Last year, I got myself an 8x64S barrel for my R93. The purpose was to use this caliber for the season's hunting in France - where I can not legally use my beloved .30-06. The 8x64S appealed to me as a lover of "medium"/do-it-all cartridges, and allowed me to move in the right direction in terms of bullet diameter in view of the expected wild boar.

Sadly, there are also disadvantages to the cartridge. Although it has gone through much of a revival in later years (new factory ammo from Brenneke, factory guns available from Blaser et al.), it is still a LONG way from being as practical as a .30-06 or a 7x64 - otherwise standard choices in Central Europe. I most clearly experienced this when attempting to obtain dies which suited me. The expected (and paid for) Hornady custom FL sizer "materialized" in the form of a set of 9.3x64 dies... I guess 8x64S and 9.3x64 could sound pretty close to an employee of the Custom Die department... Fortunately, Lee managed their part in the form of a custom Collet die, and a Forster seater for the 8x57IS was bought on the recommendation of an AR member (thanks for that!). Still, the hunting season was tied over with S+B factory ammo, which turned out to kill really well.

Hunting season over, I started the loading process for the 8x64S. This happened courtesy of AR in general, and member "Monastery-Forester" in particular. I believe MF has shot the 8x64S for quite a while now, and he was kind enough to share a load for 196 grs bullets - pressure tested by DEVA and everything, how fancy does this get??

Here is how I implemented the load data:

quote:

- S+B cases (surprisingly low neck wall variation on these)
- CCI 200 (S+B cases found to have low primer pockets. Federal 210s did not seat properly).
- Nosler 200 grs AccuBond
- VV N550 56-58.5 grs
- OACL: 3.444"

Today was the first day of the new range season, the 8x64S high on the list of things to try out. The lower loads did not show any signs of pressure, so I decided to go for broke and try the max load of 58.5 grs. Here is how the two initial groups turned out:


(I apologize for the somewhat inadequate photography).

I know this was just the initial two groups, but given the results are way past relevance as far as hunting is concerned, I decided right there not to dick with the load any further. This looks very much like the do-it-all load I had been looking for. I still need to shoot it in hot weather, chronograph and test for primer pocket expansion. But right now, it looks better than good.

Thanks a ton to AR and Monastery-Forester who made this so easy!!

- mike

Grüzi, thank for the flowers, very nice groups. My old ZG 47 don´t group so tight, but tight enough for hunting (groups are .8-1.0 inch).

I never shoot the Accubond, but I heard from an AR-member from Sweden, that it works perfectly. I`m now playing with the 180grs TSX, I shot some boars and red deer in winter with the little sister of the 8x64S, the 8x60S. Great result, very tight groups and very deadly, also with N550! N550 seams to be a perfect powder for the 8mm-calibers!

MF, did your 180 grs TSX normally produce exit wounds?? How heavy animals did you shoot with it, and would you feel comfortable with that bullet on the largest boars and rutting stags?? What made you choose 180 grs (as opposed to 200)?? It is actually common to shoot TSX in lower weights than bullets with lead cores, so maybe that is the simple reason??
- mike

Mho, there was a very simple reason to choose the 180grs: my gunsmith had only the light 180grs on stock!!
I shoot several Frischlinge, Überläufer and hinds and calves, always 2cm exit wounds. But I`m quite sure, that I have the same results on rutting stags, because I have shoot some rutting stags and real big boars with the Lapua-Naturalis always with exit wounds with the little .308Win.. And I saw, that the TSX performs ina similuar way as the Naturalis.

Thanks MF, I have been eyeing the TSX for the 8x64S for some time. It is often the bullet to use when you want a job done for which the caliber might seem a bit light.

- mike

Very good groups - it's great when things work out!

Monastry Forester - I would be very interested to hear of your results with 8x60S. I have for some time had a weak spot for this round. What sort of velocities/performance do you get?

Hey, Mikee!

Cool!

Thanks for sharing this with us - an interesting read.

Looks like AR is living up to it's orginal stated purpose.....I'm pleased!

1894, Gerry, thanks a ton guys. Nice to have pals to share the good things in life with!
- mike

1894, I got with the 181grs RWS-KS 845m/sek., with the 196grs Norma-Oryx 827m/sek and with the 220grs Woodleigh Weldcore 770m/sek. The last load with the Weldcore is something like a .318 Nitro-Express for the poor forester! Works great on big boars and red stags, but is also deadly on mufflon and fallow deer!