I was browsing around a couple different websites and came across some data for the 8mm-06 Ackley. I am assuming it is relatively new data since it lists the 195 gr Hornady bullet which has only been with us for a few years. They have some pretty impressive ballistics listed but they do not list the type of powder or the charge. They want you to pay for that. Anyway they list 3 different loads for the 195 gr Hornady bullet. The first claim is for 2800 ft/sec from a 24 in barrel for 3396 ft/lbs. The second is for 2825 ft/sec from a 29 in barrel for 3457 ft/lbs and the third is 2957 ft/sec from a 24 in barrel for 3787 ft/lbs. They also list a load with the 220 gr Sierra bullet starting out at 2735 ft/sec for 3655 ft/lbs. Not sure if the 220 gr load is using the same powder or not? These seem to be rather optimistic claims. I was wondering if they were using RL 17 powder for the 195 gr loads? Anyone out there have any first hand experience with the 8mm-06 Ackley and RL 17 or any other powder that is achieving similar performance ?? Thanks for any input.

quote:

I am assuming it is relatively new data since it lists the 195 gr Hornady bullet which has only been with us for a few years.

Hi! I'm thinking that Hornady's 196 has been around for quite a while IMHO! The problem that you might find is this.

It seems to be "set up" for the 8mm Remington magnum. So the crimp cannelure is way too far forward for any 8x57 or 8x60 or 8mm-06.

I had an 8x60 and that, as I am sure with many an 8mm-06, benefits from seating the bullet OUT. Indeed the correct spec (German) OAL for both their 8x57 and 8x60 with this bullet weight was very much OUT of the case.

However Speer do a 200 grain without any cannelure and tat may suit better.

Hope it helps. With my 8x60 I found that double base powders worked best as German cartridge technilogy ad powder technology was far in advance of the USA before World War I.

So they didn't need the overlong case of the short lived 30-03 with the 198 grain bullet or the famous 30-06.

German milspec for the 8x57 with a 198 grain bulet was about 2,340fps and the "Bombe" ("Magnum")load for the 8x60 was about 2,650 with the same bullet.

Unless you've a heavy rifle I think that anything much over is not going to be comfortable!

Indeed the thing has such a fantastic "carry" that anything over this velocity isn't really any benefit. These heavy bullets just shoot flat in the 7.92 Mauser after all it was designed as a machine gun bullet.

Enfield I have Hornady loading manuals going back to Vol 2 which came out in 1973 and according to their manuals Hornady has never made an 8mm cal 196 gr bullet. In volume 2 they list their 125 gr , the 150 gr and the 170 gr. After the 8mm Rem Mag came out in the middle 70's they also made the 220 gr 8mm bullet. They have since dropped the 220 and brought out the 195 gr which is likely better suited to the 325 WSM. They have also just brought out a 180 gr GMX monometal bullet.
However my question was does anyone have any idea what powder(s) might be used in the 8mm-06 Ackley to achieve the lofty velocities mentioned in my first post.

This might be it. Use at your own risk.

195 Hornady
65.2 gr IMR-4350 (compressed charge)
MV 2957
ME 3787
Bbl 24 inches
COL 3.420

Thanks BL, that is exactly what I was looking for. Pressure on that load has to be very high. Can't imagine the cases would last much more than a couple loads before the primer pockets open up.

Holy smokes! that has to be a HOT load!

If you wanted a max load, I'd see how a 200 gr Aframe shoots since it's shorter bullet and general allows more powder. I'd then seat to max length for your magazine and lands.

For powder, I'd use IMR-4064. I use Varget in my 8x57, but IMR-4064 produced higher velocities from the same charge weight. I'd start around 50 grains and work up.

My 8x57 load is 46 gr of Varget, 200 gr ABs at 2.980", and a 20" barrel for 2,425. The IMR-4064 got me around 2,480. So with the extra case capacity and longer OAL; I think you have a lot of room.

Austin With the fireformed 8mm-06 improved case you are correct there is quite a bit more room than in the 8x57 case. I've had a std 8mm-06 for years and for bullets in the 175 to 200 gr range 4064 is a good powder. I've found W760 to be even better. I started off using some 180 Noslers and 175 gr Sierra's in the 8mm-06 Imp and was getting around 2800 fps with IMR 4350. Accuracy is in the 3/4 to 1 inch range @ 100 yds so it is useable. When I first seen these impressive "claimed" velocities I first thought someone was playing with some new powders. I thought maybe RL-17 would be about the right burn speed for the 175 to 180 gr bullets and up to the 200 gr. I had wanted to try the 175 Sierra's, 180 Noslers and the 180 Hornady GMX to see which would group the best. Perhaps someone with Quickload might shed some light on what velocities would be possible with RL-17 at some reasonable pressure. I suspect RL-17 will do slightly better than 4350 velocity wise. As for the load that claims to be getting 2957 fps with the 195 Hornady, they are using more 4350 under the 195 gr bullet than I am with the 180 gr bullet. I have no desire to approach loads that hot.
Would still be interested in hearing about any other loads that anyone is having success with in the 8mm-06 Imp cartridge.