Do all Blaser barrels prefer heavy bullets to lighter bullets?

[Selous]

I’m new to the Blaser world and so far I’m enjoying the experience. I have two barrels, one in 30-06 and the other in 6.5x55. Both of them seem to show a marked preference for heavier/ longer bullets. Is this normal for Blasers or have I just ended up this way by chance?
To illustrate the difference here are two 10 shot groups. Both were ladder tests with a 0.3 grain increase in charge weight between each shot. The 100 grain loads are on the left and the 120 grain loads on the right. By way of a happy ending I abandoned the 100g bullets and found a good load very easily with the 120g bullet that is happily doing its job without fuss.

 

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

My 30-06 is fine with factory from 150 to 220 both sub 1" quite easily with Hornaday Whitetail and Sako

 

[timbrayford]

95gr Barnes in .270 and 58gr Barnes in 243 works fine in my R8s

 

[PasqualeM]

Never experienced that from the barrels I've owned (around 10). BUT...I have seen heat from too many shots open up the groups in more than one barrel. If you shoot a std/17mm barrel I´m hesitant that you should shoot 10 rounds.

 

[Warrenton]

I am hoping to go Blaser 6.5x55

 

[Heym SR20]

Blasers are German Rifles and the Germans tend to like heavy long for calibre bullets as these tend to shoot better on Wild Boar etc at close range.

If you look at many of the traditional German bullet designs such as the Brenneke, ID Classic or cone points, these carry the width of the bullet right forwards, thus many of the chambers are cut accordingly with plenty of free bore.

Shorter / lighter bullets may thus be quite a bit away from the lands - whether this is a factor, or if its simply your rifle doesn’t like that particular brand I know not. You could spend the next umpteen years testing this thesis, or given that you have found accurate bullets you could just go hunting.

 

[Selous]

Good thoughts from everyone, many thanks! I suspect that I have discovered a chance event rather than a true pattern by the sounds of it.

 

[Selous]

Blasers are German Rifles and the Germans tend to like heavy long for calibre bullets as these tend to shoot better on Wild Boar etc at close range.

If you look at many of the traditional German bullet designs such as the Brenneke, ID Classic or cone points, these carry the width of the bullet right forwards, thus many of the chambers are cut accordingly with plenty of free bore.

Shorter / lighter bullets may thus be quite a bit away from the lands - whether this is a factor, or if its simply your rifle doesn’t like that particular brand I know not. You could spend the next umpteen years testing this thesis, or given that you have found accurate bullets you could just go hunting.

You are quite correct and my conclusion was indeed to “just go hunting”

 

[Overlay]

My 6.5 loves 140g SP cluster is tighter than 120 .308 123g it loves them .243 100 grn SP tight as anything barrels are all fluted match so heavy

 

[HeliStalker92]

I’ve got a .308 and have been using the Hornady 150gr SST’s, seems to get on rather well with them. Would be keen to hear other R8 .308 users to hear what ammunition they’ve found to be the best?

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I have two R8 barrels, 20 inch 308 win and 22 inch 6.5×55. I haven't noticed any preference for heavier bullets. They both shoot most ammo 1 moa or sub moa.
The Germans and their heavy for caliber bullets. Sometimes yes. Historicaly they prefered heavy bullets for heavy game. This is why their 8×57 is still one of the most used calibers in Germany.
But. Look what they did to 6.5×57. While the 6.5×55 is loaded with all kinds of heavy for caliber bullets and still goes stronger every day after 120 years and is used for heavy game all around the world, the 6.5×57 almost dissapeared as the Germans decided it is too light for heavy game and only made light bullets intended for roe and chamois for it. Like 8 g Rws KS or 6 g Evo Green. The only 10 g factory ammo for 6.5×57, capable of tackling with heavy game, the Rws H mantel they ceased to make in 1998. But we all know what 6.5 mm calibers are capable of when loaded with appropriate bullets for heavy game.
I think your barrel just by chance doesn't like light bullets or you should try cooling the barrel a bit between shots or try a different powder and or load.

 

[TundB]

My R8 centerfires shoots very well with any factory ammo regardless of copper or lead. I think I would say the groups are tighter with heavier bullets. They say heavier bullets require faster twist to stabilise longer bullets but Blaser has regular twist rates and strangely it just shoot well with heavier bullets.

 

[bowji john]

My .223 certainly doesn’t like heavier bullets

40 to 60 grain are OK

Over that and the groups progressively open up to about 4”

1 in 10 twist doesn’t help stabilise anything over 65 grains

In 6.5 x 55; 9.3 x62 and 404 Jeff it will shoot anything well

 

[Burnies Boy]

I have a R8 in 6.5 x 55mm, puts 120grain Nosler ballistic tips in to a thumbnail group

 

[Seafarer]

I’ve got a .308 and have been using the Hornady 150gr SST’s, seems to get on rather well with them. Would be keen to hear other R8 .308 users to hear what ammunition they’ve found to be the best?

My 308 like all Sierra Prohunter & Gameking 150gr & 180gr lead-based ammunition.
It also likes Barnes TTSX 130gr (but not 150gr) and Sako Blades 162gr non-lead ammunition.

 

[zambezi]

I have both 6.5x55mm and .223 barrels for Blaser R8.

The lowest weight projectile my 6.5x55mm throws reliably is 120g [Barnes ttsx]. I tried reloading 101g copper and no recipe would produce a good group. The heaviest good result was 156g factory ammo [Sako].

The lowest weight projectile my .223 throws reliably is 45g [Sierra Spitzer]. I tried reloading 32g and could not get those to group at all. I have also developed good loads for 50g [Sierra Blitzkings], 50g [Barnes Varmint], 55g Copper [Barnes ttsx], 55g [Sierra Spitzer]. The .223 seems one of the calibers for which the load development is is relatively straightforward.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Blasers tend to have long twist rates by comparison to many other brands
1:8" becomes 1:210mm (8.25")
1:10" magnum 30s which should be 1:8" are 1:10"

but any of them will chuck a soft point light or heavy, its when they become VLD or Pointy that the wheels can come off

have also come across a number of very fussy barrels of all makes, including several 270 Blasers that wouldnt group with ANY non lead or just hated some brands