8X57 vs 8mm-06

[Huntin' Gun]

I was just looking in the Nosler 6th edition Reloading Manual. It lists the fastest load for the 8mm-06 with a 200 gr bullet as 2628 fps [max load of IMR4350]. But it lists 3 loads for the 8X57 using the same weight bullet as EXCEEDING that velocity. The fastest for the 8X57 is 2698 fps! The 8-06 has more case capacity, so why does it seem [according to this manual] that the 8x57 is able to out perform 8-06? Is there anyone out there using the 8-06? What kind of performance [ie: measured velocities] are you getting with it? Seems you should be able to do better than this manual lists without getting over-pressured. Anyone?

 

[dan belisle]

I have 8x57, 8mm-06 and 8mm-06 AI. With the right combinations, you're looking at about 2600 +/- with 200 gr bullets in the x57, 2650 in the 8mm-06 and 2700 with the AI version. As they use different test guns in the manual, you get somewhat different results in spite of the case capacity variation. - dan

 

[Andy]

The "4 to 1" rule of thumb is pretty solid.

Since the 8mm-06 has about 16% more usable case capacity than the 8x57, it should yield approximately 4% higher MV than the 8x57 at the same pressure. Hence 2600 fps in the 8x57 with a 200gr bullet could be exceeded by about 100 fps (2700 fps) in the 8mm-06. As you can see, the 8mm-06AI is a way cool cartridge, but you should only expect about 50 fps over the 8mm-06. Wildcatters ignore this truth all the time, and it's not uncommon to see a Wildcat cartridge with 10% more case capacity being pushed to 110% of its parent case's published loads (not 102.5%) - a good example being the 30 Gibbs.

Do you find a shortage of published loads for the 8mm-06? Any 30/06 load can be safely used (and then a bit more) in the 8mm-06.

From my website:

 

[dan belisle]

You need an 8mm PMM and a 325 WSM to make that photo complete Andy, lol. - dan

 

[Andy]

You need an 8mm PMM and a 325 WSM to make that photo complete Andy, lol. - dan

I don't have a 8mm PMM, but I do have an 8mm ARP - 105.0 gr capacity, 180gr bullet at 3450 fps, 220gr at 3100 fps:

The 325 WSM never interested me on account of the 8mm ARP.