My new all-purpose hunting load

[MachIVshooter]

Well, I still love my .25-06, but I think it's going to be supplanted during combined rifle season by my newest addition, a 700 BDL in 8mm Rem Mag. After chronograph and trajectory table results, I believe this is going to be the perfect long-range big game gun.

I'd been after one for awhile, and finally came upon a good deal for a clean '79 model topped with a Redfield 2-7x (US made, even!). Worked up some handloads on Wed, and got out to the range yesterday to zero. I tend to load fairly warm stuff, but stayed a touch under maximum for a first batch. Well, they proved to be faster than expected. The 180 gr. ballistic tips were clocking an average od 3,314.4 FPS 12' from the muzzle with 80.0 Grs. IMR4350, and the 220 grain Sierras over 80.0 grs. Reloader 22 hit an average of 2,966.2 FPS.

Today, I plugged those numbers into a calculator, and wow! What flat-shooting, hard-hitting loads. With a 250 yard zero for the 220 grainers, MPBR for a 10" vital zone is 317 yards. They'll hit a max of 2.7" high at 150 and are 30 inches low at 500, still carrying 2,600 ft/lbs - As much as a .308 has at the muzzle!

The 180's zero at ~300 yards without adjusting elevation, are 3.4" high at 150 and have a MPBR of 343 yards. 500 yard drop is 21" and energy retention at that range is 2,290 ft/lbs.

My .375 Ultra is almost as good in the trajectory department and certainly hits harder, but it beats the snot out of me in the 7 pound BDL SS, and it doesn't take a 300 grain bullet delivering 3 tons of energy to drop an elk. The 8 mag recoil is by no means light, but much more tolerable than the .375.

YMMV, but I feel that this underappreciated and underrated cartridge deserves a little recognition for it's flexibility/capabilities.

 

[The Sarge]

It is a very popular round down here.

 

[hardluk1]

I believe you have found the fix for any 25-06 issues. Nice !!

 

[MachIVshooter]

I believe you have found the fix for any 25-06 issues. Nice !!

Don't get me wrong, that rifle isn't going anywhere. One couldn't find a more perfect deer and antelope gun. Very flat shooting, light recoil, and more than enough oomph to drop a mulie at any "practical" range. I just always felt iffy with 400+ yard shots on elk (even cows) with the quarterbore, and I honestly don't shoot my .375 all that well due to having to hold so tight with the 83 ft/lbs of recoil. The mechanical accuracy of the rifle is fine from a lead sled, but I tend to shoot around 2-2.5 MOA with the thing from improvised rests, which leaves me lacking confidence in my ability to hit critters beyond 400 with it. And I don't want to port it for obvious reasons. If I ever make it to Africa or go after big bears here, it'll be my go-to. But I think my days of carrying it in the CO rockies are over (that 26" barrel is annoying in the woods, too-snags everything)

The 8 mag is a perfect gap filler between those two, and a much more appropriate cartridge for larger species of North American game. Granted, a .300 RUM launches bullets of the same weight at the same speeds with slightly higher B.C.'s due to the .308" diameter, but it also takes 20% more powder to do so, which means higher per-round cost and heavier recoil. That, and I just like to be different

I know some will read this and think (or say) "why do you need to shoot elk at 500 yards? That's not hunting, it's an excercise in marksmanship". Well, to those, I say come hunt Colorado. Sometimes a long shot is the only one you'll get. You can't expect the big bull on the next ridge to wait there while you fight down and up hills in dark timber for an hour to close the gap. Cross-canyon shots are not at all uncommon, and having a rifle with that capability (and being able to shoot it that well) is often the difference between a successful hunt and a very cold camping trip.

 

[Al Thompson]

IIRC, Charles Askins was a big fan of the 8mm Magnum. That's a pretty good endorsement right there.

 

[rborensr]

I always thought the cartridge was hampered by a lack of appropriate bullets. most of the bullets on the market are intended for the 8mm Mauser and just aren't going to cut it 500 fps faster. What the 8mm Rem Mag needs is a selection of 200+ gr controlled expansion hunting bullets. Think about a 220 gr Accubond...

Still, Craig Boddington is reportedly a big fan of the cartridge and peaked my curiosity in it some years ago. I did the research and decided that if I was to be limited primarily to 180 to 200 gr bullets, I'd prefer a .30 cal. Then I went one better and got a 7mm Rem Mag. It does what I need it to do and has a plethora of high efficient big game bullets available.

 

[hardluk1]

mach just fool'n with you. i have allways like smaller bore rifles just widh I could justify a .250-3000. I like being married

 

[MachIVshooter]

I always thought the cartridge was hampered by a lack of appropriate bullets.

I think that (and fairly heavy recoil) is what hurt it in the beginning.

Of course, the .325 WSM hasn't exactly enjoyed meteoric success, either. Just not a popular bullet diameter here in the US.

IMO, aside from the #7, American shooters really aren't fond of metric calibers in their hunting rifles.

What the 8mm Rem Mag needs is a selection of 200+ gr controlled expansion hunting bullets. Think about a 220 gr Accubond...

There's a decent selection now; The .325 WSM helped prompt that a bit. Granted, the big 8 is still quite a bit faster than the .325 WSM. The Sierra 220 gr. was always a good choice, and there were Nosler partitions and such in the 200-220 gr. range.

There is a 200 Gr. Accubond; I'm going to be trying that one next. There are also 180 gr. CT ballistic silvertips, 160,180 & 200 gr. TSX's, 200& 220 gr. A-frame and even 250 gr. Woodleigh weldcores. Certainly a lot more selection now than there was 30 years ago.

I don't expect this cartridge will ever see a revival, especially with the introduction of RUM's on both sides of it in calibers that have better bullet selection. Doesn't change the fact that it is and always was a good cartridge, with decisive advantages over both of it's contemporary competitors, the .300 WM and .338 WM.

The 8mm mag is to the world of hunting rifles what the 10mm auto is in the combat handgun genre; A great idea that never made it big-time for reasons we my never fully understand.