What are the bad points about the Blaser R8?

[Magnificent 7]

Bad points

1) mine rusts like buggery. Slightest bit of moisture and barrels go orange.
2) the Blaser click… goes away after a while through use but has caught most owners out at some point. User error obviously not the rifles fault.
3) accessories costs
4) top loading
5) once went off when cocking never got to the bottom of why thankfully never happened again.
6) your other half loses their **** when they see the bill for it.

Other than that love it and not regretted it for a second.

Points answered
1. You live in the sea all your guns rust lol
2. New owners problem
3.agreed nothings cheap for them but buy once cry once
4.mine top loads ????
5.it would of gone back (sure your long painted finger nails weren’t catching the trigger
6.women should be Sean and not heard

 

[Magnificent 7]

Many thanks, I’ll probably take you up on that. I’m sure our paths will cross at one of the BDS shoots …

Not a problem drop me a text and I’ll fetch a few barrels for you to try

 

[Rasputin]

Points answered
1. You live in the sea all your guns rust lol
2. New owners problem
3.agreed nothings cheap for them but buy once cry once
4.mine top loads ????
5.it would of gone back (sure your long painted finger nails weren’t catching the trigger
6.women should be Sean and not heard

Women should be a Sean? Is there something you would like to admit lol.

Points one through five all valid though.

 

[Magnificent 7]

Seen bloody predictive text lol

 

[zambezi]

The dreaded blaser click is only a new owner thing

Agree. Only happened to me once and I have not had a repeat since first ownership 8+ years ago.

Thousands of rounds since then. So it was never a hardware issue, just operator error: learn to be positive about homing the bolt and this does not happen.

 

[Elmer fudd 1]

Not a blazer shooter but as someone who catches their brass, the idea of a straight pull does t do much for me.

 

[zambezi]

Not a blazer shooter but as someone who catches their brass, the idea of a straight pull does t do much for me.

I have both Sako bolt action and Blaser straight-pull.

If I cycle action quickly on either, the case lands in another postcode.

If I cycle slowly on either, the free hand can collect spent case as it emerges. [As per unload and make safe routine at end of shooting]

 

[Island]

Ok so I’m looking for thoughts from people who have actually used the R8 (particularly the professional success with synthetic thumbhole) in real life deer stalking situations. I’m not interested in those who handled one once and loved or hated them or whose mate had one but the price caused his wife to divorce him!
What I’m really after is what people like and dislike about the R8 when stalking, ergonomics, balance, any problems with component failure, holding zero etc etc.
Thanks
S

I have both a Pro Success and an Ultimate and to be honest I could not pick between them in use.

I love the simplicity of the system (from an end user point of view). After a typical Scottish session at deer or foxes I can strip the whole thing in under a minute, clean and dry thoroughly and have it reassembled before the kettle has boiled. If I am travelling any distance I can break it down and store it in an innocuous looking briefcase type thing. The Ultimate I purchased with both the cheek riser and LOP adjuster so ergononmically speaking it is perfect, the Pro Success has a Rainback cheek riser and Blaser shims to increase LOP to suit me. The compact nature of the rifles mean that the balance is just right for me. I use mounts from Blaser, Contessa and Innomount and have unwavering faith in their ability to return to absolute zero each and every time; I have shot strings on target whilst fully disassembling and reassembling the rifle between each shot just to prove it to myself. In every chambering I have shot they are devestatingly accurate.

The downsides? Well, there is no way around the fact that they are eye-wateringly expensive, both for the rifle or for parts / accessories. I have found that some barrels (my 7x64 for example) will develop an orange bloom in the chamber with the slightest bit of moisture (a .410 brush sorts it out in jig-time). My 7x64 mag insert will top-load happily, on the other hand the 6XC insert is so tight that you would need a tent-peg mallet to top load. They are rather heavy rifles all up (although personally I do not find this to be an issue). Aesthetically I suppose they are a bit Marmite.

All things considered I have never once regretted moving over to the Blaser system and have said often that I cannot see myself returning to a turn-bolt.

 

[zambezi]

I have found that some barrels (my 7x64 for example) will develop an orange bloom

I have three barrels. Only one is prone to exhibiting rapid onset appearance of oxidation if used in damp conditions. None of the bolts or chassis metal ever rust.

Which is weird. I would have thought the steels and bluing would be same across the range of calibers coming out of Isny, but clearly there are some differences.

Not really a big deal: every barrel is sub moa. I will take performance over presentation 24/7/365. Having to dry and oil before storage is not an onerous chore and one I happily embrace knowing how good the rifles shoot.

 

[Magnificent 7]

Another good thing is you can re barrel them yourselves and there not fussy on ammo even my sh ite reloading is bullet on bullet

 

[activeviii]

Downside is millimeters

Sling stud is smaller than standard. So either spend silly money on slings or drill it out.

Bipod spigot is a different size too so either spend silly money on the name or you have a gunsmith mount thing drilled and then used the cheaper, but the same, carbon bipod.

Scope mounting, unless you lucky, the scopes mount does not swap between calibres. Unless as sa8d, your lucky, or your prepared to file the barrel till the mounts fit each barrel just the same.

