Blaser R8 GRS Stock in 6xc

You know when you think; I like that gun but wouldn’t it be nice if it had a different stock? Well if you like Blasers you are in for a treat! As they now offer an R8 with some very practical furniture.

I already own a Blaser R8 Professional Success with its ergonomic thumbhole furniture and I also have a GRS Sport/Varmint stock on my 6.5 Creedmoor, which is a great bit of kit. I had a test planned on the new Norma 6xc cartridge with an R8 Match/Fluted barrel coming for my R8. However, Robert Sajitz (CEO) of Blaser Sporting Ltd sent me the new R8/GRS in 6xc as a package; result. Norma had already obliged with 200-rounds of ammo.

GRS

GRS rifle stocks of Norway came to my attention about two years ago when I was looking for furniture for my 6.5 Creedmoor. I found them quite by chance and loved what I saw – made of laminate in a choice of colours they offer a height-adjustable comb/cheek piece and length-adjustable butt. The pistol grip section is angled and offset 6° to the right giving a near perfect and stress-free shooting arm position. The forend is medium heavy so bags of room to free-float with no loss of stability. In that short time owner Oscar Haugen has come out with other designs and a wide choice of action inlets to suit most popular makes of rifle.

I first heard of 6xc from Fergal White (Ireland Custom Rifle) who was raving about it, to me it looked like a shorter 243 Winchester with a 30° shoulder. I have seen too many new and copycat calibres that all purport to do something amazing compared to the original, I’m not saying they don’t work but in some cases the gains are marginal. For example a 243 Win shooter who has perfected their rifle and load would not want to start again with something new and apparently similar? Initially I approached 6xc with a deal of scepticism!

Speaking to some experienced UK shooters seemed to bear this out, though in the USA 6xc is seen as a 1000m cartridge. To its credit it has won a number of High Power and American NRA long range matches. It was developed by 11 times High Power champion David Tubb and is similar to the 6x47mm Swiss Match. Now made by Norma it’s an upgrade on their 6mm BR (Benchrest) for 300m competition. 

I’m a hunter and not a target shooter! However, if a calibre can demonstrate that it’s a superior performer then I am interested. I say this as I have been thinking of getting a 223 set up for my R8, for small deer, foxes and varminting. The 6xc might just fill that role better plus be large deer legal and also offer an accurate paper puncher, so giving me an across the board gun; we shall see. It might also be taken up by the Bench Rest community too.

OUT SHOOTS

Norma tells us: ‘The 6 XC outshoots the 243 Win and is far more predictable and has the same twist as the BR of 1-8” so should stabilize bullets of up to 115-grains. The XC barrel measurements are a little different to the BR. The lands are 6.00 mm compared to 6.02 mm for the BR and the grooves are 6.20 instead of 6.18 mm. We basically scaled down a regular 6.5 barrel to 6 mm to reduce wear.’

Norma also decided to produce hunting fodder - 95-grain Nosler ballistic tip and 100-grain Oryx soft tip ammo, along with target loads. They quote the Nosler at 2953 fps/1840 ft/lbs and the Oryx at 2953 fps/1937 ft/lbs. However, the 243 Win can be velocity-sensitive cartridge in a short barrel and I was dubious of these figures, in what is a slower round. Their loading data shows you can go down to 65-grain bullets and up and across the more popular weights we in the UK favour with our 6mms. Facts to yet be determined and pertinent to me as I am more interested in the light, fast ‘n’ flat side of the calibre! But given experience with the 243 the twist rate seems a bit tight for the lighter weight pills and more suited to 100-grain + loads.

6xc is an article in its own right and I am just touching on it to explain the calibre. However, I am sourcing dies and will be doing a more in-depth study of its abilities for a future issue.

R8

Never wanted a Blaser R93, quite liked the standard R8 but not that bothered enough to buy one, but fell in love with the R8 Professional Success! If you don’t know the R8 is the logical evolution of the original R93, as it offers what most owners wanted a detachable box magazine. This component is however a little different as the trigger guard and lower mechanism is integral. Which is a huge bone of contention mainly to non-Blaser owners due to the possibility of losing the mag. Technically they are correct but I can live with that!

The R8 offers a straight-pull action that locks by 13, radial collets into the chamber extension and is operated by a swinging handle on the side of the bolt carrier. If you are left handed just order the appropriate carrier. With no physical receiver, scopes are mounted directly to the barrel with dedicated QD bases. The barrel is easily changed and is secured by twin vertical studs connected to the underside of the re-enforce that pass down through the inner chassis and secure by captive nuts. A T-key for the purpose is included and return to zero is not an issue!

As such the R8 does not have an applied safety catch, instead at the rear of the carrier is a sliding de-cocker. This pushes up to cock the action and it will stay cocked for every shot fired, but it can be de-cocked by lowering the lug. This gives a 100% safe carry with one up the spout. Certainly not for everyone and offering both plus & minus points over a conventional ON/OFF system. 

SMOOTH & SLICK!

The Blaser action is smooth and easy with excellent primary extraction and once understood it disturbs the firing position a lot less than a standard turn-bolt. It is technically faster to operate but that is a moot point with many turn-bolt gunners, whatever; I seriously like and rate the R8

The magazine/trigger assembly locks by integral, ambidextrous catches either side of the floor plate. Inside the box body is a drop-in helical insert that holds 4-rounds in standard calibres and three in the wider bodied magnums, which is +1 over the R93. This aids the R8’s switch barrel/calibre ability as you buy the insert required along with the barrel and bolt head. However, and depending on what you choose you might only need the tube. The 6xc bolt head is the same as the 243/308 and the mag insert can handle 243/308 Win and 6mm Norma BR too.

FLIP IT!

Though detachable it’s also possible to load the R8 through the top and lock the mag in position too. A new feature to me is Blaser’s ATZL trigger, which offers two pull weights for target and hunting. The former breaks at 250 grams (8.8 oz) and the latter 650 grams (22 oz). All you do is flp a switch at the rear of the mag from target (bullseye circle) to hunting (stag’s head) logos and you’re done. To be honest both are light breaks and should be approached with caution. Standard R8 triggers can be retro-fitted to ATZL spec by Blaser.

The Match/Fluted barrel is a beauty measuring 0.87” at the muzzle and 22.5” long to the gas escape hole. Just bear in mind that with this wide tube any standard Blaser forend wood or synthetic will need opening up to give a free-float.

This example came threaded 18x1mm and I fitted an aimZonic Cyclone PLUS reflex moderator. Optics went to my Swarovski Z6i 2.5-15x56 P HD with BDC turret, which seemed an ideal pairing for what would probably turn out to be a very accurate rifle/ammo combination.

HEY GOOD LOOKING!

In terms of practicality and cosmetics the R8/GRS is superb. As soon as you get behind it and make the grip and sort out the butt’s height and length adjustments you’re sold! Off a bag or bipod you have a beautifully stable shooting position. In this rig the rifle is heavy and just about a walking hunter, but more a varmint/target machine. Add in the ATZL trigger, a top quality scope and you’re sorted!

Ammo consisted of Norma’s 100-grain Oryx SP, 95-grain FMJ Jagdmatch, 95-grain Nosler BST and 105-grain molly-coated Diamond Line. Velocities quoted by Norma were achieved from 26” barrels, so I was expecting some losses from the 22.5” tube of the R8. It occurred to me that the xc also looks very similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor, almost like a 6mm version; interesting. It’s also not unlike the 6mm International and the 6mm 250.

IT IS WHAT IT IS!

In terms of accuracy I cannot fault the 6xc/R8 combo and despite my interests and needs it is first and foremost a target cartridge. It did show a preference for the 95-grain Nosler at 0.450 x 0.288” with its favourite being the 105-grain Diamond Line. Measured centre-to-centre best the best group was 3-shots at 0.294 x 0.380”. The Jagdmatch and Oryx showed slightly larger groups and less consistency at over the ½” but still respectable. I think I was spoiled by the Diamond and Nosler! To further illustrate its ability I had the chance to shoot an R8 in Germany in 6xc in a standard, 22.5” barrel and at 500m (off the bench) it was grouping 4”, which I feel speaks volumes!

Though bullet energy is primarily of concern to hunters I chronographed all loads to see what was happening:

As can be seen neither hunting load is large deer legal, most surprising was the 105-grain Diamond Line at 2707 fps/1707 ft/lbs. I can only assume the molly-coating upped the speed and therefore energy on what is a heavy 6mm pill! However, it’s not a hunting bullet, but a BT or SP in that weight and coated could push it up to roe deer+ ability. Hopefully with the accuracy of the Diamond! But the confidence offered by the 4” @ 500m potential would make it a good choice for longer range foxes! It also moderates well; certainly better than a 243!

As can be seen the 6xc is velocity-sensitive in relation to barrel length, as is the 243 Win. Norma says they use 26” tubes to get figures and the 22.5” of the R8 gives away an obviously vital 3.5”. Let’s take the 95-grain Nosler, which they quote at 900 mps/2952 fps, from the longer barrel it would make a pleasing 1849 ft/lbs. If I was shooting this gun purely for target then the 105-grain Diamond Line would be the obvious choice. It offers less than a 243 Win in terms of output but is blindly accurate and consistent, so you choose. For me the make or break is going to be what it does with lighter bullets. Ammo aside the Blaser R8/GRS is a seriously shootable rifle and given the calibre you choose would make a great paper puncher and/or long range performer.

My thanks to Christer Larsen of Norma for the ammunition.

FOR:
Superior shootability and
accuracy potential\

ATZL trigger a nice option for
the target shooter

6xc very accurate
and consistent

AGAINST:
6xc barrel length critical

Hunters’ don’t really
need the ATZL trigger

VERDICT:
An excellent rifle combining
a great stock and a
smooth/fast action

Masses of shooting potential

You choose the calibre
you need