Long Range with 8mm Rem Mag
- Thread starter shooter300
- Start date
Awesome hunting cartridge. It certainly has the case capacity to be a great performer but its limitation will be the availability of high BC bullets. Especially those suitable for hunting. No reason you cant use it but your wind drift will be greater than (generally speaking) than other calibers with more efficient bullet offerings.
Last edited:
Woodleigh makes 250 GR bullets, Sierra has 220'S, Hornady used to make 220'S. It would be nice to find a 260-265 BT for real LR use, but I don't know of any. It is one of my favorite cartridges, had one for around 25 years now. - dan
It is a super cartridge largley ignored due to Americas dislike for 8mm.
The 200gr Accubond at 3050fps is very sufficient out to 500yrs on NA game. It is not restricted by that particular BC.
I believe that if enough of us contacted Marshal at Matrix we could get a run of VLD 220-230's that would surpass the Sierra 220gr in BC and be bonded as well.
The 200gr Accubond at 3050fps is very sufficient out to 500yrs on NA game. It is not restricted by that particular BC.
I believe that if enough of us contacted Marshal at Matrix we could get a run of VLD 220-230's that would surpass the Sierra 220gr in BC and be bonded as well.
True enough, however if someone was to produce a 250/260 gr VLD hunting bullet it would be (the 8mm rem mag) a great compromise between the 308/338 calibers...I'm guessing the BC would be in the high 700 range and velocity would be 2700/2800. Would love to give it a try!
I have owned the 8mm RM in the past and it is the caliber that I used to make the longest shot on big game, I used it to
take a large bull moose at 450yds, one shot through the lungs it didn't move after the shot, the bullet used was the Sierra 220 SBT,
the rifle a 700 BDL and the scope was the Swarovski 1.5-6x42, it was a memorable shot, oh and I took the shot from a treestand.
It is an excellent and underated cartridge especially for a handloader. Another thing to remember is that there are alot more
powders for reloading than were available at the time, and more bullets with the advent of the 325WSM.
BB
take a large bull moose at 450yds, one shot through the lungs it didn't move after the shot, the bullet used was the Sierra 220 SBT,
the rifle a 700 BDL and the scope was the Swarovski 1.5-6x42, it was a memorable shot, oh and I took the shot from a treestand.
It is an excellent and underated cartridge especially for a handloader. Another thing to remember is that there are alot more
powders for reloading than were available at the time, and more bullets with the advent of the 325WSM.
BB
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
It's unfortunate that it wasn't more popular because it's so capable. Would be a great specialist hammer similar to the 340 Weatherby.
Boddington has waxed quite lyrically about the 8mmRM over the years. Seems like a cool cartrirdge - not as interesting as the 8x68 for me personally but ballistically there is of course nothing to choose between them. I just have an irrational love of Euro chamberings.
I have known 2 hunters who used the 8x68 and loved it. One a Sauer 90, the other a Krico.
I have known 2 hunters who used the 8x68 and loved it. One a Sauer 90, the other a Krico.
Yep, bullets are the problem. Plus it's a bit of a boomer and they are harder to shoot accurately, a must for longer range. I'd like a pointy 235-250 grain and might try. Most likely my favourite rifle on the place, probably be buried with it, lol.
Why? With that weight you'd have to have far too much shank and velocity would suffer.
220-230gr VLDs would be very similar with a secant ogive to 190gr .308 VLDs. Something wrong with those?
I own both. The 8 RM is faster. it's a case capacity thing, basically. - dan
I tried an 8mm RM once upon a time and the big case is deceiving, this cartridge does not live up to it's capacity expectations..........I got better velocity from the same bullet weights in a 300 Wby with the same barrel length. I have found the 7 STW, 8mm RM and the 358 STA all to be sub performers given the powder capacity. I believe there is a design flaw with this case and it does not perform as well as it should given the capacity it has. The 7 STW does not do any better, in fact it won't match the 7mm Wby, the 8mm RM won't achieve the same velocity as a 300 WM with 200 gn bullets, and in fact falls 50-100 fps short of the 8X68 imp 30 deg with equal bullet weights and the 358 STA, barely if at all exceeds the 358 NM with equal bullet weights. I have loaded and compared all the cartridges and have found the entire 8mm RM family to be disappointing under achievers. Every one of these calibers out does it's long case cousins, when housed ahead of a 300 WM case, and I'm talking by well over 100 fps per given bullet weight. The 7mmX300 WM out does the STW by 100 fps with 160 Parts, the 8X68S imp 30 deg (identical capacity to the 300 WM) out does the 8mm RM by 100 fps with 200 and 220 gn bullets and the 35X300 WM out does the 358 STA by 110 fps with 250 gn parts.........all 24" barrels and all loaded to ejector marks (just slightly). I have done all these comparisons myself and clocked them all through the same Oehler 35P chrono.
Given their powder capacities every one of these cartridges in this family should do 200 fps more than they will actually do, yet none of them will.............design flaw (shoulder angle I suspect). JMHE........
Given their powder capacities every one of these cartridges in this family should do 200 fps more than they will actually do, yet none of them will.............design flaw (shoulder angle I suspect). JMHE........
I would think that would have more to do with the correct burning rate powder for the case capacity/bullet weight/barrel length combination. Just a supposition though, my experience with the 7 RM/Wby/STW, 8x68/8 RM, and 358 NM/STW don't mirror yours. Single examples of all but the 7 mags though, so perhaps that explains it (and I've never owned a 8x68 Improved). Interesting data though. - dan
