8x68 200 Grain Accubonds

[9.3x64]

(Cartridge) 8x68

(Brand of bullet) Nosler Accubond

(Weight of bullet) 200 grain

(Brand of brass) RWS

(Type of powder) ADI 2209

(Grains of powder) 70

(Brand, and type of primer) RWS 5333 Magnum

(COAL) 87mm

(CBTO)

(FPS/MPS) 2960 FPS

(Rifle) Blaser R8

(Barrel Length) 65 cm

(Scope) ZEISS 2.5-10x50

(Weather conditions & temp) 30C

(Accuracy @ 100 yards/meters) 1.25”

(Notes)
69 grains 2908 FPS
70 grains 2960 FPS
71 grains 2973 FPS
72 grains 3021 FPS
Both the 69 and the 70 grain loads shot 1.25”, 71 and 72 started to open up with slight primer flattening.
The 69 grain load only had a SD of 7.3 and Es of 17 FPS for 6 shots which was the lowest. Might try 69.5 grains next.

[TheoR8]

Targets??

[Vaughan]

Looking good! I'm waiting for dies and still shooting RWS ammo in mine. Was shooting a paper roe off the bipod on the 300m mound on Wednesday. 4 shots group under 1.5". I'm amazed by how well it has settled now it has 40-odd rounds through it. Moose hunting starts tomorrow

[9.3x64]

Looking good! I'm waiting for dies and still shooting RWS ammo in mine. Was shooting a paper roe off the bipod on the 300m mound on Wednesday. 4 shots group under 1.5". I'm amazed by how well it has settled now it has 40-odd rounds through it. Moose hunting starts tomorrow

Yes I am very impressed with this cartridge, it was pretty easy to find a good load. I am pretty sure I could shoot a better group with fresh eyes on another day.

[TheoR8]

Great stuff, you know what the barrel can do.

[9.3x64]

Yes thanks Theo, extremely pleased with it.

[Joe338ST]

Now that is good shooting!

[Vaughan]

Was back to double-check the BB97 today. I'm sure Chuck would keep tweaking to get those bbls closer (and shoot better) but good enough for me to reliably take a moose out to 150m. You can see the covered holes are from Wednesday. Not sure what I was doing... today better matched when I was regulating the bbl to be zero at 150m.

Anyway, off topic.... I also shot another group to confirm the 8x68 group I shot on the roe target on Wednesday. I didn't shoot as well today but damn this RWS HIT ammo shoots well. The first group when the bbl was near new was probably 15cm at 100m. Now it is shooting beautifully.

20190906_125928.jpg

[dchamp]

Looking good, I like the 8x68s more and more. FWIW;

868s200acc.JPG

I adjusted the temperature close to your 30 degree C.

[dchamp]

Great stuff, you know what the barrel can do.

Do you have a chronographed velocity for that ammo?

[9.3x64]

Was back to double-check the BB97 today. I'm sure Chuck would keep tweaking to get those bbls closer (and shoot better) but good enough for me to reliably take a moose out to 150m. You can see the covered holes are from Wednesday. Not sure what I was doing... today better matched when I was regulating the bbl to be zero at 150m.

Anyway, off topic.... I also shot another group to confirm the 8x68 group I shot on the roe target on Wednesday. I didn't shoot as well today but damn this RWS HIT ammo shoots well. The first group when the bbl was near new was probably 15cm at 100m. Now it is shooting beautifully.

20190906_125928.jpg

Gee that’s good shooting for the 8x68 Vaughan.

[9.3x64]

Looking good, I like the 8x68s more and more. FWIW;868s200acc.JPG I adjusted the temperature close to your 30 degree C.

I have to say that I really appreciate your time to supply this information Dchamp. Thankyou.

This data seems to support what I was seeing with the primers starting to slightly flatten when I increased powder charge above 70 grains.
Allan

[TheoR8]

Great stuff, you know what the barrel can do.

Do you have a chronographed velocity for that ammo?

No I don't Dan I'm sorry.

[Vaughan]

Was back to double-check the BB97 today. I'm sure Chuck would keep tweaking to get those bbls closer (and shoot better) but good enough for me to reliably take a moose out to 150m. You can see the covered holes are from Wednesday. Not sure what I was doing... today better matched when I was regulating the bbl to be zero at 150m.

Anyway, off topic.... I also shot another group to confirm the 8x68 group I shot on the roe target on Wednesday. I didn't shoot as well today but damn this RWS HIT ammo shoots well. The first group when the bbl was near new was probably 15cm at 100m. Now it is shooting beautifully.

20190906_125928.jpg

Gee that’s good shooting for the 8x68 Vaughan.

It's wearing a pretty big suppressor so recoil feels something like a 308W and that certainly helps. Not so easy to carry around and shoot off-hand but that is not how I intend to use it. That said, I am surprised by how gentle it is to shoot, especially when switching between this and the 9,3x74R in the BB97 platform, which is not bad either. I dont imagine the RWS ammo is underpowered by much...