I'm new, I've been on a lot of the forums reading, getting a lot of good info. does anyone have any experience with 8 mm rem. mag,or does anyone have one,I've owned several 375 H&H mags, recently purchased 375 RUM ,own 7mm rem mag,300 win mag, and big favorite 458 win mag. I've always been interested in 8 mm mag, any feedback will be appreciated thanks

Welcome Huxley,

I don't have one but a friend does. He says it's the best cartridge ever devised for elk. I'm sure that could be debated. But, he's a big fan.

Thanks Buff,it seems like a powerful cartridge,I don't reload but I think it's time,I can get factory 8 mm mag loads from midway,and also get all the reloading components, buying factory loads is really starting to cut down on my shooting,especially the big stuff

Fabulous cartridge! I have a buddy that would never think of geeting rid of his Big 8. He stays with the 200 gr for everything.

A dear frind of mine had an 8mm Rem Mag built on a large Sako TRG action. He was absolutely deadly with it, and shot all Western US big game with that rifle.

I personally think the big 8 is about the perfect compromise between bullet diameter, trajectory and recoil. Although, I have to admit, I found it a tad "lively" in the recoil area. If one can shoot bigger guns, I guess the big .338 cal cartridges (.340 Wby, .338 RUM etc) would have a lot going for them as well.

I would personally shoot 200 grs (probably TSX) for heavy game, although my friend liked the 220's.

- mike

Huxley:

I have had an 8 mag. for a long time. It is one of my favorite cartridges although it is getting pretty hard to find a company that still chambers it. Mine has a 26 inch Douglas medium sporter barrel and I shoot 220 grain Swifts. It shoots as flat as a .300 but hits like a .338. Fantastic cartridge!

Dave

With all the positive responses on this cartridge, I guess it will be worth trying to find a rifle in this cal.I think remington was the only company to make them,I found 4 or 5 ranging from $900 to $2000,all remington,I would think some could be found a little cheaper, seeing how this caliber doesn't seem to be too popular,with those who don't know, or care, how good it really is.

Factory ammunition was held back ... with Rel22 and Rel25 plus a 26" barrel ... you'll be closer to 3000fps with a 220gr than 2800fps. It's a true 'forgotten magnum' and I believe was well ahead of its time.

I know of two that made it to the Northern Territory in Australia and were successfully used on water buffalo with the factory 220gr Remington loads.
Cheers...
Con

Hiya Huxley,

I've had an 8 mag for about 8 years now and it's the nuts.

I got it after a couple of elk "walked away" after getting thumped by my 7 mag. They don't walk away from the 8... nothing has. When the big 8 hits something it just falls dead. Like magic.

Of course you MUST reload. I've used 200 gr partitions since I got the gun. I'm getting about 3100 fps out of a 25 inch tube. I tried the 220s but my gun just likes the 200's. I wish someone made a premium 210.... I think that would be perfect. I'm going to try the Accubonds because I like the plastic tip.

The only cartridge that I'd swap it for is a .338 ultra but I'm afraid it will also become a rare round.

By the way... the recoil is entirely tolerable in fact... I can't tell a difference between the 7 and the 8. I got it with a brake but I took it off years ago and I don't miss it.

Do it man... you won't be dissapointed.

Go for the 8x68S -same prestanda but a bit more class

Like a couple have already mentioned a 26 in barrel brings velocity up where it should be.The factory ammo was and still is terrible.Handloads with good bullets are the only way to go. My rifle prefers 200 gr X bullets but it shoots Swift A frames and Partions pretty well. None of the other 8mm bullets would hold together "reliably" at 8mm Rem velocities. With a 26 in barrel this calibre is very close to the 340 Wby in performance.

It's a great round, that with proper bullets is more than enough even for DG like big brown bears...

Not to take this off course but, won't the 325wsm do the same things with more avalible rifles? Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Grizz 66:
Not to take this off course but, won't the 325wsm do the same things with more avalible rifles? Just a thought.

In practice, probably. On paper, the 8mm Rem Mag is about 100-200 fps ahead with bullets of like weight.

The .325 WSM is a sweet round - approaching 8mm Rem Mag/8x68S performance (probably) with lighter recoil. I wanted to buy one, but Blaser did not chamber for the .325 after all

- mike

I think my quest will begin to track down a rifle in 8 mm mag,I was wondering if ,with the right load, it would be good enough on brown bear,DM answered that question,anyone have any thoughts on using, a 375 RUM or 458 WM on brown bear....??I'm thinking 458 WM with 510 gr. sp

The .458 WM with 510 sp is good medicine. Keep range on the "shorter" side. The .375 RUM is amazing ballistics and gives a little more range if needed. Dont use bullets designed for thick skinned dangerous game. I don't know if the A-Square Lion Load is too soft or not? Maybe someone can comment.

