Barnes and swift are very capable hunting bullets for most anything on this continent. A 220gr A frame at over 3000 Fps is enough bullet for anything here. I like my 325's enough I went and got a 8 mag now. Cooper does there test target with a 220 matchking for the long distance guys. I am itching for this fall and elk season. Might have to dump a bear this spring so I can bloody it soon.
Let's talk about big 8mm's
- Thread starter Hotwheels81
- Start date
Most folks that haven't actually owned a 340 maybe... but then why even bother with a 338 Win Mag in the first place when a 300 Win Mag with a good 200 grain bullet will do anything a 338 Win Mag will do, and most things better, and 300 Win Mag is generally more available and a little cheaper too.
Yes. You could also make them out of 8mm rem mag.
The 8 mag doesn't even come close to a 340 Wby...........not even the same ballpark !!! Someone show me an 8 mag that will drive a 250 at 3100 fps like my 340 will, as did my last 340. When I played with an 8 mag years ago, I could NOT get 3000 with a 220 and just barely was able to squeak 3000 from a 200 Part. Every 300 WM I've had (that's about 5 or 6) would do better with a 200 gn Part, so in my opinion, the 8 mag isn't even a good 300 WM let alone in the same class as a 340 Wby or even a 300 Wby for that matter !!!!!!!!!!!
Given the facts that the 8 mag case has more capacity than a 300 Wby case and 8 mm has .015 greater base dia than the 300 Wby, can someone explain to me why the 8mm RM will not even equal a 300 WM let alone a 300 Wby? I played with the 8 mag extensively back when it first came out and had decided this would be the ultimate plains game cartridge for my first African Safari. The only thing I can tell you is that I was disappointed at every turn it would not produce the velocity the case capacity indicated it should and the accuracy (which is a whole 'nother matter) was at best poor. I put together a Douglas AG 24" barrel on a Sako L61R action and should have had a good combo, but it was a DOG. I rechambered it twice and recrowned it twice in case I made a mistake..........It wasn't anything I did, screwed the original 300 WM barrel back on loaded some 180 Parts in front of some IMR 7828 and went and killed everything that African locale had to offer.
However I wasn't finished with the 8mm RM yet, so I borrowed a buddies which was a factory 700. I told him of my fiasco and said I'd like to try some load development for his factory rifle....no sweat. What I found out, was that I could get no more velocity from his factory barrel than I could the Douglas however his barrel produced much better accuracy with 200 Parts. To get 3100 fps with 200 gn Parts in the 8mm RM you will be getting ejector marks on the case head, period. I can easily get 3100 fps from every 300 WM I have had with 200 gn Parts and not get ejector marks except one rifle. With my 300 Wby I get over 3200 fps without ejector marks and 200 gn Partitions.............and neither of these cartridges is in the same league as my 340 Wby, so for anyone to say the 8mm RM is in the same class as a 340 Wby just tells me that they believe what the books say but have no actual experience with these 2 cartridges.
Given the facts that the 8 mag case has more capacity than a 300 Wby case and 8 mm has .015 greater base dia than the 300 Wby, can someone explain to me why the 8mm RM will not even equal a 300 WM let alone a 300 Wby? I played with the 8 mag extensively back when it first came out and had decided this would be the ultimate plains game cartridge for my first African Safari. The only thing I can tell you is that I was disappointed at every turn it would not produce the velocity the case capacity indicated it should and the accuracy (which is a whole 'nother matter) was at best poor. I put together a Douglas AG 24" barrel on a Sako L61R action and should have had a good combo, but it was a DOG. I rechambered it twice and recrowned it twice in case I made a mistake..........It wasn't anything I did, screwed the original 300 WM barrel back on loaded some 180 Parts in front of some IMR 7828 and went and killed everything that African locale had to offer.
