Just as a pointer, some people argue that a thicker beard requires a heftier blade. This is contentious, but I have a copper wire beard, and find that my 7/8s is much better then my 4/8s.
Thanks, I have the same type of beard, hence the issue with tugging. I'm inclined to go with a 7/8's on the back of what you have said. I do prefer heftier DE razors and am only really happy using Feather or Swedish Gillette blades.