8MM Remington Mag Questions

[Bruce A.]

I have just rebarreled my Remington 700 and decided to stay with the 8mm RM. I have been trying to develop an accurate long range load with Barnes or other copper bullets. I found a very accurate load with the Hornady GMX 150 grain, but the pressure turned out to be way too high. (loosened primer pocket). And, I didn't build a new 8mm RM to throw 150 gr. bullets.

The barrel is a Douglas medium weight match 24 inches long, stainless. The GMX 150 gr. bullet produced 1/4 minute groups. Testing with any of the copper bullets is EXTEMELY expensive. I am looking for a load with 180/200 gr copper that will produce half minute or better.

This barrel will do that with jacketed lead bullets with little fussing. But, copper bullets will not tighten up. I am open to all recommendations!

[sp6x6]

Why not a 200 Nab,that is what I shoot in my 325 wsm.

[Bruce A.]

Originally Posted by sp6x6

Why not a 200 Nab,that is what I shoot in my 325 wsm.

I live in CA and my hunting areas happen to be no-lead areas.

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Bruce A.

I live in CA and my hunting areas happen to be no-lead areas.

Try the coated ones (Moly or like) that may solve your problems.

I had poor results with the copper bullets and the gmx's and coated bullets worked well.

J E CUSTOM

[etisll40]

I don't read much on 8mm Rem Mag, was it popular at one time? What's the benefit? Is there a lot of brass out there, bullet selection?

[sp6x6]

They only made them for a few years.They are basically a 340 wby,but 325 bullet instead of 338.Which the later has a great selection to choose from. I have about 4 friends that use them on elk

[Bruce A.]

Originally Posted by etisll40

I don't read much on 8mm Rem Mag, was it popular at one time? What's the benefit? Is there a lot of brass out there, bullet selection?

Never did have much popularity. Factory load choices were abysmal, which is said to be the primary reason for its demise. Some called it too much gun for North American game.

But, the BC is one of the best. Certainly equal to the assorted 338 mags in long range potential.

Remington tried to sell it as, or attempted to, a "sporter" with an excessively tapered and lightened barrel. It still weighed over 9 lbs. Shooting it off hand was no big deal, but sighting in off the bench beat you to death if you didn't take care to sit upright. If you hunched forward your body couldn't roll with the recoil and it hurt. Eyebrow scope cuts off the bench were common.

Mounted in a tactical/sniper style stock helped the recoil. Installing a "varminter" barrel added weight and improved shot to shot accuracy.

In actuality it kicks no more that 338 Lapua and other heavy mags.

With the new barrel on mine, I have no longer any dissatisfaction. I is very accurate with jacketed lead bullets, and with the Douglas barrel I can shoot all day with no shift in impact or change in group size.