Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
A premium straight-pull that cycles like lightning and prints sub-MOA with multiple loads. If you want one rifle to do it all, the R8 Ultimate makes a strong case.
Table of contents
WHY EUROPE BUILT THIS RIFLE TO BE FAST
Most Europeans have a different perspective on firearms than we do as Americans, largely thanks to the regulations and red tape that render it difficult for them to obtain and own guns, especially if they want more than one. That said, in an ironic dichotomy, Europe has long produced some of the finest firearms in the world. For centuries, companies such as Holland & Holland, Rigby, and Purdey & Sons have dominated the world in terms of fine firearm craftsmanship and design. So it comes as no surprise that Blaser, a German-based manufacturer, is producing one of the finest and possibly the most adaptable hunting rifles available.
In Europe, a large percentage of hunts are conducted in dense forested terrain, often utilizing dogs or other hunters to drive game toward standers. Many shot opportunities are at moving targets and reasonably close range by American standards. The action can be fast and furious, and multiple targets can present in rapid succession. Blaser rifle design and configuration have evolved to produce fast-handling, well-balanced firearms ideal for that type of hunting. And, tailored to work symbiotically with local law, Blaser rifles feature interchangeable barrels, rendering it possible for Europeans to possess and shoot multiple calibers while owning only one rifle. If you think about it, that’s an advantage for hunters the world over.
Horst Blaser founded his company in 1957, opening production with the “Diplomat,” an over/under combination gun. In 1983, they developed their first bolt-action rifle, and then in 1993, the company announced production of a straight-pull bolt-action rifle, the Blaser R93. That rifle made big waves in the hunting rifle market, featuring a very different design and faster cycling than most conventional bolt guns. The R8 model entered the scene in 2008 with a refined straight-pull bolt-action design, a detachable one-piece magazine and trigger assembly, and a strengthened action and lockup system. In the seventeen-plus years since, the R8 has developed into a premium hunting rifle available in many iterations and adaptable for hunting any clime on earth.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: OLD-WORLD CRAFT, NEW-SCHOOL SPEED
I first made acquaintance with my test Blaser rifle when my good friend Jens Kjaer Knudsen came from Denmark to Arizona to hunt Coues deer. This was going to be a big adventure, and Blaser sent a rifle to me to sight in and prep for him, a model R8 Ultimate. As a bonus, I’d get to test and review the rifle for GunsAmerica. I was excited; this would be my first opportunity to put one of the legendary Blaser rifles through its paces. I hopped online and looked up average prices, swallowing a half-uttered yelp when I saw them. My enthusiasm wasn’t deterred, though; in rifles as in everything else in life, you get what you pay for.
My first impression when I opened the case was that the rifle is a mixture of old-world craftsmanship and modern design. Lifting it from the case provided mild surprise at how substantial, almost heavy, the rifle felt. Well-balanced and sleek, the gun is an interesting mix of sturdy and nimble. I momentarily longed for dark forest, the sound of distant hounds, and a gaggle of wild boars running through my shooting lane. This rifle felt perfect for that job. Cycling the bolt, I was surprised at how clean and smooth the action was. The trigger snapped crisp and light, just how I like it on a hunting rifle.
FEATURES THAT MAKE THE R8 HUNT FASTER
STOCK
The R8 Ultimate sports a fully adjustable thumbhole stock with built-in cast-off. I’ve examined and tested a lot of adjustable stocks on hunting rifles, and the Ultimate is without a doubt the sleekest, best-engineered one that I’ve personally seen. Fully adjustable for length of pull, height of comb (cheek weld), and drop, the stock will conform to comfortably fit almost any shooter in just seconds. The comb is spring-loaded and pops up with the press of a button to meet your cheek, and stows away just as easily with a press of the same button. LOP is adjusted by lifting a small lever cleverly inlaid into the left side of the butt, allowing the recoil pad to extend an additional 1.25 inches. And that same pad adjusts up and down with the press of another small button, enabling the shooter to adjust the drop in less time than it takes to tell about it. Standard sling swivel studs are mounted fore and aft.
ACTION
There are three parts: the frame, which is integrated into the stock, the bolt assembly, and the trigger and magazine group. These can be disassembled in a matter of seconds for cleaning or swapping calibers.
The bolt features a floating head with a Sako-esque extractor that’s tensioned by an ingenious wrap-around wire spring. The ejector is a simple, round-faced plunger button. The bolt head is easily swapped to accommodate a change of barrel or caliber. Lockup is achieved via 14 lugs in my test rifle that expand into a crisp recess just abaft the bolt head chamber. The bolt handle rotates forward a small amount when you slam the bolt home, activating the lockup mechanism. A quick rearward pull on the bolt handle disengages lockup and slings the empty brass aside. Throw the handle forward again, and another round is chambered and ready to fire. It’s one of the smoothest, fastest bolt actions I’ve had the pleasure to operate.
The trigger is mounted in a detachable carrier that also houses the interchangeable magazine. The carrier snaps firmly into place in the frame via a spring-loaded clip on each side. Press those two clips, and the carrier drops free. The trigger on my test R8 is superb; crisp, no overtravel, and a pull weight right at two pounds on my Lyman trigger pull gauge.
