Longrange blog 297: Blaser R8 Ultimate adjustable stock

Get the best from your adjustable Blaser R8 Ultimate stock. A short how-to on fitting.
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[@rusasan7704]

Hello dear Thomas! I have long wanted to write this message about your work on the KZbin channel. This is truly a titanic work! I watched all your videos (several frames several times)), and I can say with confidence - this is a video Encyclopedia for the hunter and shooter. Personally, I learned a lot of useful things. One of them - sometimes return to the beginning! Thank you again, good luck with the trophy hunt!

[@THLR]

Thanks you for that, really nice to hear that you have picked up something useful. Have a nice weekend.

[@jamesmoon6042]

A really good video of your rifle and shooting. It's good to see your setup and how you set it up. I like these videos when you do the rifle information from your shoots too thanks for the videos

[@THLR]

Thanks for that Jim. I expect there to be a lot more films with this rifle eventually, but hunting season is just around the corner for me so no shootig for a while.

[@theend___.]

Your Intro is just awesome! ...like all your material you are filming 👍🏻

[@THLR]

THanks, I got lucky with this one. I flew the drone over what looked like a pretty plain seascape, but when I accidentally tilted the camera down I discovered all these fantastic colours I didn't see from the ground.

[@milo555100]

I really enjoyed your video. Well done. Beautiful vid. Nice hearing your voice.

[@THLR]

Thanks for that Scott, before you know it I'll have a podcast going (NO THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN :D )

[@danmacdonald1291]

That’s an incredibly well thought out stock design, I loved my GRS stock, it fit my physique very well when you adjusted it correctly, I did option it up with the three way adjustable butt pad after I had used it a few times and I could rattle off three shots with the 300NM with little fuss... I really enjoy the voice over, I enjoy the Scandi/Scottish accent... Great work Thomas!!

[@THLR]

Thanks Dan. I was surprised to see that they mangaged to add these features without adding weight. That is what I consider a minor engineering feat and fits very well with what I want to do with my rifles. And yes, it makes an incredible difference to have a fitted stock. Not that you can't shoot well with non-adjustable stocks (because you really do), but it IS easier to stay consistent and I don't have to search for that "sweetspot" as it is there the moment I grip the rifle and see the reticle.

[@KSM22LR]

Добрый день спасибо вам за видео все как всегда очень интересно 🤝😊👍👍👍

[@THLR]

Thanks for that, have a nice weekend!

[@filipbusse3379]

I am finding Your Vids always useful and full of information. Thank You for providing me best first person shooter data. There is time for collecting the setup now. Best regards FB

[@THLR]

Thanks for that Filip, good luck with your own shooting! ATB

[@undermoss6394]

And now let’s spraypaint this beauty! I’ve found best is lite earthy tone as base color, single shade of moss green and rusty brown applied by dabbing with sponge to add natural texture. Also a smidge of black really helps to accentuate the shades and completely break up the rifle, if that’s your thing.

[@THLR]

I agree. A slightly light tone to start with and add darkness as required.

[@LastCaress7]

Ive often had people tell me things like “a scope on a rifle makes it too easy” and ive often said to them, well...come on out and try. They never do. Consistency...that is the exercise. Greetings from California.

[@THLR]

Hah, I've heard similar thing, "shooting off a bipod is cheating", "with all that magnification you'll blablabla" etc. No it isn't easy nor cheating, using a bipod or other shooting rest is about being responsible and minimizing the risk of injury to the animal I hunt. And if you want to be consistent, you need to pull your training further back than just the final aim and pulling the trigger. You also need to know how to get into position and have a reasonable gauge for what your performance will be in your current position. Enjoy California & have a great weekend!

[@zsoltczibula5722]

Thomas, I fully agree with you. I am shooting my match rifles also, and to be honest train my body with box practicing: to lower heart rate. 100 meters tagret shooting is like the left jab in box( to me as a right hand guy) : you can not practice enough that. One question: how do you like 6xc compared to 6,5 x47 Lapua? In medium ranges , and hunting can you please explain?

[@THLR]

@@zsoltczibula5722 I have not used the 6,5x47, but friends do and they are finding that cartridge just as precise as I do my 6 XC. Between the two, I would rate the 6,5x47 as the most versatile hunting cartridge as there are simply so many hunting bullets available in the 100gr (legal minimum for me) to 140 grain weights. With the 6mm I find few 100gr or more bullets, and those bullets are definitively more difficult to find here. I do not like fast cartridges for hunting due risk of excessive meat damage and I find 6,5's much easier to keep at moderate speeds. In the Blaser barrels, with 123gr bullets in my 6,5x55 I find that the ballistics are nearly identical to the 6 XC but it delivers the performance at half the cost. I enjoy my 6 XC, it does a good job on the deer and I will keep it, but if anyone where asking for advice what to buy I'd steer them towards any of the 6,5mm if they are going to hunt with it. This is simply because of local cost plus bullet versatility.

