Custom Rifle Question.

[magnanimous_j]

Sounds to me like you've already made up your mind with the 8MM.06 and are looking for someone to validate your choice.

Go for it, if that's what you want.

[Huntbear]

I have a .257 Ackley Improved that I built on a long action.  I can seat the 120 gr. Partitions out to the bottom of the neck, and still fit in the magazine.  I am getting 25-06 ballistics from that short case.  Between 2900-3000 fps with handloads.  I know guys that use em for blackbear and elk, take nothing but head shots.

[Elk-aholic]

I'm not looking for anyone to validate my choice on the 8mm-06 the ballistics validate themselves it can push a 125gr sp bullet over 3400 fps a 150gr around 3200fps and 220gr around 2600 fps. these velocities are not close to maximum pressures either. I have not made up my mind on any cartridge yet just asking for the opinions of members here that have more experience in building rifles than I do. Whatever I decide I'm sure it will be fun to shoot and I'm looking foreword to the entire experience.

[yorketransport]

When I built my first custom I was stuck on either the 8mm-06, or 338-06. Since they're ballistic twins, I went with the 338-06 because of the better bullet selection. They're both great rounds.

That said, if I were building a dedicated elk rifle on you particular action I'd go 375 Ruger. If you want to do a wildcat you could go 338/375 Ruger (I've also heard it called the 338 CampFire). The Ruger is a great round and all you would need to do is open up the bolt face on your action. Once I got my 375 Ruger, the 338-06 started getting left behind.

Good luck with the build, whatever it ends up being. And post lots of updates.

Andrew

[bobcat]

375 Ruger... now that's a great idea!  I wish I'd of thought of that. 

[Elk-aholic]

That 338/375 Ruger will fit in my 30-06 action? Looks like a sweet round!

[Jamieb]

I'm not looking for anyone to validate my choice on the 8mm-06 the ballistics validate themselves it can push a 125gr sp bullet over 3400 fps a 150gr around 3200fps and 220gr around 2600 fps. these velocities are not close to maximum pressures either. I have not made up my mind on any cartridge yet just asking for the opinions of members here that have more experience in building rifles than I do. Whatever I decide I'm sure it will be fun to shoot and I'm looking foreword to the entire experience.

You better double check those numbers, their off by a couple hundred FPS or more.

[Elk-aholic]

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/Standarddata(Rifle)/323Cal(8.20mm)/8mm%2006%20Page%20292%20and%20293.pdf

I've listed data from one website and I have loads from around 3 or 4 manuals right in front of me the numbers look good to me. Not off by a couple hundred fps or more and those numbers don't even reach 60,000psi which you can easily achieve with this cartridge.

[Jamieb]

Just browsed through a few Manuals I have here .Honady 7'th edition's fastest loads listed are 32FPS for a 125gr pill, 2900FPS for a 150gr. pill, 2400FPS for a 220gr. bullet.
Nosler 5'th only shows two loads for the 8mm-06. A 180gr at 2774 and a 200 at 2600. Thats the fastest loads in that manual.
Speer no. 13, 150 at 2900 FPS, 170 at 2700 FPS, 200 at 2600 FPS. Barnes No3 and Hodgdon 2006 dont list loads for the 8mm-06.
That's all the books I have on my reloading bench. I've never owned a 8mm-06 and dont have any experience with the cartridge so I'm just posting info from the loading manuals I have. Talk to your smith, get his opinion on the cartridge, better yet talk to someone that shoots a 8mm-06.
I guess the only reason I responded to this post is IMOH you'll never build anything off a 06 case that will keep up with your 300 mag.
Have a good weekend, I'm off to Humptulips for a couple of days.
Jamie

[Elk-aholic]

Have a good weekend man, bear season starts today I'm getting excited.

[bobcat]

I guess the only reason I responded to this post is IMOH you'll never build anything off a 06 case that will keep up with your 300 mag.

Jamie

That's true, unless that 375 Ruger, or 338/375 Ruger can be chambered in that '06 action.

[Elk-aholic]

Ive decided to scrap the 30-06 action and instead use a 7mm mag action from a Remington 700 SPS. Thinking of having some sort of 300 magnum made don't know yet but this action gives me more options I think.

[ecnclan]

None of the three, 8MM/06,338/06, or the Whelen fit into the "flat" shooting catagory. Any differance is moot. They are all 300 yard grizz and bull guns. The 338 offers the best boolit selection by far, 8mm and 35 are about the same, thanks to the 325. Swift has a 200 grain Scirocco in the works for the 8mm, that'd be a goodun for your 8/06. Get er done, ans post picks when your done.

 

[Jamieb]

Elk-aholic.
Now your on the right track.
  25" #3 BBL chambered in 30-338 shooting 180gr. NBT or 200 gr Accubonds, top it with a leupold 3.5x10 or 4.5x14 with M-1's

[Elk-aholic]

Yeah!  That 30-338 looks like it would be a perfect elk cartridge! I think that's going to be my new baby! I'm going tomorrow to buy the SPS and drop it off at the smith Wednesday.