What are the bad points about the Blaser R8?

[Mach IV]

That is what the scales say! Bare rifle is 3.4kg add a scope, heavyish mod, rail, rings and sling and you're there.
It is less Twiggy and more 'a whole lot of Rosie!'.
But that is one of the reasons why they are accurate the action is a big solid lump of metal with a barrel bolted to it.

 

[Steff]

I‘ve been using at least 10 different R93 and R8 over the past 20 years.

I had to get used to the R8 being heavier than the R93. But I stick to standard barrels, so the issue is minor.

The one thing that makes the Blaser Success socks completely useless for me is that you cannot place your thumb on the side instead of threading it through the hole. There‘s a rib exactly where the thumb would come to lie.

 

[Steff]

@Mach IV and @bowji john ,

Henneberger make an extended rail that will take up Blaser or For-Blaser rings. The bottom pivots on the rings have to be filed down a little though as the recesses in the rail are shallower than in the original rail. But the diameter fits.

I have three of them and am very happy with them. Especially scopes from the 90ies and earlier which don‘t have an extended eye relief, as it is now common, benefit from this.

 

[pob]

Bad points
1. Blaser click on an R8 Pro (User error. I learned to close the bolt more positively. Never had this on my Pro Success though)
2. Trigger mechanism/magazine drop outs on R8 Pro (Yet to have this on my Pro Success).
3. I think they're a bit ugly.
4. I have had some corrosion problems on the outside of the barrel. Came as a nasty surprise, but I improved my rifle care after that.
5. I couldn't seem to swap my scope on a blaser saddle mount between my older 6.5 and newer 308 barrel without adjusting the screws. Not what I expected, but not a show-stopper for me, luckily
6. You HAVE to buy a Niggeloh sling.
7. Blaser haters. When you turn up with one, some people will just assume you're a know-nothing, rich wa**er, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Otherwise, I am another very self-satisfied Blaser owner.

 

[Selous]

@Rasputin which model is yours? I recall the “prettier” grades have a higher

Selous mine weighs 4.9kg or 10lb 14oz.
Standard professional stock and barrel. Zeiss Duralyt 3-12 non illuminated. Extended pic rail, Tier one mounts, Jetz Compact mod leather sling.

That’s a few lb lighter than my current rifle so not a concern at all

 

[Selous]

Really helpful replies from you all, many thanks and keep them coming

 

[Tom_Ov]

I've owned an R8 Pro Success in 6.5x55 for about 5 years. I bought the stock second hand and added a new sporter profile barrel. Since then I've shot a few hundred deer with it.

It's unfussy with regard to ammunition - keyholes RWS 140 grain doppelkern in lead and shoots my Nosler etip 120 grain homeloads and Sellier and Bellot 120 grain copper sub MOA (could probably tighten the homeloads up a bit but haven't needed to).

I really like the thumbhole stock and find it very pointable. I shoot most of my deer off sticks and can maintain the scope picture as I remove my hand and cycle the bolt. I've had no issues at all with the trigger / mag unit and as others have said, it can be locked in place if necessary (I've never felt the need to do that). I love the fact that I can easily take it apart and clean it if it gets soaked, then reassemble without worrying about losing zero.

I've got one of the original Zeiss conquests in 6.5-20 x 50 on it, mounted in a Zruncho mount off ebay and have no issues with the eye relief. Weight wise, it's lighter than my Tikka 695 in 270 (that may have a lot to do with the mods on the two rifles though).

I'd be reluctant to move away from the Blaser system - it just works and build quality is good. I would gulp a bit at the price they are now if I had to replace it tomorrow though!

 

[White Hart]

Most points have been covered off already. I have to agree there not pretty and in general every other person with an option doesn't like them or the owners

My R8 weighs 10.4lb / 4.72kg in a GRS stock, Haskin Mod and Z6i scope, with loaded mag.

Its a very functional tool so the prettiness / lack off isn't an issue. Come in from hind culling, strip it apart place components on or next to radiators - re assemble and go back out simple...

 

[Overlay]

yep i’ve just got the newer upgraded version with a slightly longer length so much better than the old original short stem version

 

[scotch_egg]

About right for a .375 H+H double?
Honestly, nearly 11Lbs for a stalking rifle?

11lbs isn’t out of the ordinary for what people are carrying on a daily basis.

11lbs isn’t heavy.

 

[Leupsak]

I use mine every day, never missed a beat, more accurate than me and easy to clean and strip with no loss of zero.
My advice would be a rail mounted scope as you have all the adjustment in the world and even a 60mm V8 sits perfectly on the rifle, the only choice is cheek riser or not, personally I don't need one.
I do not regret buying it in a light short barrel with light mod, very well balanced and a pleasure to stalk with.

 

[Overlay]

I've owned an R8 Pro Success in 6.5x55 for about 5 years. I bought the stock second hand and added a new sporter profile barrel. Since then I've shot a few hundred deer with it.

It's unfussy with regard to ammunition - keyholes RWS 140 grain doppelkern in lead and shoots my Nosler etip 120 grain homeloads and Sellier and Bellot 120 grain copper sub MOA (could probably tighten the homeloads up a bit but haven't needed to).

I really like the thumbhole stock and find it very pointable. I shoot most of my deer off sticks and can maintain the scope picture as I remove my hand and cycle the bolt. I've had no issues at all with the trigger / mag unit and as others have said, it can be locked in place if necessary (I've never felt the need to do that). I love the fact that I can easily take it apart and clean it if it gets soaked, then reassemble without worrying about losing zero.

