Awesome, thanks for the reply! I will try H4350 as well! I mean if I can’t get over 2600 so be it and it will still kill up to 200m w/o problem as long as the accuracy is there!
Anyone else have some suggestions?
Wildcats based on the 30-06 case have always been greatly underestimated IMHO.
The biggest issue is getting good-quality hunting bullets for the 8mm these days. Not so much in the past.
It was a definite toss up for me to stick with the 8x57 or 8mm-06 or its cousin, the Swede 8x63.
That's another cartridge for you to look at, to compare loads. The Swede 8x63. They used it in their GPMGs and had a few thousand bolt action K98s converted, which were mostly sold as surplus to Israel, where they were re-barreled to the 8x57 again. They had to fit a muzzle brake to the converted rifles because of the recoil with the 200+grain SBT cartridges that were interchangeable with the GPMG. Very stout loads, that were safe in 98 type actions. They used a Bofors powder #44 which was very close to IMR3031.
I eventually went with the 338-06 cartridge, simply because good bullets and similar velocities and energy were easily available.
I love the 8x57 and there are very few if any flies on the 8mm-06, right out to 300+ yards on Moose or Elk. I managed to get one Moose with my 8mm-06 before being talked out of it "right after" the hunt.
I've always intended to build another, but never could find a ''round to it"
I would like to take one more Moose and one more Elk before I get too old and decrepit to be beating around the woods, usually by myself, with my JR.
If I can manage to put a hunt together this fall, I will use my Ruger No1 chambered for the 338-06 with 225 grain bullets at 2600+fps. I will take along the vintage 8x57 sporter with the 50s dated Bishop stock or AA Walnut as a spare or depending on the conditions, maybe the primary rifle. I like them both.
Other favorites on the 30-06 case are 280Rem, 270Win, 6.5-06, and 9.3-06.
Have fun with your new build, that's what it's all about.