Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 8mm-06

I know there are bazillions of old rechambered Mausers out there but anybody here ever build an 8mm-06 "on purpose?" I have a Remington 78 .30-06 that I bought a couple years ago for the action that has been just taking up room in the safe. I originally wanted to turn it into a 7.65x53 Argentine but I've since decided I want that cartridge in a Mauser action. I have about every other interesting cartridge under the sun already and have about decided to send the 78 to Shaw and have it barreled to 8mm-06. Already have a 8x57 and an 8mm Rem Mag as well as a .338-06, so I know it is redundant but who cares. I'll put it in a synthetic and possibly have the metal hard chromed or electroless nickeled to make an "all weather" type rig out of it. Anybody here had one built?

Go for it. I had a mauser rechambered to 8mm-06. Never got around to building one outright. I liked it and hunted with it for a few years. Never loaded it to max. My old data for it shows 175 loadings @ 2790fps and 200 Parts @ 2610fps.

IMR4320/4064 were great powders in it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Ditto!

The 8-06AI my GS favorite cartridge!

He says "that 200 NPT is the only bullet you'll ever need".

SCgunNut, I also say...go for it...I have a Rem 700 in 8x57 and it is a great hunting rifle/round...so the .323 x 63 should be super. good luck.

I always thought those 700 Classic 8x57 would be re-chambered to 8mm/06 all the time, but I never heard of it. You might find a take-off in 8x57.

People buy those 700 Classics and rebarrel them to 270 or 30-06 I guess?

Sycamore

I had an 8mm-06 for a while. It's a great round, in fact I found it to be just as good as the .30-06!

Yeah..., I did it! Once... Ended up giving the rifle away... Still have another that I purchased thinking it was a std 8x57.

For some reason, I love the 8x57 and the 8x60 even more... But the 8x63? Well, I had an 8x63A.I. for a short while... And that cured me of that desire. It was an evil-kicking machine. Every standard 8x63 (8mm-06) has treated me the same way...

Speaking of the M-78... I have one that some former owner converted to 9x57...

GH

Yeah, I have your article on it around here somewhere, good read. Bear in mind, I'm trying to accomplish NOTHING by rebarreling a .30-06 to 8mm-06. I know any gains are miniscule at best, other than scratching a mild itch. The only way a .30-06 will reside in my safe is as a donor. I have bought two over the last couple years for the actions, a Mark X that is currently under construction becoming a .376 Steyr and the Remington 78 that is the next victim here. I would get less than zero enjoyment out of hunting with a .30-06. An 8mm-06 on the other hand... As the Grand Poobah of Rifle Loonies, I'm sure you understand!

Glad to see you back Ed, missed your insight there for awhile during your sabbatical. I remember your 9x57. Think you killed a buck with it a couple years ago if I remember correctly. I have a Martini in 9x57R and killed a doe with it year before last. Getting proper bullets for the "9mms" can be a bit of a bugger!

I knew there was something that you and I had in common! I feel just about the same way about the venerable '06 (And; you can throw in the .243, and 7mm Mag, as well...) I, too, have a Wards M-720-B (Commercial Mauser) that is nearly completed by my local 'smith in .376 Steyr...

GH

A man after my own heart! I have a .30-06 in the safe currently, but I put it over by the shotguns and muzzle loaders so none of the funk rubs off on my other rifles:D

Mike

If that was the VZ 24 you did the article on, I owned it for awhile after you finished with it

I always wondered what happened to that rifle, I was contemplating buying it, and before I knew it, it was gone... And so it goes... IIRC, it was a sporterized mil-surp... And I am trying to leave those money pits alone, and only own commercial Mausers...

GH

I have a handed-down 338-06AI that started life as a NIB Zastava Mauser action....was going to be an 8-06AI from ER Shaw. Either way, can't lose.

I finally got tired of "thinking" about it and just sent the Remington 78 off to be reborn as an 8mm-06. Will makes updates as progress is made...

What makes a 175 or 200 grain bullet out of a 8mm-06 better than a 175 or 200 grain bullet out of a .30-06? Lower sectional density and bc? I thought that was an anathema around here.

Are the .323 bullets better, is there a wider selection?

I must have missed those somewhere. Who makes 'em?

If a guy wants an 8mm-06 that is reason enough to do it. There are far worse places to land at and there are some great 8mm bullets out there. Pretty versatile cartridge for those who want something a little different.

Ditto!

The 8-06AI my GS favorite cartridge! +2

He says "that 200 NPT is the only bullet you'll ever need". [/quote]

It is good to see others without the 30-06itis. Not downing the cartridge or its performance, but if I see another 30-06 thread or article I will puke.

A .30-06 is like a butthole, EVERYBODY has one, ergo, I don't. Besides, remember which category this post is in. There's no "need" for 98% of the stuff built and discussed here...

No idea why anyone would do this when 338-06 allows better bullets (and wider selection) to be flung.

My thoughts exactly 257. Bullet selection.............. .338 for the win

Ray Montgomry built me two 8mm-06's on Remington actions, one an AI. Had sold both but recently bought back the AI. Great cartridge foe any of the 200 grain bullets.

Damn, how many bullets do you guys shoot. I'll tell you...one. You choose one bullet for each rifle and that's what you hunt with. So why is the 8mm-06 a bastard when one can shoot the 170, 175, 185, 195,and the 200gr bullets. powdr

powdr......If you want a 8mm-06, nobody is stopping you. Go for it!!!

I do think there's a lot of overlap in bullet weight between the .308" and .323". The .338" allows you to easily go to 210's and 225's and even 250's (or 285's for long range). Or 160 TTSX for speed.