I've got one of the original Zeiss conquests in 6.5-20 x 50 on it, mounted in a Zruncho mount off ebay and have no issues with the eye relief. Weight wise, it's lighter than my Tikka 695 in 270 (that may have a lot to do with the mods on the two rifles though).

I'd be reluctant to move away from the Blaser system - it just works and build quality is good. I would gulp a bit at the price they are now if I had to replace it tomorrow though!

yep. agree 100% on the cost. only way I could afford them is to save up and get another every couple years or so if the slush fund can do it once you’ve got it keep it,

i’m going to call my mate i go stalking with BLASER . - ugly as sin slightly over weight but he’s one the best stalkers i’ve ever met and boy can he knock over deer just about sums it all up.

 

[Bowland blades]

blazer design is not good with high pressure loads , There where several incidents in the past ( i think one was at a BDS event ?) A guy lost an arm i think ( long while back) . Certainly remember a lady who struggled with pressure on here .222 rem with factory and home loads . Rifling is shallow and gets about half the life of most ( maybe that's the steel , perhaps its because they sell user fit barrels and make a lot of dosh from doing that ? )
Personally i Like a good solid bolt gun and i can buy a couple of sako 85 for the cost of a Blazer . Does any military have or had a straight pull sniper rifle in their inventory?

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

About right for a .375 H+H double?
Honestly, nearly 11Lbs for a stalking rifle?

My bone stock .308 tikka t3x 20" barrel, with Vortex Razor LHT, Stalon mod, bipod and sling weighs in at 10 and a half lbs.

My bone stock .22LR T1X 16.5" barrel with Vortex crossfire, Atec Wave, bipod and sling also weighs in just at 9lbs.

Both of which I though were on the lighter side. I've a Howa1500 in .223 with varmint barrel that's pushing over 14lbs

How much does yours weigh?

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Bad points
1. Blaser click on an R8 Pro (User error. I learned to close the bolt more positively. Never had this on my Pro Success though)
2. Trigger mechanism/magazine drop outs on R8 Pro (Yet to have this on my Pro Success).
3. I think they're a bit ugly.
4. I have had some corrosion problems on the outside of the barrel. Came as a nasty surprise, but I improved my rifle care after that.
5. I couldn't seem to swap my scope on a blaser saddle mount between my older 6.5 and newer 308 barrel without adjusting the screws. Not what I expected, but not a show-stopper for me, luckily
6. You HAVE to buy a Niggeloh sling.
7. Blaser haters. When you turn up with one, some people will just assume you're a know-nothing, rich wa**er, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Otherwise, I am another very self-satisfied Blaser owner.

Its the other way around in my opinion. People who shoot anything other than a Blaser are seen as peasants to the Blaser Boys

 

[Bavarianbrit]

The amount of glossy advertising in German hunting magazines has to be paid for somehow so perhaps that's why the high price is charged, chasing the must haves.

 

[zambezi]

blazer (sic) design is not good with high pressure loads

Disagree. The same R8 design is used in their 500 Jeferey as found in other calibers. [I have shot that rifle] The radial petal bolt lock-up is solid in all chamberings.

Rifling is shallow and gets about half the life of most

Not sure that is true. What I do know to be true is that Blaser replace barrels that fail early. I know. I have one. And when that was delivered I was told the "10 year warranty starts again"

 

[devon deer stalker]

Yep they are a lump. Possibly why they are popular as recoil is reduced but carry one all day you will know about it. Took mine to Montana and was really noticeable such that I ended up using an empty rucksack to carry it in.

I remember, and I carried your lump with my Blaser lump back to the truck and then returned with my empty rucksack to fill it with your deer that you had shot at over 300m with the Blaser, so the weight is off set by the ridiculous accuracy of these rifles

 

[Shootgun]

I don’t find my Blaser ugly at all…

 

[Loler UK]

blazer design is not good with high pressure loads , There where several incidents in the past ( i think one was at a BDS event ?) A guy lost an arm i think ( long while back) . Certainly remember a lady who struggled with pressure on here .222 rem with factory and home loads . Rifling is shallow and gets about half the life of most ( maybe that's the steel , perhaps its because they sell user fit barrels and make a lot of dosh from doing that ? )
Personally i Like a good solid bolt gun and i can buy a couple of sako 85 for the cost of a Blazer . Does any military have or had a straight pull sniper rifle in their inventory?

Yes a number of militaries use the blaser R93 TAC2, notably Spanish and Australian SF who have and still are using it to great effect.

I've found the rifling exceptionally hard wearing. Well over 2000 rounds through a 7mm rem mag, over 3000 through a .243 (both R93's but same metal and processes used in R8), the barrels are so hard that if you try to re-bore them you'll spend all day ruining your tooling.

I've seen plenty of over pressure issues on normal actions, never seen it 1st hand on a blaser yet but if you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. They do have overpressure release vents on the chamber so i'd say as safe as any and seeing as the bolt head mechanism is used in some cannons i'd say its a strong design.

There's plenty of disadvantages but the biggest is being labelled a Blaser wa**er.
They are a tad heavy (i know people that stalk with heavier tactical rigs though)
They are quite wide, wider than an R93
The eye relief issue is a non issue providing you choose the right scope and mounts but can limit your scope choice if using genuine mounts
The click is a non issue if you know the rifle and are a competent reloadeder
They are noisy if you stalk on an empty chamber but the safety is silent if you know how to use it correctly