8mm Rem Mag

[ward01]

You're missing one of the best and my favorite, the 8x68S. Beltless, it looks like a scaled up 30-06 and feeds very smoothly in the pre-64 action. About 30 years ago when I was up to more serious elk hunting, I sent a M70 action to Bill Atkinson (A&M) about the time he was involved in the start up of HS Precision and had him put a 25" stainless barrel on it. We black chromed the barrel in a flat color to go with the action.

It was stocked locally here with some nice English. I added a 2.5x8 Leupold and worked up a load with the Nosler 200 partition, RWS brass, and IMR 4350 that ran a little under 3,000 fps. Over the years, it certainly did "make meat."

This thread makes me think I should get it out again and look for a new load. My rifle is slightly magazine length restricted and might do well with some of the new bullets and powders available today.

ward

[Snyd]

That sounds like a nice 8 there ward01. The 200gr Nosler Accubond is one heck of a bullet. Nosler claims it will hold 70% of its weight. I've been able to confirm that. These left the muzzle of my 24" Kimber at 2950. I'm using IMR 4007 SSC in my 325wsm. I could not get the same velocity and accuracy with the 4350. Not sure how it would work for your round.

The first broke a bull moose spine at 315 yds, weighs 140gr. The second took out some ribs the heart, caught part of the far shoulder at 365yds, weighs 150gr. I shot Dall Sheep this year at about 300, unfortunately I caught both shoulders but it was total pass through on a thin skinned critter like that. Actually, it didn't ruin that much meat.

[bradshaw]

Held one of my Piano Shoots this summer, where we play an upright piano to death with gunfire, then torch the remains (except for one done in 2005, which carcass became a 400 pound wall sculpture).

There usually are other targets posted at a Piano Shoot, which on this occasion included clay pigeons in an over-the-hill apple tree, at 240 yards. One of the shooters had a Kimber stainless .325 Winchester Short Mag, with handloaded Nosler Accubonds. Looking through an excellent first generation Burris 24x60mm spotting scope, I spotted some futile attempts at the last clay pigeon. Was then offered the last shot. Resting on a rolled up shirt over a .50 cal ammo can, I squeezed the crosshair on the 11 o'clock tangent. (To add for a taste of breeze, as previous shooters seemed to hold on, with shots drifting off at 5 o'clock.) The clay pigeon disappeared. I have heard variable stories of accuracy from Kimber's faux Model 70, but got the impression this rifle was ready for serious play.

Not ready to trade Nosler 210 and 225 Partitions in my .338 Win Mag for Accubonds, but favorable reports, including for moose, accumulate.

The 8mm Rem Mag seems to have been a cartridge waiting for a bullet. With the right bullet, recoil is excused.
David Bradshaw

[tek4260]

Speaking of the recoil of the 8, it is stiff. But that KDF on mine has cut it in half, if not more. Now it is more like a 308 in the recoil department.

[bradshaw]

Recoil of the Kimber faux M70 .325 WSM is pleasant, notably less than my .338's----.338 hits harder----and dramatically less than the sharp 8mm Rem Mag jab. I would imagine 8mm Rem Mag with .375 H&H magazine would handle heavy bullets much better than a short mag.
David Bradshaw

[Seasons44]

Would you consider the 8 rem mag's recoil comparable to a 375 with 270's?

[bradshaw]

I like shooting the .375 H&H more than the 8mm Rem Mag, the jab factor, the 8 Rem more like a .300 Weatherby mounded over with IMR 7828, screaming on both ends.

However, the sadly unrecognized Mauser Model 3000, a beautifully machined 1960/70's permutation of the Sako L61, when in .375 H&H trim with 26" pencil barrel and loaded up on 270 or 300 grain pills, jabbed like a boxer.

A well stocked .338 Win Mag represents the cutoff point of my not noticing, or barely noticing recoil, controllable even from an out-of-balance position. Add ten to twenty grains powder behind the same bullet and my attitude changes, particularly from somewhere up a tree.
David Bradshaw

[tek4260]

I zeroed my 8 in this afternoon and I must again sing the praises of the KDF! The rifle honestly kicks like a 243-308. This is with a 81gr of H4831SC, which is .5gr below max. I believe you could place the butt on your chin and fire it with no pain.

I agree with Bradshaw. A 375 is more of a big push compared to the quick slap of the 8 Mag. When you hold the 8 tight, the recoil doesn't feel that punishing to your shoulder, but I quickly get a headache from the rocking. Of course mine wasn't shot much before I got a KDF on it.