Thread: Tight Bore 8x57

Here are a couple of pics . . . (ignore the scope, thats just for testing purposes - it deserves a "classic" scope)





Its a very nice rifle, light, beautifully balanced,and is a delight to carry.

There is no problem with shooting it as an 8x57, it just requires a little commonsense, and to be treated like the old-timer that it is, the proof marks show it was provisionally proofed in Germany in 1926, and reproofed in the UK in 1955. The UK reproof is a "butt covering exercise", they have not said its not safe for 8x57JS, they've only ticked it for the older less intense cartridge. Most of the older 8x57's with less than .323 barrels were re-throated for .323, and while I have no proof, a barrel made in the 1920's would certainly be thus.

This is backed up by the fact that the .323 loads I have tested to date show no signs of pressure (let alone excessive pressures) and velocities are as expected from the extended throat the "converted" chamber has. Having said that it would not be wise to push up to full 8x57 velocities, getting 2800 fps as I'd hoped with 170's won't be happening.

All is not lost though, I have yet to fire test groups but given that this style of chamber is often not favourable to boat-tail projectiles (like the Hornady SST 70) I'll just have to try others. I have some pointed .321 165's, .318 160's and will get some 323 180's and the 200gn Woodleigh's Stug pointed out.

A 165 or 180 at 2600 fps will take any game I'll strike in NZ and if I scope it right, won't be a limitation to shooting out to my self imposed limit on game, which is definitely not more than 400M (and I nearly always pass up shots of more than 300M)