8x68s donor rifle

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Shakky

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Newmarket, Ont.
I'm looking to re-barrel an action with a barrel chamber for 8x68s. It will be a commercial 98M action. Am I better to go with a magnum donor rifle or a 30-06 length action. I was thinking 7mm Rem Mag or 300 win Mag would work best. Thoughts?
 
7mmRM, etc., fit a .30-06 length magazine box. How long overall is the 8x68?

Did some googling. 8x68S has a nominal overall length of 87m; .300WinMag is 85mm.
Looks as if it could be made to work, but seating the bullet deeper has a downside.
The long magnum magazine might be better - but if a long magnum magazine is shoehorned into a standard length 98 action, a lot of metal gets removed from behind the lower locking abutment in the receiver. Done often enough that it probably isn't a problem, but still a consideration.

Then there is the question - will it feed?
 
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I used a P14 action with an M1917 bolt to build an 8X68S as well as a 6.5X68.If I was going to use a Mauser I would look for a Zastava magnum action.
 
FWIW my factory built 8x68s is on a ZKK 602 long action (which is also suitable for 375H&H).... BRNO seem to think thats what is required.... their ZKK 600 is for standard 270w, 30/06 length cartridges; the ZKK 601 for 308/243W length
 
Can you tell us type of action? It will determine your rebarrel options. Being 8 x 68s means the bolt face has been openned up to min .512" for the cartridge so going smaller will mean a new bolt and perhaps bottom metal/follower. Assuming the feed rails are done you could look at 338 Win or 404 Jeffery. Dimensions are very close to the 8 x 68s. A muzzle brake would be a nice touch to control recoil. Ammo a little easier to source. My 2 cents worth. Ron
 
I have the following parts I somehow ended up with. A Husky FN98 8x57, Brno vz24 action built in 1937 and a husky barrel in 8x57. So two actions and two Husky barrels in 8x57 both off of FN actions. As far as I know the bolt face is wrong and the box mag is too short so I was thinking of selling the actions but use the barrels.
 
Sell it all and get a 700 in 8mm Rem Mag would be way easier and cheaper with top performance.
 
AP said:
FWIW my factory built 8x68s is on a ZKK 602 long action (which is also suitable for 375H&H).... BRNO seem to think thats what is required.... their ZKK 600 is for standard 270w, 30/06 length cartridges; the ZKK 601 for 308/243W length
Click to expand...

BRNO built all of the belted mags and similar case head sizes on the 602 action whether they needed it or not (including 'too short' .300WM and .458WM). Likely just cheaper.
 
I did my one 8x68 in a ZG-47 that was chambered for 8x64 originally.
Works fine.
Cartridge OAL not quite as long as compared to my Mannlicher Schoenauer with a longer action in 8x68, but with a flat base 190/200 bullet, I am up to 2900 ft/s with no fuss and quite accurate.
I am sure there are easier ways to go, but I love my BRNO rifles.

I also have a BLR is 325 WSM that gets near the same results. It is a thumper on both ends. I got it in a takedown version of the BLR so it can go on trips with me with ease.
 
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Built mine on a sporterised 98. Bit of work, but 416 Rigbys have been built on them, so it's doable. In terms of performance, it's about equal with the PMM (8mm-338 WM). Little slower than the 8 Rem Mag. I've built a few wildcat 8mm's, the 8x68S is a nice cartridge. Sort of a European 300 H&H. - dan
 
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I have said 8x68S in a BRNO ZKK 602. Great cartridge. I don't notice the recoil as much as a my 300WBY or 338WM. I would think a "magnum length action" would be the better choice.
 
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I checked with the gunsmith I use to build my rifles and he said a CRF 30/06 action would be the best option as a donor (I'm thinking of building one on a Stainless Win M70 CRF or BRNO ZKK 600 in 30/06).
 
Shakky said:
I'm looking to re-barrel an action with a barrel chamber for 8x68s. It will be a commercial 98M action. Am I better to go with a magnum donor rifle or a 30-06 length action. I was thinking 7mm Rem Mag or 300 win Mag would work best. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Shakky I had a Brno 602in 8x68S and sold it. Great actions for large cartridges but it was larger than needed and ended up with a rifle far heavier than it needed to be. I had Ralf Martini do the metal work on my new rifle. Used a CZ action that was originally a 270. Ralf opened up the bolt face to the proper size. The belted mag bolt faces are larger than the 8x68S bolt face. I had obtained the bottom metal from a CZ 375 H&H rifle and used that. The end result was a rifle that feeds flawlessly and shoots under 1 in groups and is several lbs lighter than my old 602.
 
Thank you all. I decided that an 8X64s was all I needed. I picked up a Vanguard in 30-06 and now the search for someone who will work on metric threads and a barrel begins.
 
Decent calibre choice. Give Corlanes in BC a call. They should be able to help you out.
Tradeex has ammo.
If you decide to reload dies can be shipped from the US if you can't find any here (not covered by ITAR)
 
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