Blaser R8 - Why do African PH’s and Alaskan Bear Guides Choose Not To Use Blaser R8’s?

[Challer]

First of all, an R8 need not cost even half of that. One of my two came in at $2500.

PH' have very defined needs generally. Certainly stopping capabilities. And must comply with the local market and laws, which (other than suppressors) appear to be must stricter than the US.

Hunters to Africa are very different. By definition, paying a few thousand for a hunt makes them generally above average in income/wealth though they may not feel that way. Guided hunting in the US is often just as expensive as Africa.

So our gun needs are different. Could be our first big bore. Generally we are away from home with little local support.

An R8 allows me to:

- change calibers as I learn my style over time
- hunt NA game with the same rifle and different caliber
- practice with .22 22 hornet 223 etc on the cheap, but exactly the same trigger/stock fit
- have a well documented return to zero scope (particularly if I stick to rail mount)
- carry spares of bolt, bolt head, trigger group, magazine should there ever be an issue
- start with a plastic durable stock and change to a embarrassment of choices in high end wood to carbon fiber to long range without bedding/customization
- participate in a used market full of options
- get custom grade wood and engraving now, not 18 months from now, if I can afford it

I love a custom W70/M98 and similar. And doubles. But they don't give me this freedom and flexibility

Whenever the question comes up "I've never been to Africa and need my first BG/DG rifle" I can't imagine that 375 H/H isn't always the starting point. And while the CZ550/M70/Dakota etc are all excellent rifles, for the first time guy, the R8 seems to be better for their journey.

The PH doesn't need or benefit from most of these things and so it's not surprising they don't seek them out regardless of cost.

 

[MS 9x56]

I find it quite amazing that some people don't understand that $10 000 is a very very large amount of money for someone who earns ZAR, Nám $, ZMW or BWP.

Life must be fantastic in America is that amount of money is easy to make..

Only for the top 1% er’s the rest of us peons must make do with>$1000.

 

[Jim Golden]

I do not know if I qualify , because I am not a professional hunter . But I have been partaking in plenty of Problem Animal Control work , ever since 1972 . And I have been hunting dangerous game for the last 48 years , under the appointment of our local forest departments .

I personally prefer a .458 Winchester Magnum , which is built on a Winchester Enfield Model 1917 action . I have the utmost confidence in this rifle , ever since I first purchased it in 1977 and it has seen more than four decades of use on dangerous game . That said , I HAVE hunted with a Blaser R-8 on enough occasions to form a fairly experienced opinion on them . I used one variant in .338 Winchester Magnum to hunt my largest Himalayan ibex ( to date ) . I have also hunted American black bear with a variant in .30-06 Springfield .

While I have not hunted anything more dangerous than a black bear with a Blaser R-8 , I would not hesitate for a moment to hunt marauding Royal Bengal tigers or rogue Asiatic jungle elephants or Gaur with one of these excellent rifles . Especially a variant in .458 Lott . I simply do not purchase one , because I am sentimentally attached to my .458 Winchester Magnum ( which leaves absolutely nothing to be desired ) .

Traditional , these rifles are not . But what they are , is :
- Accurate
- Dependable
- User friendly
- Versatile ( on account of the option for spare barrels )

Yes . It is not a control round feed actioned rifle . But they extract very reliably and smoothly , and ( in my view ) that is the only thing which should matter .

Professor Mawla, I am currently building a rifle almost identical to yours. Main difference is mine is a .458 Lott. Same action and manufacturer. I'm glad to hear yours has served you well. I hope mine will serve me well too.

 

[mdwest]

Only for the top 1% er’s the rest of us peons must make do with>$1000.

It also depends on priorities..

Im not a top 1% earner.. but my compensation package is well within the top 10% bracket (closer to the 5% mark)..

I own exactly 0 rifles that cost more than $1500 (base rifle)..

I dont disparage those who value and prioritize beauty and art in a firearm.. Im often envious if Im honest...

But at the end of the day, I'm the guy that thinks in terms of when I've got an extra $10K burning a hole in my pocket.. that I'd prefer another buffalo hunt rather than a work of art that is capable of hunting buffalo..

Dont get me wrong.. I have lost count of the number of times I have gotten close to buying an R8... and there have been a handful of doubles that have caught my attention that I have spent a good amount of time pondering a purchase on.. and Ive got a couple of buddies with Highland Stalkers that make me green with envy every time I see them..

But I always end up going back to "I think I'd prefer to book another hunt... I wonder what driven boar in Croatia would cost?" (what Im looking at currently)...

 

[colorado]

It also depends on priorities..

Im not a top 1% earner.. but my compensation package is well within the top 10% bracket (closer to the 5% mark)..

I own exactly 0 rifles that cost more than $1500 (base rifle)..

I dont disparage those who value and prioritize beauty and art in a firearm.. Im often envious if Im honest...

But at the end of the day, I'm the guy that thinks in terms of when I've got an extra $10K burning a hole in my pocket.. that I'd prefer another buffalo hunt rather than a work of art that is capable of hunting buffalo..

Dont get me wrong.. I have lost count of the number of times I have gotten close to buying an R8... and there have been a handful of doubles that have caught my attention that I have spent a good amount of time pondering a purchase on.. and Ive got a couple of buddies with Highland Stalkers that make me green with envy every time I see them..

But I always end up going back to "I think I'd prefer to book another hunt... I wonder what driven boar in Croatia would cost?" (what Im looking at currently)...

