Looking for a new rifle project for 2011 I have an idea. I just started in learning reloading, and my now idea is to take the 8x68S case and an rifle
with three barrels in 6,5x68, in 8x68S and the
brandnew 375 Hölderlin - and I am prepared for everything including big game in Africa (9,5mm minimum).
What do you think? How to start? Action, barrel length, twist?

What are you going to hunt most?

They have all cases what are hard to find.

Action suggestion Husqvarna 1600 barrel length 24 inch.

Obscure stuff is always interesting but not what I would want to have as a travelling set up. If the ammo is lost or has a problem then you could be somewhere remote relying on a camp gun.

I've had ammo problems in Argentina and South Africa which were easily rectified because I split the ammo into two cases while travelling.

Otherwise I think if you are going to build a rifle then a slightly less vanilla calibre choice may well be just the justification required!!

Rgds,
K

quote:

Originally posted by Burkhard:
the brandnew 375 Hölderlin

What is that then??

The 8x68S and, even more so, the 6.5x68 are tough cartridges to source components for. If it was me, I'd only venture into a project like this if I *knew* I had brass at hand for 10-15 years.

The requirement for switch barrels limits you quite a bit with respect to action. You are essentially looking at a European system - either Blaser, Sauer, Mauser or one of the pricey Mauser 98 switch barrel derivations. None of these are bad systems, though. Better make sure you have somebody to make barrels for you, and make sure dies can be sourced as well.

I can certainly see the objections of the learned posters who worried about your cartridge choices being non-standard. I personally think the 8x68S is a great cartridge (if you can shoot it), but it is hard to source components for, and it is nigh impossible to source ammo abroad. Realistically, you'd probably be just as well off with cartridges such as 7mm Rem Mag (.270 Wby, 257 Wby, 270 WSM, .270 Win etc), .300 Win Mag (.300 Wby, .338 Win etc) and .375 H&H (.375 Wby etc). Although functionally equivalent, I admit this setup is probably somewhat less exotic than what you had imagined.

Good luck with your project.

- mike

The 8x68S is very popular in Germany, so brass is never a problem, the 6,5x68 too.
I have rifles in 9,3x62 since many years but my dream was the 9,3x70 but I never started the projekt. The 9,5x68 Hölderlin is a brandnew round, started as a wildcat, since 2007 with a CIP certification. This round is also available in a rimmed version, maybe a double one day.
And I need a new project!

Are you thinking turn barrel or a real takedown?

http://www.vovapen.se/

http://www.specialvapen.se

Oh, beautifull rifles, but out of my price range.
I think I will take Voere.

www.voere.de

I would take a close look at the Mauser 03, particularly the Alpine model (since you are from Deutchland). The interchangeable barrel systems for these rifles are fantastic. I have just become a dealer for these guns here in the States. It comes available in 8x68S; great caliber for all big game and African plains game. As popular as it is in Europe, brass should be no problem. You could then add a second barrel, say in 7x64 or .404 Jeffery, and what a great 2 barrel set for worldwide hunting.

Mike

quote:

brass should be no problem

Really ?

Where

quote:

Originally posted by londonhunter:

quote:

brass should be no problem

Really ?

Where

Here in the States, Midway USA currently has factory loads on the shelves in the Norma 200gr spitzers and I believe they have the brass as well. RWS also makes brass for the caliber, and since they are based in Germany, should be easy to get there. This is a popular caliber in Germany, and should be everywhere else. It's one of the best.

Mike

With GREAT respect to all my German shooting friends

Germany is not the whole of Europe or E.U.

Even in Germany with my limited experience not every gun shop will stock the Meisner case

Can some German members chime in and correct me ?

Outside Germany you can be certified as mad if you mention it

A bit like Sarah Palin outside Alaska ........

I do agree with you the M03 is a great system aka a Blaser in skirts and makeup and it shoots as well.

I had a Delux with a 20 inch solid in 9.3 + 222 and it was one of my most accurate 9.3 rig. (The 222 was for my son who was 08 at the time)

But coming back to this thread

Heir Burkard

You go ahead and build this thing you mentioned.

You only live once and what the heck

I have a few crazy projects cooking as well and don't take notice of what people say on this forum.

What do I know anyway ...

BTW spoke to somebody who visited the Blaser / Mauser factory complex

Did you know that the Mauser Staff technically consists of 03 people within this complex ?
Mauser and Blaser barrels are forged under the same roof and all that glitzy brochure there are only a handful of people behind it.

Very clever marketing

and a very clear product if I may say so

very few overlap with the Blaser system in functionality

OK boys let go hunting

What kind of BIG and angry things you have in Tennessee ?

quote:

Originally posted by londonhunter:
With GREAT respect to all my German shooting friends

Germany is not the whole of Europe or E.U.

Even in Germany with my limited experience not every gun shop will stock the Meisner case

Can some German members chime in and correct me ?

Outside Germany you can be certified as mad if you mention it

A bit like Sarah Palin outside Alaska ........

I do agree with you the M03 is a great system aka a Blaser in skirts and makeup and it shoots as well.

I had a Delux with a 20 inch solid in 9.3 + 222 and it was one of my most accurate 9.3 rig. (The 222 was for my son who was 08 at the time)

But coming back to this thread

Heir Burkard

You go ahead and build this thing you mentioned.

You only live once and what the heck

I have a few crazy projects cooking as well and don't take notice of what people say on this forum.

What do I know anyway ...

BTW spoke to somebody who visited the Blaser / Mauser factory complex

Did you know that the Mauser Staff technically consists of 03 people within this complex ?
Mauser and Blaser barrels are forged under the same roof and all that glitzy brochure there are only a handful of people behind it.

