Three European calibers for a do-it-all R8

[Scandihunter]

Greetings all

I recently purchased three barrels for my Blaser R8 to cover all hunting in Scandinavia but with the opportunity to go cover anything worldwide as well. My three barrels are .270win, 8.5x55 blaser, and the .375H&H. Being a European hunter and liking traditions has made me rethink my decision or given me a wish to investigate which three European traditional cartridges could replace this setup. My first thinking is the 6.5x55 for fox and roe deer, 7x64 to cover fallow and red deer, and the 9.3x62 for wild boar, bear, moose, and buffalo (eventually). Only concern regarding the 9.3x62 is its low velocity with lead-free bullets (legally required in a lot of Northern European countries).
Looking forward to your input!

 

[FlowHamed18]

8x68 -> you won't need a 7x64 and another 9,3x62

Or a 8x64S and a 9,3x64

 

[chino_cba]

375 hh is european

 

[Scandihunter]

8x68 -> you won't need a 7x64 and another 9,3x62

Or a 8x64S and a 9,3x64

I am not sure about the availability of the 8x68 nor the 9.3x64. Don’t think it’s very good in copper bullets (factory loaded).

375 hh is european

Yes, I know that. But not from the continent I am split between the 9.3x62 and the .375H&H.

 

[PerH]

Brenneke and Geco have some good lead free options also in 9,3 and other like 7x64

 

[Lumaberpat]

500 Schuler for big game … you’ll need to eletropencil the barrel to correct it though

 

[AZDAVE]

A 250gr barnes in the x62 is capable of 2600fps and a 286 or 300 gr aframe at 2400 will take most anything you would consider.

you might want to consider the 22 Hornet, 7x64, and 9.3x62 as your 3 gun battery.

 

[StevenQ718]

8x57?

 

[CBH Australia]

I like your first picks. 6.5x55, 7x64 and 9.3x62.

Are you limited to factory ammo or can you use reloads?

If reloads are an option then the 9.3x64 with approved projectiles increases options.

Are there any suitable chamberings under 6.5x55? I thought there were a few that I am not familiar with 5.6x45, 6x47 or 5.6x57

 

[odonata]

If worldwide hunting was a future option with buffalo as a possibility, I would be hesitant to give up the 375 H&H because of its power & versatility. It's not a continental European chambering but it is a versatile and widely available cartridge that is a classic.

Since you already have an 8.5x55 barrel, I would also question swapping it out for an 8x68s or a 9.3x62. With bullets from 139gr ~ 230gr traveling at the speed they do & delivering substantial amounts of energy, it seems like there is a bit of overlap with the other two chamberings. I'm not sure you would gain much by making the swap. It seems like a pretty solid middle round to have.

I don't own a 270 Win but I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. I do love my 6.5x55 and took two deer with it last season. As a Scandinavian hunter who likes tradition, it seems like it's a historical cartridge that would be a good fit for your collection.

So 6.5x55 SE, 8.5x55 Blaser & 375 H&H would be my choice given the current limited options. Having said that, your original alternatives of 6.5x55, 7x64 & 9.3x62 are all excellent rounds that I would enjoy owning. I usually solve these kinds of dilemmas by buying them all but I know that's not always an option even if it is my favorite solution.

 

[steve white]

You are still a little heavy for fox--and since you said ALL game, marmots and other small game as well. Roe deer you could include in the next step up? Finally, for EUROPE only, why do you need a 375?

Slightly OT, what ever became of the Blaser lineup of 7mm, 300 and 375 Blaser? Have some been discontinued, or just unpopular.

 

[Green Chile]

Do you reload or only use factory ammo? What are the most popular calibers of ammo in the stores? Those answers would be important to answer your question.

 

[mark-hunter]

Your choice is excellent. But if you want to go full european ztyle, change 270 win for 7x64.
Then you have global all around rifle, or battery.
If you want to change island caliber 375, then continental 9.3x64 is its blistic twin.

But having african buffalo in mind, i would stick to 375 hh.

 

[Antho9364]

Good morning,
For me the 6.5x55.
Then the 7x64 for shots a little further away.
(we often forget the small difference between the 7x64 and the 7 mm Rem Mag).
And my favorite of all the 9.3x64 Brenneke.
If I had to choose one it would be this one.
Blaser made a few R8 in 9.3x64 (also in R93)
You need a medium bolt head and the 6.5x68/8x68s/375hh magazine.
And only make a 65 cm barrel in 9.3x64.
But, they are busier making 308 win or 30-06 than the rest...
I think the best thing is to contact them directly for 9.3x64.
The 8x64s is also a serious contender but we said 3 calibers

 

[Scandihunter]

I like your first picks. 6.5x55, 7x64 and 9.3x62.

Are you limited to factory ammo or can you use reloads?

If reloads are an option then the 9.3x64 with approved projectiles increases options.

Are there any suitable chamberings under 6.5x55? I thought there were a few that I am not familiar with 5.6x45, 6x47 or 5.6x57

I also like that combination. My only concern, however, is that the gap between the 6.5 and the 7x64 is rather small.
Maybe I should consider another proposal in from the thread; swapping the .270 for the 6.5x55 and then keep the 8.5x55 and the .375H&H (to include DG and bear hunting).
I only have access to factory ammo, so the smaller ones are not in scope.

 

[capra-capra]

I would not change anything personally. Your 270 will take most non-dangerous game in the world with the right bullets and you doing your job right. I know everyone has their opinion and some may say the .270 is not capable to get this animal or this but it has been proven otherwise. I have seen plenty game wounded to magnums ,so most of it comes down to shot placement not the caliber you shoot. Caliber size plays it's part but shot placement plays a bigger one. There is some who use the 270 on water buff in australia, it is a capable calibre more than some think. Photo attached is from another forum that the user sent me the photo of his Moose taken with a 130gr copper winchester deer season at 224 yards.

If you must get a traditional caliber i would buy a 7x64 and keep the other two.

 

[Niklas]

Never thought I would say this but don’t go for the 9.3x62 unless you want to be a true purist… just to be clear… I believe that the 9.3x62 and the 9.3x74r (depending upon what rifle one owns) are the best caliber in the world.

6.5x55 (instead of the 270)
8.5x55 (keep it, unless it is traded for a 9.3x62)
375 HH (keep it, unless you get a 9.3… then go for something big like 416 or 458)

 

[CBH Australia]

I also like that combination. My only concern, however, is that the gap between the 6.5 and the 7x64 is rather small.
Maybe I should consider another proposal in from the thread; swapping the .270 for the 6.5x55 and then keep the 8.5x55 and the .375H&H (to include DG and bear hunting).
I only have access to factory ammo, so the smaller ones are not in scope.

On second thoughts the smaller cartridges would need a different bolt face and there is another big expense.

I think there is a fair gap between the 6.5x55 and 7x64 remembering that the .284 calibre equates to 7.2mm they are not a true 7mm..

Personally I seem to like 7mm cartridges and bought my wife a 7x64 so I am getting familiar with that.

I used my brothers 6.5x55 so I think there is a fair gap.

In some countries 6.5x55 is used on successfully on Moose. In Australia some states require.270” or bigger for hunting some species. Everyone has a .308 anyway but I feel some European cartridges still have some appeal or classic appeal to some of us so you still get some crossover in performance.

It will be interesting to see what you settle on.