[Rapidrob]

Any member have loads for the 8mm Remington Magnum using any of the surplus pulled military powders for sale today?
200-220 grain bullet?
Thank you.

[MachIVshooter]

None of it that I'm aware of has a good burn rate for a large magnum like the 8mm. 842/844/846, IMR 4895 and 8208 are too fast, the .50 and up powders are too slow.

8mm mag really likes powders between 4350 and Retumbo. Reloader 22 and IMR 4831 are my go-to powders for the 8 mag with 200 & up. I like IMR4350 for 180 grainers, though. 80 grains of 4350 under a 180 gives me 3,315 FPS from my 24" 700 BDL.

I dunno about you, but most people (myself included) won't put enough rounds through their big 8 for the cost between commercial and pulldown powders to be significant. I keep about 100 rounds on hand, which would only amount to about $10 savings using the cheapest of surplus versus commercial stuff.

[Rapidrob]

The reason I'm asking is I'm building a long range target rifle. With the new introduction of .323 Match bullets and a muzzle brake that tames the beast, It should work well out past 1,000 yards.
I did not want to drop several thousand bucks on a .338 Lapua or the .40 long range rifles.
The cartridge is very under rate as you know. It has a lot to offer in a good rifle.
Thanks for the reply.

[Lloyd Smale]

It can be done but like was said your probably not going to get top performace out of them because there way to slow burning. I mostly use re22,4831 and 7828 in mine.

[1948CJ2A]

I use IMR4350 with 180 gr bullets in my 8 Mag for deer hunting loads (a bit overkill but still fun). I tried R22 with 200 gr Accubonds on the bench and they shot well too. I can only shoot about 15-20 rounds before I'm "worn out".

It's a kick-ass rifle that kicks my ass in the process. :)

[Blue68f100]

MackIVshooter,
8mm mag really likes powders between 4350 and Retumbo. Reloader 22 and IMR 4831 are my go-to powders for the 8 mag with 200 & up. I like IMR4350 for 180 grainers, though. 80 grains of 4350 under a 180 gives me 3,315 FPS from my 24" 700 BDL.

This is way over max load. DO NOT TRY

I suspect you meant 60gr.

Disreguard I'm thinking of 7mm Mag.

[MachIVshooter]

This is way over max load. DO NOT TRY

I suspect you meant 60gr.

It's 8mm REMINGTON MAGNUM, not 8mm Mauser or 8mm-06.

Sierra 5th edition max charge with 4350 and 175 gr. bullet is 80.9 grains. 69.9 grs. is the starting load.

Please don't offer advice when you have no idea what you're talking about.

[GooseGestapo]

If you could still get the WC-860 that was available 5-6yrs ago, it would do well. However, the WC872 available and very similar WC-867, probably not. I've used H50BMG and even my .300RUM w/180gr bullets, it's a bit slower than such as IMR7828 or Retumbo.

I've loaded the .300RUM with the WC860 and it does really well with 190-200gr bullets, but is a bit more over-bored than the 8mmMag.

You could give it a try as I suspect that with a 26" or longer barrel and 220gr bullets you might find something to like. The only way you'll know is to try....

If I was looking to build such a rifle as you are, I'd go with the .338RemUltMag. It has very similar case capacity (slighly more) than the .338Lapua Mag and brass is very much cheaper.

In the end however, it's your money and your decision.....

Like another poster stated, starting with an 8lb keg, the difference isn't worth the small savings.... Use what works best and forget the cost...... maybe 10-20cents a shot..... You wouldn't substitute a PrviPartisan FMJ for a Sierra GameKing or Lapua Scenar would you....???? Unless of course you couldn't tell the difference on the target at 800yds.....

[Blue68f100]

Quote:
This is way over max load. DO NOT TRY

I suspect you meant 60gr.
It's 8mm REMINGTON MAGNUM, not 8mm Mauser or 8mm-06.

Sierra 5th edition max charge with 4350 and 175 gr. bullet is 80.9 grains. 69.9 grs. is the starting load.

Please don't offer advice when you have no idea what you're talking about.

Well my older Sierra book only goes to 168gr HPBT with 61.4gr MAX With IMR4350. So according to my references I do know what I'm talking about and have loaded and shot the caliber since the 70's.

The 48th Edition of Lyman does not show any thing that high either.

Now if the 4350 has been re-formulated that could make a difference since I'm still using powder from the 80's.

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the WC-860 reff. I have 50 pounds of this powder and will give it a try.

[1948CJ2A]

Well my older Sierra book only goes to 168gr HPBT with 61.4gr MAX With IMR4350. So according to my references I do know what I'm talking about and have loaded and shot the caliber since the 70's.

The 48th Edition of Lyman does not show any thing that high either.

Now if the 4350 has been re-formulated that could make a difference since I'm still using powder from the 80's.

Blue - sorry but your information is incorrect. Nosler Vol 6 is what I used to load my 180 gr ballistic tips. I loaded mine down slightly to 76 grs of IMR4350. Don't know about the Lyman book as I don't use that one. I also have a Sierra 1998 manual that shows similar loads to the Nosler manual.

You said you've loaded and shot the caliber since the 70's. Do you mean you've loaded and shot the 8mm Remington Magnum or other 8mm cartridges? The 8mm Remington Magnum was developed by Remington in 1977. By the early to mid 80s, it was discontinued as a standard offering though you can still order it from their custom shop even today. Knowing that, if you're referencing a pre 1978 reloading manual, it wouldn't even be in there.

[MachIVshooter]

Well my older Sierra book only goes to 168gr HPBT with 61.4gr MAX With IMR4350. So according to my references I do know what I'm talking about and have loaded and shot the caliber since the 70's.

That's very interesting, since sierra has NEVER made a 168gr. HPBT .323" bullet. .308", yes, but not 8mm. .323" goes 150, 175, 200 & 220 from "the bullet smiths".

Sounds like you're looking at 7mm Remington Magnum data, which presently lists a max charge of 60.1 grs. 4350 under a 168 HPBT. I stand by my original statement.

[Blue68f100]

MackIVshooter you are correct, I'm thinking of 7mm Mag not 8mm.

I made notation on my post.

[Rapidrob]

I have found a new powder that should fill the bill. Hodgdon has introduced two powders made by St. Marks in Fla, that the military is using in all of its large guns
The burn rate and powder grain type is setting speed and distance records.
In the 8mm Remington Magnum you can get up too two hundred feet per second faster than other powders with NO increase in chamber pressure!
Superformance and V-100 powders. Winchester also has a powder out.
"Better living through Chemistry".

[TonyT]

Rapidrob,
The closest I came was using the old Hodgon-4831 in 8x68S which approximates the ballistics of the 8mm Remington. Curently I would opt for the cannister powders from Hodgdon or Alliant.

[Rapidrob]

Thank you to all who posted. I'll do a range report when the rifle is done.

[1948CJ2A]

Rabidrob - what's your build consist of?

[Rapidrob]

Sorry for the delay. The rifle is a Weatherby Vanguard long action .300 Why.Mag. I had a custom barrel made to 30" long, heavy weight with a J&P muzzle brake. The barrel is cryogenically stress relieved. The brake is one of the most efficient ever made.
With the new powder I mentioned, the loads my program developed are really eye opening.
I will not post them at this time until I test them with my new rifle and see that they are safe.
This is not a hunting rifle. It is for my use at 1,000 yards and farther. I teach long range shooting at my club, NM MILSURPS, and want to show the members what can be done at long range without spending a ton of money.
I'll keep you guys posted.