8x68s

[hammo]

Merry Christmas all!
Do any SD members own and shoot this chambering?
I run an 8x57 and the recoil is very mild (to me at least) assisted by an longish barrel and a decent moderator.
I am curious to hear if the 8x68s is a bit of a beast, or manageable. Just musing on the chambering, I don't think I will make the step up; but it would certainly offer some super long range performance with a high bc bullet.

 

[harrygrey382]

Bit of a step up as you’d expect, but if you don’t mind an 8x57 (well known for having a respectful kick) I doubt you’d have an issue with an 8x68. One thing to consider is they run a larger diameter head so need the bolt face opening up or a magnum action. They are bigger on everything but bullet diameter. Cool round though, I think of them as a metric magnum...

 

[Freeforester]

Seen some pretty demoralised Rifles who've bought them, shot them and regretted it, the kick isn't too conducive to pinpoint accuracy. I'm sure it's all right for medium to heavier skinned plains Game, but I'd leave the roe deer off the intended quarry list, along with most everything else here, unless there's a few crocodiles down on them Levels.

Most definitely not for the attachment of a Pecar scope, and nor for the faint-hearted!

 

[Lateral]

I have an itch for one of these, for driven boar, but to get the benefit from it, it requires a long barrel, which isn't conducive for driven/freehand shooting, at least for me.

 

[hammo]

I have an itch for one of these, for driven boar, but to get the benefit from it, it requires a long barrel, which isn't conducive for driven/freehand shooting, at least for me.

A long barrel does tame down the punchier chamberings, more than that though, it will get the full benefit of the larger powder charge. There is little point in too much of the powder burning outside the muzzle. Ive taken a few unsupported standing shots with my 8x57, I think my gangly 6 foot frame helps!

 

[alberta boy]

Merry Xmas . I had a Brno 602 in 8x68 a number of years ago . It's a great round and is capable of taking any large game we have out to longer ranges . I used mine on Moose and other larger species , it's a bit much for lighter game though . The recoil wasn't bad with mine , but the Brno was a bit of a beast . It had the same barrel contour as the 375 H&H chambered rifles and weighed over 11 lbs empty . I'm a huge fan of 8mm caliber rifles myself . I've owned rifles chambered in quite a few different cartridges from 8x54 to 8mmRM . I enjoyed using them all , but I find myself back where I started . I have a plain old Husky in 8x57 , it's nothing fancy , but it's boringly reliable , accurate and will cleanly take any species we have . A very under rated cartridge . It's good to see you like yours .

AB

 

[hammo]

Merry Xmas . I had a Brno 602 in 8x68 a number of years ago . It's a great round and is capable of taking any large game we have out to longer ranges . I used mine on Moose and other larger species , it's a bit much for lighter game though . The recoil wasn't bad with mine , but the Brno was a bit of a beast . It had the same barrel contour as the 375 H&H chambered rifles and weighed over 11 lbs empty . I'm a huge fan of 8mm caliber rifles myself . I've owned rifles chambered in quite a few different cartridges from 8x54 to 8mmRM . I enjoyed using them all , but I find myself back where I started . I have a plain old Husky in 8x57 , it's nothing fancy , but it's boringly reliable , accurate and will cleanly take any species we have . A very under rated cartridge . It's good to see you like yours .

AB

Merry Christmas to you too.
Yes I like my 8x57 a lot. Had a K98 Kar which started off my interest. 8x57 still seems really popular in Europe, not so much in the UK. I did not hesitate to get an 8x57 barrel for my Schultz and Larsen, its been very accurate with SST's, FOX 160gr and my latest endeavour, 180gr Peregrine mono's.
I am joining a club close to home once the Covid restrictions ease, really looking forward to stretching the rifles legs out to 600m. on targets.

 

[alberta boy]

Modern bullet designs really update the cartridge . That being said , I've used Speer 200 gr Hot Cores for many years on all of our game , worked perfectly every time . It's one of the reasons I like the early smokeless powder rounds like the 8mm , 303 Brit , 7x57 and 06 . The standard cup and core bullets ( cheap ) were designed specifically to perform best at the velocities they operate at . I've also found heavier bullets , 196 gr and 200 gr , were more accurate in my rifles . I did try the 200 gr Nosler partitions in an older Brno 21 , great accuracy , but I found them a little too tough a bullet for all around use , great on Moose , but didn't expand that well on Deer . Any of the bullets you've listed are long for weight and should perform well though , especially the 180 gr mono . I keep meaning to try out some of the more recently designed bullets , but I have a ridiculous amount of Speer and Privi bullets ............. one day lol .
The Shultz & Larsen sounds like a very nice rifle , you should post a pic .

AB

 

[hammo]

 

[VIGILAIRE]

I have used this calibre several times as a loaner when hunting in Croatia. Both the rifles were Sauer 202's and the ammo was RWS. Shot roe, boar, fallow and Carpathian reds, always did the job. If the right package came up I could be persuaded!