However I wasn't finished with the 8mm RM yet, so I borrowed a buddies which was a factory 700. I told him of my fiasco and said I'd like to try some load development for his factory rifle....no sweat. What I found out, was that I could get no more velocity from his factory barrel than I could the Douglas however his barrel produced much better accuracy with 200 Parts. To get 3100 fps with 200 gn Parts in the 8mm RM you will be getting ejector marks on the case head, period. I can easily get 3100 fps from every 300 WM I have had with 200 gn Parts and not get ejector marks except one rifle. With my 300 Wby I get over 3200 fps without ejector marks and 200 gn Partitions.............and neither of these cartridges is in the same league as my 340 Wby, so for anyone to say the 8mm RM is in the same class as a 340 Wby just tells me that they believe what the books say but have no actual experience with these 2 cartridges.
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I own both a 340 and an 8 RM (among other 8mm's and 338's). In my two rifles I get 3050 avg with 220 gr bullets from the 26" RKS barrel of the 8, and I get a best of 3000 with 250's from the 26" bbl of the 340. Lot of variables between rifles I guess. Having said that, I have played with quite a few wildcat 8's, up to Askin's 8mm-378 Wby. That was a handful. - dan
I'm wondering what impact velocity is "Mauser Velocity"?
Would it be "Mauser velocity" at 50 yards?...or 400 yards?
I have to know because I might need one and just am not aware of it yet.....
If Dan likes it , it must be good...
" a 200 gr @ 3000 fps".......sounds like a 300 Wtby....
It pretty much is. Just makes a bigger hole. If you stick to heavier or mono metal bullets you'll have no issues, regardless of velocity. I like them, and it is different enough to be of interest. Fwiw. - dan
Im a big fan of the 338 win mag so the 8 mm mag I have has never had a scope mounted on it...
A 210 ttsx at over 2900 fps does everything up to and including some dangerous game. Once you get above a 30 cal, they are all so "cool" that things apparently die faster!
A 210 ttsx at over 2900 fps does everything up to and including some dangerous game. Once you get above a 30 cal, they are all so "cool" that things apparently die faster!
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Im a big fan of the 338 win mag so the 8 mm mag I have has never had a scope mounted on it...
A 210 ttsx at over 2900 fps does everything up to and including some dangerous game. Once you get above a 30 cal, they are all so "cool" that things apparently die faster!
Actually I'm just a fan of bullets that make 2 big holes in any animal it comes into contact with, I've had delayed kills with a 45/70 and a .270 and .308.... and bang flops with a 7-08 and a .375 H&H... Luck of the draw and bullet construction more than shot placement that I promise you.... Everything was quite dead tho
I'm looking for "the one"... Have been looking for it a while now, ran the gambit of 7mm's, .308's in magnum and non magnum, .375 and .416... The .300 win and Norma were sweethearts but that snappy recoil gives my noggin a foggin after a dozen rounds, the 7's are fun and I'm quite seriously looking at building a .280 AI but would gain very little over a hot 7-08 so I may as well go to a 7mm rem but I'm back into that belted magnum and SAUM/BUM snap crackle pop I have learned to despise... The .375 H&H was another wonderful cartridge I really enjoyed but bullet selection is on par with the 8mm's and well.. Frankly... Been there done that and moved on..., the rigby is a good two hole'er cartridge from gopher to cape buff but dumping 110 grains of powder into a case and seating a $2 bullet on top of it to practice with is a bit wasteful of a precious resource these days...
The argument I suppose I have with the 8x68s is I've seen claims of 8mm rem mag velocity in a case that is actually 13 grains less capacity and it's without the belt that some of us don't have much love for anyway... I thought it would be interesting to own an oddball metric cartridge, bragging rights and all that "cool" factor in a seemingly efficient cartridge... Hmmmm does seem to be a pain in the buttocks tho to find much useful info on it in English tho...