[@zsoltczibula5722]

264 caliber delivers accuracy: this is what I am fully confident, thank you Thomas for your reply. I have Tikka t3x rifles in 6,5 creedmoor, in a Tac 1 and a 6,5 55 Swede in Sporter wooden stock, and both of them are accurate to sub moa right out of the box . I was in a full happiness with a precision rifle of mine has 6,5x47 in a R700 action, Bix n Andy cut rifled barell and also the Atzl trigger. But the end of the day : accuracy is totally the same of them: the old 6,5 x 55 caliber is a superior choice. In Hungary we , hunters had a ( maybe bad ) feeling that for wild boar it is just on the limitation of the 264 caliber because of animal structural toughness is the rumored “bulletproof “. For a vital hit I wouldn’t be on the business end of the ballistic curve of the small Lapua neither, but because of thick skin and bones of a trophy boar many hunters choose 7 mm + , 30 caliber, or even 8-9.3 mm s. I just test a TTSX 120 grain load developed for hunting, let’s see how it performs on boar in my 6,5 x55. Did you experienced on heavy game like moose, or wild boar? What bullett would you recommend for big game?

[@jackdaniels7913]

Looks good, faint wait to see it painted up hope there's a video on that to... as always god lick on the next run not like you need it master of the long gun! 🥃cheers🍻

[@THLR]

Rifle painting seems to be a touchy subject. I have seen strangers throw abusive comments at other strangers because the owners have decided to paint their own rifles in a colour of their own choice. I'm like "with all the problematic issues in the world, why do you pick that fight?" :D :D Have a good weekend!

[@jackdaniels7913]

Well said just go shoot and feel better... 🥃cheers🍻

[@scottymcnotty]

Very nice Thomas, you must be due a trip to New Zealand

[@THLR]

In my dreams it seems. I've been trying to get it done for a few year now, but no luck since... 2010? 2011?

[@simonsmith9363]

As interesting and thought provoking as normal Thomas!!

[@THLR]

Thanks for that Simon, hope some of it was useful.

[@snowbullet7923]

Excellent shooting! I watched all your videos and I learned a lot from them! Two quick questions. Where can I download your target? I have your calling shots and shooter’s error cards but I can’t find the target to download. What happened with your adjustable butt pad for Professional stock? Do you still plan to market it? I have R8 Professional with adjustable comb and I think adjustable recoil pad will help a lot managing the recoil and muzzle jump. I have other rifles in chassis and the difference is noticeable.

[@THLR]

hf-files-oregon.s3.amazonaws.com/hdpvertebrae_kb_attachments/2017/05-24/dfeee48e-e549-45e7-9612-141ce97ca1e3/THLR%20Shooter%20error%20v3.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3MgcxVSiw45seKpTNVD1lrh5JdOwkoaqpvOuZWA6rhlxs-1JdbBWxUlDc

[@THLR]

Nothing happened to the pad. It was fixed, not adjustable.

[@trev9874]

thanks for sharing great as always look forward to more

[@THLR]

Thanks for that, hoping to have a few more films out in not too long. Off hunting again in November and after that there should be a steady trickle.

[@juanjoseermakimix1728]

are you going to paint it camo? Very cool. What size is it? Perfect as always Thomas. greetings from Jerez(spain)

[@THLR]

Yes I will Cerakote this rifle. The reason why I do this is mainly because of my camera light meter. When hunting I have to leave the camera on AUTO settings. If the camera cathces and adjusts for a black rifle, the film will be horribly overexposed and completely useless. This is rather annoying, especially when you consider how much money and work I have invested in getting to the point where I'm actually filming a hunting scene. The easiest way to avoid this has been to paint the rifle in natural colour. Are you asking for the size of the cartrige? It is 6 XC.

[@thesavage6484]

Nice shooting! The stock is a great upgrade, you should go varmint hunting on the down season

[@THLR]

I would if we had varmints here! There is the odd red fox, but rabbiting, praire dogging or coyote hunting would be really cool to participate in. I have been out and a friend called in some coyotes and that was a really cool experience. Everything from the scenery to the interaction to the shooting was just top notch.

