8 mm magnum

I shoot one I built, as well as a 300 Wby. Both have 26" barrels. In my particular case, the 8 is slightly more accurate then the 300, but not by much. The 300 has the advantage of more bullet choices, the 8mm makes bigger holes. I get 3000 fps with 200 gr bullets in the WBy, and 3000 fps with 220 gr bullets in the 8RM. How far you can shoot will depend on the accuracy of a given rifle, and your own skill level, neither of which I can speak to. - dan
 
I have an 8X68s that is similar in performance to the 8 Rem Mag. They are almost the optimal cartridge for hunting at 200 meters; high retained energy and flat shooting. They are high velocity numbers and with the 220gr Sierra spitzers they have very good ballistics...the 8X68s is a pretty stout load in factory form..my rifle is heavy but you know when it goes off! I have never fired an 8 Rem but imagine it is similar. AP
(btw the 8mm numbers can be extraordinarily accurate - mine is!)
 
I also have a "big 8" and without quoting reloading manuals the best way to describe it is as flat shooting as the 30 cal magnums but with more weight and frontal area, i'm on my second one, my first was a remington and my current one is a custom Sako, When I bough my first one I was trying to decide between the 30 cal mags and the 338 mags and the 8mm fit right in between and does eveything I need it to do, if you handload there are no major drawback to this caliber.
 
I only have a 200 yrd range so all my shots further than that was just plinking at pie plates but I had a look at my loading manual at the # are....

with a 250 yrdb zero with 200 gr x-bullets it will drop 3.3" at 300 yrds, 14.5" at 400 and 32" at 500, and it still has 1600 ft,lbs of energy at 600 yrds.

the drop is very close out to 500 yards to a 300 weatherby with 180's then the light and more steamlined bullets from the 300 starts to open the gap.
 
It will shoot alot flatter with lighter bullets, I just quoted the 200's because thats what I use and it's fairly common in this caliber, if all your shooting is paper deer you could go down to 150's if you want and that would flatten it right out, it's basically a 300 weatherby case with a regular shoulder and a fatter bullet, it's a 375 H&H necked down and blown out to hold more powder.
 
If a guy was set on some long range pokes with 150 gr. bullets, he would be much better off with a 7mm STW, rather than loading them dumpy lil 8mm 150 gr. soft points with bottlecap Ballistic CoEfficients at high speed. Past 300 yards the smaller bores will trounce the 8mm with 150s!

If I was to own a 8mm Rem (which I have no real desire to at this point), I would load it with 200 or 220 gr. bullets pushed as fast as accuracy and pressure will allow. Make use of that big capacity case and launch some high BC bullets. First stop would be 200 gr. Accubonds and a case full of RL25.

tb
​
 
I prefer the 220 gr Hornadys and the 250 gr Woodleighs Tod. The big 8 isn't really a target cartridge at all (I suppose any cartridge is if that's what you use it for), there aren't any really appropraite bullets for it. Maybe if Wildcat or somebody would bring out a 275 or 300 gr vld, then this would shine, but really, this is a hunting cartridge in the 340 Wby class. I like mine, but for punching paper there are lot's better choices. As for the deer hunting at 1000 yards, well, what can I say? It's technically possible, but not really likely, and 99.99% of folks shouldn't be trying it, it's not a very humane way to do things. Some folks can do it sure, but not most of us. FWIW - dan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom