I did my best to learn to love this R8 I bought in 270 but I just can't. For the life of me I can not see how this gun is so popular. It is impossible to reload unless the magazine is removed as well as your gloves. I see there is a locking feature to prevent losing your trigger/magazine but how in the world do you reload the magazine while in the gun? I guess Blaser owners only need three shots. My 70+ year old fingers just can't make this thing user friendly. I have watched the videos and read the manual cover to cover. I give up! It just is not for me. Time to go trading!

Lou, you can opt for the "S" model, which has a fixed ADL magazine. It's also cheaper by about $600.

Biebs I think this dog is too old for new tricks. Time to go shopping!

Does it have a synthetic stock ? What model is it ?

I may be interested.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Does it have a synthetic stock ? What model is it ?

I may be interested.

Mike

It was bound to end this way mike...

Only a matter of time and you will come to the dark side...

Mike: My gun is a synthetic stocked R8 in 270 caliber. The stock is sort of a greenish color. The barrel is a standard taper without sights. I have the entire kit in the Pelican case. It has a knife, sling, Surefire flashlight, Blaser scope mount with a Zeiss Conquest 3.5x10 scope. Bolt is right handed.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mike: My gun is a synthetic stocked R8 in 270 caliber. The stock is sort of a greenish color. The barrel is a standard taper without sights. I have the entire kit in the Pelican case. It has a knife, sling, Surefire flashlight, Blaser scope mount with a Zeiss Conquest 3.5x10 scope. Bolt is right handed.

I am left handed but blaser is all swappable. Let me check with biebs our resident sharpshooter ( ) and blaser expert on swapping bolts and barrels (I want a 30/06 or 300 win mag).

Thanks for info. Seems like great package.

Mike

quote:

biebs our resident sharpshooter

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Mike: My gun is a synthetic stocked R8 in 270 caliber. The stock is sort of a greenish color. The barrel is a standard taper without sights. I have the entire kit in the Pelican case. It has a knife, sling, Surefire flashlight, Blaser scope mount with a Zeiss Conquest 3.5x10 scope. Bolt is right handed.

I am left handed but blaser is all swappable. Let me check with biebs our resident sharpshooter ( ) and blaser expert on swapping bolts and barrels (I want a 30/06 or 300 win mag).

Thanks for info. Seems like great package.

Mike

If you end up buying it I could use an extra RH bolt..let me know and I'll take it off your hands

Mike, you don't even need to swap the bolthead....it'll just eject to the right when leaving the action. I can get you a deal on a LH bolt assembly.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:

It is impossible to reload unless the magazine is removed as well as your gloves. I see there is a locking feature to prevent losing your trigger/magazine but how in the world do you reload the magazine while in the gun?

I'm curious about this also.

The long-running R93, the model prior to the R8, was a top-load magazine, as is the "S" version of the newer R8. I've never heard that being an issue...it's just like loading an ADL-type rifle.

I'm not sure what the reloading issue would be...maybe LJS can give some detail on what's causing him all the fuss. To me, it's just like loading any ADL type rifle. Push a few down and go back to work...

The only way I can load the magazine is to remove the trigger assembly housing the magazine and sliding ammo into the mag from the front rearward. I will give it another try tomorrow loading with the magazine in the rifle. I have Sako 75s and 85s and can easily load the magazine while in the rifle. Not so easy with the Blaser at least for me.

Heym: you are right. I bought this gun as used but it did not appear to have ever been fired. After your post, I really put pressure on downward loading while the mag was in the gun and finally the first round snapped into place. After the first couple, the magazine loading became easier. The only conclusion I could come up with was the magazine was new and I was initially reluctant to push down on the shell hard enough fearing breaking the magazine. Compared to a model 70 or Mauser there is a lot to learn with a Blaser.

Glad to hear it's working out for you...give the gun a fair shake and I think with a little practice you'll see its benefits.

I have a few R8 but definitely one cannot compare them to quick relaoding like a Mauser 98 or such. Hence not a DGR rifle in my opinion.

quote:

I have a few R8 but definitely one cannot compare them to quick relaoding like a Mauser 98 or such. Hence not a DGR rifle in my opinion.

With 3 down and one in the chamber, twice as many rounds as in a DR....not a DGR?

From a practical standpoint I've used the 500j and 375 H&H for backup on dangerous game and I've found the blaser not to have all the theoretical or possible draw backs that are brought into discussion.
In the 500j, I'd really appreciate a spare round in the mag..other than that its a bomb.
They may not be for everyone but they work quite well.
Added bonus when following up or even just hunting is the length or compactness of the setup. My 500j is shorter than my 577 with 24" barrels.
Just an option from the field.