I have a Blaser R8 and thinking of selling. Am I crazy?

I think you'll regret selling your Blaser R8, I know I would.

I believe there are a few gunsmiths that are making custom chamberings for the Blaser R8. At least I seem to remember reading about them quite a while ago now.

Oh, and a 280AI would be sweet, but I'm biased. Your 30-06 will serve you well out west here, but I'm not helping the cause in getting a new barrel/rifle with that comment.

The 257 Weatherby is a nice round on paper, no experience with it in person.

In my mind: the Blaser is way past the flat spot in the price/performance curve. You're paying a lot for elegance in addition to what you're paying for performance.

I would stop paying so much for elegance, and buy performance.

If you get a new barrel, you'll still have a straight pull action, which the Christensen is not. You'll also still have to scope the Christensen, which won't be cheap either.

It'll also take up less room in your safe if that matters. If you go on a multi-game hunting trip, you can pretty easily take both barrels, whereas taking both guns is slightly more complicated.

Being said, how long is "long range"? The -06 will reach out pretty good with the right ammo.

I used to own a R8 back when they were just out. I dont anymore.

The way i see it, a Blaser is soulless and available for years to come, thus if one sells there really is no reason to regret. Just buy one again..

Its a good rifle though

Bill Norton said:

So I have an R8 in 30/06 for hunting (professional package). I was going to get another barrel for longer distance hunting out West (Mostly deer with a slight chance for an elk at some point). The problem is that once I buy the barrel, bolt & scope base, Ive got $1800.00 into it. Thats a Christensen Arms rifle. Wondering if the R8 can handle the longer distances or am I stupid for even thinking it.

Calibers that interests me:
28 Nosler (not avalible for R8)
6.5x284 Norma
257 Weatherby
280 AI (not available for R8)
Open to anything that isn't terribly overkill for whitetails but performs well...

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I vote for a new barrel, and living out west, I'll vote 6.5x284. I'm a .243 lover but blaser only offers a 10 twist to my knowledge. They also offer the 6.5 creed and 7-08. Downside is you'll need a new bolt, upside is, it'll fit all 3. IDK what you call long range or if you'll only be hunting whitetail, but pay attention to twist regardless of manufacturers, the long bullets don't just increase range, they buck wind too. All that being said, of the 06 cartridges, only the .280ai can catch fondness from me, and yet in your shoes I would not NEED anything else, with the Berger's, elds, and ablrs, (not to mention etips and lrx) the .30-06 can absolutely take game ethically at longer distances when treated right. That also means more practice and more practice in the wind and knowing your dope. If the extra practice is daunting due to recoil, then a lighter cartridge would be in order but the .280ai won't gain you any leeway in the recoil department. Hope this helps, good luck!

Bill Norton said:

Thanks for all the advice. When I say long range I would be speaking about max 700 yards. I have many guns in many calibers. The most animals I've shot is with my Kimber in 270wsm (awesome round). The gun has a serial number of sub 200 so I retired it after 20 animals. I thought I would love the Blaser because I like unique but for some reason I'm "meh" about it. Maybe it's the caliber. A nice problem to have nonetheless.

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700 yds is quite a stretch, I'll forego all the "advice" you'll hear from others later, if you're willing to put in the time to research the loads you'll need and the dope we'll just skip that part of the discussion. You're going to need to be sub moa steady for that kind of shooting, but your .30-06 can still do it, as can a plethora of other cartridges. I think to truly answer this, you have to decide how big of a bullet can you handle going fast enough to stay terminally effective at your chosen distance. I just helped a friend with a multi cartridge breakdown, and it's interesting how many top out on terminal performance around 7-800 yds, and no bigger is not always a guarantee lol. I noticed that blaser offers a 7stw barrel..... If you handload and don't mind the recoil the stw kicking out 162s is quite a force to be reckoned with. Once you pick your ballistic parameters, the platform will be partially dictated by barrel twist, how much weight you want, and modularity. If the r8 doesn't trip your trigger, perhaps a custom or semicustom is in order?

Bill Norton said:

I want to retract the 700 yards. I've shot mule deer out to 450 and would stretch it to 500 yards

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Haaaaaavvvvveeeeeeeee ya met Ted?
https://www.cdnnsports.com/thompson-center-dimension-22-250-7mm-08.html?___SID=U#.XjtoQ2RlBkw

Also I don't EVER wish to not enable someone to purchase a new rifle, but your -06 with 168 ablrs launched at 2800 fps should do the job at 500 yards, with 6.5 or 7mm options you can buck the wind better but on impact they won't get more deader.

horsey300 said:

Haaaaaavvvvveeeeeeeee ya met Ted?
https://www.cdnnsports.com/thompson-center-dimension-22-250-7mm-08.html?___SID=U#.XjtoQ2RlBkw

Click to expand...

I'd maybe pick two other cartridges, but they're not bad choices honestly. But that is one ugly rifle.

I like where their minds at though.

Bill Norton said:

So I have an R8 in 30/06 for hunting (professional package). I was going to get another barrel for longer distance hunting out West (Mostly deer with a slight chance for an elk at some point). The problem is that once I buy the barrel, bolt & scope base, Ive got $1800.00 into it. Thats a Christensen Arms rifle. Wondering if the R8 can handle the longer distances or am I stupid for even thinking it.

Calibers that interests me:
28 Nosler (not avalible for R8)
6.5x284 Norma
257 Weatherby
280 AI (not available for R8)
Open to anything that isn't terribly overkill for whitetails but performs well...

Click to expand...

IF you can't get it done with a properly loaded 30-06, you won't get it done with anything else either!!

DM

You, my friend, have expensive taste.

I wouldn't sell it unless you really don't like it. But to fund another rifle only, no.

Take a trip with me down to poverty alley.... You'll find many great performing rifles for very little money... Ruger American, Mossberg Patriot, Winchester XPR, Savage anything, Browning AB3... The list goes on.

So if you can't do it with the -06 (500 ain't that far, 700 can be tough), then get a new caliber in a cheap rifle. Spend some money on glass. And the rest on ammo to be a pro with your new poverty pew pew.

So I voted "new rifle". Since you like odd calibers, go Savage and swap the barrel.

Why do you imagine the rifle you have is other than perfect for deer and elk?