7x64 or 8x57is for bigger stuff ....

[Greener Jim]

To be honest any cartridge shooting a 140 to 200 odd gn bullet leaving the muzzle at 2450 to 3,000 fps will pretty much work on any deer, antelope, boar etc.

What he said, all much of a muchness. Their are little niche reasons to choose one over another, but that's it. Usually based on bias anyway, like I'd go 8x57 for the larger bore diameter. Doesn't make me right.

 

[GBR66]

7x64 is excellent. I had one for years. But 30-06 is probably just that bit more versatile. With 180-200 grain bullets up to the 8x57js class, but with better trajectory.
I had considered the 8x64s myself, but if you see the marginal benefits over an '06 , it's not worth the trouble.

I have a .30-06 barrel for my Merkel Helix and I have bought what I think was the last 6.5x55 barrel in UK having been discontinued. I don't need a .223 or similar as don't fox or anything bigger for anything in Europe.....or probably what I would be after in Africa. However I found a little lightweight .300 Blackout on the S&L website that started an itch!!

 

[stevec]

I have had both.

My 8x57 experience is entirely in Zimbabwe. Everything I ever shot with it (196 grain Norma Oryx around 2,450 fps), died immediately. Never had to fire twice. Longest shot was 180 metres on a Zebra. Recoil very tame, and a sweet sweet cartridge ideal for bushvelt and pigs. Hardly any meat damage.

7x64 Brenneke I consider more of a "Euro 270 Win". Very capable, possibly unnecessarily fast for smaller UK deer at sensible stalking ranges, so I reverted to a 7x57, which seems to have the best characteristics of both the aforementioned calibres.

Agreed that hand loading would be essential to get the best out of any of them, due to ammunition shelves in gunshots only catering for long-range folk who can't get close, CM, and the like.

There is an excellent podcast interview with Kevin Robertson, the Zimbabwean PH and vet. He now lives in the US and has written some first class books.

He has exactly the same experience. He bought a 7x64 and got fed up with the amount of meat damage it caused. He switched to a 7x57 and was delighted.

 

[stevec]

Have you thought about an 8x64? I really like the look of it but I am not convinced it offers much more than my 30-06 and I suspect ammunition could be a pain to get if your suitcase goes missing.

 

[Hales Smut]

Have you thought about an 8x64? I really like the look of it but I am not convinced it offers much more than my 30-06 and I suspect ammunition could be a pain to get if your suitcase goes missing.

I came to the exact same conclusion. I had a weak spot for the 8x64S , a Brenneke calibre. Looking at the performance compared to the '06 , I forgot the idea.
Plenty of hassle for hardly any benefit. Ammo scarce and expensive. It is for a reason that the '06 is the most used hunting calibre, all over the world.

 

[norsk]

For your intended useage I would choose a 3006 over a 8x57. The reason being more widely available components.

Having said that,a 308 with 180 grainers has all the "thump" you will need for big reds and Moose at distances encountered in Europe.

8x57 is a lovely cartridge but the choice of projectiles are shrinking.

 

[scrumbag]

7x64. Works well with 170gr Oryx / 175gr partition will sit down running pigs very well. Also plenty of speed for non lead if you want.

 

[studley]

I have 7x64 in Mauser M03 and its superbly accurate. Paired with a good scope I shoot comfortably at metal gongs on the range out to 600+yards and with stalking it covers dense close woodland on sika stags and on the hill no problem - lead or copper both do the job. Availability of ammunition is also good - would say the 8mm is much less common so certainly consider that if you aren't reloading

 

[BigT]

I had a 7x64 I did the majority of my hunting with in SA and loved it. Worked effectively on everything up to Blue Wildebeest and offers a much bigger bullet selection than 8mm

I’ve never been one to get wrapped around the axle about meat damage but even on things like impala ewes there was very little even at close bush distances with 140gr TTSX. And I could get those over 3000fps with adventurous reloading.