Very clever marketing

and a very clear product if I may say so

very few overlap with the Blaser system in functionality

OK boys let go hunting

What kind of BIG and angry things you have in Tennessee ?

Thus far I have not scored on big game in Tennessee or Georgia this season, which is unusual so late. I missed a nice black bear in October, tried to let my 14 year old son get a shot at it, and it got out of range. I have passed on some whitetails, but starting this weekend I will begin shooting some doe if the big buck remains elusive. I'm working too much, not hunting enough.

Back to the thread; another good option for the 8x68S if he must have it, would be my favorite factory rifle at present, the Sauer 202. I just love the slick action on these rifles, and ordered a 7x64 in the Stutzen model for myself.

I have never personally owned an 8x68S, but I'm really impressed with it's known performance. My favorite caliber in a bolt gun is the .300 H&H; most versatile, best feeding, classic. My new double is in .450/400; the balance on this gun is amazing..

Good Hunting, Mike

If I am correct burked was referring to a custom project

I sense for him to buy a the 'usual Germany factory rifle is rather routine and boring
A bit like you going down to cabela buying a model 70

I think the buzz is a custom action
Bit like shopping for a new girlfriend

Hahahha

Have you hunted in Europe ?

How much arebthe black bear in TN ?

I suppose you hunt them from a hide

Correct ?

I also would love to let my son shoot a brown bear but physically he is not big enough to handle a suitable rifle

quote:

Originally posted by londonhunter:
If I am correct burked was referring to a custom project

I sense for him to buy a the 'usual Germany factory rifle is rather routine and boring
A bit like you going down to cabela buying a model 70

I think the buzz is a custom action
Bit like shopping for a new girlfriend

Hahahha

Have you hunted in Europe ?

How much arebthe black bear in TN ?

I suppose you hunt them from a hide

Correct ?

I also would love to let my son shoot a brown bear but physically he is not big enough to handle a suitable rifle

I've gone through the custom rifle thing more than once. It's a great way to drop a ton of money. Usually the custom jobs aren't as good as the new higher end European rifles such as the Sauer, Mauser, Merkel, or H&H. I've also found that once you've spent the money on a custom, better be in love with it, cause the resell is terrible. There are hundreds of so-called "custom" rifles on the market. Every gunsmith in the country is building a "custom" gun. You know what you're getting in a Sauer 202 in 8x68S, it's like a custom rifle, only better, with a great warranty and lineage.-----Not sure I want a custom auto; just give me an Aston or Porsche, I know I'm getting the real deal.

Lived in Bavaria, Germany, near Nuremberg for 3 years while stationed as an Army Officer. Great 3 years there. Did not hunt, although I regret I did not. I did have the chance to stalk many red stags, wild boars, and roe deer while on maneuvers in the forest of Bavaria. What great fun.

I am planning to bring my son to Scotland for a Red Stag hunt soon, maybe next fall, based upon the economy, and his performance in school. I'm not going to reward poor performance.

In Tennessee black bear can be taken with dogs or stalk hunted. In Georgia, where I hunt more often, no baiting or dogs, just stalk hunting; very challenging, but alot of fun.

Just got off my range shooting my Merkel 160-1.1 in 8x75RS, using 200gr Speer Hot Core Spitzers, a batch of new handloads. The caliber is not far off the 8x68S. I love this double.

Take care, Mike

After the first lessons in reloading I see a lot of new rifle projects. Now 5,6x61, 6x62 frères,
244 H&H, 318 Westley Richards and more are possible.
Why didn´t I learn reloading many years before?

Even the 9,3x64, I never bought one for there is only one factory load available, is now on my list.

My 8x68S project will start with the 6,5x68 and a Voere rifle.

I think the 375 Hölderlin is canceled, dream now is the 9,3x70.

Thank you for all the comments.

Burkhard

The 8x68S is in the same class as the .338 Winchester anmd the 8mm Remington Magnum, but is more compact so it can be used in standard action-length rifles, (though sometimes the bullet must be more deeply seated). Mine is factory built on a magnum action.

With newer bullets it is a completely reliable round and has been used successfully on the largest water buffalo in Australia and also, the RWS FMJ bullet has been used in the Central African Republic, (where there was no .375" minimun law), to take elephant.

In many of the old German colonies in Africa, the 8x68S is still the yard-stick by which all other cartridges are measured. My Mauser 66 in this caliber is a very accurate rifle, ideal for larger deer, big antelope and leopard. I like the 6,5x68 RWS also for mountain game.

My next rifle is going to be a 6,5x68S for plains game in RSA, come April of 2012.

Fantastic cartridge.

Rich


Do they not also offer a rimmed version?

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
My next rifle is going to be a 6,5x68S
...
Do they not also offer a rimmed version?

Rich, minor nit: the cartridge is 6,5x68, not 6.5x68S. In contrast, the 8mm version based on the same case is indeed 8x68S. But the "S" designation relates to the "8mm" indicating a .323 bore. The 8x68S is one of the few 8mm cartridges which only came in .323 bore, so in principle the "S" designation could be left out, but it isn't. (This whole "S" vs "no S" is a kludge anyway).

Yes, there is a rimmed version of the 6.5x68 - "6.5x68R". There is no rimmed version of the 8x68S.

- mike

It just got stuck way back when, Shuler was credited here with the two cartridges. I never thought of it in terms of "S" VS "J" bore rifles.

Man, would a rimmed 6,5 be just the cat's ass in a long barreled single shot?

I got to call HDS and see if they can get me 200 rimmed cases. I suppose you can use the rimless dies for both?

oooooh baby, I can see me with one of these.

thanks for the clarification.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I got to call HDS and see if they can get me 200 rimmed cases. I suppose you can use the rimless dies for both?

Yes, the rimless dies work for both - shell holder is naturally different.

- mike