What caliber?
What caliber?
Could I possibly get 'some help about what caliber would be preferable in a model 8? .30 OR .35 ? I am a new member and am doing things in reverse and getting some input before I get one. There seems to be a lot more .35's available than .30. Which one kicks more? What ammo is easier to find? .35 ballistics don't seem that much greater than a .30. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Great website
Re: What caliber?
35 is the way to go. It does have more recoil, but it's still factory loaded and of course pushes a heavier bullet. Ammo will be cheaper and easier to find.
Cam Woodall
Site Co-Administrator
Site Co-Administrator
Re: What caliber? My $.02
I agree with 81Police from a different perspective. I'm allergic to recoil. Some deny it, others like my son and 81Police could careless, but I want to enjoy the shooting experience. So, I like 25's - that said, I have several 30's that I enjoy shooting.
A gun builder and gunsmith once told me that rifles are like a well tuned and balanced race car but also just as fickle - some things work and some don't depending upon the specific car and the driver.
It is my opinion that the M8 and M81 were designed for the 35. I have several in 30, 32, and 300Sav, they shoot well but when it comes to recoil (fine tuning) the 35 just feels better to me. Some say it's a "push" with the 35 vs. a sharp kick with the 300Sav, I don't know, but the 35 works for me.
Enjoy and welcome to the forum and the addiction
A gun builder and gunsmith once told me that rifles are like a well tuned and balanced race car but also just as fickle - some things work and some don't depending upon the specific car and the driver.
It is my opinion that the M8 and M81 were designed for the 35. I have several in 30, 32, and 300Sav, they shoot well but when it comes to recoil (fine tuning) the 35 just feels better to me. Some say it's a "push" with the 35 vs. a sharp kick with the 300Sav, I don't know, but the 35 works for me.
Enjoy and welcome to the forum and the addiction
Though defensive violence will always be “a sad necessity” in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men. - St. Augustine
Re: What caliber?
Thank you very much for the replys Cam and funcity.-Id had been looking at a Model 8 circa 1919 at the local cabellas but after further exam it turned out to be a 30 caliber and wasn't worth the 350 that they wanted for it. I have decided to hold on to my money and wait for a decent 35.I have ordered Henwoods book and can't stop readin all great posts on this site. When did the metal butt plate come and go? when did the pistol grip stock arrive or was it a matter of grade that denoted the two? Thanks again you guys----Hutch
Re: What caliber?
Hutch,
The type of stock on a Model 8 does nothing to denote grade of the rifle. The round knob pistol grip was on Model 8's early on as a free option, that ceased in late 1920 where it became a $2.75 option on standard grade rifles. There is another type of Model 8 pistol grip which i call the flat knob pistol grip, similar to A5 Brownings. This stock is found on later Model 8's from the early - mid 1930's. All that aside, the majority of Model 8's out there are straight grip.
The very first rifles came with hard rubber buttplates but it wasn't long after a selection of metal buttplates became option. The most common buttplate, which became standard in 1921 is the bottom-tang metal buttplate. I don't know how many buttplates there were as options, 6 or more I think.
The type of stock on a Model 8 does nothing to denote grade of the rifle. The round knob pistol grip was on Model 8's early on as a free option, that ceased in late 1920 where it became a $2.75 option on standard grade rifles. There is another type of Model 8 pistol grip which i call the flat knob pistol grip, similar to A5 Brownings. This stock is found on later Model 8's from the early - mid 1930's. All that aside, the majority of Model 8's out there are straight grip.
The very first rifles came with hard rubber buttplates but it wasn't long after a selection of metal buttplates became option. The most common buttplate, which became standard in 1921 is the bottom-tang metal buttplate. I don't know how many buttplates there were as options, 6 or more I think.
Cam Woodall
Site Co-Administrator
Site Co-Administrator