Hi all,

I'm a college student that likes to tinker with things. This Christmas, once my professors are finally through with me, I plan on getting around to the gunsmithing work I've been saying I'm going to do for a good while. Among the items on the list are to drop the six Mauser receivers I have off at my gunsmith's shop to get a little machine work done.

As a spring project, I'm throwing around the idea of starting a 8x68s build up. While my receivers are in the shop this December, I could very easily have him open the bolt face up on one of my VZ-24's to accomodate the 8x68s cartridge, but before I commit, I would like to know...what would I be getting myself into with one of these? As in, how hard is it to get one to feed properly, what mods am I looking at, etc? Time is not as big a consideration as money. As I said before, I like to tinker with things and as such, I try to do as much of the work as I can.

I'm not really a whiz-bang magnum type, but I do like metric cartridges and the allure of the 8x68 appeals to me. I just want to know what I'm getting into before I take the leap. Any information is appreciated. Thanks gentlemen.

Jason

In addition to the bolt face and rails, you'll have to open up the magazine- quite a bit. The 8x68 is a monster, fairly long like the 300/375 H&H, similar in power to the 8mmRem Mag. It can be done, a good friend had one imported from Belgium by Continental Arms made on a commercial FN action, magnum length drop box magazine. (SFA- 1970)

Make sure you locate a chamber reamer before you get too far along in your planning.

The 8X68S is designed for the standard length M98 action.



The C.I.P. standard OAL is 3.425" making it far easier to fit into the Standard M98 than a 375 H&H length cartridge.



The taper on the case is identical to the 7X57 Mauser and I have been able to get empty 8x68S cases to feed through an unaltered K98 action with the exception of the last case.



This was a compltetely unalterd action, with the standard bolt face. The extractor was still able to pick up the cases. (even the last one)



Of course this is a far cry from a funtioning 8X68S action but it does show that feeding should not be a problem once the bolt face and extractor are altered especialy when a bullet is loaded in the case to help guide the round into the chamber.



If you can find a hinged floorplate type magazine (1904 Portugese or 1909 Argentinian) it will be easy to add a new rear magazine wall and then remove the old one, lengthening the magazine by about .270". You will then need to use a "straddle" type floorplate to cover the extended magazine. This added to the 3.32" standard length magazine will give an internal magazine length of about 3.59", more than enough for a OAL of 3.5" or slightly more.



3 rounds will fit into the standard width and depth K98 magazine. Contrary to poular wisdom, it is quite easy to alter the extractor to "snap" over a round in the chamber making "1 up and 3 down" possible giving 4 rounds available.



Just about everybody makes dies and reamers are readily available.



Probably the biggest down side is the price of the brass.



Hirtenberger isn't too bad but RWS is 4 times as much.



I had started on the same project, but family matters have side tracked most of my "gunsmithing" endevours for the time being.



I think that Dan Belisle has already done this.





Hey Dan, are you listening?

Hi Wj, yes, I am listening. Just got back from NYC/Albany so haven't been logging in as regular as I like. My 8X68S action (98 surplus)is feeding fine, I did have to modify the box for length to use the bullets I wanted, but it feeds fine. Midway has the reamer for a reasonable amount of money, and I got brass, ammo, and dies from Martini Hagn in BC (great 'smiths by the way). Barrel is/was a turned down military 8mm, which works fine in this application. Now I have to work on the "dress up" items, safety, bolt handle, etc. Kind of busy getting ready for a bison/moose hunt (with a couple of other AR posters), so this will go on into winter (what else are winters for, anyway?). - Dan

Dan;

Just exactly what did you do to lengthen the magzine and what was the I.D. length after you were done?

Any crono data?

BTW; I killed a 220# (dressed) buck on 11-2-04. Not much of a rack, but I'm tickled.

Dan,

If it would be possible, could I see a couple pictures of your rifle and in particular the magazine changes you had to make? I think it would help my proposed project along if I could see what I would have to do.

Thanks a bunch,

Jason
roscoedoh@yahoo.com

Just a word about the components for the 8x68S... The RWS brass is about toughest, meanest, son-of-a-gun brass I have ever worked with. You really have to go at it with a vengeance to make any impression. If toughness of brass is any indication, this brass should last quite a while...

The 8x68S is very highly thought of in Central Europe - the European version of a .300 Win and a .338 Win all rolled into one, so to speak. Due to recoil, it can be a bit hard to shoot, but if you can handle the punishment, there are few situations that will leave you undergunned with an 8x68S.

- mike