Any guys on AR using the 8x68s; I would like to read your opinions on it, how it performs, is it any different to the 300 magnums, where have you used it etc. and of course reloading it.

Thanks.

Joe

Used it for 15-16 years on Norwegian Moose.
Using 220 grs Woodleigh RN and PP's at about 2800 fps.
Wonderfully effective on game. Flat trajectory and manageble recoil.

Closer to the 338 than the 300's in effect.
Feeds good in the rifle.
NB; needs a magazine at minimum 89.90 mm length to seat the 220grs correctly.
Mine both rifles has been M98's

M

For many years I used 300 WMs, until I hunted with a friend´s 8x68s . Sold the 300. I had used in red stags , wild boar and afrikan plainsgame. For deer I use 180 grs Nosler Balistic Tips with IMR 4350. For heavier game , the 220 grs. Woodleighs with Re22 powder.
Recoil is less than the 300 I had, perhaps the stock configuration and rifle weight is better in my 8x68s , but the 8 uses less gunpowder than the 300WM .
Try it.
Pulki.

.

I wish i could but some RWS ammo here in the USA. I have not been able to find any

gerryb,

have you checked with Huntingtons yet? Graf's?

Rich

Had one in a R-93, and have one in a M03 africa now. It hammers stuff-- Just shot Aoudad and Nilgai with it, but it handled them without issue. I will agree it acts alot more like a 338 win mag and recoils like my old 300 H&H. It is a great round. I have just used speer 220 grain bullets in it, loaded around to 2800 fps. Very flat, hits hard. I also wish I could get my hands on RWS ammo--I'd love some RWS 8x68S brass.

Mackey I have a Brno 602 in 8x68. I have taken elk and moose with this rifle. I have found that the 200 gr Speer bullets and the 200 gr Nosler Partions accept the same loads and group to the same POI. I shoot the Speers at targets and the Partions at game. In my opinion it is more effective on large game than the 30 cals.Very close to 338 performance. Pick up a couple hundred brass and you have a pile of hunting ahead of you.

I have checked with the ones you mentioned and while they all had brass and I have bought a ton of it I have not been able to secure any factory ammo made by RWS. I would like to try some just to check it out as I have not rally tested the rifle. It was made by sabi rifles in africa and the guy that had it built never finished the deal so i bought it. I hope it is a shooter.

A sweet cartridge. One of my favorites.

My PH in Africa uses a Mauser Model 66 in 8x68s as the camp rifle. Kills very well. Similar to .338 and unfortunately, it's an unknown gem in the US. Ammo is difficult to find and expensive. I would like to have one except for the ammo acquisition issues.

I dropped off a superb Argentine 1909 action at my gunsmith last week for one.

I'm tried of my 300 RUM hammering me and I hate the muzzle brake on it. It's a Sendero and doesn't balance well.

Going with 26" barrel on the 8x68. Most likely a Lothar Walter 1300-28 turned down to 26".

Trying to figure a way to keep the factory safety. I will have to look at some scope and ring options.

I wish to express my thanks to all respondents
to my request for info on the 8x68s, I value all your comments highly which now has give me
the added incentive to have a rifle built in that calibre.
Thanks again.

Joe

Norma is now offering a load with the 200grs Swift A-Frame!

I will report later but I am building an 8x68 on a Brno ZKK 600 opened up to 92mm,with a c.o.l of 91.5mm.
It has a 26" Walther barrel in 722 profile.
It is at the stock maker at the momment.
Hopeing for 2900 fps with a 200 grainer.

This should give me 3" high at 100,2.8" high at 200,3" low at 300 and 15.5" low at 400. Now that a flat shooting Deer rifle.

Will do a report when finnished.

Fatboy404
You will reach that velocity with no problem. I had a M98 with your same barrel (Lothar Walther 26 ") and the Hirtenberger ammo , 200 grs Nosler Partition measured +3.050 fps. I changed the bullets for Nosler Balistic Tips 180 grs leaving the same powder and they measured +3.150 fps. Now I am using a Blaser in that calibre, giving almost the same velocities.
Pulki.

pulki.
I'm glad to hear that.I was hopeing for more but was not sure if I would get it.
I want a speed machine for my collection.
I have enough "big projectile slow" rifle's time for a flat shooter.
Can you tell me your load please ?.

Fatboy404 :
Looking at old reloading notes, the Hirtenbergers had 74 grs of somthing that looks like IMR 4350 .
For 220 grainers I use 66.5 grs
of Re 22 ...2.700 fps.
200 grs... .69 grs IMR 4350
180 grs.....71 grs IMR 4350.
CAUTION with these loads , the powders used are very old, but work OK in my rifles. Start with at least 5 grs less.
Check Cartridges of the World, there is a load there for 200 grs with Re 22 ...78 grs...2.971 fps.
Pulki.

I use 76 grs of Norma MRP in RWS cases, the Federal 215 primer and the Woodleigh 220 PP.
COL 88,5 mm.
Chronograph tell me 2850-2870 fps. No signs of high pressure

M

quote:

Originally posted by metric:
I use 76 grs of Norma MRP in RWS cases, the Federal 215 primer and the Woodleigh 220 PP.
COL 88,5 mm.
Chronograph tell me 2850-2870 fps. No signs of high pressure

M

Nice! That will do the trick

Thanks fella's.
When I have mine up and running I will give you some loads back.

There are only about two or three european rounds that I really wish were more popular in the states. The 8X68s is one of them..