8 mm rem mag questions

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Wookie1974

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Hey all, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the above calibre and reloading. I've been reloading for my own .308 and .223 for some time now and love it. My father in law is going to be coming to Alberta from Nova Scotia for hunting season this year and he shoots an 8 mm rem mag. He sent me some spent shells to reload for him and I'm looking for what I'll need. The calibre is what's screwing me up. Should I be looking for .323 or 8mm dies, (I use lee reloading gear). Also does anyone with experience with this round and have a good hunting load? Where did you get your projectiles/etc? Sorry to be such a "new guy" about this. Thanks in advance for your time!
 
8mm bullets are .323 diameter. you will need rem 8 mag dies and 8mm bullets. i have found my best loads are with rel22 and fed 215 primers loaded to book max. i'm getting close to 3000 fps. i use either 195 hornady or 200 grn nozler partitions my prefernce for hunting loaded to 3.60 lenth. i have had good luck finding 8mm bullets at wholesale sports. not as popular as the more common calibres. might be hard finding rel22 but imr4350 or 4831 works but i haven't had as good luck finding a winning combo as i do with the rel22. if you want more load data pm me.
 
I don't load 8mm Rem Mag but the same advice from loading 8x57mm Mauser can apply.
Whether the dies are listed as .323 or 8mm they should still size the same as you need neck tension and most common "8mm" bullets are .323" in diameter.
"8mm" can also mean .318" or .329" in other cartridges but 8mm Rem Mag is only .323".
I buy my 8mm projectiles from the same local stores I get all my bullets. If they don't have any you may have to order online.
If you have a preferred .308 hunting bullet there is probably an 8mm version from the same manufacturer.
An 8mm mag shoots around 3000fps so any decent bonded bullet should work. Check what bullet weight he prefers.
Make sure to load enough for him to sight in with that load before hunting.
 
In my opinion you can't just load up some rounds for him without having the rifle so that you can do some test loads to see what it likes and then probably resight the rifle with the loads you find shoots the best. Just throwing together some rounds and going hunting is not a good idea. Especially for the father in law. If he misses the trophy of a lifetime with your untested reloads you will never hear the end of it even if not your fault he messed up the shot. Just my .02.
 
RL-25 and the 220gr Sierra shot very well for me.

8mmRM2.jpg
 
iceman2 is on to something; if you're going to reload for him, you need to incorporate at least SOME load development in there, if nothing else to make sure the loads are safe.

I would pick a bullet, load 3 each of 3 different charges of a promising powder selected from several load manuals, and wait...

When he comes, take the loads to the range and see which shoots best, looking for overpressure signs.

Pick the best one, and load enough for a hunt.

Basically, if you blow your father-in-law up with your handloads, you will ruin Christmas for life. Don't ruin Christmas.
 
Thanks for all the offered info gentlemen. And thanks for a few laughs! I will ensure I don't piss off the father in law or ruin Christmas...good suggestions all around. Finding materials and dies now seems to be the hard part...
 
"...sent me some spent shells to reload for him..." He tell you the load he uses too? Like Iceman2 says, you'll need the rifle if he didn't. And he'll have to sight it in when he gets there.
Look on Lee's site for 8mm Rem Mag dies. Don't know if they make 'em'. Mind you, any dies will do. They're all 7/8-14. .323" bullets should be easy enough.
 
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