The projects of Horst Blaser merged into what has become a brand in its own right, they have certainly revolutionized the way of building rifles: in particular, the rifled rifle is the custodian of a system that is totally out of the ordinary. You may like it or not, raise criticisms, doubts and distinctions, but we all agree on one point: shooting accuracy. Then there are other beautiful features such as handling, low weight, ease of barrel change thanks to a commendable range of calibers and external profiles, just to mention the most obvious ones, to which is added a choice of stocks with the most varied settings. It ends with the sale price, certainly not low, but adequate to what a large slice of customers deem it fair to spend to get hold of this weapon that has become an obligatory purpose. On a lucky occasion and thanks to Mr. Remo Orologio, distributor of Nikon optics, we met at the Carrù shooting range to examine a version of the Blaser R8 with barrel selected and chambered for the classic .308 Win. which is used by the owner in competitions and hunting outings.
We therefore have this shotgun available with the dark green synthetic stock called Success extremely ergonomic in the targeted shot and equally favorable in that on a moving target as in a boar joke: a little training to quickly place the hand through the entablature obtained between the stock and the grip, passing from the weapon resting on the shoulder and starting aim, and that's it. The reason for such ease in aiming lies in the upper profile of the back which starts with a slight curve to rise from the graft with the shaft continuing with a straight line up to the butt plate: the cheek thus rests on a very high plane, bringing the axis of the eye. at the level of that of the optics favoring the immediate acquisition of the lens, practically without efforts to accommodate the bulb. The gun has a strong arch and a large round section with ergonomic molding on which the hand settles in a natural way and without tension: a lower protruding relief towards the guard signals the hand not to descend further. The prismatic barrel, rather wide and profiled towards the part of the shaft under the barrel, is the support of the lower part of the mechanism and of the barrel: we give a description even if all this is well known to enthusiasts.
The repetition system is of the in-line type: the opening lever, inserted in the mobile carriage, first performs an angular motion on its axis to release the shutter from the sealing seat, then continuing with the stroke with which the eventual case extraction / ejection with the subsequent chambering of a cartridge present in the magazine. The shutter is inserted in the carriage consisting of a hollowed head and equipped with an elastic expulsion pawl and a sturdy prismatic nail for extraction, with a large grip arc and a contrasting wire spring. hourglass, consisting of a base ring from which twelve elastic lamellae branch off, very close and separated from each other, with a toothed apex which, thanks to an internally sliding cone, expand by hooking directly into the prominence of a circular crown milled inside the breech of the barrel. The handlebar protruding from the trolley has a limited pivoting movement on its own axis: an internal cam makes the cone profile move back, followed by the return of the blades to the original position and the possibility, by pulling the handlebar back, to make the shutter cycle run quickly. while the stability at the moment of the shot is ensured by an undercut system. The head is movable, with an ingenious interlocking system, to replace it according to the series of cartridges chosen (three sizes available) and a wing mechanism, placed at the bottom of the breech fixed to the stock, automatically lifts in case of unexpected release of the closing by promptly stopping the trolley.
Le Blaser rods they offer different sections and smooth or grooved profiles to satisfy every need, as well as the chambers follow the desires and fashions of the moment: here we have the .308 Win. cartridge, the most requested for shooting and equally widely used also for hunting , but barrels for very particular calibers are observed. Remo Orologio had available a grooved one for the 7-47 GS cartridge, the one that Giani and Sabatti, two names that need no introduction, derived from the 6,5 × 47 Lapua by widening the collar for a .277 ball obtaining precision truly remarkable even at long distances. The stock barrel fixing is given by two pilierini integral to the breech and internally threaded: they are inserted in special recesses of the barrel where a custom-made metal cradle accommodates the lower section of the breech itself, stopping everything with two Allen screws and it is easy to understand how to restore the position both automatic and perfect. In the midst of so much innovation, the detachable magazine is properly positioned, prerogative of the Mod. R8, incorporated in the trigger group: the complex, which has not failed to raise some doubts about its presentation, inserted in the appropriate slot obtained in the barrel, has given satisfaction to those who could not stand the fixed charger. Locked in place by two elastic lugs placed on the sides, this gimmick made of synthetic sees a box into which the heart of the magazine is inserted, among other things with a rotating lifting sole, a reminder of the legendary Otto Schönauer warehouse in the Steyr rifles of the twentieth century. : it is possible to get more than one of these parts so as to keep in your pocket, already equipped with cartridges, the quick replacement. In the mold of the complex we see the guard within which the trigger protrudes: the direct release is the best that can be had on such a system with a clear and clean detachment without any defects whatsoever. A mention of the percussion system designed to add total safety and rapidity of intervention: the battery armament is released from the shutter maneuver and is activated by a button located in the tail of the movable breech. By pressing the firing pin spring is put under tension and you are ready to shoot and also to the following ones because the assembly remains armed: if, on the other hand, you postpone the shot, just a slight further pressure on the button is enough to make it move backward by relaxing the spring. It goes without saying that postponing the blow and resuming the march without deactivating the battery is a situation of considerable risk: personal attention is always required to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Thanks to Blaser's peculiar saddle mount we were able to test three Nikon optics with speed and punctuality, imported from Nital in Moncalieri (TO): the Monarch 7 - 1-4 × 24, the Monarch 7 IL - 3-12 × 56 and the Monarch 3 - 6-24 × 50 SF: there is therefore everything from driven hunting to hunting for game varies on different terrains to the decidedly specific one of varmint, as far as practicable by us, at shooting range. In addition to the intrinsic qualities of these telescopes with an excellent optical system with reticle engraved on the lens and one-piece structure with 30 mm tube, there is an integration made by Castor, the company created by Remo Orologio and partner Alessandro. Castellanelli, in the form of ballistic turrets specially designed for the optics of the Japanese brand, useful indeed necessary to achieve certain results that Remo shows in his competitive shooting palmares. In the compact 1-4 × 24, the exit pupil of 16 mm stands out, the eyepiece distance of 96,5-94,0 mm and the field of view at 100 m of 39,9 m with 1x, all useful factors for a prompt image taking and quick shooting. In the 3-12 × 56 the diameter of the objective stands out, aimed at maximum brightness and definition of the image even in poor light conditions, therefore optimal for hunting twilight game, combined with the range of magnifications valid for shooting in motion as for the appearance even at considerable distances: there is parallax correction on the side turret and reticle illumination. The 6-24 × 50 is characterized by the 1 "(25,4 mm) tube, 2,1 mm exit pupil which requires accurate positioning of the eye, reticle placed on the second image plane so as not to change its apparent thickness by varying the magnifications: the Duplex reticle (fine crosshair) allows a very accurate aim as well as the calibration of the shots of the turrets set at 1/8 of MOA. Certainly not missing the third turret for the parallax corrector.
Experience more than interesting and the targets achieved express the skills of the technical means filtered, unfortunately, by those of medium caliber of the shooter.
The author thanks Mr. Giorgio Rosso, owner of the shooting range of Carrù (CN) and the always valid assistant Kevin Ballauri for the effective assistance.