This European incident got a lot of internet electrons whirling about and soon perception becomes reality for manufacturers, so yes the R8 was beefed up. Was it solely for chambering wide body “African” cartridges or was it in part marketing to counteract the rumor mill?
I don’t know but as I mentioned I only found one DOCUMENTED incident of a blowup. And also as mentioned even Mausers have blown and there was an incident recently posted here about a Win model 70 kaboom.
Rifles are small bomb-containing instruments with the blast hopefully directed through a small diameter tube...but as in all the endeavors of men sometime things go awry.
