Let's talk about big 8mm's

Hotwheels81

Hotwheels81

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Got the itch to get into a big 8... The 8mm Rem Mag stands out pretty clear but it's not alone, the 8x68s has caught my eye as well, forget the argument about factory ammo as I reload and will most likely start by securing an ample supply of brass before the rifle and I'm not worried about finding it at the local store...


Who hunts with a big 8? Results? Opinions? Other options?
 
i have no experiance with the 8x68 other than it sounds cool. i have both the 8 mag and its little brother the 325. the 8 mag is flat shooting and hits hard with a 200 grn partition at 3000 plus. the only down side is you know you pulled the trigger. i have mine in a solid fiberglass stock and the weight takes some of the recoil out. its pretty nice to shoot. for the most part if i didn't already have a supply of brass i would probably stick with the 325 although it gives up some velocity to the 8..
 
I shot an 8mmremmag for a few years, using the 200gr Partition at 3050fps. It worked well, but I ended up rebarreling it to 338x8mmremmag, to have a better selection of bullets.
 
About 10 years ago I did up a Wildcat in 8mm based on the 338 RUM case. I called it the "8mm ARP". Haven't shot it in a few years. The 29"barrel launched a 220 gr bullet at 3170 fps using 104.0 grs of US869. Lots of fun.
 
Andy said:
About 10 years ago I did up a Wildcat in 8mm based on the 338 RUM case. I called it the "8mm ARP". Haven't shot it in a few years. The 29"barrel launched a 220 gr bullet at 3170 fps using 104.0 grs of US869. Lots of fun.
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Ouch...
 
I've owned a 8mm rem mag for more years than I care to remember....its a great cartridge :)....the problem I see is bullet selection. Most 8mm bullets are designed for Mauser velocities.

IMHO, If someone would come out with a high BC hunting bullet in the 240-250 grain range the big 8 rem mag would still be a current offering...just my 2 cents!
 
Andy said:
About 10 years ago I did up a Wildcat in 8mm based on the 338 RUM case. I called it the "8mm ARP". Haven't shot it in a few years. The 29"barrel launched a 220 gr bullet at 3170 fps using 104.0 grs of US869. Lots of fun.
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Holy crap! That's close to 200fps carrying an extra 20gr of whoopass over the rem and 8x68s... Must kill on both ends ;)
Bit long for a carry around boomer tho... I'm thinking 24" tube.
 
Before we moved to the Yukon, some 44 years ago, I had a VZ24 rechambered to 8mm-308 Norma Mag. Also known as the 323 Hollis, it drove the 196 gr Norma Dual Core bullets over 3000 fps, and killed like lightening.

There is also the 8mm PMM, Poor Man's Magnum, based on the 338 Win Mag case that I suspect will do the same. Since you are a handloader, this one might be a good choice, as brass is everywhere and easily formed. Just one pass through the resizing die, and you're on the way.

Ted
 
Hotwheels81 said:
Got the itch to get into a big 8... The 8mm Rem Mag stands out pretty clear but it's not alone, the 8x68s has caught my eye as well, forget the argument about factory ammo as I reload and will most likely start by securing an ample supply of brass before the rifle and I'm not worried about finding it at the local store...


Who hunts with a big 8? Results? Opinions? Other options?
Click to expand...

I have an 8mag and ya can try it out sometime if you buy the ammo :) I'm not to far away PM if ya want. Rob's had a box in there a while ago but not sure still there.
 
chappy said:
i have no experiance with the 8x68 other than it sounds cool. i have both the 8 mag and its little brother the 325. the 8 mag is flat shooting and hits hard with a 200 grn partition at 3000 plus. the only down side is you know you pulled the trigger. i have mine in a solid fiberglass stock and the weight takes some of the recoil out. its pretty nice to shoot. for the most part if i didn't already have a supply of brass i would probably stick with the 325 although it gives up some velocity to the 8..
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chappy,

did you get a real huge difference in velocity between the 8x68s and the 325wsm?

the 8x68s is well known for a bad recoild especially with a piggy stock ...

never liked to shoot a lovely sauer 80 in that caliber.
 
I would not build an 8 mm Magnum. If I found an lovely 8x68S, I would buy it, recognizing the challenges that go along with it. You are better served with a .308 Norma Mag, a .300 Win, or a .338 Win. If none of these appeal, step up to .375HH or ..416 of whatever variety you like....
 
The 8mm Rem Mag is a full length H&H so it would beat the .300 Win Mag for case capacity. Bullet selection is a whole other story though.
 
I have built 3 8mm Rem Mags for the same guy over the years... he really likes them.

The 8mm Rem Mag is basically the same as a .340 Wby Mag in performance.
 
guntech said:
I have built 3 8mm Rem Mags for the same guy over the years... he really likes them.

The 8mm Rem Mag is basically the same as a .340 Wby Mag in performance.
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And didn't we essentially come to the decision that the 340 was the ultimate cartridge for North American game? 8mm losing out due to a lack of suitable bullets.
 
patricksbb391 said:
I would not build an 8 mm Magnum. If I found an lovely 8x68S, I would buy it, recognizing the challenges that go along with it. You are better served with a .308 Norma Mag, a .300 Win, or a .338 Win. If none of these appeal, step up to .375HH or ..416 of whatever variety you like....
Click to expand...

I have owned or have a suitable amount of trigger time behind all of the above save for the .338win... I'm still looking for "the one".









I'm not concerned about cost here holding short of having hand turned VLD's built... I can accept the offering of high BC bullets in 8mm are as uncommon as they are for the .375 H&H but there are still options... I hear tell that the 8x68s is the African locals version of the 30-06 and has a strong euro following... Obviously they aren't having issues finding suitable bullets ;)
 
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