quote:

Originally posted by MD375:
Thanks for the reply.

I've also got a ZKK602 in 375 H&H that I have no use for. Will that work better?
The reason I didn't consider it my first choice was that I'm having a hard time locating a trigger for it. The standard trigger is very poor. Any recommendations on how to overcome the problem?

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
That is a really neat cartridge. It should be fine for anything except the Big (gest) Three in Africa, or anywhere else.

I am building it's little brother, the 6,5x68S.

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
MD375 I have a couple 8mm rifles. My first 8x68S was a Brno 602. Shot very well but a little heavy. Picked up a Lothar Walther barrel and built a rifle on a new Charles Daly stamped 98 action. Much nicer to hunt with.It feeds so smooth. Case capacity is the same as an 8mm-338 that I have and these two rifles shoot the same load to almost the identical velocity and they are within 100 fps of a stock 8mm REm Mag with handloads. All 3 rifles shoot the the 200 gr partition and the 200 gr TSX bullets well. I have taken elk and moose with both of those bullets and they would be my choice in any 8mm mag rifle.
I also have a Voere made rifle in the 6.5x68 calibre. There is no "S" associated with this calibre as there is with the 8x68S. The "S" denotes a .323 " bore rather than the earlier .318" bore. RWS Case capacity is very close to the capacity of the 264 Win Mag. Ballistics are also very close. To obtain top velocities I think you would need a 26 inch or longer barrel. My Voere rifle has a 24 in barrel and velocities are nothing special. I think I would build something that brass was easier to obtain in 6.5 cal.

quote:

Originally posted by MD375:

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
MD375 I have a couple 8mm rifles. My first 8x68S was a Brno 602. Shot very well but a little heavy. Picked up a Lothar Walther barrel and built a rifle on a new Charles Daly stamped 98 action. Much nicer to hunt with.It feeds so smooth. Case capacity is the same as an 8mm-338 that I have and these two rifles shoot the same load to almost the identical velocity and they are within 100 fps of a stock 8mm REm Mag with handloads. All 3 rifles shoot the the 200 gr partition and the 200 gr TSX bullets well. I have taken elk and moose with both of those bullets and they would be my choice in any 8mm mag rifle.
I also have a Voere made rifle in the 6.5x68 calibre. There is no "S" associated with this calibre as there is with the 8x68S. The "S" denotes a .323 " bore rather than the earlier .318" bore. RWS Case capacity is very close to the capacity of the 264 Win Mag. Ballistics are also very close. To obtain top velocities I think you would need a 26 inch or longer barrel. My Voere rifle has a 24 in barrel and velocities are nothing special. I think I would build something that brass was easier to obtain in 6.5 cal.

Hi Snowman


Thanks for your input.... Did you rebarrel your 602 or was it already in 8x68? Also what barrel length are you using? Is there a need for a 26" on the 8x68?


Here in South Africa, the 8x68 has a solid following (probably more than the 300 Weatherby) so that's why I'm leaning towards it as my long range wildebeest, kudu, gemsbok cartridge. As for actions, it would be a real pain in the ass to go out and buy a new action and then license it. So I thought my best bet would be to use either the ruger or 602.


Cheers
MD

quote:

Originally posted by m4220:


I had always wanted a rifle in this calibre & that I didn't have a fortune in, so I bought a nice early tang safety Ruger M77 with Redfeild scope chambered in 30-06 as my donor gun. I disassembled & removed the barrel & replaced with a Delcour 1-11 twist 24 5/8" chambered in 8x68S & fitted the barrel channel in the stock, stripped the bolt & machined the bolt face to propper diameter & reworked the extractor, replaced the mag. box with a .338 box from Ruger with minimal metal fitting work & none to the stock in that area. Head space was checked with PTG go & no go gauges.
Works great with all factory ammo I have run thru it. My handloads are using Norma MPR driving Norma 227 grn SP @ 2700 fps, have also loaded some woodleigh 220 grn @ 2600 fps as that is max velocity Woodleigh recomends for that bullet. I am quite happy with how all turned out & that I was able to do all the work.

m4220

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Are you close to Marken?

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
Build a custom on a M98 action with a 25-26" #2 Lothar Walther barrel or buy any of the 8x68 factory rifles with 25" barrels from Europe - example Steyr-Mannlicher, Mauser, Blaser, Heym, etc.