8mm Thread

[Varberger757]

James, here we go! First of all you should notice that the 8x68S is very critical due to types of bullets. 8x68S is a true magnum even though its performance looks ridiculous following SAAMI reloading data. You literally loose here between 100 - 300fps ...

Regular SP- or softer bonded bullets should only be used for hunting on distancies over 250m/ 300yards otherwise it's going be a HE - load!

The 8x68S normally prefers heavier bullets as 200 - 224gr. 220grainers have on average a MV between 870 - 890m/s (2854 - 2919fps). 200grs between 900 - 950m/s (2952 - 3116fps). Exceptions are f. ex. monos like Barnes, GMX etc. These are best between 160 - 180gr.

160gr Barnes TTSX, COAL 88mm, 72,8gr Hogdon V100 Hybrid, MV 991m/s or 3251fps.
180gr Barnes TSX, COAL 84mm, 76gr Norma MRP, MV 935m/s or 3067fps.

200gr Nosler CC, COAL 89mm, 72gr Norma URP, MV 930m/s or 3051fps.
220gr SGK , COAL 87mm, 73gr N160, MV 880m/s or 2887fps. Use same amount of N560 instead and gain even more velocity.
220gr Swift A - frame, COAL 88mm, 73,5gr Norma MRP, MV 862m/s or 2828fps.
220gr Woodleigh RN, COAL 89mm, 73gr N160, MV 870m/s or 2854fps. Use N560 instead. More speed where needed.

You may also use and convert reloading - data of the 8mmRM, but then you have to take into account that the 8mmRM has 14% more case capacity!!

Start carefully, it's your responsibility that counts under reloading!

 

[JamesW]

James, here we go! First of all you should notice that the 8x68S is very critical due to types of bullets. 8x68S is a true magnum even though its performance looks ridiculous following SAAMI reloading data. You literally loose here between 100 - 300fps ...

Regular SP- or softer bonded bullets should only be used for hunting on distancies over 250m/ 300yards otherwise it's going be a HE - load!

The 8x68S normally prefers heavier bullets as 200 - 224gr. 220grainers have on average a MV between 870 - 890m/s (2854 - 2919fps). 200grs between 900 - 950m/s (2952 - 3116fps). Exceptions are f. ex. monos like Barnes, GMX etc. These are best between 160 - 180gr.

160gr Barnes TTSX, COAL 88mm, 72,8gr Hogdon V100 Hybrid, MV 991m/s or 3251fps.
180gr Barnes TSX, COAL 84mm, 76gr Norma MRP, MV 935m/s or 3067fps.

200gr Nosler CC, COAL 89mm, 72gr Norma URP, MV 930m/s or 3051fps.
220gr SGK , COAL 87mm, 73gr N160, MV 880m/s or 2887fps. Use same amount of N560 instead and gain even more velocity.
220gr Swift A - frame, COAL 88mm, 73,5gr Norma MRP, MV 862m/s or 2828fps.
220gr Woodleigh RN, COAL 89mm, 73gr N160, MV 870m/s or 2854fps. Use N560 instead. More speed where needed.

You may also use and convert reloading - data of the 8mmRM, but then you have to take into account that the 8mmRM has 14% more case capacity!!

Start carefully, it's your responsibility that counts under reloading!

Brilliant! I'll go and see if any of those powders are available over here!

What do you mean by "otherwise it's going be a HE - load!"

 

[Varberger757]

James, I'm glad that I could help you a little bit!

Imagine you fire a 180gr. Nosler BT with more than 3100fps on a deer or similar in a distance of say 100 yards. The occuring exit wound is what I would describe with "done by HE" (High Expolsives).

 

[waltercrouse]

What happen to the junior members all the quotes Ilightbulb see are senior members on the 8mm thread?

 

[JamesW]

James, I'm glad that I could help you a little bit!

Imagine you fire a 180gr. Nosler BT with more than 3100fps on a deer or similar in a distance of say 100 yards. The occuring exit wound is what I would describe with "done by HE" (High Expolsives).

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I think I know what you mean about HE!

Went for a shot after work this afternoon.


Freezer was running low so goat was on the menu. 40 degrees Celcius at 6 in the afternoon, nice to be in the shade!

Is this what you mean by HE? Was going for a neck shot to minimise damage but this kidd was heading into a heavily timbered area.

Cleaned the kidd and went for a walk up into the end of the valley and took another rifle for closer ranges, pigs, goats, rabbits and the odd fallow deer tend to hang out in these heavily timbered steep areas. Only saw rabbits and bagged 4 with the 22 magnum.

 

[waltercrouse]

For the 8mm Mauser or more precisely 8x57IS I'll strongly recommend Hornady's 196gr. BT-HP Match (use it myself) or Nosler's 200gr. CC (HP -BT).

I prefer the Speer 150 gr hot-cor bullet and I get a really good group. The heavier bullets drop off to quikily. The Barnes 160 TTSx is really good and just about groups with 150's with the grooves cut into the bullet. I have to use copper bullets in California, in some areas. Condors is the excuse to force copper bullet use. We also cannot hunt cougar .

 

[Varberger757]

Hi James!
Unfortunately exactly that happened ... You've surely learned your "lesson" now and will go over to more suitable bullets and bulletweights. The optimum in speed and energy you'll be able to squeeze out of some decent 200 -220 grainers. Great photograhies btw!

