Took her to the range. I had 13 cartridges to shoot (in the rain). I shot at 50 yards from a sandbag rest. Load was 37 grains of AA2495 with 200 grain round nose Lee home cast bullet. Group size, (3 shots) after I figured out (sort of) the sight picture, was about 1.5". The load is one i use in my small ring Mauser and shoots well in that rifle and the 8 seems to like it too.
The bullet is from a 6 hole Lee mold that was purchased from a group buy with the Cast Bullet association, if I remember correctly. It actually casts at .360". The lead composition is wheel weights with a little lino thrown in and water quenched. I use the bullets as cast, no sizing and lube with Lee liquid Alox. I also use a little (.5cc) cereal filler between the powder and the bullet. (If you tell many people you do that they'll fuss at you. Use load at your own risk.
) Chrono says the load runs about 1900 fps. No leading and in the Mauser I have gotten 100 yard groups as good as 1.25" (5 shot) but 2 to 2.5" is more typical. It's minute of deer anyway.The recoil from the model 8 isn't bad, but that double bump does feel different from the bolt action. Some people say they can hear the mechanism moving, but I can't. With my little M1 carbine I can hear the mechanism, but not with the Model 8. I enjoyed shooting the 8 and everyone who has seen it has been very curious. They were all familiar with Browning's shotgun but not the rifle.
Next time I shoot it maybe it won't be raining and I can test some more loads and provide pictures here.
David