The safety on the Blaser is another marvel of German engineering. Riding atop the bolt carrier in the location where the rear tang would usually be, the safety sports a grippy thumb ramp with which to push it forward to the fire position. Press the base of the ramp with your thumb, and the ramp springs to its rearward position, completely de-cocking the firing pin. Theoretically, this is the safest possible type of safety. Ready to fire? Thumb that ramp forward and press the trigger.
BARREL
The barrel on my test rifle is a simple 24-inch steel affair, non-threaded. Blaser builds their barrels in-house, and judging by this rifle, it does a good job (check out the accuracy test results below). They offer myriad different barrels, including fluted, threaded, carbon fiber, and integrated suppressor options. Barrels for the R8 models are also available from Proof Research and other notable barrel crafters.
WEIGHT
R8 Ultimate rifles will weigh in the 7 to 8 pound range, depending on caliber. This is slightly heavier than I like for a backcountry hunting adventure, but still tolerable. And it’s ideal for front country hunts of all kinds.
SCOPE MOUNTS
My test R8 utilizes Blaser’s well-respected Saddle Mount system, comprised of four recessed notches atop the barrel and a low-profile rail complete with the sweetest quick-detach rotating lever system I’ve used. Reportedly, these mounts are very repeatable, and your scope will return to zero each time you reattach it. Differing ring sizes can be mounted atop the rail to accommodate various scope tube diameters. The whole system is precision-machined from solid steel. Since the mount attaches to the barrel instead of the receiver frame, the system should never lose its zero, even when completely disassembled and reassembled.
ACCURACY TEST: SUB-MOA SPEED, REAL DATA
I found my test Blaser R8, chambered in 6.5 PRC, remarkably accurate, averaging well under one MOA with all five ammo brands tested. The rifle is designed for fast shooting and handling, not long range or precision, so it’s not super forgiving when trying to shoot little tiny groups. However, with proper focus and technique, it shot ridiculously well. I’ve included a photo of the best group shot with each ammo for your viewing pleasure. Given ideal weather conditions and the lack of my human error, I believe the rifle would shoot below half-minute averages.
Another remarkable attribute my test rifle demonstrated was the ability to shoot all the different brands and bullets into almost the same zero at 100 yards. Had I not changed targets and made adjustments to the scope, every group from every ammo would have been planted atop each other.
Testing was performed by firing three 3-shot 100-yard groups with each ammo brand. The rifle was allowed to cool for 3 to 5 minutes between groups. Groups were then measured, added together, and averaged. Velocity was measured via a Garmin Zero chronograph placed 5 to 15 inches behind the muzzle.
| Ammo | Average Velocity | Extreme Spread | Standard Deviation | Accuracy |
| Nosler 140 Accubond | 2938 | 51.5 | 14.1 | 0.94-inch |
| Black Hills 143 ELDX | 2860 | 38.9 | 10.3 | 0.53-inch |
| Federal Premium 130 TA | 3038 | 47.9 | 13.1 | 0.61-inch |
| Winchester 142 ABLR | 3000 | 27.5 | 7.9 | 0.71-inch |
| Hornady 147 ELDM | 2980 | 58.8 | 15.7 | 0.63-inch |
FINAL VERDICT: PRICEY, WORTH IT, READY TO HUNT
The Blaser R8 Ultimate is undoubtedly one of the finest firearms I’ve had the privilege of testing. It is expensive, but to my mind, worth the money, especially if your circumstances demand that you only possess one firearm. I found it smooth and reliable to operate, exceptionally innovative, and superbly accurate. I would happily hunt with it any place, for any species with an appropriate caliber, on any continent.
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CORE SPECS: BLASER R8 ULTIMATE
| Model | Blaser R8 Ultimate |
|---|---|
| Caliber (tested) | 6.5 PRC |
| Barrel Length | 24-inch (non-threaded) |
| Weight | 7 to 8 pounds (varies by caliber) |
| Action Type | Straight-pull bolt with floating bolt head and 14-lug lockup |
| Trigger | Factory trigger, approx. 2 pounds, crisp, minimal overtravel |
| Safety | Thumb ramp, de-cocking safety on bolt carrier |
| Scope Mount | Blaser Saddle Mount, QD, returns to zero |
| Capacity | N/A |
| MSRP | $5600-$10,000 |
PROS AND CONS
- Pros: Lightning-fast cycling; superb trigger; sub-MOA with multiple loads; adjustable stock fits fast; QD mount that tracks back to zero.
- Cons: Price is premium; a bit heavy for deep backcountry; detachable trigger and mag can feel odd at first.
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Aram von Benedikt has spent his life in the remote wilderness and mountains of America’s west. He prefers the company of his horses, dogs, and rifles to that of his fellow humans, with the notable exception of his lovely wife and children, whom he thoroughly enjoys. He writes for various hunting and shooting publications on the subjects of backcountry hunting, fine shooting implements, and survival. This is for the purpose of putting food on the table and shoes on those lovely children’s feet, and because it is a way to pay forward the knowledge he has gleaned from years of living and hunting in wild places.