8mm-06

[Bassmaster]

I've done a little reading here and other places, and I'm seriously considering this 8mm conversion, for the 'just because' uniqueness....
Anyone care to share their personal experiences with this cartridge, good or bad?.....yes I reload, RCBS has dies, there appears to be lots of load data and I have buckets of '06 brass, that's not an issue....is it as simple as having a smith ream your 8mm bbl, and you're good to go?
Thanks
Bass

 

[jamesharrison]

I had 3 8mm-06 AI conversions done.

Things to look for:

Assemble 5 dummy rounds & see if they will feed correclty through your action. You won't, or at least shouldn't be able to close the bolt. If not you also need to have some action work done.

Next. Compare the loaded cartridges side by side (8x57 & 30-06). On 1 of my conversions, the barrel had to be set back as the old throat of the 8x57 was still protruding into the neck of the 8mm-06, so there was a reverse taper in the chamber, yielding a very difficult extraction.

Also, check to ensure that the new cartridges will fit into your magazine, as not all 8x57 magazines are long enough for 3.340" cartridges.

HTH.

Jim

 

[Longwalker]

Why do it? the only reasons 8x57's were converted in the first place is that American shooters didn't understand the metric designation for the 8x57JS vs. 8x57J and were therefore worried about feeding them the correct ammo, so the SAAMI specs were very low pressure/velocity. Also brass was not readily available way back when, so they went the wildcat route. I load my 8x57JS to just over 2500 fps with 200 g. bullets, within Euro pressure / velocity specs but way over Saami specs for the "8x57 mauser" It does not give up anything to the 30-06 in practical hunting performance. I think the 8mm-06 is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

 

[1899]

Why do it? the only reasons 8x57's were converted in the first place is that American shooters didn't understand the metric designation for the 8x57JS vs. 8x57J and were therefore worried about feeding them the correct ammo, so the SAAMI specs were very low pressure/velocity. Also brass was not readily available way back when, so they went the wildcat route. I load my 8x57JS to just over 2500 fps with 200 g. bullets, within Euro pressure / velocity specs but way over Saami specs for the "8x57 mauser" It does not give up anything to the 30-06 in practical hunting performance. I think the 8mm-06 is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

This. Some loads with a 200gr bullet approach 2700 fps.

 

[dan belisle]

And the same pressure loads in the 8mm-06/8mm-06 AI will go 100-150 fps faster. It's a good cartridge, I've had three of them, still have an AI version. The feeding and magazine length issues are relevant, but certainly easy enough to modify. - dan

 

[Bassmaster]

All good arguments...still on the fence though......call me nutz, but I like the idea of a rifle you CAN'T buy cartridges for...hmmmm

 

[1899]

All good arguments...still on the fence though......call me nutz, but I like the idea of a rifle you CAN'T buy cartridges for...hmmmm

IMO that is the only good reason to have one!