[@vittoriospasciani6376]

As Always a super useful video, thank you boss. What is the diameter of your barrel: 17 or 19 mm? Cheers

[@THLR]

I use the standard barrel, I believe that is 17 mm?

[@THLR]

@EA3BV Yes, you are absolutely right. I suspect they make them all to the same precision standard, the only difference seems to be weight/balance/price. I always use a silencer (+300 grams or app +150 when the barrel is cut), so I see no point in paying money to carry more weight. Over here, the vast majority of barrels sold are standard, some match and a few semi contours.

[@THLR]

@EA3BV Don't go Blaser then, my R8 Ultimate is 3671 grams without scope

[@THLR]

@EA3BV 3671grs is without the scope. Approximately 1000gr scope, app 250gr Spuhr mount plus app 200gr rail brings it up to 5,2-5,3 kgs. But for stock fit, I think you will have to go custom route if you want to get below 3671 and have that level of control of stock fit/ shooting. Sako has something similar but less in their Carbon Wolf (?) and Gunwerks has started selling their rifle stocks (where you can order custom lenght of pull) as single item. For a "plain" hunting stock, Gunwerks has one of the better stock shapes. I was shooting a 7mm Nosler of theirs last year and that rifle/ recoil was very clean despite 180gr bullet at high V0. There's also PSE in Ireland which would be a good starting point if you want a more conventional stock. I'm sure there's more, I just don't know them all.

[@mangeusedecigognes3592]

Perfect Rifle ? Or just perfect Rifle ?? lol... A good shooter TOO !!! 😉 What is your caliber , please ? Thanks.

[@THLR]

I use 6 XC and 6,5x55.

[@mangeusedecigognes3592]

Another question... if I can ? With your experience... do u think u can do a same target 🎯 with a 7mm RM ? Or not so good ? And... a distance more longer (200/250/300 ?) ? I ask u that because I’m actually buying a R8 Ultimate in the same configuration, but I don’t choose again enter a 308 Win (like 6.5 ...) and a 7mm RM. I know the two calibers aren’t the same 😉. My first choice was 308, some weeks ago, but for hunt and shoot a little more longer (with a 7mm too...) I try to have another opinion than my friends and my Buyer 😉 Thanks if u Have 2 or 3 minutes...

[@legrandhorg]

Nice video, as always. I too shoot an R8, the plain Professional Adjustable (the Kolvkam.se kit). I have been looking into upgrading the stock to something more suitable for prone shooting as the Pro doesn't fit me well at all. Let's just say Blaser knows how to market stuff and to get rewarded for it! The Ultimate AC stock here is well more than what I paid for the complete R8 Pro Adjustable including an original Blaser saddle mount.

[@THLR]

Summing up the cost of my Blaser parts is depressing... They really excel at industry + market demand. If you're not in a hurry, I'd just sit on the fence and a sencondhand will show up quickly enough. That's used to be what I did for everything except barrels.

[@hode22]

@THLR i wondered why you never tested the grs stock for the blaser ? The bifrost is light und rugged Good video again

[@THLR]

My shooting hand is filled with scar tissue. The GRS shape is just wrong for me and occasionally painful in recoil.

[@blaserlongrange7616]

Very Nice as Always 👍💪..

[@THLR]

Thanks!

[@cn3401]

Great channel, much appreciated! What is the length of your 6.5x55 barrel? I am looking for a similar setup with focus on hunting, but with the option of improving my skills at longer ranges (500-600) meters. Any recommendation length wise for the 6.5x55?

[@THLR]

I can't really recommend, but I use 50cm for all my barrels. That gives right around 780-800 msec with 140gr and 840-850 msec with 120-130 grains. Which I find more than sufficient for my needs.

[@cn3401]

@@THLR Many thanks!

[@agbcrartsora6918]

I am in the market for a Blaser rifle. I like the R8. Personally, which one would you buy in 2022? I want it in 6.5x55, great cartitge. Best regards from Spain Thomas

[@THLR]

I'm a big fan of the R8 Professional, basic model, with a bipod attachment point added. Sure, the adjustable features of the Ultimate is nice, but once set I don't care about adjustability and have glued several points on the stock. For me, the difference between Ultimate and Professional was seen mostly on targets but not on hunting. Both rifles are nice, I can't really give good advice either way.

[@agbcrartsora6918]

@@THLR thank you Thomas for the answer

[@user-1168]

Hello dear Thomas! Thank!

