8x68S owner's opinions

[Gert Odendaal]

Thank you kindly for the reply..what is the heaviest bullet your 8x68S can shoot accurately?

 

[garasi]

Thank you kindly for the reply..what is the heaviest bullet your 8x68S can shoot accurately?

Usually I use RWS evolution 13 gramm. I am very satisfied. Up to 300 meters

 

[ZG47]

Mauser also advertise 1-11" (no surprise) but Orsis advertise 1-10". A friend of mine, Din Collings, who passed away several years ago, built an 8x68 with a 1-10" barrel for himself and used it successfully on tahr.

 

[dchamp]

My 8X68s is a Blaser R8 and I measured 1-10.75" so it is probably a 1-11" twist. The heaviest bullet I've run through it is the 250gr Woodleigh. I seat the bullet out to 3.54" oal.

Also here is an article on the 8X68s you may like.
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/8x68+S.html

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Thank you kindly DChamp

 

[littlebear]

Hi, can some tell me something about the Steyr-Mannlicher M72 in 8x68s? I just got one for 670 € in good condition. Was it an okay deal or?

 

[garasi]

Hi, can some tell me something about the Steyr-Mannlicher M72 in 8x68s? I just got one for 670 € in good condition. Was it an okay deal or?

I think price is acceptable...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Members, I commenced with my 8x68S rifle build today..I cut out two stock templates Johan Greyling gave me to build a 8x68S and a 6.5 x 55 Swede later when I completed the 8x68S build...

Some straight stock designs I am looking at to design my rifle stock...it will be a long, slim , straight back ,pistol grip design with a lot of wood adjacent the action re-enforcing it with two recoil lugs ...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

More templets I am looking at to use for a final design:

I really want a narrow. slim front part , the butt stock will be straight back, sweeping pistol grip
and a double shadow line cheek piece....

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Mauser also advertise 1-11" (no surprise) but Orsis advertise 1-10". A friend of mine, Din Collings, who passed away several years ago, built an 8x68 with a 1-10" barrel for himself and used it successfully on tahr.

I was thinking of a 1: 10 twist rate since there is not a great deal of difference between a 1:9,45 twist and a 1:10 rifling twist??
Would the 1:10 twist lean towards more heavier shooting bullets and less to light weight bullets like the 150 -168 grain bullets?? I really would like to hear from members since I need to make a choice in which rifling twist ratio I need to order my 8x68S barrel...and at what lenght?

 

[dchamp]

I just measured the twist of my Blaser barrel in 8x68s and it measured 1:11". I mostly shoot 170-180gr bullets through it but it also shoots 220gr bullets and 250gr. Woodleigh's very well.

I must admit if I were going to purchase a new barrel blank, all things being equal, I would probably get one in 1:10, just because, unless the barrel maker I want to use only made them in 1:11.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I just measured the twist of my Blaser barrel in 8x68s and it measured 1:11". I mostly shoot 170-180gr bullets through it but it also shoots 220gr bullets and 250gr. Woodleigh's very well.

I must admit if I were going to purchase a new barrel blank, all things being equal, I would probably get one in 1:10, just because, unless the barrel maker I want to use only made them in 1:11.

dchamp, I agree, it seems the choice rifling twist to be able to shoot heavy bullets ....maybe the bullet weight range from 168 gn to 250gn ???

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The 8x68S being on it`s best to shoot out a heavy bullet further down range to hunt thick skin heavy game like eland , blue wildebeest , oryx at longer hunting distances at 200 meters to 300 meters hunting conditions in the Kalahari ...

Which bring me to another question:
What rifle scope to fit on my 8x68S rifle when building is complete???

 

[garasi]

I use 3-18 Z6i on my Sauer 202 in 8x68. Awesome combination

 

[dchamp]

A scope is a whole different can of worms. If money is not a concern I would go with one of the new Swarovski Z8i's, they are my favorite scope right now especially with their new snap on turret, it works very well and is easy to put on and take off. I have the 1-8x24 and the 1,7-13,3x42P and wouldn't hesitate to use either one in the areas I've hunted in Namibia. Following closely would be a Schmidt & Bender and then a Kahles otherwise something like a Leupold VX-R is plenty good. I guess it really depends on what you're willing to spend and floats your boat.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

dchamp, I agree, for me it would be a scope that will enable me to use out to 300 meters only...Leopold will be my choice... maybe a 3-12 x 42???

 

[ZG47]

dchamp, I agree, for me it would be a scope that will enable me to use out to 300 meters only...Leopold will be my choice... maybe a 3-12 x 42???

3-12x OR 4-12x would be a practical maximum, to my mind. The higher you go with your zoom ratio, the smaller the latitude of eye relief (what some people in the U.S.A. call 'the eyebox') AND yes, I have experienced that issue with the latest Swarovski straight tube scopes. No such thing as a free lunch!

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Update: Members, I commenced with the 8x68S build. At this stage I am only working on the MOD 98 Mauser Action.
A few things needs to be completed on the action prior to fitting it to the barrel.
First step:
I need to fit a set of claw mounts/bases...the front claw base fit neatly onto the already drilled/tap bridge of the action.
I need now to mill away the stripper clip rails for the back claw mount to fit..this will ensure two things..fitting the scope mounts/rings and opening up the action to fit a 91 mm OAL round for the 8x68S.
The reason not being to get more velocities , but to counter act the fact that RWS brass is an extremely thick and strong web /base designed brass that have less water capacity than your other brand 8x68S brass casings..
So by reloading out to 91 mm I will be able to shoot the 8x68S caliber rifle to it`s full potential...being a heavy bullet , 250 gn for thick skin game like Eland, Giraffe and blue wildebeest...if I can get a buffalo to hunt with the 8x68S it really would be a pleasure to do so..
Some photos:

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Completed the milling work today..I fitted the claw mounts/scope bases as well..now I need to mill a complete new magazine box that will ensure the 91 mm OAL round will fit and stack correctly to ensure flawless feeding...
Then I need to mill out a magazine follower that will fit from side to side in the new magazine box for good feeding and cycling of the rounds through the action..apologies for the low quality of the cell phone photos..I will take my camera along from now on...

 

[IvW]

1 in 10 twist, 26 inch barrel