Swedish 8x63 - Parker Hale Safari with pix

woodchopper

woodchopper

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so I did a bad thing, I went to the auction and bought a Parker Hale sporting rifle (mauser action) marked 'safari' that appears to have been re-barreled with a MG barrel and chambered in 8X63

Most likely to use some of that 8x63 that Marstar brought in years ago.

of course I don't have any 8x63 ammo or dies.......

so I've got another project.

I guess I'll have to search up all the old threads about the ammo again
 
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Ok using the way back machine

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...rstar-Swedish-8mm-surplus-ammo?highlight=8x63
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...-Swedish-Ammo-Poster-from-1947-8X57-and-8X63?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...und-in-1942-Dated-Swedish-Ammo-Crate-of-8X63?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1178957-8X63-Swedish-Roll-Call?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/200734-8x57-to-8x63?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1173651-Some-8X57-Loads-with-a-218-gr-Bullet?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...0-312-quot-0-314-quot-and-0-316-quot-Bullets?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/849106-Powder-equivelant-for-Marstar-Flake?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/215632-Marstar-s-8x63mm-Swedish-is-all-gone!?
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/174512-Swedish-Military-Ball?
 
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Here's a good place to start your loads.

200 grain bullets

Start load - 57 grains of IMR4350 or N160 over CCI 250 primers

Max load - 61 grains of " "

Good velocities and accuracy out of the K98 barrel I rechambered for the round.

If you're at all recoil shy????????????
 
bearhunter said:
Here's a good place to start your loads.

200 grain bullets

Start load - 57 grains of IMR4350 or N160 over CCI 250 primers

Max load - 61 grains of " "

Good velocities and accuracy out of the K98 barrel I rechambered for the round.

If you're at all recoil shy????????????
Click to expand...

not recoil shy :) but taking the 325WSM, 338WM, and the 458WM all to the range on the same day with the intension of working up loads is a lot :)

Oh I think I should have started this thread in the Hunting Rifle forum so I moved it

So a little more about the rifle as I am looking at it, no pics yet but I'll work on that

The rifle from my research seems to be one of the commercial Spanish receivers without the cut out, the trigger is fully adjustable and is marked Parker Hale and the safety in integrated with the trigger, not a wing safety on the bolt. So I'm thinking this is the 'safari deluxe'

also of interest the bolt face will hold a magnum sized case (300WM was used to test this)


and the barrel looks like the ones that Sarco had a few years back
 
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Why not? said:
How sure are you that it is actually 8X63? Sounds an awful lot like a 323 Hollis, 308 Norma necked up to 8mm, I had many years ago.

Ted
Click to expand...

well I have to admit I am only taking the word of the auction house that is only taking the word of the consigner :(

and then dropping in random bullets to see what fits in the chamber and what does not.



but its not a 308 Norma, that case is too big. a 7.5x55 case does not quite chamber as it is a little too fat as well so that does seem to indicate that it is a 8x63

Name Bullet Case length Rim Base Shoulder Neck OAL
8×63mm patron m/32 8.20 (.323) 62.81 (2.473) 12.18 (.480) 12.43 (.489) 11.51 (.453) 9.1 (.358) 84.62 (3.331)
7.5×55mm Swiss 7.77 (.306) 55.499 (2.185) 12.598 (.496) 12.548 (.494) 11.481 (.452) 8.484 (.334) 77.47 (3.05)
.308 Norma Magnum 7.82 (.308) 65.0 (2.56) 13.5 (.531) 13.0 (.513) 12.4 (.489) 8.6 (.340) 83.82 (3.30)
Click to expand...


doing some internet searching I found a picture of the barrels that Sarco had that were from Swedish Machineguns, 8x63 and the barrel is definitely one of those. They just threaded it and did not re-profile it so it has the distinct shape.

