What are some ideal projectiles for the 8x68 ? medium game and large game ?that are not intended for lesser 8s e.g 8x57 ?how flat shooting is a 8x68 ? Anyone can give me their experiences with their rifle ? is it ideal for mountain hunting e.g long shots 350 to 400 yards thanks

hi boucanier,

it is a flat shooter - and a strong one - I use:

- RWS KS in 11,7g for long open shosts
- Hirtenberger ABC in 13,0 g - for bigger game and forest hunts (sadly - they dont make them anymore - but I still have some 100 rounds)
- good replacement could be CDP from Blaser or Nosler partition...

both bullets shoot in the same POI at 100 m - setting KS with +6 cm at 100m you will get +-0 at 260 m and no problem up to 350 m if you can handle those distances (I cant )

- with ABC I got a clean shoot through with a quartering shot on 120 kg boar (shoulder via thigh)

compared with 9,3x62, 8x68S is a knocker - had most instant kills of all the calibers I have shot so far...comparing simillar broadside hits - with 9,3 animal would mostly made some extra paces (but not much ) while with 8x68S second to none...

quote:

Originally posted by boucanier:
What are some ideal projectiles for the 8x68 ? medium game and large game ?that are not intended for lesser 8s e.g 8x57 ?how flat shooting is a 8x68 ? Anyone can give me their experiences with their rifle ? is it ideal for mountain hunting e.g long shots 350 to 400 yards thanks

Where are you located, and what bullets can you obtain?? Mouse93's suggestions were good, but are largely oriented towards European bullets. If you are in the States, or can otherwise get hold of them, the 200 grs Nosler Partition is a classic bullet for the 8x68S. Recently, Nosler introduced a 200 grs AccuBond, which will penetrate almost as well as a Partition. Finally, the Barnes 200 grs TSX would seem just the ticket for heavy game - elk, moose etc. I've had great results accuracy wise with both the AccuBonds and TSX bullets. I loaded the 200 grs NP in the 8x68S of a friend, and also got great accuracy (powder was RWS R905 - pretty much the equivalent of RL22).

The 8x68S is often considered the "standard" German mountain hunting cartridge - in particular for hunting abroad. I have quite a few friends who swear by it for mountain game - with good results. If you can handle the recoil, there are few cartridges, which will truely provide better field performance than the 8x68S.

- mike

Woodleigh also now offers spitzer 200gr and 220gr that should be good in a magnum 8mm. They also have a 196gr, 220gr and 250gr roundnose.
Cheers...
Con

Don't forget Swift's excellent 220 grain A-Frame. I like these, the Nosler 200 PT and the Woodleigh 250 RN.

If you can find some the old 220 gn Hornadys are a good choice. Their 196 gn interlocks should also do well for most hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
If you can find some the old 220 gn Hornadys are a good choice. Their 196 gn interlocks should also do well for most hunting.

Can not say that. For the fast 8x68S i found hornady SP too soft!

The same problem with RWS KS. RWS DK is better but if you want to shoot very flat there is this one over the top:
http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Kupferjagdgeschosse.htm

And the CDP is a very versatile bullet too!
If i where you i would go with the 200gr AFrame or the new TSX.

Gentlemen-
I'm in the process of building an 8x68S on a LH Sako action. What is the common barrel length used on the European guns?
Thanks.
Regards,
SB Smith

Mine wears a 650mm barrel.

My 8x68 is a Brno 602 rifle. It shoots the 200 gr Speer and the 200 gr Nosler Partion to the same spot with the same load. I use the Speer bullet on lighter game and on targets and use the partitions on large game. I have tried the 200 Barnes X and it does not group as well as the Speer or Nosler bullet. The 220 gr Hornady groups very well but is way too soft for the 8x68 or the 8mm Rem Mag. I have been so pleased with the performance of the Speer and Nosler bullets I haven't bothered to work up loads with any other bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by boucanier:
What are some ideal projectiles for the 8x68 ? medium game and large game ?that are not intended for lesser 8s e.g 8x57 ?how flat shooting is a 8x68 ? Anyone can give me their experiences with their rifle ? is it ideal for mountain hunting e.g long shots 350 to 400 yards thanks

Where are you located. I know a guy here who has a couple and loves the cartridge! With Winchesters 325 there are a couple more bullets including a TSX & a Nosler Accubond.

If I had more time and money, I'd have used that case for my 9.3

Thanks for the replies ,iam in Australasia ,i can obtain most of the projectiles you list ,i was told that the RWS projectiles were not tough enough on African game ,plus they are not cheap at up to $2 each ! Remington corelokt 185grain proj are cheap enough ,i dont know how they would go in a a 8x68 ,their is also a 8mm GROM projectile i dont know where they are made they are similar to a barnes bullet i believe .its a very versatile calibre with proj from 125 to 250 gr ,probably closest to allround rifle cal available

I´ll be doing a longish barrel on my 8x68 as it´s mainly being built for longer ranges. The gun will also be on the heavy side in order to suck up some recoil. The barrel will be from Lothar Walther.

boucanier,

GROM are made by Privi Partizan in Uzice, Serbia.

Cheers
/JOHAN

Johan thankya mate