Blaser R8

I owned a Blaser R8 Professional. There are no downsides. The trigger, at 1.75 lb. right out of the box, is amazing and will spoil you. The ability to completely decock it when engaging the safety, makes it the safest rifle to carry with one in the chamber. Because of the lack of a traditional receiver, it's 3" shorter than conventional rifles, so it carries and handles like a carbine. The finish on the barrel etc is extremely durable, and the rifle maintains zero when disassembled/ reassembled, same with the scope in its saddle mount.

Yes, it's expensive, but one of the best rifles out there.

Heck my wife wanted me to buy one, I just couldn't bring myself to at the time.

Some day.

I'm interested in the R8 as well. Like you, I'm normally a CRF/Mauser action fan, preferring CZs and Model 70s, but the Blaser has me intrigued. I'd probably spend the money on a guided elk hunt before I'd buy the R8 at this point in my life, but eventually if I have a little more money than I know what to do with I will buy one. They certainly are beautiful rifles, and I've never heard anyone say anything bad about them.

Corn-Picker said:

I'm interested in the R8 as well. Like you, I'm normally a CRF/Mauser action fan, preferring CZs and Model 70s, but the Blaser has me intrigued. I'd probably spend the money on a guided elk hunt before I'd buy the R8 at this point in my life, but eventually if I have a little more money than I know what to do with I will buy one. They certainly are beautiful rifles, and I've never heard anyone say anything bad about them.

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The R8 doesn't have the issues the R93 had of catastrophic bolt failure blowing into the shooter's face, but I don't see what you get for that kind of money. A Sako at half the price will be just as accurate and reliable.

For that kind of money you get a modular rifle that can be taken down in a few minutes or reassembled, all while maintaining zero. You get a rifle capable of switching calibers from .222 all the way up to .416. You can change the operating side if you need to. You get a totally safe action that de-cocks the striker to safe the rifle, that is silent going on or off safe. You also get a rifle that is considerably shorter for its barrel length than other rifles. You also get the strait pull bolt that operates with very little force, and is very very fast.

Sure a SAKO is a fine rifle, but a SAKO is also a very conventional turn bolt rifle.

Coal Dragger said:

For that kind of money you get a modular rifle that can be taken down in a few minutes or reassembled, all while maintaining zero. You get a rifle capable of switching calibers from .222 all the way up to .416. You can change the operating side if you need to. You get a totally safe action that de-cocks the striker to safe the rifle, that is silent going on or off safe. You also get a rifle that is considerably shorter for its barrel length than other rifles. You also get the strait pull bolt that operates with very little force, and is very very fast.

Sure a SAKO is a fine rifle, but a SAKO is also a very conventional turn bolt rifle.

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I understand the appeal of extra barrels to Europeans who in some cases are limited to the number of guns they can own. The MSRP for the R8 and one extra barrel is $4,814, for that money I can get three Sakos. I have two Sakos which cover all my hunting needs, a 6.5x55 and a .30-'06. I'd get nervous taking that nice Blaser stock into the field, I use my guns hard and have enough anxiety when I put wear on my Finnlight synthetic stock. The gun length doesn't matter to me, I prefer to get the blast out as far from me as possible.

I'm sure the Blaser is a fine rifle too, just a little too expensive and unconventional for my taste. YMMV

Blaser rifles are expensive no doubt about that.

I'd never buy one with a wood stock though. I had an opportunity to buy an R8 professional in .300 Winchester, with airline approved case, Zeiss 3-10X44, scope mount, sling, tools, manual, and a hat (if memory serves) for $3600.

I should have bought it.

Paul7 said:

The R8 doesn't have the issues the R93 had of catastrophic bolt failure blowing into the shooter's face, but I don't see what you get for that kind of money. A Sako at half the price will be just as accurate and reliable.

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And why do you need the Sako, a Weatherby Vanguard S2 or similar at half the price will be just as accurate and reliable as the Sako

Corn-Picker said:

And why do you need the Sako, a Weatherby Vanguard S2 or similar at half the price will be just as accurate and reliable as the Sako

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And for the price of one Blaser R8 barrel. No doubt a less expensive rifle will kill an animal just as dead.

Coal Dragger said:

Blaser rifles are expensive no doubt about that.

I'd never buy one with a wood stock though. I had an opportunity to buy an R8 professional in .300 Winchester, with airline approved case, Zeiss 3-10X44, scope mount, sling, tools, manual, and a hat (if memory serves) for $3600.

I should have bought it.

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The Blaser wood stocks are incredibly beautiful if not very practical. A Zeiss and a Blaser would go together perfectly. I've got Zeiss Conquests on my Sakos.

I can relate.

