CT,
I have been gifted, or cursed, as the case may be, with an overactive gift of logic.
I have also been blessed to have played with a
ALOT of different rifles and chamberings over the years. And I currently own a multitude of dies for anything that might come along.
From this experience and the aformentioned blessing of logic comes the following conclusions:
The 8x57 Mauser will handily take any game animal in N.A. (With the possible exception of
Ursa Major !)... (A game animal I have NO intention of picking a fight with, YMMV) If one wants an improvement over that there is the 8x60; for which factory ammo and brass are available. (scarce, truly, but available, nonetheless...) There is also the 8mm/06, As I'm sure you're aware. Dies are relatively common and brass is cheap.
Further: there is the 8mm/06 A.I.; for which dies are equally scarce and expensive.
I'm sure my "cave" can reveal a dozen or more rifles with a bore of 8mm. Thus, I have a bit of experience...
The 8mm/06 that I owned breifly, kicked like a Missouri mule. And I didn't keep it long.
Dies and brass made their exit at the same time, as I vowed never to own another.
I currently have two rifles at the 'smiths being rechambered to 8x60 and have one 8mm/06. (Not to mention a .325WSM and an 8mm Rem Mag...) I have seen
Sellier & Bellot factory ammo in 8x63 of which I assume is the same as 8mm/06. (Wish I'd bought it...
)
Re: the 8x57 Imp; One can build one, but dies are very expensive (
i.e: CUSTOM) and very scarce. Also resale value is minimal for both rifle and dies... Thus: the only reason to build one is merely to have something different. (A concept I am not totally unfamilar with.)
Therefore: I have presented my case for LOGIC.
When it comes to WANT, Logic just flies out the window! Grasshopper
