There were some significant setbacks during the process of this project, requiring new direction. I think it's finally done, but only after testing will I know for sure.

I started this project before the 325 WSM was introduced, and it's just now finished. I probably wouldn't have done it had I known the 325 WSM was coming out, but once committed, it seemed appropriate to finish it. I'm pretty sure I'll like it.

It started as a CZ 550 in 7mm Mag. Now it sports a Pac Nor 8mm stainless barrel, in CZ factory contour, 10" twist, 24" long.

Today after work, I quickly handloaded four rounds using Remington 220 gr coreloks, and 68 to 71 gr of H4831, and Federal mag match primers, and Norma brass of course. I just fired them to look for pressure signs, and confirm the chamber matched the dies well, etc. I didn't put up a target yet. There were no signs of excessive pressure. So, I now have some loads using Sierra 220gr bullets to test for accuracy.

I always enjoy testing a new custom rifle, especially a wildcat.

BTW, I have discussed this rifle before, and caught a lot of grief about test firing it myself for the first time.

Well, today is the first time it has been fired, and I did it myself, and it is working as predicted. No big deal at all.

Hopefully I can do a range report this weekend, with pictures.

It's got just enough recoil to know it's a potent cartridge.

KB

I'd be interested in seeing a picture of the case, also case dimensions. Is it a short mag?

The 323 Hollis is simply the 308 Norma necked up to 8mm (or .323), with no other changes in the case.

How does it compare to the 8x68S?

I'm getting 2870 fps with 220 Sierra's.

M

I'm curious to find out too. I'm expecting it to be very close.

It sure was a lot easier cartridge to get it to feed compared to what would have to be done for the 8x68.

It doesn't get any easier than no alterations to the action at all, for feeding.

KB

Seems good to me. The 308 Norma was a fine cartridge and a BETTER design than Winchester's 300 Win Mag.

Necked up to 8mm makes it even better!

I'd imagine that with Speer's excellent 200 grain 8mm bullet it will be a real killer. Personally 8mm is BEST in 196 (or 200) grain...but whatever floats your boat...as that was the "classic" German machine gun cartridge of WWII. They shoot flat beyond what you'd imagine!

I had an 8x60S and liked it a lot! Speer's 200 grain are BETTER than Hornady's 196 grain as you can take advantage of no crimp groove and set the Speer bullets to a fuller length.

What's not to like! 8x68 performance in a sensible length case but giving only 8x57 pressures.

Your cases should last forever!

AND you will always be able to obtain cases for modifying by simple running through your sizer die and trimming...unlike the 325 WSM which I doubt will be here in twenty years time!

quote:

Personally 8mm is BEST in 196 (or 200) grain...but whatever floats your boat...as that was the "classic" German machine gun cartridge of WWII. They shoot flat beyond what you'd imagine!

My 8X57 lust loves 200gr Partitions!

I have several boxes of 220 gr 8mm bullets. Most of them are the discontinued Hornadys. Generally the 220 gr are made for the 8mm Rem Mag, so the jacket is thicker than necessary for the 8x57.

So, that's why I'm messing with the 220 gr. I have enough Norma brass and bullets to last a long time. I also have one box of the 220gr Swifts, and one box of 220gr woodleighs to try.

Sometime I plan of developing a load for the 200 gr Barnes TSX, but I may wait a while, because it will probably spoil the fun of shooting the 220 gr.

KB

Kabluewy I have an 8x68 as well as a 8mm/338 Win. The case capacity ,loads and velocities on those two rifles are as close to identical as you can get. The 308 Norma case may give you a gr or 2 more capacity at most. If chambered in the same rifle (say a 98 mauser) the overall length will be the same therefor the bullet will likely have to be seated slightly deeper in the longer Norma case.So your useable case capacity is not much different between the Norma case or the 338 case. You are going to like this calibre. Try some 200 Partitions or 200 TSX's

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I'm curious to find out too. I'm expecting it to be very close.

It sure was a lot easier cartridge to get it to feed compared to what would have to be done for the 8x68.

It doesn't get any easier than no alterations to the action at all, for feeding.

KB

Actually, when I had the reamer made, I had them do the throat cutter so the bullet could be seated to the crimp grove and leaving a short jump to the lands. I sent some dummy rounds with 220gr bullets seated - Hornady, Remington, and Swifts, so they (PTG) could take into account the varying ogives.

When I loaded the first rounds to shoot, I tested the seating depth, and found that the bolt wouldn't close on the bullet seated out beyond the cannelure, (it hit the lands) so I seated them at the cannelure - bingo. Then later I seated the Sierras to the same OAL, and they allowed the bolt to close just right.

I picked the CZ 550 action especially because the magazine length is about as perfect as it gets for the cartridge with the bullets seated as described.

I presume that the 8x68S has the long CIP throat. But given a choice I go for a short throat, set up to allow just a little bullet movement forward before engaging the lands, instead of the long run of the CIP throat. It's worked in the past, but I also have some CIP chambers and throats that shoot accurately too.

KB

The Norma designer Nils Kvale also made a cartr. 8mm Kvale for a poor man magnum of recut mausers. Norma made cases and reamers for american rifle smiths. That was just before .308nm.

I think that if Norma had come out with the 8mm Norma instead of the 308 Norma, the cartridge would still be popular today.

Just curious. How did you come up with the name .323 Hollis?

Normas problem was they sended 1000 cartridges of .308nm to be tested by winchester and diskussed a collaboration. A year later win came out with their own 300mag.

quote:

Originally posted by Hollis Perkins:
Just curious. How did you come up with the name .323 Hollis?

I think I found it in "The Cartridges of the World". It was so long ago, I can't remember for sure where I found the name.

Some gunsmith named "Hollis" first did it. That's about all I know for sure.

recently just completed an 8mm-338 win mag along with a 30-338 win mag..how does the hollis compare to the 8mm-338 win mag. the 30-338 is my daughters now lol

Ballistically, I think there is very little difference in comparing the 323 Hollis and the 8mm-338.

The 338 brass is easier to get. However I already had over 200 pieces of 308 Norma brass, which influenced my choice. Custom dies and reamer are the same cost for either.

For a Mauser action, I suspect the 8mm-338 might be a better choice to fit the OAL/magazine better. The CZ 550 medium magazine is slightly longer than the standard Mauser magazine.

I think I would enjoy either cartridge about equally.

One has to just want a performance 8mm because it's kinda redundant compared to the 338 WM.

Again, in part my decision was influenced by componants I already had. I have well over 1000 of the discontinued 220gr Hornadys, and needed something to shoot them in.

Since I started the project, I bought a big and heavy box of 220 Remington 8mm coreloks. It started with 1000 bullets, but some were used by the time I bought it.

KB

You had the 8mm Kvale also , based on shortened .300 HH case , rebated rim, essentially a rebated .8mm Hollis . Good round that was the Kvale, Poor Mans Magnum he nicknamed it . Guns Magazine online have a article of it , fun stuff to read for us "gun bugs"