For years I hunted with a Merkel shotgun, costs about 4 times what I would pay for an American manufactured shotgun. I just liked the reduced weight, the action and the balance. Euro and UK shotguns truly were the pinnacle of game gun design and nothing ever manufactured here in the US ever came close to that concept, even when double shotguns were popular.

They do know a few things on the other side of the pond about firearms and how to build them. Most of the higher end rifles and shotguns come from the UK and Europe. Seems the firearms market here in the US is geared toward a lower price point which is fine. Part of that may come from the fact that hunting here in the US was traditionally a middle class endeavor where in Europe and the UK it was traditionally only the upper class that could afford it.

Personally I don't have a problem spending money on a firearm if I'm actually going to use it. Hunting is hard on firearms and most people won't take a 4K gun into the field. So I guess you have to ask yourself, is it to hunt with or just look at.

Having said that I like Howa rifles, about the cheapest rifle out there. They seem to do what I want them to do.

CoalTrain49 said:

For years I hunted with a Merkel shotgun, costs about 4 times what I would pay for an American manufactured shotgun. I just liked the reduced weight, the action and the balance. Euro and UK shotguns truly were the pinnacle of game gun design and nothing ever manufactured here in the US ever came close to that concept, even when double shotguns were popular.

They do know a few things on the other side of the pond about firearms and how to build them. Most of the higher end rifles and shotguns come from the UK and Europe. Seems the firearms market here in the US is geared toward a lower price point which is fine. Part of that may come from the fact that hunting here in the US was traditionally a middle class endeavor where in Europe and the UK it was traditionally only the upper class that could afford it.

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That is true, hunting is a rich man's game in Europe. The upper classes spend a lot more time hunting than golfing.

I can't confirm having never shot one, but I've heard Blaser due to the design recoils about 30% more than a traditional bolt rifle. I've also heard of some models that weren't that accurate. That can happen with any model, but I'd be a lot more ticked if it happened with a $4K rifle.

The R8 Professional is the nicest modern rifle I have shot. Great technology and ergonomics. Feels extremely well made. No more accurate than a T/C Venture or any recent Savage though. And for me, the price tag is an issue. If I were going on a once in a lifetime hunt or did regular stalking hunts in the mountains where the de-cocking feature really mattered, I think it would be worth it. If it's worth it to you, you certainly will not be disappointed with the rifle.

I really like my R8 professional, though I no longer have as much of a "need" for it as when I bought it. At the time, I wanted a rifle that could easily break down into a case that would not result in excess baggage fees when flying. I bought the kit that comes with the custom fit pelican 1720 case, which comes in under most airlines linear dimensions for oversize baggage.

I certainly don't consider myself an expert on the pros and cons of the various competitors, but the Blaser does all that I need it to and more. Mine was bought as a .30-06, but I also have a 9.3x62 barrel for it. The open sights on both of them are good. I can take the rifle down, including removing the scope from the barrel, and re-assemble it with no loss of zero.

There really isn't anything I don't like about the Blaser, except the cost. I want a 6.5x55 barrel for it, but at a $1000+ for the barrel alone I have considered maybe just getting a separate rifle in that caliber.

Paul7 said:

I can't confirm having never shot one, but I've heard Blaser due to the design recoils about 30% more than a traditional bolt rifle. I've also heard of some models that weren't that accurate. That can happen with any model, but I'd be a lot more ticked if it happened with a $4K rifle.

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Both of those assertions are nonsense. Possibly more felt recoil on their entry level Professional, when compared to a rifle with a Monte Carlo stock, but their upgraded models, like the Professional Success, or wooden stocks have the Monte Carlo cheekpiece.

HexHead said:

Both of those assertions are nonsense. Possibly more felt recoil on their entry level Professional, when compared to a rifle with a Monte Carlo stock, but their upgraded models, like the Professional Success, or wooden stocks have the Monte Carlo cheekpiece.

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There's no way for you to say that, about the accuracy at least, unless you've personally range shot every Blaser ever made. From another forum:

"I had a blaser R93 and had several barrels. I think they are beautiful guns, but 2 of the 3 calibers didn't shoot better than 1.5" at 100yds the 243 was barely under an inch. So with that being said imo not worth the money. I had a 243 win, 280rem, and 300 wm. That being said they aren't worth the money imo, and i know several blaser owners that have had same issue with accuracy. Never had a sako that didn't drive tacks. I love the sako finnlite"


"Blaser recoil is about 30% greater than equal calibers in convention bolt action rifles. So if he is looking at a heavy recoiling caliber like 7mm mag or one of the 300s or greater he probably should go with the SAKO.

Hope you got a brake, that R8 in 300 win will rock you good."

