Accuracy...

by Otony, Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 16:40 (10 days ago) @ Hoot

…I’ve mentioned it mostly in passing, but I obtained a custom 8mm Encore barrel by Match Grade Machine that was sent out with no chamber!

The fellow who ordered it was going to have it machined to accommodate the 8mm Lebel cartridge, and waxed eloquently as to why that was a fabulous choice. Fortunately, he could not find anyone in possession of a Lebel reamer, so it remained in his hands sans a chamber.

I purchased it for a reasonable price, and shipped it back to MGM who cut a 8mm Mauser chamber and added a rim cut as a second procedure. I gave them a half dozen 8x57R rounds from various manufacturers to allow them to cut a rim recess that would be “universal”.

In my eyes, and in a strong action such as the Encore, what I have is essentially the close equivalent to a 338/06 or 35 Whelen. It must be noted that even at the height of Covid nonsense, both brass and loaded ammo was relatively easy to come by, ain’t too many ‘muricans shooting that round.

To me, it makes nothing but sense, because it is readily available, RIMMED, and a classic cartridge, all of which lends itself perfectly to a break open single shot like the Encore. I could have chosen a more exotic rimmed round from Europe, or one of their magnum class 8mm cartridges, but then brass becomes an issue.

Because of the ease with which I was able to obtain good brass, I am rather amazed that it isn’t the basis for any number of rimmed wildcats. Anything in the 308/6.5 Creed/or 250 Savage family is a candidate with some work of course. And leaving it at its full 57mm length it can be made into all the variant rimmed Mauser cartridges as well.

Otony