Does anyone have any experience with this caliber? I kmow a smith with the reamers and was thinking about one in a Yugo action and synthetic stock for a light weight but fairly hard hitting rifle. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Hey.... I looked into the 8x57AI couple of years ago... Did not find any thing other than the 06 case conversion due to the abundance of GI brass after the wars... I could not see enough improvement to alter this already close to .06 performance.

Started looking at the Gibbs case, only to find it time consuming to make. A fellow poster even provided me with some of Mr. Gibbs load data. It was real impressive. Just wasn�t looking for that much recoil..

Figured I would build a 7x57AI first, then make a pilot for the reamer for a 8mm.

Just haven�t gotten around to doing any thing yet, been playing with the 6.5, and having to much fun...

I know this did not help much hunterbug, just figured I would pass on the info I found when looking into the Ackley version of the 8x57.. I have to admit, Hondojohn did provide some very good info�

Email Hondojohn:

I asked about a 338 x 57 and he sent me a ton of info on the 8 x 57 AI.

seems to be one of his pet projects and he struck me as a real decent guy, very knowledgable and more than willing to share it.

I've chatted with HondoJohn already. I was just curious if anyone else has tried this.

257 AL,
I have a 8X57 improved (323 Stibgen), it not Ackley's. My case has a 0.25" neck and 0.460" shoulder diameter, and a 40 degree shoulder. I have it chambered in a 15" encore. I'm also getting a savage chambered for it--if my shilen barrel ever shows up. My case has slightly more capacity than a 8-06. I haven't done a lot of testing, but here are some results as close as I can recall (I'm at work).
150gr 2650fps not tested much
175gr sierra 2600fps
180gr NBT 2550fps
220gr Hornady 2300fps

RAS, thanx for the reply. Have you ever used it on game? How did it work? I'm considering the 180gr BT but mine will be in a rifle.

257 AL
Last year I shot a doe whitetail @ 40yds or so with a 220 gr Hornady. It worked ok, left a nickle sized exit hole. I think I'll try 150 gr Hornady, they shoot under an inch at a 100yds but they look so small. I'll probably use the 150 on muledeer if I get drawn.

I've shot two woodchucks with the 175gr sierra, with mixed results. One was almost cut in half, the other two very small holes, but dead.

The 180gr NBT, Speer 150gr and 200gr don't shoot very well in my gun 1.75" to 2.25" is about average. I was hoping they would, I have enough bullets. Maybe my rifle will.

One other thing, CH&4D has 8x57 improved (24,28,30,and 40 degree shoulders) dies for $69.

[ 06-29-2003, 02:59: Message edited by: RAS 323 ]

RAS, thanx. Have you tried the 185gr Corelocks? I used them last year for deer and dropped a doe with 1 shot at about 250 yards. The bullet left a nice exit wound that made the 5 foot long blood trail easy to follow. I haven't tried the 150gr Hornadys yet but I might do that soon. Where is CH&4D? Do they have a website? Good luck with the draw, I hope you get a tag. Where are you applying for?

There is a nice article in the 1996 Handloading Digest on P 101. it seems that the 8X57 AI doesn't get much more velocity than the 8X57 JS. The JS has a long throat which allows an increase in powder capacity. If the 8X57 AI is chambered with a standard throat there will be little difference in capacity. There may however be a difference in accuracy. It's a good read anyway!

257 AL
www.ch4d.com/

I've only used the 185 corelocks to fireform. They do shoot very well for fireform loads.

Rechambering to 8mm-06 makes better sense.

Gentlemen

why not get a 8X64 brenneke or a 8X68 , both will fit in a standard mauser action.

/ JOHAN

RAS, while looking through their list of dies I saw several other calibers that I want as well. You are such a bad influence. But thank you for your help. For thoes suggesting the 8mm-06, 8X64 and 8X68 my reasons are simple. One, I don't know anyone with reamers for thoes so the expence would be greater. Two, they would duplicate the 338-06 that I really want to build. Three, for the 8X64 and 8X68 brass would be considerable harder to come by. And four, the 8X57 AI looks really cool!

Me thinks the 57 series case, has some really good points.. Especially when going three thousand feet per second!!!!

And looks cool.....

If you look at the over all picture here, the Mauser case can just about equal a 63mm case when using heavy bullets... If I want lighter projectiles, I will use my 6.5X55 BJA.

I can�t see any reasons for the 8x57AI, as there are already the 8x60, 8x64 or 8-06, which all fit in a standard action. But a 8-06 AI woulb be more intresting, as it makes an increment of the caliber�s resources.

fritz

Mr Fritz Kraut--et al,

quote:

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"I can't see any reason for the 8x57AI...But an 8-06AI would be more interesting"

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If you don't see any benefits in the 8x57AI, that is perfectly OK and its definitly not a cartridge for you.

quote:

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...The mark of the hunter is the ability to get close.

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This is one area where we are in a definite agreement..

Ol' John

Well there you go, cool has it!

Yep, the 8mm-06 is the way to go to improve the 8x57 IMO....Not a lot wrong with the 8x57 that I could ever tell...I have shot Cape Buffalo with it and it worked then, bet it still does.

The 8mm-06 shows no improvement over the 8X57 with lighter bullets, with the heavier bullets it does gain a couple hundred fps.

Like Ray above,
I can't see the 8x57 needing much more when loaded to it's potential.

200 gr 50 gr IMR4895 slightly sticky bolt
200 gr 52 gr IMR4895 very sticky bolt
200 gr 47.3 gr IMR4895 my best accuracy in one gun

47.3 gr kicks so hard, makes so much noise, and reaches out so far, I don't want any more power than that.

Like Leo said

quote:

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Well there you go, cool has it!

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Enough said.