The accuracy remarks don't really strike me as unlikely in a take-down rifle. The recoil remarks are physics defying nonsense.

Ive never shot one and was afraid I'd drop it when I handled it! Very good balance and obviously fit an finish was superb. 1.5 MOA will kill anything out to normal hunting ranges and I still have my doubts about the accuracy of many production rifle claims... sure its a 1/2 inch gun... for a couple 3 shot groups.

I guess I am qualified to speak regarding the Sako vs R8 accuracy, as well as the recoil. Both in 300 Win Mag.

Finnlight 85--light, recoil is definitely more. Major load Developement to find the "five shots at MOA" guarantee, average with all development loads around 2.25". Trigger is set 0.5 lbs heavier, (2.5lbs) but I prefer the feel of the letoff over the Blaser, for some reason. Cost: $1500

Blaser--shoots everything at or below an inch, if that matters at all. Has done so from the first shots. Recoil is less than the other two rifles in this caliber I have, including the FinnLight, but it weighs more, go figure. Cost-$3800, but with Zeiss Conquest HD 2.5-10, detach scope mount, leather carry strap, Pelican case. Maybe 1600-1800 dollars worth of extras at retail prices.

Both rifles are expensive, have overpriced proprietary mounts on them. The Blaser is easier to shoot, both with the easy-going groupings with all ammo I've tried through it and the extra weight. The Sako is still less expensive after considering the package cost, lighter, and kicks appropriately more considering it is around 8 lbs all done up.

If I were sitting all day in a hochsitz trying to get rid of the previous night's hangover and shooting long distances, I would prefer the Blaser.

If I were hucking myself up grade all day, at altitude, I would carry the Sako and take an extra breath before I nudged the trigger.

Both are good guns, and fill different niches.

amflyer said:

I guess I am qualified to speak regarding the Sako vs R8 accuracy, as well as the recoil. Both in 300 Win Mag.

Finnlight 85--light, recoil is definitely more. Major load Developement to find the "five shots at MOA" guarantee, average with all development loads around 2.25". Trigger is set 0.5 lbs heavier, (2.5lbs) but I prefer the feel of the letoff over the Blaser, for some reason. Cost: $1500

Blaser--shoots everything at or below an inch, if that matters at all. Has done so from the first shots. Recoil is less than the other two rifles in this caliber I have, including the FinnLight, but it weighs more, go figure. Cost-$3800, but with Zeiss Conquest HD 2.5-10, detach scope mount, leather carry strap, Pelican case. Maybe 1600-1800 dollars worth of extras at retail prices.

Both rifles are expensive, have overpriced proprietary mounts on them. The Blaser is easier to shoot, both with the easy-going groupings with all ammo I've tried through it and the extra weight. The Sako is still less expensive after considering the package cost, lighter, and kicks appropriately more considering it is around 8 lbs all done up.

If I were sitting all day in a hochsitz trying to get rid of the previous night's hangover and shooting long distances, I would prefer the Blaser.

If I were hucking myself up grade all day, at altitude, I would carry the Sako and take an extra breath before I nudged the trigger.

Both are good guns, and fill different niches.

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That's the first Finnlight I've heard of that shoots that badly, I'm getting .5"-1" with factory ammo in my 6.5x55 Finnlight, I once had a group under 1" at 200 yds., and I don't consider myself the world's greatest shot. Personally I wouldn't want any part of a .300 Win Mag in a rifle that light. Would love to shoot a Blaser someday. Here in Albuquerque we're lucky if we see a Sako, let alone a Blaser.

Paul7 said:

That's the first Finnlight I've heard of that shoots that badly, I'm getting .5"-1" with factory ammo in my 6.5x55 Finnlight, I once had a group under 1" at 200 yds., and I don't consider myself the world's greatest shot. Personally I wouldn't want any part of a .300 Win Mag in a rifle that light. Would love to shoot a Blaser someday. Here in Albuquerque we're lucky if we see a Sako, let alone a Blaser.

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Yeah, I was not expecting the finicky rifle. But, it seems the harder kicking calibers in the 85 series can be a bit prone to this, as I have read quite a few stories similar to mine, almost always with the 300 WSM, Win Mags, 7mm etc., although I did correspond with one gentleman that had issue with a 25-06.

I had to do some things with the torque on the action screws (tighter up front, just snug on rear) The 85 has that atypical recoil lug (for us Americans at least) and in the light stock i think it's a bit easier to put some tension on that beautiful Sako action.

The rifle is such a good feeling cuss that I really wanted to feel confident in it. Near max load of RL-22 under a 168 grain TTSX ended up being the good load for me, along with the action tweak.