Is the 8.5x55 Blaser just another 338 RCM ?

bdb.hunting

bdb.hunting

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Okay so I was reading an article on the 8.5x55 Blaser as the middle of the road cartridge that was missing in Europe apparently as they didn’t have many options in the 8.5/338 range which is weird to think seeing as the have the 8s and some 9s ?

Article link : https://www.passion-magazin.de/en/85x55-blaser-die-neue-dimension/

Now I am in the process of having a 338RCM built you know basically the originally PRC’s before the PRC was a thing :) as it is designed to be a short barrel round that still gets decent speeds and thump when needed handy rifle for elk country. An after reading this Blaser article it sounded like the 8.5x55 was designed for the same reason something that functions good out of a short barrel seeing as suppressed shooting is growing ever popular on the other side of the pond.

After looking at the CIP date it seems they are almost identical with the overall size advantage going to the 8.5x55 but not by much.

8.5x55
AA03F6C8-04D8-42E3-B288-A88B99F5EDBA.png

338 RCM
3A33DC42-FAE6-4FFA-99F3-029241242A0E.png

I realize the 338 RCM never took off due to a variety of factors but components can be had every so often and once in a blue moon some ammo shows up.

What do you think will happen with the 8.5x55 ? Something tells me we won’t see it on this side for the most part. Is it just another cartridge that will have a short life and fizzle out or will it take off an become a thing like the PRC’s

I’ll be honest I just like the metric naming conventions. I’ve got two 6.5s (neither are a creedmoor at this point in time) an for jokes I’m gunna call my 338 RCM the 8.5 PRC.
 

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I looked for LH 338 RCM without any luck. Big fan of the 338 caliber.
Intriguing cartridge/rifle combination.
Today, I am happy with my LH 338 Federal and 338-06. Have sold my 338 Win Mag, as I now have other LH rifles (9.3x62, 376 Steyr) that will work if needed where I used to use the 338 Win Mag, such as bison.
Although a 8.5x55 would pair nicely with a 6.5x55! (Now I might have to find another LH Sako 85 Hunter to build one to match with my LH Sako 85 Swede!)

Update:
Have researched the 8.5x55. Virtually duplicates the 338-06 when you compare similar bullet weights (185 gr TTSX) in comparable barrel lengths (22.8" vs 22"). The shorter fatter case of the 8.5 should provide benefits in efficiency and efficacy, in a SA rifle. Having more than 1900 fps and almost 2200 ft.lbs of energy at 400 yards will provide plenty of performance for any big game animal in North America, and most of the plains game in Africa (and the rest of the planet for that matter). Performance just gets better with heavier bullet weights from there. Having used the 338 Win Mag on moose, elk, bison and bear (black and grizzly), the 338-06 on black bear and the 338 Federal on moose and caribou, I can say with confidence that the 338 performs splendidly on big game, and I see no reason why the 8.5x55 wouldn't make hunters around the world happy with its performance on big game. I also look forward to using the 338 Marlin Express on big game.


Have fun with your 8.5 PRC!
Look forward to hearing about your rifle and experience shooting and hunting with it!
 
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The 6.5PRC is essentially a necked-down 300RCM. However, the 300PRC is a much larger cartridge and is not based on the smaller RCM. It's unfortunate the RCM cartridges missed the mark because they are powerful, modern designs that work well in small rifles.

The 8.5x55 would be a super versatile cartridge too, but brass or ammo seems hard to come by. I considered a barrel for my Blaser but decided to go another route.
 
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propliner said:
The 6.5PRC is essentially a necked-down 300RCM. However, the 300PRC is a much larger cartridge and is not based on the smaller RCM. It's unfortunate the RCM cartridges missed the mark because they are powerful, modern designs that work well in small rifles.

The 8.5x55 would be a super versatile cartridge too, but brass or ammo seems hard to come by. I considered a barrel for my Blaser but decided to go another route.
Click to expand...

Yeah the Blaser round is just impossible to get this side of the pond.

Yeah the 300 PRC is based on the 375 Ruger which the RCM cartridges or originated from. I think the 6.5 PRC and both the 300 and 338 RCM are honestly great hunting rounds. They fit in short actions and pack a punch. The 6.5 can still do any long range steel work that most people want to do. Plus the 300 RCM is a great short barrel medium caliber for most big game, the 338 RCM is just as good but adds the knock down power.

My ideal goal is to have a switch barrel rifle with all three. 6.5 PRC 24” Barrel, 300 RCM 20” Barrel 338 RCM with an 18.6” to 20” Barrel (havent decided yet) An basically that one rifle will hunt anything across BC that I need to hunt. While also giving me the potential to hunt things in the Yukon if I ever made it up that way.

Then I can think about a second switch barrel rifle thats more target for a long action built. (Even though I know my Tikka is long action all the time anyways)

B
 
bdb.hunting said:
Okay so I was reading an article on the 8.5x55 Blaser as the middle of the road cartridge that was missing in Europe apparently as they didn’t have many options in the 8.5/338 range which is weird to think seeing as the have the 8s and some 9s ?

Article link : https://www.passion-magazin.de/en/85x55-blaser-die-neue-dimension/

Now I am in the process of having a 338RCM built you know basically the originally PRC’s before the PRC was a thing :) as it is designed to be a short barrel round that still gets decent speeds and thump when needed handy rifle for elk country. An after reading this Blaser article it sounded like the 8.5x55 was designed for the same reason something that functions good out of a short barrel seeing as suppressed shooting is growing ever popular on the other side of the pond.

After looking at the CIP date it seems they are almost identical with the overall size advantage going to the 8.5x55 but not by much.

8.5x55
View attachment 667600

338 RCM
View attachment 667601

I realize the 338 RCM never took off due to a variety of factors but components can be had every so often and once in a blue moon some ammo shows up.

What do you think will happen with the 8.5x55 ? Something tells me we won’t see it on this side for the most part. Is it just another cartridge that will have a short life and fizzle out or will it take off an become a thing like the PRC’s

I’ll be honest I just like the metric naming conventions. I’ve got two 6.5s (neither are a creedmoor at this point in time) an for jokes I’m gunna call my 338 RCM the 8.5 PRC.
Click to expand...

Well, they did have a 9 x 57 and 9.3 x 57; not much point to give up a bit of case capacity and still need a long action. Both are pretty much obsolite now but the 9.3 x 62 is enjoying a renewed surge in popularity.
 
Meroh said:
Well, they did have a 9 x 57 and 9.3 x 57; not much point to give up a bit of case capacity and still need a long action. Both are pretty much obsolite now but the 9.3 x 62 is enjoying a renewed surge in popularity.
Click to expand...

maybe in na as in europe it always has been a top selling calibers for decades and invented 120 years ago almost ...
 
propliner said:
This is a great idea. Let us know if you do it. What rifle platform would work?
Click to expand...

With this platform I am working with Tikka’s mostly because its what I had to begin with. Left hand rifles of decent quality are hard to come by. If I was starting over I would run a a Terminus Zeus action. I would get two one would be my short action and the other would be a long or something of similar build quality as I would love to do a 375 ruger build and thats not something I will do in a tikka.

B
 
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