Already have one, Weatherby Ultralight. Like I said before, there is no logic involved in the project. It's just to scratch an itch. I am a big fan of medium bores between 8mm - 9.3mm. I have an 8x57, 8mm Rem Mag, two .325 WSMs, various .33s, a whole slew of .35s and 9.3s. This 8mm-06 will be set up as an "all weather" gun, so that's my justification to myself, for what it's worth.

Keep us updated and show us a few pics when it's done.

Heaven, my comment was not directed at you. I just can't see what a 338-06 can do that an 8mm-06 can't do w/a 200gr Partition. Their both great cartridges but alas I live in Texas where neither would be useful. I've owned a nice 338-06 on a 78 action w/Borden stock but I sold it. Have always wanted an 8mm-06 but I'm hoping the 6.5X55 I'm building will scratch the itch. powdr

First step of the project complete...

I wanted an 8-06AI when I was about 20, which was a long time ago. Then I came to my senses and got a 338-06. Now I would get a 30-06.
About the same time a got a 375-06 AI.

Today, if I wanted more than a 30-06, I would get a 35 Whelen, which is just what I did.

Getting closer...

I've got a half dozen 8mm's of various flavors from standard 8x57, 8mm-06AI, 8x62 Durham Mag and a few others... them all. The 8mm-06AI with a 25" Douglas barrel is running 3050fps with a 175gr Sierra in front of a stiff load of Re22...I only get 2 or 3 loads out of a case before my primer pockets loosen but it gives me -1/4" groups and groups open up significantly when I back it off so after a long chat with the techs at Alliant I decided to leave it as is. Have been shooting that load for about 20 years or whenever 22 came out and have never looked back. I would highly recommend the 8mm-06AI. Have never recovered a bullet from any of the elk I've shot with it but mostly shoot 180gr Barnes or 200gr Noslers and North Fork bullets. I don't think you could go wrong building one bu it is a lot more gun than the standard 8mm-06.

I think the 8mm/06 was a bit of an under-performer simply because the bore/case ratio did not favor any of the powders which were commonly available. Today that may not be the case. I agree with those who say you only need one good bullet. In fact, it eliminates all of the mental anguish which plagues the shooters of 30 calibers. GD

I have no experience with the 8mm/06, but I have owned several 8x64s and 8x60s as well as 8x57s. The 8x64 is very close to the 8/06 which would be the 8x63. I think the 8/06 is a small step up from the 30-06 and the Ackley version another small step.

John

We wore out reamers by the dozens building these back in the day when 06 brass was available by the ton and 8mm brass was as rare as hens teeth and berdan primed to boot. This was a popular conversion. You could find 8mm bullets but no reloadable brass.

Aside from the brass issue it made no sense, and when brass became available it quickly died out. It got the job done just as well but wasn't any better than the original. 8x57 was a hammer...I liked it.

To avoid all the drama, I just re-barreled my rifles to 30-06, then my $50 Garand had ammo too.

That German surplus MG ammo was real pretty.

How do you find your 8x60s?

I was lucky enough to find a zg47 in 8x60s. 200gr partition at 2,600fps without trying under H380.

There's a cool old Sako Mauser in 8x60 on GunBroker right now. Condition is not great and if it was better, I'd be tempted. Been told the Sako 8x60s had .318" bores but don't know it for a fact.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/590335202

8mm-06 would be fun, I had an 8x57 built a year ago, and had my Dad's old 98 rebarreled in 8mm Gibbs for him probably 20 years ago. Both a lot of fun, but these days, I'm thinking the 8x57 will do it all with a lot less fuss.

8mm-06 would be about as pain free as a wildcat gets, but don't overlook the x57. Load it to CIP spec and it doesn't give up much of anything to the '06.

I built a 8-06 about 20 years ago. I wanted one since I was 18.

Since then I have owned and shot 338-06, 338-06 AI (2), 35 Whelen, 375-06 AI.

Concluded they are all great, just like the original, the 30-06. Going with Mule Deer on this call.

If I was crazy enough to do it again it would definitely be the AI version.
I just don't buy the bullet selection argument. The sweet spot is around 200 grains. End of story

It's done, except for getting mounts and glass on it. Just got it back from being electroless nickeled by Mahovsky's Metalife. Time's running out fast but I hope to get it scoped and get a load worked up in time to get it in the woods before Jan. 2 gets here.

Sharp!

Looks really good.

Ready for the range...

How`d it shoot??

Haven't made it to the range yet. Hopefully Saturday if the weather is decent. First batch of loads will be with the 170gr SST.

plenty of good 8mm bullets available, most guys that claim otherwise don't have a clue what they are talking about and are passing on a rumor they once heard a long time ago, any 30 caliber cartridge can be made better by simply necking up to 8mm

Itches require no blessings or permission from the peanut gallery. Enjoy.

I'm in Simplification mode myself, concentrating on a few standard boring cartridges in rifles I like. It's all good.

Your first point is a good one, your second one is a bit of a stretch. Nice photo.

Correct on the bullet choices, but you are missing a few of the lighter ones. I really like the 175 by Sierra. PPu also makes a 175, tho I found it soft. Hornaday`s 170 SST works` very well, and the Barnes 160 TTSX I push out of my AI at 3100 fps. And there`s remington`s 185.
Your point is spot on tho, there`s enough 8mm bullets out there to make most very happy.

All my original pics are gone, thanx Photobucket!, but I finally bloodied the 8mm-06 this evening on a nice meat doe.


170gr SST/Varget

Looks good !

Great round, I would like one.

Nice work, cool cartridge.

Nice looking rifle!