As it is I'm more than happy with my 8x57 although the next 8mm itch I have to scratch is to get an old Hungarian Mannlicher in 8x56R up and running for the club military/vintage comps.

 

[Markhor]

I have been shooting rifles for the past 45 years, mostly deer hunting and some African game.
The 8x68 S is a great cartridge, I find the recoil from it no different to a .270 Win. I use the RWS 180 gr KS as that is all I can get my hands on, this is the only drawback, RWS, Norma, Brenneke seem to be the only suppliers of ammunition.

As regards its effectiveness on game, it is excellent. The rifle I use is a Sauer 202 take-down with a 650mm barrel, it is zeroed 1 inch high at 100 yards and is only 2 inches low at 240 yards.

Should you get an 8x68S you will not be disappointed.

 

[hammo]

Schultz and Larsen don't list the caliber as a barrel option, I am happy with my 8x57; but the 8x68s does look an interesting chambering.
Does anyone have an 8x68s empty case I could persuade them to let me have? obviously happy to pay something and cover postage.

 

[enfieldspares]

Goering's favourite rifle chambering apparently. I've owned and 8x60S and liked it very much. As said by others on this thread the 196/200 grain Speer bullet is a very very good choice for these .473" base diameter cartridges...the 8x57, the 8x60S born of the Versailles Treaty restrictions, the 8x64 and American wildcat "needs must" 8mm-06. I've no experience of the 8x68S and think it'd be overkill for what we have here in the UK. But have the fun is in enjoying something out of the usual. So if you like it go for it.

 

[gamsjager]

I've owned 2: a custom 26" braked barrel in Sabatti action and a Blaser 93 unbracked. I used them from marmot to red stag. Both very accurate with 200gr NP and 180gr BT. The bracked one was easy in recoil but tooooo loudy. About the unbracked Blaser, my feeling on recoil was more on "pushing" side instead "kicking". I remember 76 gr of Norma MRP around 2930fps for the 200gr NP

 

[provarmint]

Parent case for the 30 boo boo, cracking wildcat and very effective on UK deer.

 

[Sinistral]

Merry Christmas all!
Do any SD members own and shoot this chambering?
I run an 8x57 and the recoil is very mild (to me at least) assisted by an longish barrel and a decent moderator.
I am curious to hear if the 8x68s is a bit of a beast, or manageable. Just musing on the chambering, I don't think I will make the step up; but it would certainly offer some super long range performance with a high bc bullet.

I can only talk about the cartridge not what it can do. Heym & Steyr Mannlicher chambered rifles for it, both Norma and RWS make ammunition and cases.
The other members of the CIP registered 68mm case family are the 6.5x68, and 8.5x68 Fanzoj (.338") from RWS.
I had cases & dies for all three, but now can't find the 8x68S dies.

The rim is rebated, and the case body is outsize. As the rim is .512" midway between a standard and magnum, it needs a special bolt-face. That's one reason it's obscure . Another perhaps is the lack of reloading data. My German Dynamit Nobel manual has data for Rottweil powders & a six-page section on reloading it, but nothing from the US, Norma, or Vihtavuouri.

I've used the recommended powders R904 & R907 in .243 & .270 so would know where to start if an 8x68S turned up. It would have to come in true lefthand form because IMO it's a bit of a brute.

From the Rottweil manual:-

.270W - 130gr TMS - 55.0* R904 - 3000 fps
8x68S - 196gr TMR - 73.5* R904 - 2960 fps

While it's only a guide, try both sets of figures with a 10lb rifle.

ShootersCalculator.com | Recoil Calculator

An online calculator that calculates the recoil energy, impulse, and velocity of a firearm according to the firearm's weight, powder charge, bullet weight, and bullet muzzle velocity.

www.shooterscalculator.com

https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/tabical-en-page63.pdf

 

[alberta boy]

I have been shooting rifles for the past 45 years, mostly deer hunting and some African game.
The 8x68 S is a great cartridge, I find the recoil from it no different to a .270 Win. I use the RWS 180 gr KS as that is all I can get my hands on, this is the only drawback, RWS, Norma, Brenneke seem to be the only suppliers of ammunition.

As regards its effectiveness on game, it is excellent. The rifle I use is a Sauer 202 take-down with a 650mm barrel, it is zeroed 1 inch high at 100 yards and is only 2 inches low at 240 yards.

Should you get an 8x68S you will not be disappointed.

You bring up a good point , and one of the reasons I got rid of my 8x68S . Brass is a pain to find sometimes . I used RWS and Hirtenberger brass pretty much exclusively in mine , but it took a lot of work to find it .

AB

 

[Lateral]

A long barrel does tame down the punchier chamberings, more than that though, it will get the full benefit of the larger powder charge. There is little point in too much of the powder burning outside the muzzle. Ive taken a few unsupported standing shots with my 8x57, I think my gangly 6 foot frame helps!

I'm not worried about the recoil, and I home load, and would just choose an appropriate powder, to get a full burn.

I currently shoot a 9.3mm, 520mm barrel for driven, which is great, but the 8x68 would be more like 650mm, or it would be pointless.