Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 8x57 vs .308

are you being sarcastic? Or is there a selection of 6+ BC 8mm boolets out there that I'm missing

The only reason to choose the 8mm over the .308 (or '06) is if you stumble over one of the really nice rifles chambered for it.

Or because you really want one.

Sierra has the 8mm 200gr Matchking, with a BC in the low .5's. Their 8mm 220 SBT is also in the low .5's.

In comparison, there is the .308" 215 Berger at BC .696. The 208 AMax at .648, the 210 Berger at .630.

I put some 215s through one of my 308s at 2600 fps, via moly, RL17, and a 26" bbl. It's a serious LR load in the 308.

If there is an 8mm LR bullet in that league, I'm not aware of it.

me neither ... and I didn't see how the cited article had anything to do with LR shooting

It was in reply to hunting effectiveness, actually.

What needs to be done to the 308 rifle to accommodate the long bullets? Seating them deep in the stubby 308 case doesn't seem practical. Just curious.

Some folks have gone as far as building a 308 on a long action. My long 700s are both 30-06.

But I have put Wyatt's magazine boxes in my short 700s, giving them an internal length of 2.99". That helps, and with the 208/210gr I've loaded them to mag length, with 49gr RL17, and made 2620 fps in a 22" bbl.

The 215gr Berger I tested was loaded to 3.10" OAL and single loaded them. Truthfully, I don't mind single-loading for long range, time is not usually a big deal, and with a few rounds on the stock pack, reloads are pretty fast.




I've also dabbled with the 225gr Hornady BTHP in the 308, loaded long. Another great LR bullet with mass, and a BC in the upper .6's. This was another single-load proposition for me.




I share this info not to be argumentative, but mainly because the OP asked for comparisons in all areas. I felt for long range, this input seems relevant.

I guess bullets matter more than case stamps.


The 8x57 lost out due to WWII. The .30 caliber has been going strong due to military advances and the bullet companies seeing fit to offer a more broad array of long range bullets.

The .323 caliber suffers the same long range disappointments as the .25 caliber. How hard can it be to offer a A-Max in these calibers?


For pure hunting I like the 8x57, it might loose a hundred or so fps at 800 yards but no deer would know it. Neither would any game animal know that it was hit with a larger diameter bullet.

I don't really care, don't have anywhere to shoot past 500 yards and the likely hood of shooting at a deer past 400 yards is less than 5%.


I've got a 20" heavy carbine in 8x57, going to run the 170 SST and the 180 Ballistic Tip as soon as I get it ready.

I'm pretty sure the 8x57 won't win a modern Palma competition.
--Bob

That`s a nice looking rifle...who`s barrel?
I have a classic in 8x57, with a barrel that feels worst than a cordoroy road, tho most of the high spots have now been polished off.
A re-barrel job may go this winter.
Thanks

I'm gonna say that's old man Douglas' barrel.

Hence GR Douglas

Cool rifle chrome.

chrome: I love that carbine man. Nice rifle.

That is a cool looking rig. I always like to see modern rendition of the old timers.

My heavy 30-06 is kind of along that vein.

Thanks for pointing that out, I missed it.
I got a few of them.

I've had at least one 8x57 around my entire life, 'cause my pappy sent one home (minty VZ24) after VE Day. Still have that one and a few more, all M98 variants.

Never noticed any difference between thumping a half dozen or so whitetails apiece, with a 150gr 30-06 load, or a 150gr 8x57 load? If there was any difference, the deer missed it as well.

As Finn would say - "Make Mine Mauser"

And Bridger would say Hawken...

8x57 has the cool factor, and lots of history behind it. Other than that, toss a coin for any of the above applications.

8mm Mauser has 10% more case capacity and 5% greater bore size than the 308 Win. That's not nothing.

According to so Goddumn many on here the 280AI schitz from such a great height on the 270 Win with neither of those two differentials being as great.

So what gives?