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Post by tek4260 on Dec 21, 2015 10:34:30 GMT -5
   Found a fellow wanting to get rid of an old unfired 8 Mag. Was happy to do a bit of swapping and give it a home next to my Classic in 8 Mag. Now to clean it up and get 30+ years of dust out of the bore, mount a scope, and relieve it of that unfired condition. Sorry for the poor pictures. I'll get some better ones soon and hopefully some groups. My M700 Classic from 1998 was a bit much for a scrawny 18 year old, so I wimped out and had a KDF installed. Thinking of skipping that step on this one and seeing if I've toughened up some over the years. I remember the first one was enough to give me a headache within a couple of shots, so I sent it off for the KDF. |
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Post by whitworth on Dec 21, 2015 10:41:39 GMT -5
Very cool! I recently acquired some factory 8mm mag ammo that someone was trying to unload as they no longer had the rifle. I've always been intrigued with this chambering.
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Post by tek4260 on Dec 21, 2015 11:26:19 GMT -5
This caliber was always dads "favorite". I suppose the best way I can describe it is as a step up from a 338 Win Mag, or maybe a flatter shooting 338? It's too much for deer I suppose, but meat loss is minimal with heavier bullets. I'd stay away from loading fast 150's for deer as they tend to act like a 150gr 22-250 and will ruin the entire deer with a behind the shoulder shot.
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Snyd
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Post by Snyd on Dec 21, 2015 11:48:31 GMT -5
Cool!..... "The Big 8". I've been hunting with "The Little 8" (325wsm) for about 10 years now. The 200gr Accubond is a great bullet. Accurate, high BC, holds together and easy on meat. I load it to right at 2950fps and have killed Sheep and Moose with it. I also have a load for the 220gr Sierra Gameking at 2800ish and have killed a griz with it. That 220 GK was designed specifically for the Big 8. I talked with Sierra about it. It has a thicker jacket an is tougher than other GK's. One bullet I haven't tried is the 220gr Swift A-Frame.
Ballistically the 325 is right at original 8mm Rem Mag loads but with the powders we have today the Big 8 can really sing. Too bad there isn't a 250gr out there for the Big 8. Barnes used to make one. Maybe Berger still does, not sure.
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Post by BigBore44 on Dec 21, 2015 12:35:00 GMT -5
Congrats to you! That's a nice lookin 700, and one of my favorite bolt guns. I have'em in 308 & 30-06 and they are both excellent shooters. I have always liked the 338 win mag and thought this would be similar for big game performance... I've never tried the 8mm mag but have always thought that the ballistics looked awfully good on paper... Looking forward to the range report and "On Game" reports  Enjoy BigBore44 |
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Post by 38 WCF on Dec 21, 2015 19:18:07 GMT -5
A local store had some 8mm brass a few month ago. If you would like, I can check and see if it is still in stock  |
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Post by Lee Martin on Dec 21, 2015 19:24:36 GMT -5
Remington probably wants to forget the 8 Mag but it does a lot of things well. I own two, the first being a sporterized Enfield wrapped in high figure walnut. The second is on a claw extractor Model 70 and 27” Shilen blank:  This one is about to get reworked. A gray laminate stock, complete with magnum cross bolts and Decelerator pad will be Devcon bedded after New Year’s. I’m also installing slightly higher rings. And if you’re looking for a load, mine print tight with 87.0 grs of Retumbo and Sierra’s 220 Game King (RL 25 and IMR's new 7977 are equally good):  The big 8 burns a lot of powder and can wallop your shoulder. Then there's bullet selection which is thin compared to 30’s and 338’s. But they shoot flat, carry a ton of energy to 500 yards, and in the right gun are capable of fine accuracy. 5-shots, 100 yards:  -Lee www.singleactions.com"Chasing perfection five shots at a time" |
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paul105
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Post by paul105 on Dec 21, 2015 20:22:11 GMT -5
Cool!..... "The Big 8". I've been hunting with "The Little 8" (325wsm) for about 10 years now. The 200gr Accubond is a great bullet. Accurate, high BC, holds together and easy on meat. I load it to right at 2950fps and have killed Sheep and Moose with it. I also have a load for the 220gr Sierra Gameking at 2800ish and have killed a griz with it. That 220 GK was designed specifically for the Big 8. I talked with Sierra about it. It has a thicker jacket an is tougher than other GK's. One bullet I haven't tried is the 220gr Swift A-Frame. Ballistically the 325 is right at original 8mm Rem Mag loads but with the powders we have today the Big 8 can really sing. Too bad there isn't a 250gr out there for the Big 8. Barnes used to make one. Maybe Berger still does, not sure. Guy I worked with (15-20 yrs ago) took an 8mm Rem Mag on a Russian brown bear hunt. Sounded like quite an adventure using old dilapidated military helicopters and guides equipped with bolt action 7.62 x 54R IIRC. I have a Browning Titanium Mountain rifle in 325 WSM that I picked up new for $800. After shooting it for a while, I had a KDF muzzle brake installed -- it's a lot more fun to shoot now. My recoil tolerance decreases disproportionately with each passing year. Snyd Hawk bullets offer 250gr & 280gr .323 bullets. www.hawkbullets.com/Pricelist.htmPaul |
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Post by magman on Dec 22, 2015 8:13:08 GMT -5
Can't say much about the "big 8", but gotta love the older 700s. The newer ones just don't have the same classic look.
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Post by tek4260 on Dec 22, 2015 8:22:32 GMT -5
A local store had some 8mm brass a few month ago. If you would like, I can check and see if it is still in stock I appreciate that sir. I have plenty but wouldn't be opposed to adding more! If you get back by there, just let me know. No rush at all and please don't make a special trip. |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Dec 22, 2015 8:33:48 GMT -5
I always liked the 8mm Magnum, but came across a 338 Win Mag before I ever found an 8 Mag... now that I have the 338, I can't justify the big 8... well at least so far I do however love those vintage 700's & an unfired 8 might have made me part with the cash... a couple years ago... I ran across the same unfired vintage 700 in 35 Whelen, & I had to pick that one up... |
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Snyd
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Post by Snyd on Dec 22, 2015 11:50:03 GMT -5
There you go right there! Big 8 medicine. |
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Post by tek4260 on Dec 23, 2015 12:10:16 GMT -5
Got it cleaned up, trigger adjusted, and scope base mounted. Now to decide on glass.   |
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Post by toroflow on Dec 26, 2015 20:38:03 GMT -5
Looking good! as for glass, I have on mine an older (1970s) Redfield 6-18x AO, as I like to shoot mine at 500 yards! |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Dec 26, 2015 23:00:01 GMT -5
On my 35 Whelen I mounted a 4 to 12 Leupold gold ring
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