[@THLR]

No problem, glad you liked it!

[@PassionforRifles]

That´s nice stock from Blaset.

[@THLR]

It's ok, I like it.

[@PassionforRifles]

@@THLR Looking good :)

[@jaycupples4362]

Time to camouflage that stock now. Good shooting and video.

[@THLR]

Eventually I will Cerakote it, but right now the temperature has dropped too much for the aircure to work and it's suicide-by-wife to bring that stink into the house.

[@juanjoseermakimix1728]

Thomas a difficult and different question! I have the 7mm remington magnum but I want to buy a 6mm or 6.5mm - 284 caliber rifle now, or something smaller than the 7mmRm caliber I have. Could you advise me what caliber you would use to hunt deer and roe deer and wild boar? You would help me a lot since in your area I see that a lot of 6mm caliber is pulled etc. thank you very much Thomas.

[@THLR]

Wild boar I know nothing about, so cannot comment. A plain 6,5x55 is near perfect for roe and medium sized deer. It is significantly milder to shoot than the 7mm RM but offers much the same ballistics.

[@joakimjrgensen854]

@THLR I wondered if it is worth it to upgrade a R8 Professional succes to an Ultimate? What's your thought on spending the extra money?

[@THLR]

What is your expected end result? Better hunting - then no. Better results on paper - then possibly. How much is tighter groups on paper worth to you? I was annoyed at the cheekrest solution on my Professional (heavy for what it does) and wanted the Atzl trigger, so... Ultimate it is. For me, it's either a straight Professional for allround hunting or an Ultimate for allround shooting/hunting.

[@joakimjrgensen854]

@@THLR Thanks for your opinion :)

[@christianvoglcv92]

Would you say that the ultimate stock is worth its price or should i go for the normal synthetic Stock? I‘m planing to buy a Blaser R8 for hunting and shooting (Hunter comparison) cambered in 308 Thank you

[@THLR]

Impossible for me to say. A fitted stock really is better (just like with a shotgun), but there is no hunting that cannot be solved well with a normal stock and the difference is so small, I'd think very carefully about spending the extra money. I've been perfectly happy using standard stocks.

[@JGF6237]

Can you tell me what all the options you have on your rifle. Can you order one all set up as yours is?

[@THLR]

Sure. Blaser R8 Ultimate with adjustable cheekrest and lenght of puull. The bipod pin (RPS) is aftermarket. I chose standard barrel 6,5x55 as it is THE most available caliber here, 6.5 Creedmoor should do exactly the same.

[@JGF6237]

@@THLR You should start exporting RPS bipods , I have never found a way to buy one here in the states. Thanks for the reply, stay safe!!!

[@THLR]

Not sure you can get them in Norway anymore either... Have a look at Spartan Valhalla. Looks very similar in terms of function and weight, should have solid US distribution.

[@hugoakerlund5114]

Hey i am looking for a long range scope that i can use for capercaille hunting and deer stalking, any recommendations? I'd like to be able to shoot reliably to maybe 600 meters. Not for pure hunting purposes but also for shooting at the range.

[@THLR]

Sorry, you're asking outside my area of expertise. My general reommendation would be to buy 2nd hand, buy a brand that's well represented in Sweden (dealership/ warranty) and get target turrets (not capped turrets). I am personally fond of magnification and rarely use less than 8x.

[@hugoakerlund5114]

@@THLR alright thanks!

[@steffenlorentzen9367]

Bruker du tofot adapteret som er beregnet til professional og success? Vurderte å kjøpe meg ei ultimate.

[@THLR]

Eeeeerh, der ble jeg litt usikker. Professional og Success har jo litt forskjellig fore-end (snabel), så vinklene mot tofotfestet vil være litt forskjellig. Jeg har en titanium versjn fra Rifle Precision System, men kunne ikke se den i online katalogen deres nå. Som alt annet "løst" på mine rifler har jeg brukt liberale mengder LocTite eller to-komponent lim for å sikre at det sitter fast. Har opplevd litt for mange ganger at ting for slark uten, veldig kjedelig når du er på fjellet.

[@joecizin9357]

Very interesting

[@THLR]

Thanks Joe, hope you found it useful.

[@johanrosenquist7436]

Hur tänker du om tumhålsgrepp och mothåll till avtryckarfingret?

[@THLR]

Jeg justerer stokklengden slik at motstand mot skulderen (mothåll) blir korrekt når jeg griper pistolgrepet.

[@westernhunter7351]

Hello sorry for question but, what scope and silencer is that?

