I love hunting rifles. I spend enough time at the gun club to have shot about every type of hunting rifle used today. My discussion is primarily directed at some of the newer hunters who are trying to get informed opinions and experiences. There are many DGR options available used and new. Remember the Colt Sauer , Omega, sexy guns but lacking in functionality. I have fired R93’s and R8’s. I don’t have to own a Blaser to like or dislike it. I find the design (straight pull back) awkward , the safety and magazine box of the R8’s a Albatross. Mainly I would be extremely concerned of the too tight of tolerance inside the action. I have witnessed problems with Blaser R8’s not feeding , safeties not being able to be engaged without extreme force, and another that turned out to be a firing pin problem. Three rifles with problems is not a sample, but I rarely see Blaser R8’s at the range. I believe Blaser has sold about 100,000 R8’s .
PH’s see it all. If a PH who has been hunting elephants , lion, buffalo and leopard for twenty + years tells me “glad you didn’t bring an R8 with you” they (actions) jam up when the wind blows the sand and grit around here! I will tend to take his experiences and advice over the person who has done a few trips and claims himself a self confessed internet expert.
PH’s are not using Blaser‘s for a DGR. The comments about the “PH does not use a Blaser but he has taken clients who use Blasers” is not really logical. That’s the PH’s job to take you hunting. The PH is not going to tell you , you can not use a certain brand of rifle as long as it is legal. The PH will not have a Blaser but probably a Jeffrey Magnum Mauser in 500 Jeffrey that he has 100% confidence in.
Anyone considering purchasing a new to them DGR would be well advised to talk to several PH’s and ask for their advice and experiences regarding DGR rifles rather than hearing it from the internet experts .
I also am not a fan of Remington Model 700’s or the .378 Weatherby cartridge. Everyone is entitled to their own . I don’t always drink the Kool-Aid.
I certainly respect the opinion of someone who doesn't drink the Kool-Aid. Of course when someone says something like that you are implying anyone who chooses otherwise does. Normally, I wouldn't waste my time responding to such rudeness. However, one must acknowledge the experience of someone who has actually seen a Blaser R8 at a range - even fired one. After all, I only own three - or six - depending whether we are talking actions or barrels. And I have only used them on game in Europe, the United States, Canada, and now three hunts in Africa. One will be accompanying me to the Kamchatka in May for brown bear (if covid permits).
I have other "African" rifles. Two other .375's built on mauser actions, a magnificent .404 built on a highly modified CZ action, and doubles in .470, .375, and 500-416. One of the other .375's and one of the doubles (a Blaser S2) have been to Africa with me and taken DG. I love and trust them all (well not one built on a Belgium Browning action - the bolt release design is abysmal and actually will fail in dust - a CRF mauser - imagine that). I began using the R8 four years ago, and have not brought another rifle to Africa since then. As I say, I have other options. In fact, I may take the .470 (a Birmingham A&D boxlock) for my next buffalo - but not because it is a "better" choice - merely a more nostalgic one. And I will take my Rigby to Zambia in August simply because my friend there loves them as much as I do.
But my first choice is now the R8. It is simply superior to other options in the gunroom. It is superbly accurate with whatever it is fed. It has a magnificent, dependable trigger. The action functions with utter and complete reliability - I have never had one jam. In fact, I have never heard of one jamming - but then again, I haven't been to your range. A old friend is sponsored by Blaser, and he has by now taken 25-30 buffalo, several elephant, and hundreds of PG with his various R8's. Never a bobble. The ergonomics are superb and mine are equipped with excellent open sights. The dismountable mounts work exactly as advertised time after time after time. The only rifles I own offering a faster aimed second shot is a double - maybe.
To have such certain opinions, I have no doubt you must have vast African experience. But I suspect I know as many PH's as most. The majority are currently using an out of the box CZ that, if they are lucky, functions as advertised. When they behave, they are robust useful rifles that are above all, affordable. Those that have been at the business a while and can afford a finer rifle tend, if they hunt DG, to graduate to a double or a custom bolt action. The K-gun seems the most popular among those I know. With respect to the R8, my friends and acquaintances in the business have mainly been intrigued by the rifle.
To me, international transportability is very important. I hate schlepping an ounce or cubic inch more than I need to. My outfitters and PH's seem to appreciate it as well. Nothing but a double compares to a R8 in such functionality and no double offers the broad range of use on safari (though my Blaser S2 nearly does).
Based upon a lot of personal field experience and the experience of others with broad field experience, I have concluded it is a superb choice for any game in Africa or anywhere else.
I noticed in the other threat that you didn't have the time or inclination to read Kevin's article. You might want to take a few minutes to work your way through one of our colleagues' review of his experiences with the R8. It is rather more technical than anecdotal.
Transitioning to a Blaser R8 - A two months / 500 rounds review series of articles So, the deed is done, I have purchased a Blaser R8 and 4 barrels. This came as a shock to some friends on AH.com who know me to be a fervent advocate of the CZ 550 as the best value in the affordable DG rifle...
www.africahunting.com
