Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Europe 8 X 68 S

i think this is Delcour (sp) from Belgium as they made for Ruger the 7x64 Brenneke barrel too ...

It said Delcour in the specs and apparently they fit the old tang safety 77.
They were on Numerich's site a couple of days ago.
Perhaps Grand Veneur or another of our friends from Europe can say something about the quality of these barrels.

Before being absorbed by FN-Browning, a few decades ago, Delcour in Li�ge was THE reference in terms of custom barrels in Belgium. All custom and hand made rifles had them. I remember a Delcour "match" barrel(= factory hand selected )in .300 Mag I rebarreled a Wby Mk V with that was superbly accurate.

I took it along a few times to stalk red stags in the Scottish Highlands and its heavy bbl. was perfect for those long shots, though a little heavy for climbing.

I've always thought that the 8X68 case would be the perfect case to neck down to 30 calibre. It would be essentially a beltless 300 Weatherby. I also think since it would not have the belt, you may be able to get 4 in the magazine.

Just thinkin'!

Elk Country

I've used one for hunting Boar in the former Yugoslavia. The rifle was a Mauser 66 and RWS H-Mantel 12.1gr (187 grain)ammunition. The chambering was, to my knowedge, only available in European firearms. For example, I know that Steyr-Mannlicher chambered it in their pre-SBS rifles. Brass is hard to find and expensive. It is a good cartridge but IMO offers no real advantage to a 8 mm Rem Mag or a .338 Win Mag.

It is in Hornady #3 and in Hornady #6.

But now we have the 375 Ruger, which would fit that bill very nicely. And brass would be a lot easier to obtain in the US.

The Newton was the inspiration for the Schulers cartridges which in turn inspired the Ruger if I am not mistaken. I think both Fred Huntington and Vernon or Richard Speer had a series of wildcats on the 68mm case IIRC.

Had that backwards first 404 jeffrey 1909, then 30 Newton 1915 then the 8x68 Shuler 1920-9 delayed by WWI. The newton case may have inspired the 68 mm case they are very close in dimensions.

Idaho_Shooter:

The 8 x68S necked UP to 338 is better than the 375 Ruger as the 375 R case holds TOO much powder for a .338 bullet, whereas the 8x68S makes a niche replica of the 338 WM with no case belt, head spaces on the shoulder and thus, adds to case life versus the 338 WM.

The 375R is just too much more gun.... powder/recoil wise, than needed; a .338 x 68S is just perfect in a belt-less case.

The Steyr importer in LA can get you both a 6.5x68 or an 8x68 if you want to pay the cost. Had a 6.5x68 and it slightly edged the 264 Win Mag.
The factory loaded 8x68 runs at 6000 less psi than 325 WSM, so in a modern action like the Steyr, when stroked to the same psi, will surpass the 325 WSM.
Remember that early 8x68s could have been built on an old soft GEW action, hence the moderate pressure.
Think of what the 30-40 Krag can do in a Ruger #1 vs an 1892 Krag rifle or the 8x57 in a Remington 700 Classic vs a German Commission rifle (the misnamed 88 Mauser).

A neat oddball if you have to have one, but for practical hunting (and resale) a 338 Win Mag might be a better choice.