Is the difference in action lengths of any significance?

I had an 8mm Rem Mag but sold it 4-5 years ago.
BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!!!!!!
I've been looking for a replacement for a couple of years. The only ones I've found had been ported (yeuck) or were in poor overall condition.
I'll keep lookin.

Find a used Weatherby Vanguard 300 Wby, or a used M70 or R700 300 Win Mag or Wby, have it rebored to .323 and there ya go if you wanna save some coin. Being rare and unpopular will probably keep prices higher, not lower.

quote:

Originally posted by Grizz 66:
Not to take this off course but, won't the 325wsm do the same things with more avalible rifles? Just a thought.

That's a 30/06 vs 308 type arguement. Recently the Browning 325WSM was tested in a local gunrag and they struggled to beat high 2600fps with a 220gr, the big 8mm will clock atleast 2950fps even with a 24" barrel when reloaded. If big bears are on the menu ... there's always Woodleigh's 250gr RN which handicaps the 325WSM too much. With light projectiles the 325WSM is close to the 8mmRemMag, but loaded to its potential, it'll step away easily!
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
The .458 WM with 510 sp is good medicine. Keep range on the "shorter" side. The .375 RUM is amazing ballistics and gives a little more range if needed. Dont use bullets designed for thick skinned dangerous game. I don't know if the A-Square Lion Load is too soft or not? Maybe someone can comment.

With 400-grain A-frames at about 2400 fps, your trajectory out to 300 yards is actually comparable to a .308 shooting 168 grainers -- it's a few inches different but close. I'd expect expansion to be better than the 510's, and still penetrate deeply.

The 8mm Remington is, like the 300 H&H, a great medium rifle for dangerous game hunters who use a magnum-length heavy.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:

quote:

Originally posted by Grizz 66:
Not to take this off course but, won't the 325wsm do the same things with more avalible rifles? Just a thought.

That's a 30/06 vs 308 type arguement. Recently the Browning 325WSM was tested in a local gunrag and they struggled to beat high 2600fps with a 220gr, the big 8mm will clock atleast 2950fps even with a 24" barrel when reloaded. If big bears are on the menu ... there's always Woodleigh's 250gr RN which handicaps the 325WSM too much. With light projectiles the 325WSM is close to the 8mmRemMag, but loaded to its potential, it'll step away easily!
Cheers...
Con

Con - just curious, which rag was this? My Ammo and Ballistics book is showing the Win PP 220gr 325wsm at 2840. It also shows the 200gr at 2950 and the 8RM at 2900. I've always read (from Boddington, who loves his 8RM) that, like the 300 H&H, it takes a handloader to get the full potential out of it. Wouldn't suprise me, for 1 because its a much larger case, and for 2 Remmy always seems to shoot themselves in the foot and dummy down many cartridges bearing their name on it.

When it comes to velocity of the 8mm Rem Mag and the 325 WSM. Given equal bullet weight and barrel length combined with optimum powder for each cartridge, the Big 8 will always be capable of more velocity that the 325 WSM.

The Big 8 has over 20% greater case capacity than the 325. The same as it is for racing engines with all things other being equal, there is no substitute for cubic inches.

quote:

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:
Con - just curious, which rag was this?

MHS,
Australian magazine by the name of Guns & Game. These guys usually load quite hot (but safe)when they do their tests. Factory 220gr was chronographed at 2650fps, they got the Sierra gameKing 220gr to 2625fps. Factory 200gr was chronographed at 2920fps, they got just 2832fps. Many years ago I corresponded with an Australian gunwriter infatuated with the 8mmRemMag ... he was getting 2950fps from a 220gr Hornady and 24" barrel without raising a sweat using the old H4831 (AR2213) before it became H4831SC (AR2213SC). Now with Rel22 and Rel25, another 50fps is achievable.
Cheers...
Con

Well thats a little dissapointing! I was starting to consider the 325wsm with some high BC match bullets to make a long range target gun out of a Win 70 Coyote Lite. Maybe I'm better off reboring that to .338 and losing a bit of velocity for a higher BC bullet after all.

quote:

It's a true 'forgotten magnum' and I believe was well ahead of its time.

+2

I have one on a 700 Sendero. She shoots really well. The recoil is pretty stiff from the bench but when I poke holes in critters I don't notice it at all. I am shooting 180 BT's a lot and with a max load the recoil is sharp. My 338 win mag and 375 is more of a push than a slap. It is a great round though. Mine is dead nuts on. Thinking of changing stocks to see if something that fits me better make the recoil better. I shoot for group and location once, maybe twice and go hunting!