Went in my local Gander Moutain store the other day to look at range finders and came out with a rifle in my hands. I passed on a classic a couple of months ago in 300 savage and kinda regret it. This is the caliber I was waiting on. I'm thinking of going open sights on this one. What do you guys think? Pros and cons. It doesn't have open sights on it now , I was thinking barrel band front and peep sight rear with no drilling the receiver. Maybe I should just go with a low power scope and keep the rifle in original condition. It has dark wood(probably stain), a thin red rubber recoil pad and decent blueing. Yes I will handload for this one. It needs a trigger job, it has a real heavy trigger on it. The magazine gives me plenty of room to seat the bullets out and I bet the throat will be deep too. Tell me what you think guys.

I would go with a good quality 2x7 powered scope load up some 185 to 200 gr bullets and go hunting........for just about anything.

Congrats on your find. I have five 8x57's that I use as hunting rifles. Three are open sight and two are scoped. Use yours as it best suits you. In two of my 96's I use Factory Remington 170 grain loads. Not the most powerful but very accurate and the game never seemed to complain that the loads aren't powerful enough. In the other open sighted rifle, a 98, I use Remington bulk 185 grain bullets over 47.0 grains of AA2460. In my two scoped rifles I use a variety of loads ranging in weight from 180 to 250 grains.

I have a vintage Weaver K3 on mine. No front bell on the scope.

Good find on the 8x57.. Great find actually.
If it were mine, and it is not, I'd leave it original and install a 4x scope on it. A 1.5-6x would work too, I just prefer fixed power scopes.

Don

Yes, I'm really thinking about leaving it original and just going with a low power leupold on it. That way I'll be shooting sooner and get the most out of it accuracy wise. Picked up some factory loads for now. Maybe this weekend I'll get to shoot it. I have an old redfield 3X9 that I'll use till I can get a new scope for it. I'll probably stick to regular bullets with this one unless I take it for backup on this years public land elk hunt.

Personally I dislike iron or open sights intensely -- this may have to do with age and the resulting inability to focus my eyes at three places (rear sight, front sight, and target). I also think iron sights spoil the appearance of a rifle.

I'd go with a scope, any scope that you find attractive, or for whatever other reason you prefer a particular scope.

raybass,

Congrats on your new Rem Model 700 Classic in 8x57!! I think you're going to really enjoy it. I really like mine. I had the trigger tuned and had the J-lock and firing pin replaced with a Gre-Tan unit. (http://www.gretanrifles.com/firingpins.asp) I put a Leupold VX-II 1-4x 20mm scope on mine.

I did find out that the ol' 8x57 really knocks the snot out of Warthogs!!


Rem Model 700 Classic in 8x57JS ("8mm Mauser").
Handload: 220 gr Woodleigh RN at 2402 fps (instrumental chrono average) using IMR-4350.
(Not the usual trophy photo pose, of course. This is how we found him after my shot and I simply wanted a photo of how we found him.)

The 8x57 has become one of my favorite cartridges.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:
I also think iron sights spoil the appearance of a rifle.

SUPER rifle and cartridge! Just rememberthe american loadings are way underloaded. With .308 preassures, 200 grs at 2650 f/s is easy!

bent...i would think you would like the 9.5x57 m.s. better...

Yeah, Bent is spot on. When I got my 8x57 I looked up the European ammo specs as a guideline for working up my handloads. (To see about what velocities should be possible with different bullet weights.) I found that the ol' 8x57 is capable of some very respectable performance.



I chronographed the S&B 196 gr SPCE factory ammo from my Rem 700 and it averaged 2647 fps (instrumental) with an Extreme Spread of 31 fps and a Standard Deviation of 10 fps. Average Energy: 3049 ft lb. That's not too shabby!

-Bob F.

I decided to go with a low power scope on the rifle. Went last night and picked up some leupold two piece bases for it. While I was there I looked at scopes. Ended up walking out with a 1.5-4.5 X 32 bushnell banner. That'll do till I can swing a low power leupy. I just didn't want a 3X9 on this one. BFaucett I like that handload you have and the ballistics you posted are impressive too. I thought the loads in my speer manual looked a little puny. I bought a box of factory(winchester I think)to shoot this weekend. The real fun will start when I get some dies. I'm going to start with 180's and 200 gr. bullets first. If I run across some S&B's I'll pick some up and see how they shoot. I got the scope mounted last night after some trial and error. When I put the low rings that I had on the scope was touching the bases so I had to dig out some medium's . That's with the bushnell, Bob were you able to use low's with the leupold? Also did you use a front base that extended back(which is what I picked up)or were you able to get by with regular leupold bases? I thought about Talley lightweights, but I wasn't sure they would work. I see Accubonds in 200 gr. are on the shelf now for .323's. Also does anyone know the twist in the remington? Just curious what it is.

I used the Leupold Weaver-style bases (two piece) and low Leupold rings (Leupold PRW rings). The low bases work fine with my Leupold VX-II 1-4x 20mm scope. The front base only extends back about 1/16" or so. (BTW: I used the same scope, rings, and bases on my Rem 700 CDL in .35 Whelen.)

The twist on the Rem 700 Classic in 8x57 is 1-9.5" Works just fine with the Woodleigh RN 220 gr bullets. I haven't tried any 185-200 gr bullets yet except for the S&B 196 gr factory ammo. It shot fairly well; around 1.5"-1.75" groups at 100 yards. Not great but usable.

Hope this helps....
-Bob F.

I have a CDL in 35 whelen also. It's rigged out with a 2.5-8X36 VXIII in talley lightweights. I just get more satisfaction out of these older cartridges than I do the new stuff. BTW congrats on the nice animals in Africa BF. I take it you would recommend Mr. Johnson for any gunsmithing I may need. Thanks guys.

Yeah, I saw on your other thread that you had a CDL in .35 Whelen. I guess it just goes to show that great minds do think alike!!

"I just get more satisfaction out of these older cartridges than I do the new stuff."

Yeah, I'm the same way. I just like the history and nostalgia associated with the classic cartridges. And, they still get the job done very well.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
I would go with a good quality 2x7 powered scope load up some 185 to 200 gr bullets and go hunting........for just about anything.

+ 1

I got the same 8x57 classic from Gander MT a few months ago. I went with the Talley light weights. The one piece rings set far apart. My 3x9 monarch would not fit. I slapped a 4x14 on so I could get some range time.

I use a Weaver K 2.5 with post and load 200 grain anythings at 2400. But then I nver shoot much farther than 150 yards and nearly always around 50-75. Its just a great cartridge.

I got to the range with it finally. Shot some factory Remington corelockts, 170gr. into about 11/2" to 13/4" groups. Now the trigger, whew it was heavy. I eased it up to a lighter pull but it'll have to go to the gunsmith. I've just started doing my own and this one isn't cooperating. I picked up some BLC-2 for it. Still need dies,extra brass and some bullets. When I get some loaded up I'll give a report on how it shoots. Thanks guys BTW A1 how's yours?

I read a review of the 700 classic in 8x57 a year or two ago in Rifle or Handloader magazine. IIRC, the best loads by far used 200 gr bullets (partition, accubond and interlock[195gr]). Seems like BLC-2 was one of the best powders too. He also found the Hornady factory load with the interlock very accurate. The hornady factory load also works great (3/4" groups @100 yds) in my 98.

Andy