Blaser R8 vs Custom rifle price?

[wildfowler.250]

Just curious as to what thoughts are on here. Doing a little online browsing. No current need to change but just looking ahead.

The blasers which are obviously very popular are around £5k new. Surely a semi custom rifle on a T3 or 75 action would be cheaper and likely just as,(if not more) accurate?

How come the blazers are so much more popular? Better resale? Choice of swapping barrels? The fact that you don’t have a build time?


Just curious as I would have thought a tailored, semi custom job would be the way to go but you hardly ever see it.


Thoughts?

 

[User00040]

Thoughts?

Redundant thread.

 

[Steff]

I prefer to have a proven design from ONE manufacturer instead of having to deal with the artisan work of various ‚custom gunsmiths‘.

 

[North Cornwall Deer]

I own a Blaser R8
However I didn’t buy it new and if I had 5k to spend I would probably have a rifle built.

My £600 howa kills more deer, and with a grs stock and tinny trigger it’s just as nice to shoot in my opinion, without the fear of the Blaser click.

Maybe the fact you haven’t seen many custom rifles is because the owners hold on to them and are too busy shooting them to pose on social media with them.

 

[Dave_45]

I have two semi customs and I'd never own a blaser , if you gave me one for free I'd de activate it and convert it into a toilet plunger.


That being said , I'll get nowhere near what I paid for my rifles in resale , but then again I'll never sell them and they are perfect for me.

A blaser well hold money much better.

 

[norcan]

The blasers which are obviously very popular are around £5k new.

Note you don’t have to spend that much for an R8; the basic model is about £2750.

As far as their popularity goes, I suppose one other selling point is that placing the magazine over the trigger makes them a bit shorter than other designs, which is nice for use with a moderator.

 

[yellow belly]

Being able to cock and de-cock the rifle is what sold me on a blaser.

 

[@theroedeerguy]

I commissioned a semi custom build that was a very accurate and enjoyable rifle to shoot…..however I had a Blaser itch after shooting with them at a demo day and just had to have one, managed to get a great 2nd hand Pro Success on here and absolutely love it.
For me it’s very comfortable to shoot, combined with the ability to completely strip it to clean and dry then be 100% confident next time you take it out.
Neither was better or worse than the other it’s just that the Blaser suited my needs better.

 

[paulbshooting]

The excellent modular design sold it to me. Just back from Scottish stag trip, R8 packed away it's in case, holds zero etc. Also playing with another calibre so variation done and just buy another barrel. Takes abuse in the field with synthetic stock. Wish I bought one years ago.

 

[scotch_egg]

I had a Blaser R93 and the dreaded Blaser click struck several times. Never got to the bottom of it and sold the lot. Had a few barrels and two rifles.

I must admit the accuracy was phenomenal l. The return to zero excellent.

I just can’t come round to trusting them again.

I can see they are popular because they do work very well.

 

[Cumbrian 1]

I have always hated and slated blasers, I have even questioned their owner’s sexuality.

However I now own a blaser K95 in 7x65r, I love it

It is the carbon pro model, long range accuracy is as good as any custom rifle bud it weighs nothing and can be taken down like a shotgun.

With a swarvoski 3.5 -28 plus moderator it was a shade under &11k

 

[JH83]

Blaser are popular because they look cool, make a cool sound, and are cleverly priced and marketed. I spoke to Frederik from Blaser and he candidly said they cater to wants, not needs.

A semi custom will be superior in terms of end performance. The downsides are resale value and lead times. You pays your money you make your choice. I went semi custom, and don’t remotely regret it. It’s a better rifle, and to me that’s all that matters.

 

[Dave_45]

Blaser are popular because they look cool, make a cool sound, and are cleverly priced and marketed. I spoke to Frederik from Blaser and he candidly said they cater to wants, not needs.

A semi custom will be superior in terms of end performance. The downsides are resale value and lead times. You pays your money you make your choice. I went semi custom, and don’t remotely regret it. It’s a better rifle, and to me that’s all that matters.

The mark up on blaser rifles would make your hair fall out .

 

[Tuck]

I had an R8, great rifle fantastic safety, trigger was nice. But I’m back using an R700 with a pacnor tube and a jewel trigger. I do miss somethings about the blaser but they all kill deer the same

 

[Cumbrian 1]

I have taken many roe with my k95 in august I went to Kazakhstan to fulfil a long standing dream and it performed flawlessly, 2 central Asian ibex in as many days

 

[Alantoo]

Just curious as to what thoughts are on here. Doing a little online browsing. No current need to change but just looking ahead.

The blasers which are obviously very popular are around £5k new. Surely a semi custom rifle on a T3 or 75 action would be cheaper and likely just as,(if not more) accurate?

How come the blazers are so much more popular? Better resale? Choice of swapping barrels? The fact that you don’t have a build time?


Just curious as I would have thought a tailored, semi custom job would be the way to go but you hardly ever see it.


Thoughts?

Could be any of those reasons, we all have different priorities.

If resale value is important to you I would expect the Blaser would be easier to sell. If something is tailored to your tastes that probably reduces the number of potential purchasers who share your criteria?

If accuracy is your most important criteria, then go for that. I want a stalking rifle that I can carry readily, so have no need for a heavy barrel for ultimate accuracy or long range.

I happened to shoot my first couple of deer with an R93 estate rifle which I subsequently bought from the guide...and then swapped it for an R8 a few years later. The practical combination of the de-cocking system, the scope mounting system, the close centre of balance, the annular collet system, the ease of disassembly for cleaning etc. were the things I liked about them.

The R8 has now done 3,248 rounds from new and the last two 3 shot groups it produced with Yew Tree bullets on load development were 0.214" ad 0.284". The average 5 shot group with most bullets with me being the jerk on the trigger has been 0.860" over the years. Be interesting to know what barrel life one could expect from a custom build.

Alan

 

[sauer]

What caliber & length of barrel you using on that R8 with copper ?

 

[JH83]

I have always hated and slated blasers, I have even questioned their owner’s sexuality.

However I now own a blaser K95 in 7x65r, I love it

It is the carbon pro model, long range accuracy is as good as any custom rifle bud it weighs nothing and can be taken down like a shotgun.

With a swarvoski 3.5 -28 plus moderator it was a shade under &11k

As accurate as any custom? A 5lb single shot??

Best get entering some competitions then!

I’m being slightly factious, it is undoubtedly a beautiful bit of kit. Well beyond my pocket.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Interesting replies folks. What’s the blaser click exactly? Presumably not firing but why is it a common issue?

I think I was looking at the adjustable stocks which seemed more expensive. Seems daft to spend all that money and not have something that’s adjustable.

I can’t see me chucking in the 75 yet as for the few deer I shoot, it’s just not worth it. But the temptation is there..

 

[Steff]

Interesting replies folks. What’s the blaser click exactly? Presumably not firing but why is it a common issue?

It's a user error. If the bolt is handled too mildly it may not close entirely. The result is that the firing will only be partly released, but not enough to ignite the round.
Close the bolt properly and all is good.