I just picked up a nice sporterised vz-24 chambered in 8x60. Has the original barrel but a custom stock (nice but not overdone), butter knife handle, cock on open, and a new safety. The trigger is very nice but I don't know if it was worked on or an aftermarket. I haven't taken it out yet. Came with a nice little Leupold 2-7 to boot.

Anybody have any experience with the 8x60? Luckily it came with dies and I believe it can be made fairly easily from .06 brass of which I have plenty.

My plan is to touch up the stock a bit with some new swivel studs, take a little off the cheek piece (bolt can touch it when open), refinish the stock and rebarrel. I am leaning towards a .257 Roberts but the rifle is a tad on the heavy side so I may go 9.3x62 instead. Any opinions there?

I have two whelens so the 9.3 may be a bit redundant but I also have a few .243s and a .25-06 so the Bob isn't really doing much for me either. Maybe it should stay an 8x60???

Nice looking rifle. If you rebarrel you may have an issue with the existing stock channel and the new barrel, depending on the contour you decide upon. You could have the barrel rebored and chambered to the 9.3x62.

Were it mine, I'd leave it as is. And FWIW, all VZ-24s and 98 Mausers were/are cock on opening.

Thanks. Good to know about the cock on open. I am pretty new to the Mauser world. I had thought about sending it to JES for a rebore to 9.3.

I showed it to my stock guy today and he thought we could work with the inletting ok if I go the rebarrel route. I think I will at least shoot it as is for a while before making a choice. I bought it for a song so I can't go too far wrong.

one simple suggestion: just rechamber to 8mm-06.

Excellent idea!

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
one simple suggestion: just rechamber to 8mm-06.

Why? The 8x60 was designed by DWM specifically for Mauser rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
one simple suggestion: just rechamber to 8mm-06.

Why?? No real advantage. far easier since he has dies to simply trim a few 06 cases if need be.

A few more pics...

stepped barrel, so really unlikely to be any gaps when you refit to the stock -- though, frankly, I wouldn't change a thing ...

it looks like a good piece of wood, so 9,3x62 would likely be fine -- but, heck, you can load 8mm from light 32 caliber bullets to REALLY heavy RNs ..

or screw in a numrich stepped 30-06 barrel

Took it out and shot it a bit with some 200 grain speers. Quick bore sight at the range, a couple shots to get it lined up and then put three within about an inch 3" high at 100. No complaints from me. Just a light starting load (upper end of the 8x57 data) but perfect function and no issues with the brass.

Made up some more brass last night from once fired .30-06 cases I had laying around and hope to play with her a bit more this summer. Fun rifle for sure.

I am leaning towards a simple stock refinish and then blue or cerakote the barrel and action. The bolt should polish up nice.

Nice rifle! It's begging for a good rust blue job.

www.rustblue.com

Though those of us in the US of A seem to shy away from 8mm I can't imagine what one would want to hunt that that gun/cartridge would not handle at any reasonable range.

Sure lighter faster and bigger and heavier for specialized applications, but that should serve you well.

If the dies did not come with it, I would possibly voice a different opinion depend on die availabity

If the barrel is in good condition, I'd certainly leave it as is. Not only is the 8x60 a respected calibre but new barrels cost money - yet you may reduce the rifle's value if you change it.

I made another 50 cases last night and shot it again this morning. Definitely leaving it as-is barrel wise now that I have shot it some. Bullets are available and cases are easy to make. There is a gentleman near me that does bluing. I hope to get a quote from him soon on a bluing job. Should make a pretty handsome working rifle.

I have an 8x60 and it is a great caliber. Sierra 175 gr and Nosler 180 gr BT are both very good bullets in my rifle.

I had an 8x60S. I rate it as an overall better calibre in performance terms than any .30-06.

There are no flys on the 8x60, its a grand ole caliber and redoing it to a 8mm-06 would be an exercise in futility from the standpoint of improving it...Load it up and go shoot elk, or Alaskan Brown Bear, anything up to Eland and eveb Cape buffalo if your careful and wrought with Testosterone! Im told many an elephant has bent their knee to a 8x60 according to some who are in the know in the German country of Namibia.