I have a 1965 paul jaeger 8mm ackley 8 mag.it takes a 338 win mag case.i have a chronograph data from 1965. 63.5 gr with a 225 gr bullet 3525fpe , 2666fps. i don't know anything about wildcat loads. does antbody know anything about cartridge? if so should i start here or back off?also anybody know of any good places to buy brass?
think you for your time mib

mib,
That sure sounds like an odd animal you have there! An Ackley typically blows the taper out of a case and puts a steep shoulder on the case, and with the 338 WM case, there wouldn't seem to be much gain there. Don't know what kind of powder your load is, but it seems a bit light for something on the order of IMR-4350, which I use in the 338 WM, with 225's and 250's. But the velocity you state is somewhat consistent with such a light load. I'd expect something on the order of 2700-2800 fps with a 225 gr bullet using 4350 powder (66-68 gr of IMR 4350 in the 338 WM). A bit more info from you if available might give us more to go on.

For 338 WM brass, Midway USA is a good source.

hi shawn,
tell me what info you'r looking for and i will do my best to answere.

hi shawn,
tell me what info you'r looking for and i will do my best to answere.

mib,
Mainly, do you know what powder was used in the 63.5 gr load you cite? And, bullet make and primer - if you know. Although, I'll confess, I am not familiar with this wildcat, but I don't think it can be very much different from the 338 WM. That info will give us a basis for comparison.

Odd designation for a poor mans magnum type.
I have a 8mmX338 and the information that has been given to you seems in the ball park. I would need to see the base and profile of the case. I am thinking that if the.338 Win Mag case at .338 has been necked down to .323 then starting loads for the 338 Win Mag will be a good place to start. Mine was a thrown together masuer at the end of WW2 and it should have never had a sporting barrel installed as the hard bolt locking lugs peened the action locking risers and the Action is not good. Soft action material.

338

hi,
this is what i have here primer 9.5 m powder 4350 and bullet speer gr 225.the few that i got with the gun are 338 win mag case. looks like a stander 338 win mag case.i want to shoot it ,but i don't want to do any harm to it to nice of gun to take a chance to me.

When did Speer make an 8mm 225gr projectile?
Cheers...
Con

hi,
this is what i have here primer 9.5 m powder 4350 and bullet speer gr 225.the few that i got with the gun are 338 win mag case. looks like a stander 338 win mag case.i want to shoot it ,but i don't want to do any harm to it to nice of gun to take a chance to me.

mib,
It may make a small difference if your powder is IMR-4350, vs H4350. I'm looking at the Speer #12 loading manual at the 338 Win Mag, with 225 gr BT Spitz SP bullets. Speer lists a starting load of 71.0 gr, and max load of 75.0 gr with IMR-4350 - exactly the same data for H4350. I happen to think that THIS LOADING RANGE IS A BIT HOT! I generally load 68.5 gr of IMR-4350 with the 225 grainers, and 67.5 gr of IMR-4350 with the 250 grainers. I use CCI 250's in my loads.

I don't know the history of whether Speer ever offered a 225 gr 8mm bullet, but they don't list one now - only up to 200 grains. Sierra offers a 220 grainer in 8mm.

Your 63.5 grains of '4350' does sound a bit light when comparing to the 338 WM data, but note that back then, powder recipes likely differed a bit. Additionally, with a 220 gr 8mm bullet, vs a 225 gr 338 bullet, you will have more bearing surface area on the 8mm bullet. And, lastly, some additional 'lawyer weasel words'.....I do not know if your wildcat altered the 338 Win Mag case any besides just necking down. Having said all this, I'd recommend that you look at several loading manuals and compare starting load recommendations for the 225 gr 338 Win Mag, and choose one to start with, and go from there. Good luck.

Shawn Crea,
My question regarding the Speer 225gr projectile was raised because I've never heard of such a beast in 8mm ... so it makes me question the load data passed down. Perhaps its a 338WinMag load that got scrawled on a piece of paper??? Either way ... its good to be cautious when loading an odd wildcat with odd nomenclature and take nothing for granted.

I'd have a chamber cast made before proceeding to gain knowledge of exactly what case design/shape I'm dealing with.

If this wildcat is "just a 338WinMag necked down" then I'd personally use 338WinMag starting loads looking for projectiles with a SD that match the 8mm pills I'm hoping to load for. So I'd use 338WinMag 225gr loads and substitute a 200gr 8mm pill. I'd stay away from the fast powders and the very slow, and pick a middle of the road powder like H4350 and maybe err to the slower side with H4831SC. To speed up load development, I'd start with the 338WinMag's starting load, and after extracting each case, I'd rechamber it to see whether any increased resistance is felt to chambering. Resistance to rechambering can be a sign that pressures are getting to the point where your about to start seeing "traditional signs" within about 1-2gr of upping that load. Initially I'd just work at getting a feel for the rifle and how it responds to upping loads.

If case capacity is significantly different to an 8mm/338WM, then I'd adjust accordingly.
Cheers...
Con

Shawn Crea,
My question regarding the Speer 225gr projectile was raised because I've never heard of such a beast in 8mm ... Con

I agree Con, I've not seen a 225 8mm from Speer (or anyone else), but I guess they could have made one back around 1965 when heavy-for-caliber bullets were more in favor than they are today. And, I agree with your sound advice on approach for loading this unknown animal.

hi, i would like to thank everyone for the info. It's really helpful.I'm going to load up some and give her a try i let you know how i make out.Thanks again

Never throw a reloading manual away. Speer #7, 1966. .323 225 grain round nose.

Bye
Jack

Never throw a reloading manual away. Speer #7, 1966. .323 225 grain round nose.

Bye
Jack

Nice find Jack! I was still being dressed by my mom in 1966 and hadn't discovered this fine sport of reloading yet. The earliest manual I have is Speer #10, and it does not list a 225 8mm. Fitting that it's a roundnose though, correct for the time.

Never throw a reloading manual away. Speer #7, 1966. .323 225 grain round nose.

Bye
Jack

Jack,
Great find and another piece in the puzzle!! Should also add never throw out old magazines. I've started scanning all my magazines plus others ... found some interesting articles too ... like a 6.5Carcano in a Rem700!!
Cheers...
Con

P.O Ackley's book records two such magnum's; The 8x62 Durham magnum, which is based off the H&H case head. If the moniker of 62 denotes cartridge length, it would be slightly shorter than the 338 Winchester. The pictured cartridge has been "improved" somewhat and has a sharper shoulder. In Ackley's second book there is an 8mm PMM "poor man's magnum" or an 8mm by 338 win. Data provided in his book makes no reference to bullet manufacture etc but the reported velocity is 2,800 fps with a 225 gn bullet over 75 grains of 4831.

Other areas for starting load data would be the 325 WSM. Being of a similar case capacity, the wsm slightly less according to what data I have, should give you an idea of where to start.