8.5x55 Blaser

[Kenneth McMillan]

I have noticed on the blaser website that they have 8.5x55 Blaser Calibre in the R8 rifle. They say it is suitable for Moose and Large Antelopes such as Eland, Waterbuck, Kudu, Sable and Roan. It fires a .338 bullet in 230 grains. Now where legal would it be suitable for lion and leopard?

 

[Borderer]

From what I have read on this,it almost matches a .318 WR but with a much shorter barrel. Seems absolutely perfect for plains game and I see is now available in Sauer rifles as well.

I am not sure what it is about the case design that makes it so suitable for a short barrel, but I imagine it is the short, fat case.

 

[Borderer]

Is anyone using a 8.5x55? I suspect that the only downside to them would be ammunition availability.

 

[93marlin]

Sounds like an interesting cartridge! Probably going to be a proprietary one though.

 

[FlowHamed18]

The 8.5x55 Blaser wouldn't kill anything that a 8x57, a 30.06 or a 8x68 couldn't.

But with all the alternatives life is much cheaper and easier in sense of factory ammunition...

Personally I would never buy a rifle in this proprietary caliber because of that...