338x57

[Mckie Hollow]

Has anybody tried to neck up the 8x57 to a 338? I would think that this would be a very nice cartridge, very similar to the 338x06.

[Mikey]

I agree.  I think it would be a better round than the 338 based on the 308 case and would come close to whatever they call the 338 based on the 06 case. 

I asked once about necking down a 8x57 case to 30 bore and was told all I would get is a 308 - I think it would be better than that though. 

I wonder though if designing the case with a bit of a sharper shoulder might not enhance the accuracy (sort of like the difference twixt a 260 and the 6.8 (6.5?)Creedmoor). 

I also like the idea of a 8mm/06 with the 06 necked up to take the 8mm bullets (8x62 is what it would be I believe) and in a solid action so I wouldn't have to hear the old liability caveats about using older Mauser actions.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Mckie Hollow]

I agree on the 260 taper and remember Your post on the 30x57. It should have more charge capacity than the 308, but if I remember, the answer was that it would be inbetween the 308 & 06 and almost insignificant. A 338x57 would be real neat in a 98 Mauser.

[Mikey]

I think you're right about that being a neat cartridge for the Mauser.  It should certainly have enough power for whatever you would need it for and you shouldn't have any problems with functioning.  Good idea.  Mikey.

[Graybeard]

It would be somewhere in between the performance of the .338 Federal and .338-06 A-Square and that's a mighty small window really. It might match .338 Federal factory ammo but due the powders they have you can't outperform it in the 8x57 case.

[NFG]

Or neck down a 9x57.  The 338 is just about half way between the 8 and 9mm.  The problem being it's an in between 'cat...half this and half that...with no real need.  Too long for a short action and there are plenty of 338's cartridges for long actions with a lot  more pizzazz.

The 9 and 9.3 mm's fill in the need.  I would bet that someone somewhere has built on though.

I ran some numbers, 225 gr bullet, 3.20" COL necked down 9x57 and came up with 2500 fs at 52 KCUP rough figures...very workable in a re-barreled M98 8x57.  Not quite up to the 338 Fed or a 338-06 which you could also re-barrel to in the same action, but not bad for those who like to play and have something different.

Basically a good idea whose time never came, then got left behind the bigger boys.  I thought about it way back when I wanted to do something different with a Ruger 7x57 tang receiver.  I almost did a 9x57 and if I would have I might have saved myself a lot of money later on messing about trying to get "the right one" done.    I built a 388-06 a few years later and have used it ever since.  35 years after the 338 I built a 9.3x62.  Both work great.

[squirrellluck]

mikey, ive seen 2 vz24 rechambered to 8-06 havent heard yet how they shoot

[billy_56081]

I'd guess it would probably equal the 338 federal factory loads at this time, as they are onlly achieved through proprietary powders.

[41 magnum]

Us gunsmith students of the early 80's rechambered gobs of 8x57's to 8mm/06 with outstanding results on critters up to elk-we rocked a lot of whitetails worlds, too.
I'm thinking of making one because I miss the one I had years ago when STS occurred (stupid trade syndrome)

Shootingly

John

[onesonek]

I'm sure it's been done. One that comes to mind , other than it being rimmed using .444 brass is the .338JDJ #2.

Dave

[All That is Man]

I know its been a long time but My thoughts on the 338x57 are that it would be able to handle bigger bullets than the 338 fed with out cutting into the powder charge.

[yooper77]

The 338-06 A-Square is a better choice since all it takes is a re-bore/re-chamber of a 30-06 Springfield rifle or a re-barrel job of similar 30-06 Springfield parent case design.
 
I make all my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight & T/C Encore rifle 330-06 A-Square ammo from 30-06 Springfield brass which reduces the cost.
 
I am now looking for a T/C Encore pistol barrel in 338 Federal, so I can use 308 Winchester brass for the same savings.
 
yooper77

[bilmac]

You are trying to fill an awfully small gap, would there be any real difference between that and other existing cartridges.  I know about the wildcat bug, I built a 25-06 and 35 Whelan before they became factoriezed. Now I think I could have found better ways to spend my $.

[swifty22]

Mine is not exactly a 338x57 but it is a 358x57, simply a standard 8x57 rebored to .358 w/no other changes, works great! It seems to me that Elmer K. talked about the 338x57 and it has a name but it isn't in my PO Ackley book. At gun show last year I got 2 10 packs of Kynoch 9x57 ammo and so far have shot 1 round ($20 for 10 rnds) which were made in the early 1960s. Worked just fine and when I get my chrony back from an "accident" I'll run another across the screens and then load to that level. I simply use either new 8x57 cases run over the tapered expander and FL for full power loads (I use 358 Win data)  or do the same w/surplus 8x57 ball (pull bullets expand and load 125 gr 9mm .355 bullets over the surplus powder load and shoot ground squirrels- cheap loads but MAKE SURE you clean the barrel w/a specific cleaner for corosive primers cause they are!).  I don't see that a 338x57 would be any problem but I already have an HVA 338-06 soooo. 

[smokehouserex]

 
 
  Hey wildcatters:
 
  I found out long ago, build whatever it is that you want too shoot. I have some wildcat books and it's amazing how many similar cartridges there are in existance, some never made it even tho they were good ones, and some good ones bit the dust.
  I have ben toying with the idea of a 8mm on a 264 win case, I know the 8mm rem mag is a great one and the 338 win mag is too but it  {8mm rem} too has all but bit the dust.  Have at your choice and have fun with it, just knowing that it's yours is great.
  safety first
  HM

[Drilling Man]

 
  Hey wildcatters:
 
  I found out long ago, build whatever it is that you want too shoot. I have some wildcat books and it's amazing how many similar cartridges there are in existance, some never made it even tho they were good ones, and some good ones bit the dust.
  I have ben toying with the idea of a 8mm on a 264 win case, I know the 8mm rem mag is a great one and the 338 win mag is too but it  {8mm rem} too has all but bit the dust.  Have at your choice and have fun with it, just knowing that it's yours is great.
  safety first
  HM

  Have you heard of the 325WSM?  It would be about the same balistics as a 8mm 264mag. and probably a better design.
 
  DM