I’ve got both 404’s and R8’s and ever since I got the 404’s the R8’s don’t leave the cabinet.
In my opinion the 404’s are so much more comfortable to handle and shoot, more sleek, lighter but not to light. I had the carbon stock on my first one but found it to light to shoot accurately so changed it for the standard XT heated stocks, which for me are perfectly balanced.
The range of barrels and lengths in them is amazing also, for my woodland stalking rifle I’ve got the short barrel and even with the moderator on it, it still doesn’t come above my head when slung on my shoulder (and I’m only 5’10”)
The heater in the stock is amazing on driven hunts and long sitting it the cold, holds its charge well and easy to use.
I’ve also got interchangeable optics for them, the QD range is getting so much more expansive, I’ve got Swarovski’s on both also have an Aimpoint on the .300 and a pulsar on the .308. They all hold there zero perfectly as should be expected.
So in my opinion the Sauer is the way forward.