Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 8x57 for Elk

I've used Hornady 195gr or Nosler 200gr AccuBonds for some years now in both my 8X57 Husqvarnas and my Kimber MT 325 and had good results from either.

In my 8X57 I usually load 51gr IMR 4350 and the Nosler AB. It would be a great elk-whacker. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANY LOADS! Work yours up safely.

IMR 4064 is also a great powder for the 8X57, IMO. I'm sure some of the newer powders are better, but I'm well stocked with the old standards.

Yep.

Have you used the 8mm BT on elk? What were the results?

Magnum Bob, where did you find them?
I tried to get some a few years back and they were not available. I talked to someone at Midway and they told me Remington had quit selling them. So I was under the impression that it was nation wide.

I liked my old 8x57! Looking at my old reloading notes, I use very similar loading data for mine. Killed deer, coyotes and jack rabbits with it out of an old German Mauser. Then I got to reading all the gun magazine articles about how great the 8-06 was and had it rechambered. That's a great gun too, but now, I kind of wish I had left it as an 8x57. Fads come and go, got to be careful what you do.

What did you use to cut a bullet in half?

Did you cut a FTX and take a picture?

As in are they different than an SST?

Thanks!

I also agree with mathman if you only plan on a 200 yard shot a 200 grain bullet would be a logical choice!

szihn, I got them from 1 st stop gun in RC SD. I'll check and see if they have anymore or you might call them 605 341-5211. I believe they got them thru BH Shooter Supply wholesaler here locally. I checked and the BHS chat guy says they were discontinued. Call the number.MB

Angus1895, I use a 32 TPI hack saw, but the Trick is how I hold them. I drill and ream a piece of steel at just over bullet diameter. As an example for the 8MM bullet I make a hole of .325" in the steel. It has to hold about 2/3 of the bullet. I then split the side of the steel with the saw so if I clamp it in a vice it collapses and gets smaller.
So, I insert the bullet to about 2/3 deep in the hole and then clamp the steel in my vice. That holds the bullet tight and I slit the bullet down to the steel. I release the bullet and turn it so the other side it up, and I can see the saw slot. I saw again from the other direction to that slot. Drag the bullet across a file to clean off the saw tooth marks and you can see the thickness of both core and jacket.

I have sectioned a lot of bullets including the FTX made for the 30-30 (140 grain) The FTX and the GMX are made very similarly but the FTX cavity is wider for the somewhat lower velocities it's made to expand at. I loaded some of those in my 300 savage M99. My idea was to have better expansion at longer range for antelope hunting. I shoot a 150 grain Remington Core-Lokt zeroed at 200 yards and that is just fine for any deer of antelope, but I started to wonder how the lighter and more aerodynamic 140 gr wold do. I am going to shoot some at paper soon. The savage shoots a lot better then it should with the 150s, so I don't think I'll change, but if the 140 FTX do as well they may be a bit better bullet to use on elk because they will retain 95% of more of their weight, where the 150s I use usually loos about 1/3. Testing is not done yet.

Frangible bullets like the ballistic tip are probably not the best bet for elk.

Ballistic Tips are not all frangible.

I normally use 4064 or RL-15 for 150s, CFE223 for 170s and 175s, and H4895 for the heavy stuff.

I'm going to try 4064, 4350, N150 and RL-17 to try and find the best balance of accuracy and velocity.

(edit to add): I just got off the phone with my outfitter. I need to be prepared to shoot up to 400 yards. He says that is uncommon, but possible. So, I may have to take my 8x68s instead.

I shot my first elk with a borrowed 8X57. The ammo was borrowed too, I don’t remember what it was. 50 yards broadside in the lungs with iron sights, most ammo would work for that.

The Nosler 180 E-Tip might be worth a try as well.

There is nothing wrong with the 8x57 if you can tolerate the rainbow trajectory. In timber it won’t matter I suppose. Happy Trails

WAM,

The old 8x57 shoots without the "rainbow trajectory" IF it's loaded to the usual European specs. = American ammo countries DOWNLOAD the 8x57 for use in weaker rifles & for those DIMWITS who CAN'T/WON'T READ THE INFORMATION on what they buy..

Otoh, SOME European companies load the old 8x57mm to ABOVE the usual USA factory .30-06 specs.

yours, tex

Tex,
My trajectory assumption was from previously looking at American made ammo specs.
Cheers,,
WAM

I remember wanting to make my 8x57 ackley improved.

My uncle was laffin.....

Don't screw with he said, them Germans knew what they were doing........

Meh. I'm not a fan of mono metals in standard cartridges. I feel like the velocity window is too small on cartridges like the 8mm. It really isn't a speed demon. I might try the 160 Barnes, but I doubt it.

WAM,

IF European spec ammo wasn't commonly available in the USA, I would have agreed with you.

yours, tex

Do they make a 180 grain Partition? I load the 175 Pro Hunter. But I don't hunt elk with it. If I ever do get to go elk hunting it won't be with my 8x57. I mean I believe with the right bullet it would do the job, but I have too many rifles that are better suited for elk. However, if I ever do hunt elk with it I'll load a Partition or something.