8mm anyone?

[Lloyd Smale]

youd have to go to a bigger case like the 460 wby and neck it down.

 

[DM~]

I personally like 8mm Mauser, but that's me. It's a little more powerful than .30-06 in proper full-power loadings.

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion, as that hasn't been my experience on the biggest big game.

I've shot moose, bear, caribou ect. with both (30-06/8x57) and there's no doubt that a properly loaded 30-06 will out perform a properly loaded full power 8x57, infact i'd have no problem hunting brown bear with my 30-06 loaded with 200NP's, (and have done so) but i wouldn't with my 8x57.

Lastly, as for finding ammo these days, i've been to several gunshops lately, two Cabela's, a Dunhams, a walmart and two LGS's, all have had 30-06's even though they may now have had much else...

DM

 

[WYOMan]

If you hand load, equalling the 30-06 can be done easily, and safely. In fact, in a modern rifle, without the long throat lead of the Mauser rifles, it's easy to run 200 grain 8mm bullets out at just over 2600 fps. from a smaller case, without compressing the charge. I checked my Nosler manual, and it shows the 30-06 only with three loads using 200 grain bullets that will pass that, and they are all MAX loads, and compressed. The myth of the 30-06 being superior, is just that, a myth. I load a 200 grain Nosler Accubond over 49.2 grains of VVN150, and reach 2505 avg. from an old sporterized 98K. I don't feel under-gunned with that even when I go into bear country, where I camp from time to time. Alright......I've got my flame resistant suit on........LET ME HAVE IT!!!!!

 

[DM~]

If you hand load, equalling the 30-06 can be done easily, and safely. In fact, in a modern rifle, without the long throat lead of the Mauser rifles, it's easy to run 200 grain 8mm bullets out at just over 2600 fps. from a smaller case, without compressing the charge. I checked my Nosler manual, and it shows the 30-06 only with three loads using 200 grain bullets that will pass that, and they are all MAX loads, and compressed. The myth of the 30-06 being superior, is just that, a myth. I load a 200 grain Nosler Accubond over 49.2 grains of VVN150, and reach 2505 avg. from an old sporterized 98K. I don't feel under-gunned with that even when I go into bear country, where I camp from time to time. Alright......I've got my flame resistant suit on........LET ME HAVE IT!!!!!

I already load my 8x57 with 200NP's to 2650, and i have shot quite a bit of big game with it since i started useing that load more than 25 years ago... A 30-06 200NP WILL and DOES outperform it, and that's what i observered, not guessed or used loading manuals to compare...

Of course, this in on the bigger big game, not whitetails or average blk. bear, that both are over powered for.

BTW, NP's penetrate deeper than the accubonds and that's what is needed on bigger big game...


DM

 

[1948CJ2A]

There are a bunch of standard 8mm cartridges that you can choose from, like the 8mm Mauser to the 8x68S European rounds. The American 8mm Remington Magnum is a potent rounds as is the 325 WSM, which is truly an 8mm. Then you can consider wildcats like the 8mm-06, 8mm-338, or any number of large cases necked to 8mm. The 378 Weatherby case will still burn copious amounts of powder when necked to 8mm.
You pay your money and you make your choice, because it's all good.

There are 2 inaccuracies in the statement above. (#1) The 8mm Rem Mag is MORE potent than a 325 WSM. The 8mm Rem Mag is essentially a true long magnum. It is longer than a 338 Win mag and can therefore hold more powder. It is based off the old 375 H&H. The 7mm STW (Shooting Times Westerner) is an 8mm Rem Mag necked down to 7mm. I've read about the 358 STA (Shooting Times Alaska). It's an 8mm Rem Mag necked up to 35 caliber.

(#) The 378 Wby Mag shoots a larger diameter bullet (.378) versus an 8mm (.323-.325) so you would not "neck-up" a 378 Wby to 8mm. It would be the other way around.

