8x64S? Any owners and shooters?

[sestoppelman]

Some may recall I was recently whining because I got out bid on one on GB, a beautiful BRNO ZKK 600 in the rare 8x64s caliber. In retrospect I probably should have just bid till I got it but it looked to be an uphill battle as the high bidder had I suspect a big max bid. It was over $1800 when I quit.

Soooo, been mulling this over since then. I have 3 boxes of factory ammo I found while waiting for the bid to close, and found a set of new RCBS dies at Grafs for about 2/3 off list, a bargain.

I have a Zastava 8x57 that I like and didn't pay much for, a recent acquisition for a donor rifle to ream out to 8x64. It feeds and extracts the longer round from the magazine with ease but of course wont chamber. Its interesting in that the 8x64 seems to be very little different than the more common 7x64, both Brenneke creations. Dimensions according to a couple of books are nearly identical but for the larger caliber, and the 8x64 is perhaps a couple thousands larger around the head.

The hard part so far has been locating someone to do a chamber job, and no one has a reamer for the caliber. I have a couple of feelers out to some 'smiths I know and waiting to hear back. I might have a line on a reamer from a maker, waiting to hear back on a retired 'smith friend to see if it would fit our needs.

So any 8x64 shooters here?

 

[HWL]

Never give up....here is another one.

https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=7755157


HWL

 

[Mr. Zorg]

Following with interest!

 

[HWL]

He "high end" 8x64S in a combination gun.

https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=7655329

HWL

 

[Shootist43]

HWL, that combination gun is a "doozy" (slang for sweet.) Probably not too many like it.

 

[sestoppelman]

I don't want my life savings into one!

 

[bruce moulds]

an 8mm/06 would come close, as would a 9.3x62 necked down to 8mm.
bruce.

 

[sestoppelman]

True, but that wouldn't be an 8x64s, though an 8mm-06 would certainly be the most economical way to go. In the end that may be how I go, but going to keep trying this way for a bit, no hurry.

 

[HWL]

HWL, that combination gun is a "doozy" (slang for sweet.) Probably not too many like it.

Never ever I would buy it.

Not because of the combination,...... but while hunting I would fear to damage it.

Honestly, I think it is a safe queen.


HWL

 

[Mr. Zorg]

sestoppelman, I ran across this and thought of you & this thread. Dunno what price you found at Graf's, thought you might want to compare.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/845263632

 

[sestoppelman]

Thanks for that.. Grafs had them on clearout for $50. I got a set. Now if I could just get a rifle.....

 

[8x68]

Thinking about one myself.

 

[Milan]

Following with interest. Could PTG not make you one? They make 8x65RS so should have most of the dimensions they need...
http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/cust...636-8-mm-x-65-rs-brenneke-chamber-reamer.html

I have an 8x60 which I got some brass for so may try that and if I don't like it it may become 8mm-06 or maybe even 8x64. But I do like the more "standard" 7/8x57 or 06 case bases and rims...then again it seems like almost every cartridge has a unique base and rim.

 

[Dutchman2112]

I'm a big fan of the 8x64, have a couple of them . Are you still looking for a reamer? Do you need any help with ammo or brass?

 

[sestoppelman]

An update to this thread is in order. A member here put me on to a 'smith who does this work and has all the stuff to do it with! No trying to track down reamers and HS gauges!
Shipped off my barreled action and a few test rounds (separate) today. Don't know when I will have it back, but just glad to get it to someone to do the job!

Thanks again for your help Dean!

 

[RayAtkinson]

Ihave a sometimes go to model 21 Brno that was originally a 8x57 but I punched it out to a 8mm-06 and loved it, then I punched it out again to a 8mm-06 Ackley Improved, and its been my go to elk and Moose rifle for some time now...Its a hammer for sure, Id compare it to equal the 9.3x62 or 338-06 IMp, and 35 Whelen Imp..but if I was buying one today Id probably opt for the 9.3x62, its always been a favorite of mine and Ive shot up to elephant with it.

 

[sestoppelman]

I probably would too, but at the moment I don't really have any real use for any of these bad boys. I wouldn't have embarked on this project if I hadn't seen that BRNO 600 on Gunjoker in 8x64s, which I got outbid on, AFTER buying dies and ammo!
I mean it stands to reason that if one has dies and ammo, then one must have something to shoot this stuff in.

 

[sestoppelman]

Today my 8x64s arrived home! Here is a couple of pics. Recall that this started out as a cheapo Yugo M70 from that big batch of Euro rifles that landed here some time back in various cals, 8x57 being the most common, one of which I got and it shot well, stock needed repairs as expected.
I sent this back east to Gostomski's Gunsmithing for a simple runout of the chamber to 8x64s,
I think this will be a fun shooter, it feeds and ejects beautifully, more like an 03 Springfield than a Mauser. Plenty of room in the mag for length. I would expect to have this to the range next Monday for sure.
I sent them 5 test rounds. They used one, and sent the remaining live rounds in the box with the rifle, LOL. Have to think they know better unless some shipping dweeb did it, who knows.

I like their barrel stamping, not all over the place like some do.

It was done for a very reasonable charge too btw. Looking forward to shooting this one! Now gotta go and remount my scope, that is if I havent used it on something else or sold it!!

 

[Milan]

Sweet. I was ordering some reamers from ptg and almost pulled a trigger on one in 8x64. But then I’d have to get the dies and I did not know where to source brass or factory ammo, so I aborted the thought of it.

 

[sestoppelman]

Well not to be a big enabler here....LOL.. dies are easy, brass not so much, however SG ammo sells S&B factory ammo for under $50 a box. I have 5 boxes now and that will make enough brass to last for some time.