[@THLR]

No proble. The silencer is guaranteed Atec Optima 45 (only I own for the larger calibers) the scope is Minox ZP5 5-25x56

[@user-ui1ke1uy2w]

Thomas 👍👍👍

[@THLR]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@redningskroken]

Hei! Vet du om det mulig å bytte fra Success-stokk til Ultimate på en R8 med ATZL?

[@THLR]

Ja det burde vel gå bra? Det er jo hele stokken som byttes. Jeg har gått fra Professional uten ATZL til Ultimate med ATZL. Pipe og sluttstykke ble med over, Professional-stokken ble solgt.

[@martinterry7358]

Hi could you tell me what bipod your using

[@THLR]

Rifle Precision Systems Titanium version.

[@malcolmpapworth44]

What is the brand name of your picatinny rail and rings?

[@THLR]

The rail is Contessa and the scoperings are Spuhr.

[@THLR]

If I assume your name is british, I ordered the rail off UK based Alan Rhone Ltd.

[@THLR]

Aaaand allthough it was not what you asked, I'll stress this is not a recommended setup. The rail + Spuhr (both top quality) is simply what I had to do to get the scope in the right position (due turrets). It adds too much weight for a scope mount.

[@malcolmpapworth44]

With Minox ZP5 THLR reticle arrive in New Zealand 2020 & being an R8 owner I look forward to your future blog with your ideal lightweight Rail mount & Rings set up, as I am concerned that Blaser rail mount may mean Ring position/ Minox turrets is too close to provide ideal eye relief. Thank you for providing us with your very informative blogs.

[@McIver84]

@THLR hvilken lyddemper bruker du?

[@THLR]

Atec Optima 45. Generelt kan jeg si at jeg velger lyddemper utifra størrelse og vekt før jeg ser på -dB. Jeg liker ikke colaburker på enden av pipa.

[@sRagnar]

Why aren't you using this stock? In further videos, this stock is nowhere else.

[@THLR]

Sorry, I don't understand the question. With the exception of the winter hunting and a shooting stick demo (my 221 Fireball rifle), the R8 Ultimate is the only rifle & stock I use...

[@sRagnar]

@@THLR In other videos, you use the «green» stock weighed at the beginning of this video. This new with adjustable cheek piece is nowhere else to be seen in the videos.

[@sRagnar]

No, I was mistaken, now I specifically looked through the video above and I see this stock, apparently I was confused by the color, the same as the old one.

[@Koey1]

Hvordan ville du sakt atzl avtrekket er mot det orginale ? Er det verdt oopgraderingen ? Er atzl direkte avtrekk som det orginale ?

[@THLR]

Jeg har litt nerveskader i hånden, så det er vanskelig å være helt presis. For det europeiske markedet er det å kunne bytte mellom svært lett og normalt lett avtrekksvekt. Jeg opplever lett/match avtrekket som ubrukelig lett. Normalvekt/hunt (kanskje 600 gram.) er meget godt og rent, men det er hårfint bedre enn standardavtrekket med letteste fjørene (dvs 600 eller 800 gram). Jeg har hatt begge og ser ikke forskjell på skyteresultatet. Min K95 er enda litt lettere og det kan beskrives som utsøkt. Avtrekksvekt 450gram er nok til å kjenne skikkelig kontakt på avtrekksfingeren (også kalde fingre) og deretter kommer skuddet så snart du øker presset. 600-800gram er gode og lette avtrekk, men 1kg og høyere synes jeg blir for mye. Om du har gjort feil i grepet så mener jeg du har større sjanse for et dårligere skudd når du må ha mer kraft for skuddet, men selvfølgelig skyter du ok med tyngre avtrekk dersom du gjør alt rett. Min påstand er at litt lettere avtrekk gjør det enklere å skyte godt (ref avtrekksvekten til internasjonale matchskyttere). Andre vil nok si dette er sprøyt. Men idag hadde jeg ikke brukt pengene på Atzl, jeg hadde heller gått for de letteste fjærene i standardavtrekket (ganske sikker på at Blaser Norge har disse lagerført/kan bytte)

[@Koey1]

Takk for utfyllende svar 😊

[@joecizin9357]

There are some places in the World where I can get a Heart Transplant for $5000

[@THLR]

Not sure I'd take that offer...

[@hjerttindrein]

digger engelsken din:)

[@THLR]

Gje mæ nu nån øl me litt sprit og en mic så skarru få voiceovers som konkurrerer med han seeelveste Cliff Arne!