Gone Wildcatting...

[bruce drake]

Spent the evening tonight converting a German LR Mauser over to 8mm-06 with a chamber reamer, cutting oil, an 1/4"x8" extension rod, GO/NO-GO Gauges, patience and a little elbow grease.

Now I just need to get it out to the range to test it out with LEE's 175gr boolit loaded in some reformed 30-06 cases and 13.5gr of Red Dot to see what the project has yielded. Eventually I want to use this cartridge with LEE's 220gr Karabiner mold for some serious deer loads.

Bruce

[Mk42gunner]

Should work out very well. How long is the throat?

Robert

[Hang Fire]

Takes me back to early 60's when I had a 8mm-06, they were common back then and were really quite popular and powerful cartridge.

[UBER7MM]

Bruce,

You may have to open up the magazine by about 1/8", and open up and re-work the ramp on the bottom of the action. That's if you want 3.34" OAL, It'll depend on the throat and the longest boolit/bullet in your inventory, of course. I've heard great things about the 8mm-06, particularly on big game animals like elk. Sounds like you'll be happy with your wildcat.

Let us know how your new project turns out.

[bruce drake]

Let me rephrase my earlier comment. The original action is a 1950's era Belgian FN that was originally barreled with a 30-06 cartridge so magazine fit and rails are already set for that length of cartridge. The 30-06 barrel was toasted and burnt-out so I put on a new Yugo 48 8x57 barrel and then recut the chamber.

The reamer is a PTG Reamer and was rented from www.ReamerRentals.com and I'll get the throat measurements later. Right now the barrel chambers and feeds the 8mm-06 dummy rounds I made with the LEE 175gr RN boolit very nicely. The Headspace Gauges were Forsters and they were spot on for measurements.

Bruce

[Jack Stanley]

I bet you are going to enjoy your day at the range . About the only work you got left is find a load it likes .

Jack

[303carbine]

Spent the evening tonight converting a German LR Mauser over to 8mm-06 with a chamber reamer, cutting oil, an 1/4"x8" extension rod, GO/NO-GO Gauges, patience and a little elbow grease.

Now I just need to get it out to the range to test it out with LEE's 175gr boolit loaded in some reformed 30-06 cases and 13.5gr of Red Dot to see what the project has yielded. Eventually I want to use this cartridge with LEE's 220gr Karabiner mold for some serious deer loads.

Bruce

The last 8mm-06 I had was built on an 8x57 that had headspace issues, the conversion solved that problem. I was getting 3010 fps with 150 grain bullets, that should smack a deer flat. happy hunting.[smilie=s:

[bruce drake]

Indiana does not allow most rifle cartridges for hunting deer. It recently changed to allow a limited number of pistol cartridges above 35 caliber chambered in rifles to be allowed but your standard 30-06 and by extension this 8mm-06 are too big of a cartridge...But if I want to shoot a coyote outside of deer season, I can rip them apart with it!

Bruce

[littlejack]

Hey Bruce:
Here a few years ago, I bought an Egyption Mauser at a gun show. It had never been issued. I had the chamber reamed to 8mm-06 AI. This is one of my favorite rifles. I do not shoot cast in it, but it shoots jacketed great. I call this my "magnum" rifle.
I load the Hornaday 195 grain spire point in it, with a good dose of IMR 4064.
All the best with your newly chambered 8.
Regards
Jack

[UBER7MM]

.....8mm-06 AI. .... I load the Hornaday 195 grain spire point in it, with a good dose of IMR 4064.

Bruce,
.
IMR-4064 works great with jacketed 150 grain in the 8x57 case. Should be a good starting point for load development. That powder works with casts well too.
.
Let us know what works best in your new coyote-killer,

[bruce drake]

Thanks Folks. I just joined a Rifle Club in Linden, IN about 40 miles from the house to start shooting again here in Indiana. It was the nearest club that allowed centerfire rifles without costing an Arm and a Leg for a family membership. Now I just need some spare time from work to get out there. I went Saturday with the boys for the range orientation but it was closed to shooting as they were hosting a State Championship-qualifier Trap Shoot so they were running pell-mell with that. They have 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges with good benches at the 100 so I am really looking forward to shooting again soon.

Bruce

[JeffinNZ]

When is the .303 Pygmy getting done?

[littlejack]

Bruce:
I thought you may be interested in a article that is in the October issue of Handloader magazine. It is titled: Bolt Thrust and Related Myths. This is good reading, and has good explanations on how folks get higher velocities from their factory and AI cartridges.
Regards
Jack

[bruce drake]

When is the .303 Pygmy getting done?

When I can find a gunsmith I trust to do a good enough job to match up to the Pygmy's caliber! I am setup to do Mausers. I may just bite the
boolit (so to speak) and rig myself up to pull Enfield Barrels as well.


Bruce

[bruce drake]

Thanks Jack, I subscribe to the Handloader and Rifle magazines so its already on my list to read this month.

Bruce

[littlejack]

Yes sir.
Jack

[bruce drake]

Got to go to the rifle range yesterday. :) The 8mm-06 rifle shoots just fine [smilie=p:

So did the 8mm Mauser, the P14 in 303 Brit and the AR15 in 300 BLK!!! :castmine:

[JeffinNZ]

Good of you to sight the P14 prior to sending it to me. You're a decent bloke. ;-)

[bruce drake]

Decent enough bloke not to deal with your crazy customs laws Jeff! ;) I still have my eye out here for a fresh barrel to send to you for your P14.

But Ms. Winnie will never leave the States again!

[bruce drake]

So doing some cast loads for this new cartridge. This cartridge's long neck will make the 200gr LEE Karabiner a sweet load for this rifle.

Bruce

[JeffinNZ]

Then I cheerfully accept your invitation to come and live at your place and shoot it...... :-P

[bruce drake]

And I'm sure there are days that Sheryl would gladly send you forth to America and Marti would just as likely send me packing to New Zealand!

Bruce

[1911 guncrazy]

I look forward to your range report , I have a all matching K98 in 8mm06 I want to reload for.

[bruce drake]

I took it out last week to verify that the chambering job I did was good. No shots for group as I didn't mount any sights on it. I've got it back in military setup with its original sights now and will take it back out soon for group shooting.

Bruce

[UBER7MM]

Got to go to the rifle range yesterday. :) The 8mm-06 rifle shoots just fine [smilie=p:

Bruce,

What is the powder, bullet/boolit and weight for your initial test loads? Please advise.

[bruce drake]

Initial loads were 35.5gr of IMR4831 and 13.5gr of Red Dot with LEE's 175gr Round-nose boolit.

[OnHoPr]

Were you concerned about the 35.5 gr of IMR 4831 loading density in the 8-06? Isn't that a little low? Just wondering.

[bruce drake]

over half the case is filled with the IMR load and then held in place with a puff of Dacron so nope, not worried.