So, Downside is millimeters

 

[Rasputin]

I have three barrels. Only one is prone to exhibiting rapid onset appearance of oxidation if used in damp conditions. None of the bolts or chassis metal ever rust.

Which is weird. I would have thought the steels and bluing would be same across the range of calibers coming out of Isny, but clearly there are some differences.

Not really a big deal: every barrel is sub moa. I will take performance over presentation 24/7/365. Having to dry and oil before storage is not an onerous chore and one I happily embrace knowing how good the rifles shoot.

Glad I’m not the only one that has this “bloom”. I have a Blaser shotgun too which does it yet my cheap shotguns never rust and frequently get dunked in the marsh.

 

[Island]

Downside is millimeters

Sling stud is smaller than standard. So either spend silly money on slings or drill it out.

Bipod spigot is a different size too so either spend silly money on the name or you have a gunsmith mount thing drilled and then used the cheaper, but the same, carbon bipod.

Scope mounting, unless you lucky, the scopes mount does not swap between calibres. Unless as sa8d, your lucky, or your prepared to file the barrel till the mounts fit each barrel just the same.

So, Downside is millimeters

I forgot about that. Strangely, that is what annoyed me the most!

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Downside is millimeters

Sling stud is smaller than standard. So either spend silly money on slings or drill it out.

Bipod spigot is a different size too so either spend silly money on the name or you have a gunsmith mount thing drilled and then used the cheaper, but the same, carbon bipod.

Scope mounting, unless you lucky, the scopes mount does not swap between calibres. Unless as sa8d, your lucky, or your prepared to file the barrel till the mounts fit each barrel just the same.

So, Downside is millimeters

I forgot about that. Strangely, that is what annoyed me the most!

It is an easy fix, just swap over the sling attachments, not overly expensive and no drilling involved.

Alan Rhone Store

 

[NullMac]

Had Ultimate and sold it after one year.
Didn't like the thumbhole stock after all. It forces to brake your grip when cocking the rifle.

You are using it wrong. The whole point is you don't have to break your grip

 

[JLad]

You are using it wrong. The whole point is you don't have to break your grip

Yea. I've seen that type of loading, didn't work with my hands. And tell me how in the world do you hold thumbhole rifle that have to be cocked without having to brake grip after you have made the decicion to take the shot and cock it? You hold your finger on cockin lever all that time? What is that thumbhole for then?
I like to take shooting position with "safe", then wait for the exact time when deer is in good position to take the shot and just flip safty off with out having to move my hand off grip. That is something that cannot be archieved with thumbhole Blaser.

 

[User00040]

Sounds like Blaser owners enjoy cocking

 

[Magnificent 7]

It is an easy fix, just swap over the sling attachments, not overly expensive and no drilling involved.

Alan Rhone Store

You can spec the sling eye size

 

[Mr B]

I’ve had an R93 off road for about five years as my go to lightweight deer rifle. I bought an Accuracy International with my heart, not my head and that’s a pig for the hill, even with a biathlon sling! The R93 in contrast is a joy. Simple spec, no fuss furniture, easy to strip, clean and maintain. It’s a 19” barrel in .243, I love it so much that I sourced a couple of spare barrels to futureproof it. My pal has a new R8 which he absolutely loves. I like the R8 too, but I can’t justify the price. My R93 stands me about £1100, in left hand. Barrels weren’t too dear when I managed to get them. The only major downside is sourcing barrels, but there’s a company that provides barrel stubs and Mike Norris will also “re-barrel” your old barrel if you can put up with him.

I think most if not all of the stories about catastrophic failure were don’t to overloads, or in one case pistol powder being used, if memory serves.

Either way both are epic tools, even beautiful tools if you want to spend the cash converting it from super versatile to a show piece. R93 gets my vote as it’s cheaper, does the same job, is a bit less showy, and I’m not heartbroken if it gets scratched up. Hope this helps, my parting advice; don’t buy an accuracy international for hill stalking!

 

[Mr B]

I’ve had an R93 off road for about five years as my go to lightweight deer rifle. I bought an Accuracy International with my heart, not my head and that’s a pig for the hill, even with a biathlon sling! The R93 in contrast is a joy. Simple spec, no fuss furniture, easy to strip, clean and maintain. It’s a 19” barrel in .243, I love it so much that I sourced a couple of spare barrels to futureproof it. My pal has a new R8 which he absolutely loves. I like the R8 too, but I can’t justify the price. My R93 stands me about £1100, in left hand. Barrels weren’t too dear when I managed to get them. The only major downside is sourcing barrels, but there’s a company that provides barrel stubs and Mike Norris will also “re-barrel” your old barrel if you can put up with him.

I think most if not all of the stories about catastrophic failure were don’t to overloads, or in one case pistol powder being used, if memory serves.

Either way both are epic tools, even beautiful tools if you want to spend the cash converting it from super versatile to a show piece. R93 gets my vote as it’s cheaper, does the same job, is a bit less showy, and I’m not heartbroken if it gets scratched up. Hope this helps, my parting advice; don’t buy an accuracy international for hill stalking!

Nice and lightweight, with a rail mount Swarovski scope which makes for an extremely neat setup.