looking at doing a 8x68 as an all around rifle.
I have 30-06 Remington 700 in 30-06 that my wife got from Walmart.
700 long action = $450.00
action truing = $400.00
Timney trigger = $200.00
Barrel = $300.00
Install and chamber barrel = $300.00
mcMillan Mag weight stock = $600.00
$2,200.00
not counting action = $1,750.00

method number Two. I have VZ-24 actions = $200.00
Blackburn Swift Standard Magnum bottom metal =
$420.00
Blackburn trigger = $120.00
Barrel = $300.00
Ed's Wing type safety = $300.00
Fit and chamber barrel = $350.00
Grind action = $200.00
Rust Blue = $250.00
McMillan stock = $600.00

$2,840.00 Not counting action = 2,640.00

Pro's and cons of each method?????

While the 8x68 can be built on a mauser 98 action heavier bullets must be seated quite deep. For that reason the 700 action and magazine will handle the extra length better. One issue you did not indentify..........the bolt face. The 06 bolt face will have to be opened up. The 8x68 case head is larger that the 06 but smaller than the belted mag cases, So what are you going to do about the extractor ???

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
While the 8x68 can be built on a mauser 98 action heavier bullets must be seated quite deep. For that reason the 700 action and magazine will handle the extra length better. One issue you did not indentify..........the bolt face. The 06 bolt face will have to be opened up. The 8x68 case head is larger that the 06 but smaller than the belted mag cases, So what are you going to do about the extractor ???

On a Mauser, the extractor is easy to deal with, on a 700, not quite so.

The bottom of the front receiver ring would need to be opened slightly on a Mauser 98. Any rifle designed for 8x57 or 30-06 heads will have to be opened a touch. I can get an m-16 extractor installed in the Remington.
Max length, of course, is 3.425". i don't feel that seating a little 200 grain bullet a scosh deeper will crimp my style too much. maybe i should just buy a Steyr.

I guess if I wanted a big 8mm that bad I find and buy 700 in 8mm RM.

I have 120 fresh RWS cases in 8X68S. Therefore, I must build a rifle. The 8X68S is much better balanced than the 8mm Rem Mag. So many of the European cartridges are better designed than ours, especially when you consider when they were developed.

quote:

I have 120 fresh RWS cases in 8X68S.

Wouldn't be the first rifle brought for that reason.

Its no chore to open a Mauser for the 8x68S or a 375 H&H..A bit in the front and a bit more in the rear does the job and does not weaken the action...Whitworths MK-10s and other Mausers are opened completely in the front for the 300s, 458s and 375s and never heard of one causing a problem.

The Mauser makes a nicer custom rifle by far than any 700, and resale value is more IMO..

I'm with Ray on this one.

Also, build a metric on a Mauser it just fits, at least in my mind.

what about an opened up Model 70 CRF? would that have sufficient length in the magazine box?

LD, I'd go with the Mauser for the reasons Ray Atkinson and Snellstrom have stated. Good luck with the project!

A pre 64 Win will accommodate about any large cartridge..All pre 64s are magnum length bolt bodies.

I'll use one of my VZ24s and a magnum box from Swift/Blackburn. of course, an Ed Lapour safety and an aftermarket trigger. 25" barrel.

I have found a good Mauser action to convert. Will use a Swift/Blackburn bottom metal for standard magnums. Will try to get a full 3.425" of room for seating the 200-grain bullets to full length. my German ancestors invented all the cutting edge cartridges seventy years ago.

Clearing the holster isn't the only issue here.

My 8X68S is a Mauser 66 and cost less than either of the options you mention, despite the fact that it came with an extra barrel in 6.5X68.

I am jealous, of course. I would like a factory rifle to save me headaches, I suppose. On the other hand, I have gone this route with the 9.3x64, and learned a lot in that process.
Would you grace us with a picture of your smokepole and extra barrel? I suppose an extra barrel in 6.5x68 would not be such a burden on my project. Perhaps this is just another excuse to get a three position safety from Ed Lapour, and another bottom metal assembly from Blackburn/Swift.

That Safri Ammo place has a screaming deal on 8x68S Norma brass. As in 68% off regular price = $16.95 USD per box of 25. I bought another 150 pieces. Shipping sucks, but there is plenty of left over joy in my corner of the world.

most 8mm bullets are designed for 8x57 velocity, even today, Nosler and monolithics are the exception...My favorite 8mm today is the 8x57 with proper handloads, I have an 8x60S mod 21 BRno, and it may be better I suppose, but my all time favorite 8 was the 8mm/o6 Ackely Imp..brass is cheap most bullets worked well on game...

I always wanted to try the 8x68, but lack of components and high cost, along with somewhat poor resale value led me down another path..

That said, for the last few years my favorite Brno mod. 22 "large ring" (that's rare indeed in a LR, but its a true Brno mod. 22 and that confuses the masses to no end as few experts realize that Brno mod 21 and 22s were made in Large ring version with the same inscriptions as the small ring version)MIne is a std. 8x57, but walks upright beside the 30-06 balisticly and then a tad more with good handloads. with a 200 gr. bullet at 2700 FPS plus a bit..

I just bought 150 8x68S Norma Brass for $17.00 per box, and 8mm Partitions and Accubonds at $19.00 per fifty. Pretty cost effective at Safariammo.net, and Shooters Pro shop

PT&G has the reamer in stock. Hmm.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
I have found a good Mauser action to convert. Will use a Swift/Blackburn bottom metal for standard magnums. Will try to get a full 3.425" of room for seating the 200-grain bullets to full length. my German ancestors invented all the cutting edge cartridges seventy years ago.

Clearing the holster isn't the only issue here.

Could I get her phone number?

The info on Model 70s is misstated; All Pre 64s are NOT magnum length; they are 30-06 length and they need a lot of opening up for mags. ALL POST 64s ARE magnum length and need no receiver opening up to feed magnum rounds. Just to clarify; not that you want to use one. Except the short action; someone will want to pick if I don't mention those. Those are 308 length; actually a bit longer.....