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| One of Us |
Went out and shot my 8mm-06 on Saturday to see what she could do. I've never really messed with this rifle much but thought if I really do intend to sell the rifle I try and post some groups to see if that would drum up some interest. I shot 6 groups of 5 rounds each using H4895, 175gr Sierra bullets, CCI Large rifle primers, and R-P 1X .30-06 brass. Bullets were seated to 3.225 OAL. All shots were fired from a Lead Sled. I don't have a chrony so I only have book speeds to go by. 1st group was 45.6gr powder at book 2500 fps. I didn't fire any fouling shots and this group was right at 3" ctc. 2nd group was 47.4gr powder at 2600 fps book. Group measured right at 2.5" with fliers. Had a group of 3 that measured right at .5" though. 3rd group 49.2gr powder at 2700 fps book. 1.677" ctc on this group but looked like I was patterning a shotgun. None of the shots touched an were all pretty evenly spaced. 4th group 51gr powder 2800 fps book. 1.865" ctc with two fliers and a three shot group measuring .145". 5th group 51.9gr powder 2850 fps book. 2.6" ctc again no shots touching. 6th group 52.8gr powder 2900 fps book. 1.617" ctc with fliers and a 3 shot group measuring .177" So I'm thinking of experimenting more with the max load. Playing with the seating depth and maybe changing the grains of powder a few tenths. Any of these other groups worth messing with to see if I can tighten things up. I feel the fliers were caused mainly by my shooting ability that day. My last group was the one where I felt like I did everything the most consistent behind the trigger. | ||
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 Can you tell us more about the rifle: condition? military barrel with dark bore? bedding? trigger pull, You know all that good stuff.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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IMO this is very impressive for a milsurp barrel. Possibly glass bedding and free floating the barrel will help the accuracy.....but the power is squarely in the elk rifle category and I'd suspect the accuracy.....while not at all bad....could be improved a bit I've noticed it has been TTT five times and no takers.....I suspect the 8mm-06 is not a highly desired cartridge. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Roger, the bore is in good condition rifling is strong but it is an old military barrel. The steps have been tapered down as well but not completely removed. Trigger is a Timmney trigger set around 3 lbs of pull. The barrel is free floated with the action glass bedded.   
I figured it had more to do with my price than the caliber. I've kind of priced it out of reach for a person just looking for an action to build on. At least you have looked at it!  I figure if I can get it to shoot down under 1.5" then I might just have to kill something with this rifle. | |||
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So are there any other powders I should try? Thinking 4350 or RL-15? RL-15 works amazingly well in my .338-06. | |||
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There probably are but what you have right now looks like it woud be a good hunting rifle. To me groups ( within reason ) in a hunting rifle are not as important as knowing where that first shot will go in a fouled barrel.  Might I suggest that you take two quick shots for five days at atlease one day intervals at varying temperatures and compare their point of impact. Mark each first and second  Do not clean the barrel between firings. If you must just run a dry rag through.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Well the reason I asked on the different powders is I've got some heavier bullets I want to try. I've got some 200 and 220 grain bullets that I want to see how it groups with. I'll have to load up some more 175's and try what you say Roger. Right now though I've shot up everything I had loaded. | |||
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Taylorce1 A lot of people will look down their noses at an 8mm-06 because it is an old military rifle.Sounds like you have a decent trigger on this rifle the stock looks OK so why don't you give it a chance? In a good strong action it will do everything a 30-06 will do and a little more.That is not faint praise. With 200 or 220 gr bullets it does very well on moose ,elk and smaller bears. With the 175 or 185 gr bullets it does very well on deer sized game. My 8mm-06 prefers W760 for the 175 & 185 gr bullets and IMR 4350 works well with the heavier bullets.I would also like to try some of the newer ball powders like Magpro with the heavier bullets. If I was you I wouldn't be quite so quick in trying to sell it off. I think you will be pleasantly surprized what an effective hunting rifle it makes. | |||
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I have the .25-06, .270, .30-06, .338-06, and .35 Whelen as well as the 8mm-06. I just purchased a Encore pistol, and I'm wanting to get some barrels and optics for it. I looked at my collection of rifles and this 8mm was one that I felt that I could give up to fund this new direction I'm heading. I have no doubts that this could make a great hunting rifle. I just don't know yet if this will be one of my hunting rifles or not. I just have more attachments to my other rifles. Thanks for the powder suggestions, I have W760, as well as IMR & H4350 on my bench I'll give them a try. | |||
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Try the 200-grain Nosler Accubond with IMR 4350 powder............ "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
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You may have a real attachment to that 8mm-06 and not realize it. They are not as easy to get your money out of them as the others you have. rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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One can buy M-70 and M-700 .30-06 and .270 rifles locally for $400 or so.....I've listed VZ-24 actions only for $175 plus shipping with no takers as well and I must admit that my viewing was for the action only. This can be a trap of sorts....one invests in a partial custom...meaning not going all the way with new barrel etc.....and you wind up with a bunch of money in action work and stock and some smithing and bluing .....you have a fine gun but very difficult to get your money back......you have a quite powerful rifle with adequate hunting accuracy and totally functional......usually the the best advice is to use it "as is".....and take a bit of pride in something one did himself. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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I'm sure I could get close to what I posted it for sale for if I would part it out. I didn't want to mess with that so I put it up for sale as a whole only. I will not be heart broken if I wind up keeping the rifle, if I get tired of it as an 8mm I might have a new barrel put on. | |||
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I always kind of intended to do a custom barrel and stock, but my curiosity got the best of me. I had to put this basket case all back together and see what it could do. Most of my rifles have more money in them than what they are worth but that is half the fun!  | |||
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