If you're looking for a factory chambering in 8mm, the 8mm Rem Mag is the biggest and baddest on the block for that caliber. There may be other 8mm rounds that outperform but you'd be limited to wildcatting something.

I bought an 8mm Remington mag in a late 70's Remington BDL. It is an amazing weapon and it will hit harder than anything else I've got in my safe. If you handload, you really can expand the rifle's capabilities and while this goes for most rifles, the 8mm Rem Mag factory ammo is limited, expensive and hard to find.

 

[itsa pain]

One answer, the 8x57. We took one to Africa last June using the 180 gr BT and, of course, it worked. The European 30-06.

beautiful rifle a real rifle in the classic sense. I am glad to see you used peep site in your hunting which today would be considered impossible to hit a volkswagon size animal unless using a portable hubbel space telescope. at 61 I out shot my friend at 60 yds with tech sites on a marlin 95. he had same rifle with a 3x9 on it

 

[Bio-Chem]

I shoot and love the .325 WSM. during the recent scare I never had problems getting 8mm bullets, or new .325 WSM cases off the shelf. Powder was a PITA to get, but you would find that with any cal. you reload for. During the time of famine I was always able to shoot my .325 because I always could reload for it. That wasn't the case for the various .30 cal I shoot except for shooting from the supply I already had on hand. I've found the .325 to be very accurate out of my savage, not punishing on recoil (it does have a muzzle break) Nothing wrong at all with choosing an 8mm. Have fun with whatever you chose, and tell the nay Sayers to go pound sand. The speer hot cors are cheap to plink and get trigger time with, and both the TSX and accubond will take anything in the US cleanly. plenty of bullet options for your needs

 

[itsa pain]

yes theres more 30 cal bullets then 8mm bullets but who really cares. theres partitions and barnes x for the big stuff. Hornady, seirra, and speer and nosler all make good bullets for medium game and in the last 30 years owning my 8mm ive yet to have a single problem finding bullets to load. Just the opposite. Durning these times of shortages when people are hording about everything its easier to find bullets on the shelf for an 8mm then it is a .30. At least it is around here. Same with places like midway. When everything is sold out youll still find 8mm bullets. Add in the fact that someone who owns an 8mag isnt shooting 500 rounds out of it a year. Im lucky if mine is shot a 100 times so if i have even 500 bullets on the shelf for it they will last a good long time. Another thing is yes theres more .30 cal bullets made but half of them are either to heavy or two light for most guns and uses. I dont need a 110 grain 8mm bullet and i dont need a round nosed 180. There are plenty of good designs made for both the 8 mauser and 8mag. Now ive heard the argument that if you loose your ammo you can buy 06 or 300 mag about anywhere. Might be true but i cant imagine going on a hunt and losing my ammo or forgetting it and as to finding o6 ammo, you might want to look on the shelfs today. Good luck finding some. Dont get me wrong i love the 06 and own 5 differnt .30 cal mag rifles but that doesnt mean i cant justify my 8 mag. Its near as flat shooting as my 300 wby and hits as hard as a 338 mag.

ssssh. don't let hoarders know people can still just walk in and buy 8mm bullets. they hate that they want you to stand on line for a few hours and find all is gone when you get to counter

 

[itsa pain]

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion, as that hasn't been my experience on the biggest big game.

I've shot moose, bear, caribou ect. with both (30-06/8x57) and there's no doubt that a properly loaded 30-06 will out perform a properly loaded full power 8x57, infact i'd have no problem hunting brown bear with my 30-06 loaded with 200NP's, (and have done so) but i wouldn't with my 8x57.

Lastly, as for finding ammo these days, i've been to several gunshops lately, two Cabela's, a Dunhams, a walmart and two LGS's, all have had 30-06's even though they may now have had much else...

DM

the bigger bore on a 8mm will burn powder better and get a little more power then the 06 not that it matters. take the 338-06. in the hornandy book you can push the 185 grain 3000 fps 200 @ 2900fps and 250 @ 2600 that is serious power and the 06 cannot match