Blaser R8 v Sauer 404

[Rimbaud]

Does anyone have a 404, and if so any feedback on how it performs would be much appreciated. I was all set to get the R8 Professional in .375 and am getting very good reports on the Sauer from my PH. Thanks for any color on this high-quality conundrum.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I’m gonna tag along on this one, am curious too. For a while there were 404 Jeff barrels available for the 404. I wish I had bought one... I do have a 375HH R8 with pro success stock though and find it to be a very decent gun.

 

[meigsbucks]

I don’t own either but have been very interested in the R8 for a while. At the NRA convention I handled both and got a detailed demonstration of each.
The R8 is a more developed system with a lot more caliber and barrel options. I liked the straight pull of the R8 and the trigger is phenomenal.
The 404 has a four weight adjustable trigger, but I’d think you’d pick one weight and and go with it. I liked the sling swivel / tool. Always with you. I also like the fact that if you lose the magazine on the 404, you can still operate it as a single shot.Whereas with the R8 if you’d drop the mag on the R8, you have have an non functioning rifle until the mag is inserted and if you lose the mag, you’re screwed.
The 404 actually felt a little better to me, but personally, I still lean toward the R8 due to the options, popularity and availability. But... the 404 is a sweet rifle.

 

[Rimbaud]

One more Q on these rifles. If you live in a Nanny state in America, or someplace abroad with stringent gun laws, do you only have to register the receiver on the r8 or 404, or do you have to register each barrel, too? Thanks again.

 

[Opposite Pole]

No idea about USA but in OZ (NSW anyway) barrels get added to the receiver. In Poland however, if you buy it all in one go it’s considered to be a single firearm no matter how many barrels you get but any barrels you buy afterwards are considered an additional firearm. Bullshit to the square.

 

[TTundra]

In the US, just the receiver is registered. If you have 1 receiver and 5 barrels, you have 1 firearm....2 receivers and 7 barrels, 2 firearms, etc.

 

[Rimbaud]

In the US, just the receiver is registered. If you have 1 receiver and 5 barrels, you have 1 firearm....2 receivers and 7 barrels, 2 firearms, etc.

Anyone in the great Nanny States of NY, NJ, CT know if the laws are that reasonable on one receiver/multi barrels?

 

[Red Leg]

And God bless Texas - at least for a while longer.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

I cannot speak about the Sauer 404 as l have only read about it and have no personal experience with it. But l have very , very good experience with the Blaser R 8 in .375 HH Magnum. It is infact my second favorite rifle in .375 HH Magnum of all time. They are very popular in Austria . 4 of my 12 hunting friends in Austria own Blaser R8s . One of them uses his , on Wild boar with deadly precision . The guns are very accurate even with iron sights. I saw a .500 Jeffery model last year and regret not buying it .
German / Austrian guns are the best in the world in my opinion.

 

[TheoR8]

I've known of 3 hunters with Sauer 404's, 2 wouldn't shoot and returned for Blaser R8's and another one just recently had the bolt stuck in the chamber and had to go back for warranty work. The Gunsmith found that a grub screw in the bolt mechanism had come loose so he applied some blue glue and is now cycling just fine. My friend is now having second thoughts with it. They are not a popular seller here in Australia and alot of Gunshops have heavily discounted them. Spare barrel prices have gone up 100% now. Another friend owns one in a 270win and loves it. Good luck in your decision.

 

[TheoR8]

I’m gonna tag along on this one, am curious too. For a while there were 404 Jeff barrels available for the 404. I wish I had bought one... I do have a 375HH R8 with pro success stock though and find it to be a very decent gun.

Opposite Pole, Word on the street is OSA have managed to get a hold of some 404 Jeff barrels for the Sauer 404 rifle, but there's one small catch, price is around $5k.

 

[BenKK]

What’s an R8 .375H&H cost in Australia?

 

[TheoR8]

What’s an R8 .375H&H cost in Australia?

New importer, around $6500 now.

 

[BenKK]

That’s the Professional stock (synthetic) right? That price is getting competitive.

 

[TheoR8]

That’s the Professional stock (synthetic) right? That price is getting competitive.

Yep, everything went up 10 plus % with the new importer OSA from July 1. Mialls Gunshop have a few left at the old prices but I'm not sure if they have any 375H&H barrels.

 

[Kwipet]

Does anyone have a 404, and if so any feedback on how it performs would be much appreciated. I was all set to get the R8 Professional in .375 and am getting very good reports on the Sauer from my PH. Thanks for any color on this high-quality conundrum.

I bought a Sauer 404 XTC about two years ago. Before that I had the Blaser R8. Really liked the Blaser because of its straight pull and compact look. Had two barrels, a 6,5x55 and a 9,3x62 that both shot very well.
Decided to upgrade because of the wooden stock that needed more TLC than I could provide. I live in Scandinavia, rain and wet snow are my usual weather forecast.. Found the Sauer to be easy t maintain, and the stock fit me well. Upgraded it with the steel reciever and bought two barrels, a 308 win for practice and a 404 Jeffrey. The 404 J is my allround barrel now, absolutely love it. It groups below an inch with everything I feed it, and the recoil is definately tolerable. I reload, which for me is necessary to afford practice shooting, factory ammunition is much to expensive for practice. Would'nt hesitate to bring it to any of my hunting adventures in Europe.

 

[BeeMaa]

I cannot speak about the Sauer 404 as l have only read about it and have no personal experience with it. But l have very , very good experience with the Blaser R 8 in .375 HH Magnum. It is infact my second favorite rifle in .375 HH Magnum of all time. They are very popular in Austria . 4 of my 12 hunting friends in Austria own Blaser R8s . One of them uses his , on Wild boar with deadly precision . The guns are very accurate even with iron sights. I saw a .500 Jeffery model last year and regret not buying it .
German / Austrian guns are the best in the world in my opinion.

Been a while @Hoss Delgado.
Good to hear from you again.

 

[BeeMaa]

Sauer and Blaser rifles are made side by side in the same facility.
Both companies (along with Mauser) are owned by Lüke & Ortmeier Gruppe.

I've not shot the Sauer 404, but I've handled a few and prefer the straight pull of the R8.
I also find the R8 hard to beat for the shear number of options available.

 

[wesheltonj]

Sauer and Blaser rifles are made side by side in the. . .

Google maps would disagree with you.

 

[Ed Lally]

I live in Commecticut. Purchased 2 stocks (receivers) and 4 barrels, one piece at a time. Same rules everywhere. The receiver goes through a FFL and is registered with the State. The barrels are shipped through the mail and are not registered. When you travel to many countries in Africa, the paperwork for the firearms importation/possession permit requires the serial number of the barrels being imported. The US Customs officer wanted the serial numbers of the barrels on the customs form.