A little knowledge is power, I have been spending some time researching this caliber, and I am very keen on finding out more.

Werner Reb's website is great help: http://www.werner-reb.de/40680/40689.html

As is: www.jww.de/r30/vc_content/bild...aden_jww_04_0405.pdf

And: http://lutz-moeller-jagd.de/8,5-mm/8,5x63-KJG.htm

And: http://www.gian-marchet.ch/GM-...ierung-GM-8563-d.htm

And: http://blaserbuds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2416

Not sure I want to start a new project whilst here in Australia, but it is worth a look.

If you are not a reloader, and in particular if you are located in Europe, I would consider the 8.5x63 a viable alternative - should you be looking for a mid-size cartridge between the .30-06 and the 9.3x62. Alternatively, if you want to shoot the cartridge in a rifle for which custom chambered barrels are not easily available - e.g. the Blaser R93. (You can have R93 custom barrels made these days, but there are fewer options compared to barrels for other rifles).

For all other shooters, I can never quite get over that the 8.5x63 is really a relabeled .338-06 AI. There are minimal differences between the two cartridges, but not enough to make a difference in practice. Reb's rimmed cartridge (8.5x63R) makes sense, but I have always believed putting his name on the 8.5x63 was more a sign of an oversize ego than any ballistic advantages. But hey, the .338-06 AI is a good cartridge, and so is the 8.5x63.

If it was my project these days, and I was looking for a cartridge like this, I would start out with factory Nosler .280 AI brass. I would neck it up to either .323 or .338 caliber as I deemed appropriate. Using the .280 AI brass has two advantages: no need to hassle (or waste barrel lifetime) with fireforming, and the shoulder on the 280 AI is further forward than on either the .338-06 AI or the 8.5x63, so there is a (minor) optimization of powder volume.

Yes, for a project like this, you would likely have to have your own reamer made. But I have come to that conclusion even if I want a custom chamber for a run-of-the-mill cartridge such as a .270 Win or .30-06, so no big difference there. Custom dies can be supplied by Hornady for about $100.

- mike

Does nothing the 338 Winchester will do, but holds more ammo.

The R version is very interesting, but I am at my limit on K95 barrels per a frame unless I buy another K95.

Interesting prospect though.

Would be agreat in a Sauer 202.

Just started in learning reloading.

So I think in some months there will be a
new barrel for this round fin my K95.

Or do you know another 338 in rimmed version?

Yes, but this one is not so powerful like the Reb.
.33WCF,200grs with ~Vo2200f/s (670m/s)and 2100f/lbs (2900Joule).


Martin

Burkhard,

As I'm aware (please correct me if I'm not in sync .....) the 8.5x63(R) is not a K95 option (at least not at the moment).

I have though seen & shot a fellows K95 Stutzen who had the rifle re-bored & re-chambered to 8.5x63R Reb.

I expected to get thumped as K95 Stutzens tend to be light but was surpised; it shot pleasantly & accurately as well. He had the reloaded ammunition loaded with .338" Nosler Accubonds.

Apparently the Fellow had purchased an 8x57IRS Stutzen barrel and had a (sorry don't know who) German Gunsmith do the work.

Gerry,

this caliber is no longer officially listed for neither the B95 nor the K95. It was however for many years and might still be available on special request.

I admit that I am lusting for one, just to complete my collection. Unfortunately they do not show up very frequently on Egun. A friend of mine got a used exchange barrel for around 500 €, as usual with the K95, it fit to his rifle without any adjustments necessary.

Sorry, have to go now and check Egun...

Hello

Do you know exactly the policy for special request chambering with blaser ?

The new uk import agent inform me this is no longer available anymore which I find difficult to believe

Gerry you are right, there is no Blaser option for the 8,5x63 Reb, but my gunsmith does't see a problem chambering a barrel for a K95.

quote:

Do you know exactly the policy for special request chambering with Blaser?

There is none that I'm aware.

Now, according to what has been related to me (I'm by far not an expert on Blasers). The reason for this is that Blaser's barrels for their entire Model series are hammered over mandels; which are very expensive to produce, because it's basicaly a "negative" barrel which are inserted into blank barrels and hammered to shape.

Plus their barrel steel is very hard; those barrels so modified are very difficult to re-cut with tools.

Now, having said that, they do; on occaision offer/special request former chamberings for which there is already a mandrel in existance and has since been removed from their cartridge list. I can imagine - although again, not an expert that the Mandrels have a limited service life (although a Scientific Wild Ass Guess on my part) just Dunno?

An example could be .257 Weatherby Magnum barrels for R93's which were offered for this rifle and are now only offered in the R8. Another the 22 Hornet once; offered in both Standard & Match barrel versions but now rarely seen.

I was hunting with Werner Reb 2(? - IIRC) years ago when he related to me that Blaser would chamber his 8.5x63 cartridge in the R93 & RWS was going to manufacture ammunition also.