8x63SwedishBarrelblank__98625.1571416639.png
 
The 8x63 Swede be similar to the 8mm-06, but uses a case of slightly larger diameter. The bugaboo is that Sweden never intended the round for sporting use, so
finding boxer primed ammo or brass is a no-go. Bummer, as those barrels are quality steel and well made.
 
woodchopper said:
so I did a bad thing, I went to the auction and bought a Parker Hale sporting rifle (mauser action) marked 'safari' that appears to have been re-barreled with a MG barrel and chambered in 8X63

Most likely to use some of that 8x63 that Marstar brought in years ago.

of course I don't have any 8x63 ammo or dies.......

so I've got another project.

I guess I'll have to search up all the old threads about the ammo again
Click to expand...

Andy on here did a lot of work with this I think. 8mm-06 data should work. - dan
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
The 8x63 Swede be similar to the 8mm-06, but uses a case of slightly larger diameter. The bugaboo is that Sweden never intended the round for sporting use, so
finding boxer primed ammo or brass is a no-go. Bummer, as those barrels are quality steel and well made.
Click to expand...

Havent tried it, but fresh 30-06 brass should expand to fit. - dan
 
woodchopper said:
well I have to admit I am only taking the word of the auction house that is only taking the word of the consigner :(

and then dropping in random bullets to see what fits in the chamber and what does not.



but its not a 308 Norma, that case is too big. a 7.5x55 case does not quite chamber as it is a little too fat as well so that does seem to indicate that it is a 8x63
Click to expand...

For sure if the 7.5X55 is too big it's definitely not a standard magnum case.

So, why would the bolt face have been opened up so much? :confused:

Ted
 
Why not? said:
For sure if the 7.5X55 is too big it's definitely not a standard magnum case.

So, why would the bolt face have been opened up so much? :confused:

Ted
Click to expand...

I suspect that the original donner rifle was chambered in a magnum caliber. ??

the 7.5x55 goes about 90% into the chamber its the last 1/4 inch where it gets hung up



oh and it all else fails there is always the 8x68
 
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Yes, and probably more than accurate enough for hunting, too. I have a Parker Hale in 30-338 Win that is a tack driver. It iwas rebarreled using an Israeli 7.62 NATO barrel.

Ted
 
Did someone say 8X63 and awaken me from my slumber?

Most people just shot the surplus ammo or pulled the components and sold the primed brass for others to use. Some pulled the bullet and powder, neck-sized it with a large 8mm die like 325 WSM and either reused the powder or substituted something else and used a hunting bullet.

I have a set of dies and it's easy to make boxer-primed brass from 9.3X62 or 30-06 - the 9.3X62 is a bit short and a bit undersized at the base and the 30-06 is the correct length, but more undersized. You get a bit of a bulge, but many have done that sort of thing, for example when using 30-06 to make 9.3X62.

As for loads, as said, 8mm-06 can be used - Max Loads for a Start Load and go up 2-3 grains from there.

I suggest you find someone out your way with a few hundred rounds to sell. I have quite a bit but I'm in Ontario and the shipping would be prohibitively expensive.
 
Andy said:
Did someone say 8X63 and awaken me from my slumber?

Most people just shot the surplus ammo or pulled the components and sold the primed brass for others to use. Some pulled the bullet and powder, neck-sized it with a large 8mm die like 325 WSM and either reused the powder or substituted something else and used a hunting bullet.

I have a set of dies and it's easy to make boxer-primed brass from 9.3X62 or 30-06 - the 9.3X62 is a bit short and a bit undersized at the base and the 30-06 is the correct length, but more undersized. You get a bit of a bulge, but many have done that sort of thing, for example when using 30-06 to make 9.3X62.

As for loads, as said, 8mm-06 can be used - Max Loads for a Start Load and go up 2-3 grains from there.

I suggest you find someone out your way with a few hundred rounds to sell. I have quite a bit but I'm in Ontario and the shipping would be prohibitively expensive.
Click to expand...

I figured you would find this sooner or later.

I've been offered some brass (250 cases) that will somehow make its way to me, and I own a 325WSM and have the dies fore reloading so that's covered.

long term I may go the 8x68 route as that seems to be the most straight forward solution to fitting the action and mag and existing as a factory load.


I'm still waiting for someone to chime in and say they built this beast of a rifle :)
 
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