8Mag
- Thread starter zg47
- Start date
I handload and shoot an 8x68S mag, the beltless magnum twin of the 8mm mag. If you do plan on shooting 170s, load them at 8mm mauser velocities unless you do not care whether they stay together when they hit something. I have tried the 170 grain hornadys and the 175 sierras, and they both came apart like a cheap suit at velocities over 3000 fps. I shot a whitetail at 15 feet with the 175 grain bullet, and the deer ran away like it was not hit, and was found several hours later, the bullet lodged under the hide on the far shoulder. Complete bullet failure. The new 185 grain bullets intended for the 325 WSM should be up to the task. Otherwise confine yourself to the 200 grainers and up. They will hold together and smash through anything they hit.
I load and shoot the 8 mag (as well as 8 Mauser, 8mm-06 AI, and 8x68S). I wouldn't use the 170's for anything but plinking and target shooting. Way too much velocity from that big case, as pointed out. Personally, I stick to 220 and 250 gr bullets in this calber. - dan
I find the 220grain sierra gamekings are a serviceable hunting bullet with a for cxp3 game and they are readily available from major dealers at reasonable prices. As a bonus they are very accurate and ballistically efficient. I recovered one from the spine of a moose shot at 300 m offhand. Beautiful mushroom with very high weight retention. The bullet techs at sierra told me that the jackets on the big 8mm are thicker than their 30 cal counterparts. I would tend to agree with this assessment, as well as the comments of the others on this thread.
I bought a large amount of the Woodleighs awhile back from a guy on this site, he was getting rid of them because they wouldn't group in his 8 mag. Work fine in mine though, so I'm happy. Barnes originals are also available in 8mm/250gr, as are some of the custom bullets out there (including 275's). - dan
