I am going to a place "spike only" and so wooded where I would be luckey to get a 50 yard shot. I need to stop the animal before it goes 200 feet to the next guy's elk tag.

I have 29" barrel and can load hot.
TIA

A few years back my brother shot a small bull elk with this bullet out of his 8 mag. The shot was about 350 yards and he got one bullet a bit too far to the rear on a broadside shot.
The bullet was recovered on the far side of the paunch and except for a slight bow in it, it looked like it could be reloaded again.

I'm not knocking Sierra as I have used their bullets without problem personally, but for some reason this bullet did not react at all to the contact. Actually in this situation it was a good thing it didn't as there weren't but a couple of small holes in the paunch.

quote:

Originally posted by tnekkcc:
I am going to a place "spike only" and so wooded where I would be luckey to get a 50 yard shot. I need to stop the animal before it goes 200 feet to the next guy's elk tag.

I have 29" barrel and can load hot.
TIA

The important questions here are: 1) "What will the impact velocity be out where your bullet hits the elk? and 2) "Is that the best velocity for best performance of that specific bullet?

As your possible shooting ranges are apparently not likely to vary much, say 10 yards to 120 yards or so, velocities won't likely fall off too much before impact. So, if I was in your shoes, I'd call lthe Sierra Tech-Hotline and ask them what velocity they'd recommend you load to for best performance of that bullet at that range.

nd, I wouldn't exceed their muzzle velocity reommendation. At that close a range, if you have any bullet performance problem, you're more likely to have the bullet coming unduly apart than have it not expanding at all. At least, that's my guess...

I'd far prefer the Hornady 220 interlock at about 2,400'/sec.

OK,
I called Sierra and told them I will hit the elk between 2300 and 2600 fps depending on range with the 220 gr Game King.
The man said the bullet was made for the 8mm mag, and is designed to open up at a minimum of 2600fps. They said the bullet should work fine for me if I aim for the shoulder.

I too prefer the 220 Hornady but the damn fools quit making them. Now they have a 195gr bullet or something like that.

quote:

Originally posted by tnekkcc:
OK,
I called Sierra and told them I will hit the elk between 2300 and 2600 fps depending on range with the 220 gr Game King.

With an 8 X 57?

What load are you using.....? Even my 8MM-06 maxes out at 2,400'/sec muzzle velocity.

I am projecting that 2600 velocity.

With a 29" barrel and 50 gr IMR4895, I am getting 2750 fps over a chrono with 200 gr.

Quickload suggests that with 220 gr at the same pressure [Quickload thinks is 56.3kpsi], I should get 2600 fps.

Have you thought about using the 200gr Nosler Partitions they shoot real well in my 323 Hollis. I have shot 5 elk with this bullet so far and all of them have fell over dead. I want to try those Hornady 195's looks like a good bullet.

I agree with 323. The 200 grain Nosler should work great for your purpose. I don't see many people hunting with WWII vintage military rifles anymore, and I think it is really cool that you are doing it. I hunt spike elk nearly every year here in Utah because that is all that is allowed in the area I like to hunt. Maybe I will have to break out the old Turkish Mauser 8x57 for a change of pace some afternoon. Good luck on your hunt.

Woodleigh has a couple of RN configuration projectiles for the 8mm, 196gr, 220gr and 250gr... could try those? Some second-hand info from another user of the 8mmRemMag (I'm just starting out with this cartridge), suggested that what Sierra said is true, their 220gr is put together for the 8mmRemMag and performs very well at its velocities.
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by tnekkcc:
I am projecting that 2600 velocity.

With a 29" barrel and 50 gr IMR4895, I am getting 2750 fps over a chrono with 200 gr.

Quickload suggests that with 220 gr at the same pressure [Quickload thinks is 56.3kpsi], I should get 2600 fps.

Let us know how it works. If you are interested and it is not too late I can send you some old prototype bullets consisting of a Nosler partition front ends and a tunsten alloy boat tail rear insert.This is the original Tungbull design. They're right at 222gr.I only have 7 remaining but you will only need one anyhow. roger