I have not seen a factory produced Rimmed version in the K95 as of yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:

I have not seen a factory produced Rimmed version in the K95 as of yet.

The K95 barrel a friend of mine ows and I have shot is factory, I do remember they were factory listed for many years and should (unless as you says the mandrel is not good anymore), here is one gun dealer who still lists them as available:

K95 in 8.5x63 R Reb

I would just inquire with the factory. It seems that this caliber is gaining popularity (or at least is beng discussed more frequently in internet forums). Blaser is also a sponsor of Werner Reb's shooting competition.

Still listed at Blaser USA.

quote:

The K95 barrel a friend of mine owns and I have shot is factory, I do remember they were factory listed for many years and should (unless as you says the mandrel is not good anymore), here is one gun dealer who still lists them as available

Dirk,

Fantastic!

I'm sure there's plenty of R93 & K95 barrels I haven't seen nor encountered (yet, I'm always lurking).

I have a barrel in 8x75 RS so why would I ever need another one in 8.5x63 R? Why would anyone need more than maybe two or three different rifles?

Still, recently there were 2 (!) K95 barrels in 9.3x74 R on Egun. Even though I shoot this caliber in a BBF95 and absolutely do not need another gun for teh same round, I am still sorry that I didn't get one of these. Hell, the money's now gone anyway...

OK guys

How many of you are K95 barrel hoarders !!! ???

I must confess I just love to have a cupboard full of them

It seems like there are a few of us having this problem on this forum

Do we need specialist treatment ?

Shall we have our own forum ?

Benjamin,

We're Special (us K95 Owners) but not That Special .... No, we don't need out own spot.

There's already places to go w/Single Shots!

Gerry

I have done something really really bad

Do you think I am still part of the fraternity ?

Never mind Gerry, what the rubbery feck have you done to my the rifle you are holding on trust for me?!!

I do not wish to pour more oil into this already wildly flaming fire but I have repetedly heared rumours that a gunsmith either in Germany or Austria manufactures barrels for the K95 in quite exotic calibers.

Why not a 20" version in .45 LC, one in 6.5x52R for roe deer, in 7,62x54 R русский, a 8.15x46 R Schützen or a .303 British? I do wonder anyway why Blaser isn't a bit more creative on this side.

Oh dear

Younhave spilt the beans

I have 02 on order and I was going to keep it secret

Now it is out

The gunsmith is bix and Andy in Austria and they are making 02 barrels for me in custom chamber

...........

Did you read about it on wilkileak ?

BTW

I plan to tell my wife I won them in a competition

So ghubert if you are thinking of blackmailing me ...

Oh, Bixn Andy, he's known and enjoys quite a good reputation. Would you mind PMing me the estimate cost of one of those marvels?

Bonus pay is expected by March and our hunting season is over next week, so enough time to evalulate the most appropriate caliber for such a project...

PM on its way .................

PM received, thanks, man!

quote:

Gerry

I have done something really really bad

Benjamin,

"$&?*!@ .......

ben

why oh why, did you feel the need to do this ?

best

peter

I sense a general feeling of disapproval ?

Well, for the last few years I never felt any of my rifles fitted me.

And since most of them have synthetic stocks I cannot do much except sticky tapes , foam or slip on fake "boob jobs" which I dread.

Being a trap shooter I understand the importance of a fitted stock. A friend of mine have a spare Kregkoff mechanism lying around from his dysfunctional K80 -that's another story

So I asked a stock fitter to give it a go and to my surprise it fits with plenty clearance.

I posted it on Blaserpro and got over 50 private messages asking for details.

I sense there is something in this.

Now I have correct cast and commbe height.

The toe and L.O.P. has also been corrected with the shimmed rear pad.

The rifle fits really really well.

I also learnt that there are 06 ring heights offered by Blaser but the previous blaser importer only offers 02 heights for UK for the past 12 years and nothing is listed on blaser.de

Can you see how many Blaser hunters are crawling around with excessive scope heights in the UK because of that ?

I can now mount it perfect and consistently at speed every time and there is nothing hanging off or snagging.

OK the looks is not everybody's cup of tea but I know I am cutting down my variables.

So am I still in the club or expelled ?




All I need now is a 6 Dasher barrel for anything up to 600 yards .....

quote:

So am I still in the club or expelled ?

Ben,

You'll always be one of us .....

What?!

He's Gerhard Muller-ed my the rifle!

We have to name penance at the very least, what is the appropriate forfeit for such a heinous act?

01 good box round the ears?
010 kicks in the butt?

Over to you.

The punishment my friend ghubert is more

Tunneling

Do you remember this time last year we were talking about tunneling tools from Germany ?

This is a XL tunneling tool from Putzmeister, Aichtal:

quote:

Originally posted by DUK:
This is a XL tunneling tool from Putzmeister, Aichtal:

Harsh but fair.