that is true. However, it will not take a good gunsmith very long to open it to .520". I am having two done, 6,5 and 8mm X68S.

The magnum action will allow Dave to seat the bullets waaaaaaaaaay out and still fit in the magazine box.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
As I said before, I don't particularly care for belts. Went with the 8x68S.

the magnum action isn't required for this cartridge. And, the magnum bolt face won't fit if it has already been opened up to magnum size.

The 8x68S operates in the same pressure range as the .338 WM, etc. The difference in bolt face is .020" or .52mm for those on the metric system. The OAL length of the 8x68S 3.46" vs 3.34" for the .338 WM. I think it will feed just fine considering and the bolt face is not an issue.

7mm Rem. Mag.. If you want Unique 300 Jarrett...

There are so many great magnums from .30 to .375 which are medium bores I guess.

I will one day have a 358 Norma Mag and otherwise a 358 STA has got to be a great round.

Otherwise the 338 Win Mag is good and the 340 Wby is great.

At least for me in Alaska one can't beat a .338WM loaded with 225-grain TTSX.

The thing about the .33-caliber is the very large number of bullet weights readily available, somewhere from 165 grains to 300. As you can see with some of the 8-calibers, at least in the US, the lack of ammo has not been good for them. I could be wrong, of course

quote:

Originally posted by Ray Alaska:
At least for me in Alaska one can't beat a .338WM loaded with 225-grain TTSX.

The thing about the .33-caliber is the very large number of bullet weights readily available, somewhere from 165 grains to 300. As you can see with some of the 8-calibers, at least in the US, the lack of ammo has not been good for them. I could be wrong, of course

But if putting on a new barrel, then I might recommend the 375 Ruger. A 250gn TTSX at 2900-3000fps would be devastating. Or a 235gn CEB ER at 3000-3100fps, or a 200g GSC at 3200-3300fps. Modern cartridges and bullets are providing some great new choices. However, for less recoil, stay with the 338WinMag.

Is the vast array of bullets a true plus for hunting?

I have trouble imagining a shooter building a new rifle and buying a box of 100 of every feasible bullet weight and brand. By time you sort thru them, you have a pretty good idea of what might work the best when you order your second barrel.

And have seventy or eighty bullets per box left over from the test, fifty or sixty weights, shapes, and brands; that you could sell here at a discount or admire on your bullet shelf for the rest of your life.

The 8x68S can harvest everything on this continent cleanly with two bullets.

1. Sierra 150gr spitzer for anything black bear and smaller.

2. Barnes 200gr TSX BT for everything else including big bears.

This is not small game cartridge.

jmho,

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Is the vast array of bullets a true plus for hunting?

I have trouble imagining a shooter building a new rifle and buying a box of 100 of every feasible bullet weight and brand. By time you sort thru them, you have a pretty good idea of what might work the best when you order your second barrel.

And have seventy or eighty bullets per box left over from the test, fifty or sixty weights, shapes, and brands; that you could sell here at a discount or admire on your bullet shelf for the rest of your life.

The 8x68S can harvest everything on this continent cleanly with two bullets.

1. Sierra 150gr spitzer for anything black bear and smaller.

2. Barnes 200gr TSX BT for everything else including big bears.

This is not small game cartridge.

jmho,

Rich

Kind of the conclusion I came to as well. And in my case, it wouldn't be the first time I shot a white tail with a 200+ grain bullet anyway.

quote:

posted 20 February 2016 23:09 Hide Post
At least for me in Alaska one can't beat a .338WM loaded with 225-grain TTSX

Every time I think I'll do something different with my 338 I run across a post like this. Reminds me that this bullet out of a 338 is just a monster of a combination. Glad I have a stash of bullets and powder and a rifle that shoots them under 1.5" at 200. works for me..

Ray and BaxterB make my point.

One good bullet to do everything per cartridge is all you need.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

posted 20 February 2016 23:09 Hide Post
At least for me in Alaska one can't beat a .338WM loaded with 225-grain TTSX

Every time I think I'll do something different with my 338 I run across a post like this. Reminds me that this bullet out of a 338 is just a monster of a combination. Glad I have a stash of bullets and powder and a rifle that shoots them under 1.5" at 200. works for me..

I think that is a medium bore. The definitions here are a bit off. Based on history, a small bore should be .30 cal. and below. Nine Millimeter, .338, .375, up to .416 is a medium and .45 and above is big bore.

The last place I would ask for caliber suggestion is on AR, the cornucopia of different suggestions are always a practice in bewilderment besides if you don't know what you want or need, you should save you pennys for some other exercise in futility like golf or horses, wild wimmen, and whiskey! you know the more important things in life.

Atkinson, maybe he should have asked Billy Bob working behind the counter at his local gun store instead. That surely would give him a more qualified response.

Maybe if you would read these threads in their entirety you would see that I have already decided on a cartridge that meets my criteria.

In the mean time, regardless of how smart you think you are, you might just learn something. Even from Billy Bob at the local gun store.

I did read the entire post. Maybe you are the one who needs to get off the high horse. I have nothing against Billy Bob or guys working at gun stores, but I was responding to Atkinson who said AR is the last place to ask such a question. I disagree. I think AR is a great place to ask such a question, which is part of the reason I suggested 7 RM to you earlier in the thread.

I see you lack the proper vernacular. We don't refer to a horse as high. In this case she is tall, a tad over 17 hands. As for getting off, I will ride anytime I wish and if that is not to your liking all I can say is get over it.

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
I see you lack the proper vernacular. We don't refer to a horse as high. In this case she is tall, a tad over 17 hands. As for getting off, I will ride anytime I wish and if that is not to your liking all I can say is get over it.

