator is best?

What rifle slip do you have?
I led to believe that due to R8’s shape it doesn’t fit in normal slip. I don’t want one of those large drag along range bags.

Thank you for all your advice.
Buying a rifle set up has turned out to be more complicated than I thought it would be.

 

[bowji john]

If I were to buy again I would have bought the R8 pro that allows the wider barrels to fitted

Only because it would have subsequently allowed for medium calibers like 9.3 and above

Nothing wrong with the 17mm barrels though

 

[Magnificent 7]

I bought a pro success with the wider chassis so I can go up barrels if I want I have the semi weight barrel for the 300 win mag amd I think the semi weight fluted barrel for 308 and 243 the 223 ive just gone standard barrel as for mods I went freyr devik its an awesome rifle you'll not be disappointed

 

[Steff]

If I were to buy again I would have bought the R8 pro that allows the wider barrels to fitted

Only because it would have subsequently allowed for medium calibers like 9.3 and above

Nothing wrong with the 17mm barrels though

A 9.3mm can also be had in the 17mm barrels.

 

[Uncle f]

Got two R8’s and I run MAE mods on all rifles. You’ll not be disappointed. Another thing to have is the ultimate stock with cheek riser mate. Very very handy

 

[Cawdor118]

I have had 2 and opted for the larger barrel channel. 17mm barrel is decent though.

 

[Steff]

So I have decided that I’m going to go for a new R8 PS in 308.
Blaser owners what would you recommendations please.

17mm or 19mm barrel?
Which is best, my understanding is that a 17mm barrel will fit in a 19mm stock but not the other way around.

Which moderator is best?

What rifle slip do you have?
I led to believe that due to R8’s shape it doesn’t fit in normal slip. I don’t want one of those large drag along range bags.

Thank you for all your advice.
Buying a rifle set up has turned out to be more complicated than I thought it would be.

Get the Ultimate instead of the Pro Success. It is the better design with more options like cheek raiser and adjustable LOP.

If you use it as a stalking rifle my advice is to stay with the 17mm barrels. They shoot just as well and the gun is heavy enough as it is. For the .308 with a mod take the 20“ barrel length.
Which mod? So many options. I use a Hausken 184 XTRM and I love it.
The gun will easily fit into any regular slip for scoped rifles.

 

[SussexSteve]

30-06 semi weight fluted 520mm I use the DPT moderator with stainless baffle. I personally wouldn’t look at the ultimate stock I had one didn’t like it. Get the atzl trigger worth the extra fee quid

 

[Lateral]

The type of barrel, will depend on the type of shooting you do, how fit you are, and just what you're prepared to carry.

Blaser barrels are heavy, "size for size", compared to the "same" size barrels, of another make.

To qualify my comment:

For driven boar, I have always used a "semi-weight" barrel. My first driven rifle, was a Merkel Helix, 9.3x62 510mm semi-weight, 19mm, fluted barrel, When I decided to get a Blaser, I got a Professional (much better for driven, than a thumb hole) 9.3x62 520mm semi-weight, 19mm, standard barrel. The Blaser weighs a ton, in comparison.

I've not weighed the stocks, but the The R8 barrel weighs 1.4kg, the Merkel, 1.12kg ! It's NOT the fluting. The majority of the R8 semi-weight barrel, is 22mm thick, very gradually down to 21mm, then 20mmwith only the last couple of inches tapering to, in my case, 19.7mm. The Merkel measures pretty much 19mm all the way.

Even with the 17mm barrel, it's a similar story. It's a lot thicker, and heavier. I can't compare an R8 17/19mm barrel like for like, because the calibre makes a massive difference, but my 7x64, 580mm standard 17mm barrel weighs 1.37kg. Smaller calibres will be somewhat more.

Like others, for normal stalking, a 17mm barrel is all you want, it's almost like other brands "semi-weight".

The semi-weigh, I guess if you're really in to target/long range, and don't have to carry it too far. Or, you could go for the "22mm" "Match" barrel, but I suspect that's closer to 25mm.


I'm going to change my driven barrel, for a 520mm, 17mm, fluted, which to my best guestimate, will weigh about the same as the Merkel 19mm fluted semi weight !

Unless you specifically want a semi weight barrel, don't panic over the stock channel. I had the first one opened by a gun smith for £50.00, and I did the second one myself, to 20-30mins to do. And now, I'm ditching the semi weight

 

[Alantoo]

So I have decided that I’m going to go for a new R8 PS in 308.
Blaser owners what would you recommendations please.

