Sporter Express has a LW barrel chambered in 8.5x63. What is it? A Google search turned up several European sites but I don't read European. 8.5 is about .338 and 63 is the length of the 30-06 case. Is it a 338-06?

The 8,5x63 is something like a .338/06 AI. The cartridge is developped by the german forester and gunwriter Werner Reb. He also developped a rimned version, the 8,5x63R. Some european gun-factories are building rifles for the Reb-cartridge, Blaser, Krieghoff and Sauer for example.

It does use .338" bullets then? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc:
Sporter Express has a LW barrel chambered in 8.5x63. What is it? A Google search turned up several European sites but I don't read European. 8.5 is about .338 and 63 is the length of the 30-06 case. Is it a 338-06?

You DON'T read European??

I'd say it was a .338/'06, except that USUALLY the .338" bore size is called an 8.8mm in European, but it is actually 8.5852mm!! But this maker may have gone by land, rather than groove, diameter. But that would be 8.382mm. Another possibility is that it is a .333 OKH! In which case, it would require .333" bullets instead of .338" bullets, but still use a .30/'06 case with an expanded neck......

Oh, a new German caliber, eh??

quote:

Originally posted by Monastery-Forester:
The 8,5x63 is something like a .338/06 AI. The cartridge is developped by the german forester and gunwriter Werner Reb. He also developped a rimned version, the 8,5x63R. Some european gun-factories are building rifles for the Reb-cartridge, Blaser, Krieghoff and Sauer for example.

They could probably sell that chambering here too, if they'd bring in the ammo, or if we could make cases from .30/'06 brass......

Adding "Werner Reb" to my search produced a massive PDF file in German that includes the 8.5x63. I don't read German but it is described along with the 338-270HGT and is very close to that cartridge. The difference is primarily the length. The 8.5x63 case is 2.48" and so can be formed from 30-06 while the 338-270Hgt is of course formed from the slightly longer 270. Basically a 338-06IMP with the shoulder blown forward ala Gibbs although not that extreme.

That should certainly sell in this country too. Midway sells dies for it too. Sporter Express sells the barrels and I have the 98 Mauser. But I really want a 35 caliber!

You can reform the .35Whelen or the .280Rem. to 8,5x63Reb. The reformed .30/06-cases are a little bit too short, the easiest way is to reform Whelen-cases. Yes, it uses .338 bullets and I use a Lee and a RCBS-die-set.
First, Werner Reb has only planed to develop the rimned version, because there is no potential round between the 7x65R/8x57IRS-class and the heavy 9,3x74R with exception of the .30R and the 8x75RS, but these use bullets of max. 220grs. And the 8,5 can use bullets to 300grs. The case to reform to the rimned version is the very popular 7x65R.

quote:

Originally posted by Marc:
But I really want a 35 caliber!

Okay. Good taste.
Take the 9x63 M/88 ("Florstedt").

Carcano

quote:

Originally posted by Monastery-Forester:
because there is no potential round between the 7x65R/8x57IRS-class and the heavy 9,3x74R with exception of the .30R and the 8x75RS

Ahem.
If you would kindly correct your glaring omission... (and once again, I find my conviction confirmed that the "Monastery-Forester" here can in no way be identical to the rather savvy and well-read Klosterförster yonder - that must be a case of the good and the evil twin).

Carcano

I'm using a 8.5x63 in my Blaser R93. The accuracy is very good.
Now, there are cases available in Germany (Fa. Horneber), also for the rimned version.
A commercial reloader (Mr. Klaus at www.baujagd.de) is building cardridges with your choice of bullet and performance.

It is all ready for use -> try it and like it.

In Europe the .358 Winchester is marked 8.8x51mm, if that is of use to anyone.

Carcano,
I'm struggling to think of the glaring omission you referred to in that power class.

- stu

Sounds like a .33 caliber based on the 8x64 Brenneke case.

If you're still curious, email Sporter Express directly. I've communicated with the guy that runs it a couple times and he gave me straight answer each time. Or, call and talk to Woody at Lothar Walter.

Isn't the parent cartridge case the 9.3x62mm? If so, just use those readily available cases.

LLS

The 8.5x63 could be either the 338-06 or the .333 jeffery.
8.5x63: http://www.derwiederlader.de/artikel.php/products_id/646/language/en

There is also this dude here:
http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Patronen/8,5x64.htm

A 9.3x64 necked down to take .338 cal bullet

Only a chamber cast will indicate what cartridge the barrel is cut for, all other is speculation. My .02
Good luck and good shooting,
Eterry

quote:

LW barrel chambered in 8.5x63

You might give Woody at LW a call & ask him. I believe this is a standard chambering for their pre threaded & chambered Mauser barrels.

I've always thought that 8.5x63 was just the metric designation for the .338 WinMag, not any sort of wildcat.

quote:

Originally posted by KurtC:
I've always thought that 8.5x63 was just the metric designation for the .338 WinMag, not any sort of wildcat.

You're quite right in some essentialsense: the 9,3x64 case is a 64 millimetres magnum case without the belt.

quote:

Originally posted by KurtC:
I've always thought that 8.5x63 was just the metric designation for the .338 WinMag, not any sort of wildcat.

here is an artical + picture
http://home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Patronen/8,5x63.htm#8,5x63

quote:

Originally posted by Stu C:
Carcano,
I'm struggling to think of the glaring omission you referred to in that power class.

8x65RS. The rimmed sister of the fine 8x64S.

C.

Mr. Theoretic, please do it in the right way: not the .318-8x65R is the real partner of the 8,5x63R, it is the .323-8x65RS!

Right. Since you were unable or unwilling to correct your omission, I should have mentioned the main variant upon StuC's request, not the slimmer siblings. Will correct that above.

And you, check the meaning of "partner" in an English dictionary.

Carcano