With your shitty attitude, I'm surprised you'll get the same suggestions in the future.

You haven't seen shitty attitude. F.O.A.D. MF

Lol

Duckboat,
You misinterpreted my response..On AR you will get a bombardment of different caliber suggestions AND THEY WILL MOSTLY BE CORRECT, but it can certainly cause confusion. It has even been know to stir up shit believe it or not!

I would also say a 7mm Rem Mag. Although I have taken numerous elk at that distance CLEANLY with my 264 Win Mag.

quote:

Originally posted by drhall762:
As I said before, I don't particularly care for belts. Went with the 8x68S.

Perfect Choice!

How about 358STW.

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
I use and love the .358 Norma. A 225-grain Barnes-X at 2,800 FPS does a great job on elk or similar size critters, and recoil is quite tolerable. My second choice would be a .338 Win Mag with 210-grain Noslers.

I will second the 358 Norma mag it hits hard like a 375 and shoots as flat as a 338 win great cartridge.

I personally visit this forum to read sage and enlightening posts by Atkinson, Idaho, 458 and others. Seriously, damn good stuff, and experience like this is hard to find. I’ve learned a ton on this site. And when a post is misread or misunderstood, why not give the benefit of doubt & choose a civil reply? It’s hard enough to get through a day without duckin’ shit from everywhere, so why bring it here? Civil disagreements / debates typically end up being the most informative and enjoyable threads and why we come here in the first place. A little respect and moment of hesitation for those who disagree with you, or I, would add to the attendance and longevity of this forum. Over the years I’ve witnessed forums go down because of egotistical, acidic bickering. We owe it to ourselves not to let that happen here. This is NOT a rant. It’s a request. You can tell me to MMOB but to simply ignore bitter attacks on each other here only enables it’s continuance. Respectfully, I’m not and hope each of you had a great holiday in this United States, God’s greatest country on this earth.

TASK1 you are a true gentleman.

I've killed game in Germany with the 8x68S...to me its just a sexier name for the 8mm Mag with a less downrange energy. Sounds like this may be more of a search for a new fascination. Grab a 300 Win mag and be done with it....2000lb+ at 350 yards.

I just ordered a 28 Nosler barrel from Pac Nor for my rem 700 with a mag bolt face. Plan to shoot the 195 bergers.. I think it will be interesting for a meduim bore rifle .. All the write ups about it look good. I picked up some brass 2 boxes of loaded Nosler and dies on gunbroker for a good price.

So Dave, It's been six months since you started this thread. How is the new rifle coming? Any pics? Inquiring minds want to know..

For a medium bore like this I'd simply chamber it 375 H&H and load a 250 gr Bitterroot,Northfork or Barnes at 2900 fps and kill everything.

But it has that pesky belt.

If it's just for elk the 7mm Rem Mag is a good choice, all the 7mm RUM will buy on 300 yard shots is recoil and muzzle blast. I think a 300 H&H Mag would be lovely and be plenty for brown bear as well if you ever decide to.

Remember that the bullet does the work, the cartridge just gets the bullet there.

.284 (7mm) can work but it is light, functionally equivalent to O'Connor's delightful .277".

With time available to ponder the question, a .338" makes a nice elk load.

I do not believe there are any bad choices listed here, but a preference for a bit more velocity over bullet weight, or vice versa.

Also to be remembered is that if long, long range ever becomes desirable, then the super- high-BC bullets either need single feeding or else standard-length cartridges in magnum length actions.

If 400 yards is a max, then normal magazines are fine and something like a 225 grain TTSX in .338" with a .514BC at 2825fps is more that adequate crossing a narrow canyon. I'm going to test some 200 grain CEB MTH's this week with a .570 BC. (Yes, a 338WM estimated at 3000-3050 target velocities.)

416,


how can you say "well rounded..." without a 500 NE double SxS?

Well, Rich,

You have me on that.

Yes, a Double rifle would certainly round things out a bit and the 500 NE is a great round. I guess that's why you're Rich and I'm 416 -- I like my rifles to cost under $1000 and the Ruger Hawkeye 338 WinMag that I'm trying out this weekend cost $500.

And ballistically there isn't much difference between a 500NE and a 500 Nyati, except the AccRel Nyati can be loaded to different levels and with different bullet weights, hotter or lighter as the case may be. There probably isn't much point in trying to load a 500NE with 360 grain tipped Raptors to 2850fps. I wouldn't expect the barrels to regulate, nor would the barrels be expected to produce MOA at 200 or 300 yards. I like my buffalo guns to take an impala or hartebeest when duty calls.

Well, there's a major difference between Rich (me at least) and wealthy.

I only need one wife, one Harley, one Jag convertible, and a pickup.

Guns, now, a man can never have too many good ones.

Rich. Please check your PM's. Thanks, Andy#3

There's no doubt in my mind. The 338 Win mag. Load it with 250 or 300 gr. bullets and it hits just as hard as a 375 H&H. Load it with 200 gr. bullets and it shoots as flat as a 300 mag. I took mine along with a 375 H&H to Africa. Took 6 large antelope and zebra with each one. They both hit real hard. I couldn't tell the difference regarding killing power. My 338 has a 21" bbl. The pro-hunter nicknamed it Mighty Mouse, which I got a kick out of. It's been 20 years and I still call it Mighty Mouse. When I got back from my Safari deer season came in less than two weeks. I used my 338 Mighty Mouse because I knew it was zeroed and I had developed confidence in it. It did a great job on Missouri Whitetails also,