What do you intend to do with it?
What sort of stalking?
What proportion of stalking to range time?

Answers to those will determine answers to your questions...

17mm or 19mm barrel?
Which is best, my understanding is that a 17mm barrel will fit in a 19mm stock but not the other way around.

No Best, just horses for courses....My 17mm 308W averages 0.850" for 5 shot groups with 110V-MAX and 110TTSX and not much more with a range of different bullets up to 150gr. If you need better for longer strings at targets, go heavier barrel. Either way I would go with the wider stock...I convinced myself I needed more clearance so opened mine up a bit...I can see no disadvantage to it.

Which moderator is best?

Subjective...but when I bought my second hand R93 it came with a Lawrence Precision Nexus Titanium which I kept and had it upgraded with a few more baffles to go on to the R8

What rifle slip do you have?
I led to believe that due to R8’s shape it doesn’t fit in normal slip. I don’t want one of those large drag along range bags.

I had a bespoke one made by Bishnym Products in Devon but sadly the guy closed down a couple of years ago...Beautifully made, slightly too deep for the R8, but luckily it perfectly fits the Finnfire which has a Photon XT and a Deben Tracer F900 IR lamp on top...For the R8 you need about 10.5" across if it is a rectangle with one end tapered...more if the broad end is also tailored...more if you intend sticking a lamp or night vision on.

Buying a rifle set up has turned out to be more complicated than I thought it would be.

Fun sort of complicated though...

I can thoroughly recommend the Blaser Neoprene Sling to go with it...excellent quick release fittings and very comfortable when out for a long stalk...

Alan

 

[Robj84]

What do you intend to do with it?

Main purpose is stalking

What sort of stalking?
East Anglia, so fields and woodland

What proportion of stalking to range time?

I have to pay for stalking which I try to do as much as I can afford. I have a young family and spend a lot of time away at sea.
Currently In a twelve month period 6 stalking outings, once a month during my leave.
Range time never done it but just want to do it to practice and hone skills.

 

[Robj84]

Thank you all for you advice and comment. It sounds like the 17mm barrel will be most suited to me usage with the wider channeled stock if possible. Will have to see if I can buy such a thing for a sensible price. If not I’ll take laterals advice and have it opened up if i need to.

 

[swagger700]

Ive got match flutted 6xc with hardy mod and std 7mag barrel with jet z nothing much in weight or how they shoot, get the wider barrel channel while you are on then doesn't matter what barrel you choose, ive got drag bag that's big enough for everything ive got spare barrel with scope etc also std country covers slip which rifle bipod and big scope fits in. Enjoy your blaser when you get it

 

[swagger700]

Fairly sure Gregor at MacLeods never charged to inlet stock cos i bought rifle from him

 

[Magnificent 7]

Just looked through my invoice no extra charge for the wider stock I think they call it the match chassis

 

[Coddy]

Got 2 R8s both the Professional model (not Pro Success) and 3 calibre’s.
All just the standard weight barrels for Calibre and all using Hausken mods.
One of the stocks has ben modified by Kolvkam to have an adjustable cheek piece.
For bi-pod both stocks fitted with Spartan Mounts so only require one bi-pod across the lot.
As for slips i have a Croots and fits the Professional stock with Z8 or Z6 scopes with no issues.

 

[adrian.243]

I have the Blaser Pro success in .308win with both the standard 17mm and 19mm semi-weight barrels.

The semi-weight was the standard length however after having the standard short (20.5")17mm barrel for a while I decided to shorten the semi-weight to 20.5" from it's 23". I now run Stalon Victor L moderators on all of my rifles after trialing many makes.

I find the Blaser R8 Pro Success with the 20.5" barrel and the stalon Victor L the best combination for my needs - a well balanced and accurate setup. 17mm or 19mm barrel the choice is yours - I like both. I also have the ATZL trigger and they are in my opinion worth the extra money.

 

[jonnah]

Some threads on Africa Hunting Forum regarding Blaser rifles/barrels which may be of interest.

 

[Harv308]

I have the Blaser Pro Success in .308 fitted with a Freyr & Devik moderator which I think is very good.
standard barrel.

 

[sica_tk]

Hi there. I have a R8 - Utimate with a std ( 17 mm ) barrel . I think that you will feel no difference if you use it for hunting + 30 -50 shoots for training every month.
Buy it with threaded barrel ( M15x1 ) and use it very happy with a muzzle brake !