Out of curiosity, I shoot the standard .338-06, how does the 8.5x63 Reb compare? I have searched the web, and not withstanding my German language skills are poor, I could not find loading and performance data for it.

It looks similar to the .338 Hawk round, with the case shoulder moved forward. I am guessing cases could be formed from .280 Rem.

Apart from available factory loads in Europe, and properly head stamped brass?, what advantages does this round offer?

I note Mauser is chambering their M03 for this cartridge and there have been a couple of articles by Pete Moore in the UK Guntrader magazine. Unfortunately, the articles I read only gave bullet weights 185 - 300 grains and no mv nor powder charges.

Does anyone have any technical data?

Thanks in advance.

I googled this link, it has a fireforming load with data.

Chris may be the chap to ask about this

<clicky>

Regards,

Amir

Stupid question for the day,

How does one make contact with "Chris"?

quote:

Originally posted by robthom:
Stupid question for the day,

How does one make contact with "Chris"?

Sorry mate , That's Husqvarna98 on this board, he posts on that forum and posted on that thread. I thought he may be able to help with language issues.

ATB,

Amir

The 8.5x63 is to all intents and purposes a .338-06 Improved. You can use data for that cartridge.

I once saw Mr Reb suggest using .35 Whelen cases, but I have not formed cases myself.

If you are looking for first hand experience in English, check out the www.blaserpro.com forums. Not only does Mr. Reb post there (I believe under the name of "roe deer" - or something), there are also several members who use this caliber in their Blasers.

- mike

It's a neat cartridge, prices for brass and reloading dies are prohibitive.

Quite frankly I cannot determine if it's a "Cult" cartridge, a "Snob" cartridge or simply one step away from obsolescence.....the only real plusses that spring straight to mind are the concept and the bullets are easy to obtain - the remaining obstacles to be overcome.

Supposedly a good "All-Round Cartridge" with some sort of magical ballistics and apparent velocity attributes offered by no other cartridge in this Hemisphere (WTF-Over?). While I'm sure it offers benefit somewhere between advantageous & supercilious Blaser has at least seen fit to chamber their R93 for it which in itself is no mean accomplishment; but then again Blaser is also the Father of the their .45 Blaser (AKA the .45 What?), too. Since Blaser, Sauer & Mauser are all subsidiaries of the same Company this Economy of Scale in similar chamberings is simply cross-fertilized SKU's. Like many other "Proprietary" cartridges you're fine as long as your logistical tail is in proximity to a Reloading Bench & a very expensive Die Set but after that sorta left holding an empty re-formed cartridge case.

Mike is correct it is nothing more than a 338-06 Improved with it's shoulder pushed forward and a relatively sharp shoulder angle. It does look like a nifty cartridge though.

At a reloading seminar had several Germans show me their finished 8.5x63 Reb wares; one using a number of .473" base sized cartridge cases from 270 Winchester, 280 Remington, .30/06 Sprg. and 35 Whelen to drive home the simplicity of forming the cases and also had some headstamped 8.5x63 Reb cases, so they are obviously available somewhere.

There is currently some fad in shooting (like the cartridge itself; propretary) Light for Caliber monometal projectiles at hyper-velocity from this cartridge and a couple of German websites filled with glowing praise ad nausium. These are new breed of "CSI Hunter" who fill forensic volumes with charts, strings, mathmatical formulas, measuring tapes, recovered projectiles, digital photos of entrance & exit wounds. A new Science in Itself.

You'll forgive my cynicism (I'm having a Bad Hair Day - I voted Republican) but if it was the idea we were waiting for since the invention of smokeless powder....why aren't all the 338-06's and .338 Win. Mags. and closely associated cartridges been turned into 8.5x63 Rebs? Perhaps it will follow some of the other newer cartridge inventions into the realm of "Factory" status like 6.5x68's & 8x75's? Couldn't say but figure if there was a marketing & profit scheme from it someone would have already jumped on the Bandwagon.

A neat looking cartridge - I guess you'll have to be the judge of it's added benefits or added disadvatages.

It's a nice rifle cartridge, but unless you live in a German speaking nation in Europe, it doesn't offer anything that the 338-06, 35 Whelan, 9.3x62, 340 Weatherby, 338 Lapua, 338 Winchester, 8x68s, or 8mm Remington Magnum don't.

It's going to be a skosh faster than the 338-06, but the cost of reloading componants, and dies is going to be prohibative.

I have a 340 Weatherby, 8mm Remington Magnum, 35 Whelan, and several bigger and smaller calibers. I think it is neat, but not that neat.

I am pissed about the election, but my resident state of Alaska voted for McCain and the Moosehunting Vogue model, so it wasn't us that dropped the ball and let in the most socialistic and anti-gun president and vice president to ever hold the office.

If you go to this forum, you might get some info. Werner Reb posts there occasionally. He considers himself some kind of hunting athority and I always figured he came up with these calibers because you can't be a big time hunting guru,without having a cartridge named after you.
http://www.wildundhund.de/438,5859/
Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
If you go to this forum, you might get some info. Werner Reb posts there occasionally. He considers himself some kind of hunting athority and I always figured he came up with these calibers because you can't be a big time hunting guru,without having a cartridge named after you.
http://www.wildundhund.de/438,5859/
Grizz

Yes, he does seem to believe the sun is shining out of his posterior. So, for God's sake, if you post on a forum Reb frequents, never ever have the audacity to even indicate his proprietary cartridges are either superfluous or just not practical. He will lay into you with a vengeance. Serious ego problem there!

- mike

Found this, maybe a forum member can
translate the some important informations

http://www.lima-wiederladetechnik.de/Patronen/8,5x63.htm