I've seen the other gun you use for hunting, and it's something which is normally not known and seen in the anglo - american hemisphere, a Drilling. Looks to me like a Heym- model, great quality and extremely expensive nowadays because of the extraordinaire craftsmanship which is needed to get them build. What's its main rifle calibre? Not 22WM or? Shotgun barrels are looking to me like it could be 16/70?!

 

[JamesW]

Hi James!
Unfortunately exactly that happened ... You've surely learned your "lesson" now and will go over to more suitable bullets and bulletweights. The optimum in speed and energy you'll be able to squeeze out of some decent 200 -220 grainers. Great photograhies btw!

I've seen the other gun you use for hunting, and it's something which is normally not known and seen in the anglo - american hemisphere, a Drilling. Looks to me like a Heym- model, great quality and extremely expensive nowadays because of the extraordinaire craftsmanship which is needed to get them build. What's its main rifle calibre? Not 22WM or? Shotgun barrels are looking to me like it could be 16/70?!

Hi Varberger757,
Knew what the damage would be, but could not get the shot I wanted! The SLAP on impact was empatic! I'm starting to become comfortable with the recoil. Usually shoot goats like this with a .222 Sako vixen, but need to become comfortable with this rifle.

The Drilling is a Sauer built in 66, 7x57, 16/70 with a 22wmr insert, this is the gun I carry most of the time unless I'm after something specific.

James

 

[Varberger757]

Hi JamesW!

So, it's most likely a Sauer 3000 model than, nice! Take good care of it, such quality is hard or not to find any longer! I've had a Sauer Drilling myself, it was in heritage from my father. A Sauer mod. 52 made in 1958. Calibre – combo was 7x65R – 16/16/70, and my favourite gun until the economic crisis of 2008/2009 when I had to sell it … it almost broke my heart. I killed at least 40% of all my deer/wild boar with it.

[FONT=&quot]Concerning the use of 8 x 68S I strongly recommend a muzzle – brake or suppressor for it. The recoil is stout and (almost) on the level of a 300Wby. Shooting it from the bench or in prone position will be much more comfortable though, and your shooting results will significantly improve.[/FONT]

 

[trazman]

So guys, which bullet do you suggest me for my 8x68S for hunting mid sized game out to 600y?

 

[Varberger757]

So guys, which bullet do you suggest me for my 8x68S for hunting mid sized game out to 600y?

[FONT=&quot]Which kind of mid - sized game? Wild Boar, fallow - and red - deer? Then you could both use the 220gr. Sierra Game King, 220gr. TOG (a bonded bullet made by Brenneke) or 200gr. AB.
In case you need some actual load data you'll find them some 5 posts before. [/FONT]

 

[JamesW]

Hi JamesW!

So, it's most likely a Sauer 3000 model than, nice! Take good care of it, such quality is hard or not to find any longer! I've had a Sauer Drilling myself, it was in heritage from my father. A Sauer mod. 52 made in 1958. Calibre – combo was 7x65R – 16/16/70, and my favourite gun until the economic crisis of 2008/2009 when I had to sell it … it almost broke my heart. I killed at least 40% of all my deer/wild boar with it.

[FONT=&quot]Concerning the use of 8 x 68S I strongly recommend a muzzle – brake or suppressor for it. The recoil is stout and (almost) on the level of a 300Wby. Shooting it from the bench or in prone position will be much more comfortable though, and your shooting results will significantly improve.[/FONT]

Thanks, Varverger757, it's a model 3000. Beautifully built, accurate and a dream to shoot and carry, definetly not common to see Drillings or BBF's in Australia. Sad to hear that you had to sell yours. I have my Grandfathers #1 MKIII Lithgow 303 and Dad's Sako L461, definetly would be heartbreaking to part with these!

Supressors are illegal in Australia, there have been attempts to legalize them without sucess.

I'm in the process of building a brake from some titanium, initially didn't want to thread the barrel but I dion't own any wall flowers, so will thread it. The full history of this rifle eludes me and I have been told a couple of STORIES, doubt it's last owner put a packet of factory ammo through it and the previous owner also seemed to have owned it as a colectors piece!

I'm happy with the 180grain Nosler BT's for culling ferrals and am about to load some 175grain solid copper Australian made projectiles. Will chase up some 200 and 220grain projectiles!

175g ACP on the left 180g Nosler BT on the right.

 

[Varberger757]

Thanks for your reply @JamesW!

The type muzzle - brake I use is a titanium made radial brake (Hdp) which is doing a really great job and reducing recoil by about 48%. Threads are metric M15 x 1 on 12mm length without spigot. They are produced by the Lutz Moeller company. Lutz Moeller is particulary known for his MJG - bullets made of brass. Same style of bullet as those from GS Custom (RSA). Very good both of them.
Disadvantage with the Lutz Moeller brakes is the massive debris while shooting prone. If it's dry you have to moisten all your nearest surrounding. I'd prefer an (american) brake with sideports, but they are hard to find with metric threads based on ISO - standards.

The Aussie copper - bullet looks promising, and its weight is correct to gain real high velocities.

 

[Swamplord]

What if I told you guys that there is a very good possibility for a high bc 220- 230 gr tipped 8mm bullet !
How many would be interested in seeing this happen ?