I'm in the same finance bracket as you.. I have one rifle that cost me around $2500. It started out as a CZ 375 H&H from the CZ Custom Shop I ordered at Sportsman's Warehouse. It cost me just over $1000.00 with a barrel band. I then paid Wayne at AHR $500 for his CZ#1 Upgrade (what a deal!) which included his single stage match trigger, 3 Pos M70 type safety, finally straighten and fill the bolt. Finally I paid Harlan Satrang at Triple River to rechamber/rebarrel the rifle to 500 Jeffery. I found the 375 H&H recoil dissapointing (it was my first DG rifle). I'm no longer dissappointed lol. So all in, not counting shipping around $2500. Happy with the rifle and the money i've spent.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I am not going to knock the R8 it fills a certain nitch. I will say that I have and always will rely on either my old bolt rifles or double rifles. I will say that todays new double double rifles it does not make much sense looking for one that is 100yrs old.

Lon

 

[IvW]

The problem with someone of Don's massive experience is that over the years he said a lot of things. I did come across a pro R8 quote. It was only one comment, if he covered it more completely in the Accuracy forums, I would love to see that. It was, however, framed in the context of his belief that in order to outclass the 9.3x62 in his hands, that on elephant he needed at least a 500 Jeff. Cartridges in between those two he favoured, he did not believe had enough knock out energy to make a move from the 9.3 of any benefit. He could get all the killing power he needed out of the 9.3, but as with the time that elephant stumbled forward onto him, the 9.3 lacked the stopping power. So was the Blaser a means to getting a 500 Jeff, not so much to getting a second shot?

Towards that, consider the following video where he speaks at what you need in your hands when an elephant is on final approach, about to cross the 6 yard line, at 35 mph:

Ears tucked back?....BULLSHIT.....show me footage....
Legaslation sais 10 yards.....good ph 6 yards....BULLSHIT.....

 

[Foxi]

.


With respect to doubles, I know four who carry Krieghoff doubles (two use .500's, one a .470, and one a 500-416) and a fifth who carries a Blaser S2 (not sure the cal). All have a slide cocking mechanism.

sponsored by the manufacturer -
or bought from saved money........thats the question

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Only reason more phs dont use blasers is the cost. Plain amd simple

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Only for the top 1% er’s the rest of us peons must make do with>$1000.

@MS 9x56
And some of us even less.
The only way I could make big money is by making 12 gauge withdrawals from a bank while wearing a stocking mask.
When I got caught tho I would be wearing fashionable green or orange clothing and getting 3 meals a day with a room for free.
Not a good idea so I will stay poor and save like hell to get what I want.
Bob

 

[BigSteve57]

I find it quite amazing that some people don't understand that $10 000 is a very very large amount of money for someone who earns ZAR, Nám $, ZMW or BWP.

Life must be fantastic in America is that amount of money is easy to make..

Who says it's easy to make?

 

[358 Norma]

Only for the top 1% er’s the rest of us peons must make do with>$1000.

I have to disagree with you on that, I own a Dakota 76 416 Remington Magnum, a 470 double, and I'm planning my first cape buffalo hunt for June. I make well under $100,000 a year and I'm definitely not part of the 1% but if you want something bad enough you can make it happen!

 

[Neil Molendyk]

And some of us even less.
The only way I could make big money is by making 12 gauge withdrawals from a bank while wearing a stocking mask.
When I got caught tho I would be wearing fashionable green or orange clothing and getting 3 meals a day with a room for free.
Not a good idea so I will stay poor and save like hell to get what I want.
Bob

Not to mention the all too frequent sex, Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@MS 9x56
And some of us even less.
The only way I could make big money is by making 12 gauge withdrawals from a bank while wearing a stocking mask.
When I got caught tho I would be wearing fashionable green or orange clothing and getting 3 meals a day with a room for free.
Not a good idea so I will stay poor and save like hell to get what I want.
Bob

Or, you could "pole dance" on a You Tube video wearing a camouflage thong with a tomahawk in one hand? I'd pay $20 to see that? LOL

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not to mention the all too frequent sex, Bob

@Neil Molendyk
If I want shit on a stick mate I will buy a chocolate icecream.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Or, you could "pole dance" on a You Tube video wearing a camouflage thong with a tomahawk in one hand? I'd pay $20 to see that? LOL

@CoElkHunter
I'll do it after you do mate.
Unfortunately I have the body of a god, Buddha so ain't gunna happen.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

Hard to imagine Bob the Budda man.

 

[colorado]

Another reason ...

 

[John Wasmuth]

.

 

[mark-hunter]

I have to disagree with you on that, I own a Dakota 76 416 Remington Magnum, a 470 double, and I'm planning my first cape buffalo hunt for June. I make well under $100,000 a year and I'm definitely not part of the 1% but if you want something bad enough you can make it happen!

Sorry to break the truth, but you are in top 1% of world population.
Having said that, I agree with you and beleive that people making half of that per year, if focused and keep their priorities straight can get any rifle, or afford safari hunt.
A lot of money passes in working mans life during his working years in western europe or America. A rifle and safari is nothing compared to that. It is all about sorting out priorities.
There was a thread named like "How do you pay for all these safaris" or something like that. I was reading this with interest. Amazingly high percentage of individual hunting budgets comes just from smart buying second hand cars, rarely. So, many save money on car purchase, proving safari can be financially managed, if priorities are defined