I have a love affair with the 8MM REM Mag since it was introduced back in the eighties. I got a REM Classic about two years ago, great stock and a powerful cartage. This is quickly becoming my med-bore main stay. Now Sierra has a matchking bullet. Does anyone out there load/shot the 8mm RM, I like to hear from them.
my father and i have 3 rifles between us and i load for them. reloder 25 and the 220 hornady at 3000-3100 depend on barrel lenght really kicks and kills very well.
An 8mm Rem with good handloads makes an elk rifle with few peers. 3100 fps can be achieved with 200 bullets in good handlods. The Nosler partion or the barnes X are two of the better choices. My 700BDL prefers the 200 gr X with all the IMR 4831 I can get in the case. My max load is several grs over what is listed in most manuals but pressure is not excessive in MY rifle. Work up loads carefully!
My Dad picked one up the first year they came out. It is still his #1 rifle 20+ years later. Over the years that rifle has been hell on moose in the Peace Country in BC.
His stock 700 BDL will put 3 shots in one hole every time. It shoots the 220gr Hornady the best, and we load it with IMR 4350.
I just love the rifle. As much as I hope it turns into an "heirloom" one day, I also hope that is a long time from now. I think I might have to get myself one for the interim!
Canuck
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001
I put one together some years back with a 26" barrel and it really cooks. Another under rated but great cartridge.
Hey Snowman, winter over in Manitoba yet? We're still working on it. I'll be in SW Manitoba the last two weeks of July this year, if you'd like to get together and BS, email me. Take care - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
For some reason U.S. shooters have never seemed to warm up to 8mm cartridges..It's too bad, because most of them are great hunting rounds! I have an 8X60RS, and, although it is certainly no 8mm Magnum, it is a fine deer and bear load. Another one I think would be outstanding is the 8X75RS in a light double for elk and moose hunting in close quarters.
I bought the first one I could get my hands on many years ago. Averaged almost 4 pounds of powder a month for first year. Great caliber, great cartridge, very poor selection of bullets. The nosler part is the best one I ever shot. I even gave up going to the range with this one, the guy next to you will complain and no, his .229 Mousefart is not as loud. The only thing they could do better is make it a .416, eh? Oops, they already did that!
------------------ Good Shooting!
Posts: 1944 | Location: Moses Lake, WA | Registered: 06 November 2001
And I'm guessing that either me or your father would get stuck with the job of putting on that"nice,long barrel" - Knowing your father, it's gonna wind up bein' me!
By Aim and by Effort
H.T.R.N.
Posts: 261 | Location: In my Subterranean lair, okay, I admit it, it's a basement | Registered: 04 May 2002
Bought mine the 1st yr. I heard about them, just because the ballistics made sense to me and I was on a military rifle team at the time. I think it was around 1976 or '77. Bullets available were only for Mausers. I immediately free-floated it before the 1st round and reloaded it. When published data came out I was somewhere 6-7 gr.s over max. with 4350.
Still have the same action, barrel is 28", and different stock. It has a lot of stories to tell. Longest shot was 770 yd.s on an animal.
Drop an E-mail if you want to know more, as I have loaded for this rifle every month and shot it almost every month since those early days.
I still think the ballistics make sense. Even though everything they've necked it to being up or down has out-sold it.
Posts: 9 | Location: usa | Registered: 13 June 2002
I have used the 220 Sierra on elk, but currently I'm working with the 220 grain Swift A-Frame. It seems to be very accurate, and of course, it's tougher. The 200 grain Nosler Partition is also a good contender for elk and the larger African plains game. The Barnes X is great if your gun likes them.
Really, as long as you avoid the bullets designed for Mauser velocities and weighing less than 200 grains, I'm not aware of any bad bullets for the 8Mag.
Joe.
Posts: 1372 | Location: USA | Registered: 18 June 2000
The 8mm Rem Mag has been getting more notice lately around the online message boards. I have one and I think it is awesome. I don't need a 300 RUM, just bump me up to an 8mm Rem Mag... If the 308 group (30-06, 300 mags) use the 180 grain as it's standard and the 338 group uses the 250 grainers as it's standard, then the 8mm probably comes into the picture as being an awesome 200-220 grain performer. Mine shoots 3 into one hole @ 100 yards with no gunsmith work. 'nuff said!!! BTW, it does have a belt
Try the new Norma Oryx in 196 grains. It is a tough bullet and I suspect would work well at these velocities. I used it at 2500 fps in my 8x57 and it was dropping zebra stone dead at 200 yards. Give it a go.
------------------ Regards
Richard
Posts: 1978 | Location: UK and UAE | Registered: 19 March 2001
I also purchased one when the classic came out. The only bullet it liked was the hornady 220gr. It's currently at pac-nor. I'm expecting it's return any day now. It will be wearing a 28 inch tube and a McMillan Stock. I'll be curious to see what the extra inches will offer. dempsey
After all, anything worth doing is worth doing for money!