Maybe I need a 6.5x68s... I've seen the results of a 6.5-06, wonder if I can blow up a coyote like the .22 hornet does to a gopher... Or perhaps I'm overthinking all this and should just neck a rigby case to a .338?... Bear and elk... Bear and elk... Hmmmmm better come up with a good idea before fall hunting season... I'd hate to have to switch to a bow and arrow because I can't make up my mind
Try the 8x68 AI. Should give you all the velocity you need without the belt. I wouldn't be too quick to buy into higher velocities from a smaller case. Physics argue against it. - dan
I had a custom 8x68 years ago and would drive the 220gr sierra the 2900 and change, great cartridge
all the 8mag rems I had would send the 220's away at 3000 and change. Not quite the equal of the 340, but I've never tried to push the 8mag to the bursting point to see how close it would come
the 8mags are great if you want to carry something a bit different from everyone else. Is it any better than a 300wby or 338 win, probably not but this is gunnutz, I don't think most of us choose a rifle or cartridge because they are practical
all the 8mag rems I had would send the 220's away at 3000 and change. Not quite the equal of the 340, but I've never tried to push the 8mag to the bursting point to see how close it would come
the 8mags are great if you want to carry something a bit different from everyone else. Is it any better than a 300wby or 338 win, probably not but this is gunnutz, I don't think most of us choose a rifle or cartridge because they are practical
Another "poor man's magnum" not yet mentioned is the 8mm-06 Ackley Improved. I have always liked the metric cartridges, perhaps for nostalgic reasons or just to have something different, so in addition to a couple of 9.3x62's, 9.3x57's, a 7x57AI and a 6.5 Swede, I am in the process of building a 8mm-06AI from an early 50's vintage Husqvarna M98 Commercial 8x57. Chamber has been reamed, stock is being cleaned up and bedded, action rails need to be honed a bit to slick-up mag feeding but it is nearly ready to go. I have fire-formed 40-30-06 cases and each one has turned out perfect. Loading dies procured at reasonable price from CH4D, they has a set on the shelf so no delay.I am hoping to get close to 2900fps with a 200gr. bullet; mostly I hunt moose , usually at ranges 100yds or less but this gun should have a decent trajectory out to 250 if necessary. This has been a very inexpensive conversion and performance should be a considerable improvement over the standard 8x57 chambering.
My first wildcat rifle was a VZ24 rechambered by Earl Leech for the 8mm-06 Improved. I lived in Kirkland Lake and used it for moose and bear. That rifle digested the old Herters 235 gr RN bullets, and expelled them at whatever the velocity was, enough to knock down moose and bear with aplomb. It would have been neat to have access to a chronograph in 1968.
You will, no doubt, really enjoy your rifle.
Ted
You will, no doubt, really enjoy your rifle.
Ted
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
Almost all .323 diameter cartriges are worth looking at. My favorite of them all is the most simple one: the 8x57 Mauser, ive shot the 195gr Hornady with a stout load out of a World war II sporter @ approx 2725fts, but on average for my hunting loads in the 200gr range, i run them at 2500-2650 ( approx .5- 1 inch groups), depending on application and what rifle is being used. The 220's serria's i tried reached 2480-2520fts which is a excellent big game load( 1inch groups) and the 180's ballistic tips i have them running at 2740 fts (approx 1 inch groups). So the 8x57 is no slouch by any means.
Ive tried the 325wsm too, which is a good preforming 195gr @ about 2950fts, the 8x64 is another appealing cartridge with good preformance(only if i can find a rifle in that caliber). 8x68 is a good one too, the 8MM Rem Mag is very powerful but it does not appeal to me due to to much powder is being used, brass hard to find, very heavy recoil, and has to much power for my hunting needs.
To the OP go with a 8x68 or 8x64. Tradex has 8x64 ammo which is going for about 30$ a box.
Ive tried the 325wsm too, which is a good preforming 195gr @ about 2950fts, the 8x64 is another appealing cartridge with good preformance(only if i can find a rifle in that caliber). 8x68 is a good one too, the 8MM Rem Mag is very powerful but it does not appeal to me due to to much powder is being used, brass hard to find, very heavy recoil, and has to much power for my hunting needs.
To the OP go with a 8x68 or 8x64. Tradex has 8x64 ammo which is going for about 30$ a box.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
You could do that, but what would you call it? 338 Lapua? Nah, that'll never take off.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
I've had a couple of these; good hunting cartridge choice. I tore one down to build a low rent 8x68 on. 8mm Gibbs is another god choice. Ballistically the 8mm-06 is almost identical to the 8x64. I do like the medium bores, I guess. - dan
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
