Thread: The 8x60 S

Since I parked up my .256Newton loading due to the rifle having a cracked stock, I haven’t had an obscure caliber to play with until I picked up a Brno Model 21 in 8x60S. The great thing about 8x60
Is that it doesn’t require difficult to obtain brass, dies or bullets.

I was gifted 30 pieces of gold, I mean Norma brass, from forum member aimless, and with a borrowed set of 8x57 dies and the worlds crappiest brass trimmer, I knocked out 10 test cases.

Load data for the 8x60 is a bit thin, limited to only a couple of older powders and mostly heavier projectiles, I erred on the side of light and used an 8x57 starting load of 45gr of Win760, and a handful of pulled old 150gr Interlocks I found.



Off to the range I went to today. After setting the dual triggers I attempted to fire the first round, and got nothing more than an audible click... aghast, I thought I had a firing pin fault, with no struck primer. After some head scratching I realised that the safety was on! The Brno model 21 allows you to set and fire the triggers, but seems to internally block the firing pin from moving far enough to hit the primer, rather than block the movement of the trigger itself. Anyway, firsts rounds round and I was pleasant lit surprised by the light recoil. I was quite please and thought to myself either I’m getting tougher or these big 8mm’s aren’t that bad after all. But my pleasure was short lived when the crony told me why the recoil was so light... only just over 2000fps! I had definitely erred on the light sight. I guess when they are nudged closer to something more like 2500 that it’s going to get a bit stouter on the shoulder.

I was pretty happy though with the first group, only at 50m, but without really trying too hard. There is a lot of potential here for a nice accurate shooting stick. I just don’t know what box of bullets to go for. I could play it safe and just get more Interlocks but I’m also tempted by 150gr Sierras or 170gr Hot Cor. Roll of the dice I suppose.