Three European calibers for a do-it-all R8

[Luminous Ham]

For European I have .243 for smaller game (and in Denmark also, if enough energy, also red stag if it happens to pass by), and 9.3x62 for larger, that should do it. And just got a .416 for the world, for buffalo and larger - in some countries .375 is the minimum, and then why not go on step higher for a little more power (and if one day elephant is on the menu).

 

[Opposite Pole]

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!

Sounds like you like buying guns ;-)

It’s nice that there are a few of us out there

 

[Spacebogan]

.223
8X57
375 H&H

I feel shooting Roe with anything 6mm and above is a bit like smashing walnuts with a sledgehammer. 223 for anything from Mink,Forest birds,Fox,Roe plus it's cheap to practice with.

8X57 Is a versatile round,more horsepower than a 6.5 for the big stags,pigs,reindyr and Moose.

375 H&H for Moose also if you please,African game also one day.

Those would be my caliber choices,plus there is still alot of 8X57 ammo kicking around Norway. It's sometimes for sale for 3kr a shot for the old Raufos military ammo.

 

[HWL]

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

5,6x50 Magnum, 5,6x57, 5,6x61 Super Express vom Hofe, 6x62 Freres.
My all European three barrel battery would be 5,6x50, 7x64, 10,75x68.
But you can take all the stuff around the globe with a 9,3x64 Brenneke....

HWL

 

[grand veneur]

5,6x50 Magnum, 5,6x57, 5,6x61 Super Express vom Hofe, 6x62 Freres.
My all European three barrel battery would be 5,6x50, 7x64, 10,75x68.
But you can take all the stuff around the globe with a 9,3x64 Brenneke....

HWL

As for the cartridge 9,3x64, I agree with you, you can shoot almost anything in the world with it, and you can shoot if necessary at longer range with it too. You also have to take mountain hunting into account. My personal choice of a three European cartridges combination for do-it-all would be the 300 H&H Magnum, the 9,3x64 Brenneke and the 12,7x70 Schüler. All three rifle are already in my gun safe.

I am not a fan of interchangeable barrels ( and Blaser rifles in general ) especially for hunting in Africa where there is always the risk that you have to shoot at something else that was not initially planed. It may be that it can be useful in Europe and some other countries where you often know in advance what you might encounter, but if you are hunting PG in Afrika and an elephant attacks, do you quickly switch to a barrel of a bigger caliber to stop it ? This require in all cases a very good training.

 

[Luminous Ham]

but if you are hunting PG in Afrika and an elephant attacks, do you quickly switch to a barrel of a bigger caliber to stop it ? This require in all cases a very good training.

Do you carry two rifles with you then?

 

[grand veneur]

Do you carry two rifles with you then?

No, in Africa I hunt above all big game and shoot the PG, when an opportunity arises, with the rifle I use for it.

 

[Luminous Ham]

No, in Africa I hunt above all big game and shoot the PG, when an opportunity arises, with the rifle I use for it.

Great, so you just do the same with a Blaser, problem solved. You carry one rifle, so do Blaser owners.

 

[grand veneur]

Great, so you just do the same with a Blaser, problem solved. You carry one rifle, so do Blaser owners.

Blaser rifles are not exactly the first choice for me, a aficionados of classic rifles with Mauser or Mannlicher-Schoenauer actions.

 

[BigHill]

6,5x55 and 9,3x62 is all You need in Europe.

 

[Bandera]

I would go with 7X57 Mauser
9.3X62 and…
375 H&H maybe a 404 Jeffery.

 

[CastShooter]

5.6x57

8x57 (or 8x68 S)

9.3x64

This would give you the largest spread of usable power for Euro cartridges IMO. The 8mm's have 2 options just for what kind of mid range power you need and ammo availability.

I personally would choose the 8x57 to straddle the power band nicely. It's also very similar to the 30-06 and it's versatility is unmatched.

 

[grand veneur]

6,5x55 and 9,3x62 is all You need in Europe.

For Europe yes, but not worldwide. If you want to hunt from the Equator to the Arctic, you need other cartridges. The three I quoted are more suitable, although there are much more better cartridges for some areas.

 

[grand veneur]

The problem remains to be found three European calibers for a do-it-all R8 rifle for hunting worldwide.

 

[wesheltonj]

Hmmm, having just returned from a hunt in Croatia, both guides were using that great European caliber: 30.06. In Slovenia, the guide was using another great European caliber: 257 Bob.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

7x64mm Brenneke
8x64mm Brenneke
9.3x64mm Brenneke

 

[grand veneur]

Hmmm, having just returned from a hunt in Croatia, both guides were using that great European caliber: 30.06. In Slovenia, the guide was using another great European caliber: 257 Bob.

European calibers do not mean that Europeans prefer to use them. The national caliber in France was very long the 7x64 Brenneke, but also the 280 Remington in semi-auto rifles. At the moment the cartridge 308 Winchester is very popular in Europe. When it comes to more powerful cartridges, the 300 Winchester Magnum has the edge anyway.

 

[CBH Australia]

7x64mm Brenneke
8x64mm Brenneke
9.3x64mm Brenneke

Let’s go,
6.5x55 swede
7x64 Brenneke
9.3x64 Brenneke.

 

[grand veneur]

The cartridge 6,5x55 is also very popular, but compete with the cartridge 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[IvW]

For the R8

6.5x55mm
7x64mm Brenneke
9.3x62mm

I would have gone with a Blaser BBS/F
9.3x74R/6.5×57R Bergstutzen and 7x57R/12ga combination

And a K95 7x65R