Thread: The 8 x 60

There was a thread on the 8 x 60s a while back and I was following with interest, but I got sidetracked onto other things, now I want to get this old girl shooting again.
I am need of some advice from some clever buggers on here, @BW, @Tentman



Rifle is an Oberdorf Mauser Fully wooded carbine (20" barrel) this is the pic of barrel stampings on underside.
7,85 . 8,1 . 310 , this means .309" lands . .3189" Bore . 12.2" Twist .

So, it's closer to a .319 bore than a .318 , from what I have read the Germans stamped the actual sizes after barrels were made and measured, they were not all exactly .318




I have a couple rounds of original .318 RWS and its still tight at muzzle but I have had the bore slugged and at the muzzle its .320" and approx 2" from the throat its also .320" so that showing 1 thou of wear from new , yes it shows wear but should still be shootable .

My Delima is what bullet size to use or in fact be able to source, .318 bullets are near impossible to get and the bore now slightly oversize so do I even bother , I do have some Hornady 32 Cal 170 gr Fp that are actually .321" , they should work but there will be no load data on running those in an 8 x 60 ?

The other problem I have is Dies I have are 8 x 60S (.323) can I modify the expander so a .321 slug will grip in the neck ?

I'd have no doubt that it'll shoot, can't recall how I go onto it but when I had an oversize 318/319 bore I used the FTX .321 projectiles and they went fine. I've shot a lot of mismatched bore to projectile combinations both over and under size with nary a problem and usually very satisfactory accuracy. IMO the "bullet must match exactly" is yet another American gunwriter "thing"!

In order to down size the neck, how about removing the decap pin stem so it only sizes the outside. Perhaps the inside dia would now be closer to what you need; after all the decap ball is what sizes the inside of the neck & the neck wall thickness (now squished a little) may be all you need......just a thought.
Phil.

Originally Posted by Tararua Phil

In order to down size the neck, how about removing the decap pin stem so it only sizes the outside. Perhaps the inside dia would now be closer to what you need; after all the decap ball is what sizes the inside of the neck & the neck wall thickness (now squished a little) may be all you need......just a thought.
Phil.

Good idea , I thought of spinning it in a drill and with light sandpaper reduce its size a whisker

frm cartridges of the world no 6

For clarification , from cartridges of the world edition 6 ,European cartridges section .

I had a Sako 8x60 for a while - the 0.318 projectiles were available from Woodleigh (200gn from memory), and brass is still being manufactured in Europe.

Woodleigh aren’t doing them at the moment .

I cast a 170 grain FN bullet for the .32 40 Winchester sized to .323"

A forum member has reached out and has some 8 x 60 norma (.318) which is awesome, so will try that first and go from there guys , cheers