Quote:

---

A question. Why is a 8x60S so impressive when compared to say a .30-06? Shorter case. Is powder capacity also lesser in the 8x60m or is it a blown out case? .323 (or .318 calibre, so in theory can use a heavier bullet than .30 calibres. But you can get .308 250 grs, just like you can get 250 gr 8mm. Lesser range of projectiles, and in particular less choice of premium projectiles.
So don't understand why it is much different from the 8x57, .30-06 etc
BTW I do like the idea of the 8x60S, but isn't it pretty much a 8mm/06 in usage?[quote/]

It may be annoying to an Anglophile, but the 8x60S, the old "Versailles treaty cartridge", is fully the equal of the venerated British .318 Rimless NE, comparing ballistics.
Kynoch now lists these muzzle velocities for their .318 loads, taken with a 28" test barrel:
180 gr bullet at 2700 fps
250 gr bullet at 2400 fps
Instrumental velocities, 5 m from the muzzle, of my 8x60S loads, from the 22" barrel of my Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1925:
180 gr Barnes TSX bullet,52 gr VV N140 at 2720 fps
250 gr Woodleigh bullet, 53 gr VV N160 at 2330 fps
Granted, the .318 bullet is larger by a mere .006". But I doubt any animal or hunter will note a difference in practical use.

Quote:

---

A question. Why is a 8x60S so impressive when compared to say a .30-06?[quote/]


Re.: Why is an "iconic" .318 WR so impressive when compared to say a "mundane" .30-06? Shorter case, less capacity, almost no bullet selection except 2 Woodleighs and 1 Prvi Partizan.
You are right, there is very little practical difference between all the cartridges you mentioned. But it's a matter of rifle provenance. Before WW2, just as English speaking hunters did not understand metric numbers (reread Taylor and Keith!), continantal Eurpeans did not understand the alien imperial ones like inches, grains or fps. Though German gunmakers made some rifles in .30-06 and .318 WR for export, such cartridges were virtually unknown in Germany. If you are looking for a 1920s – 30s bolt action sporting rifle of that performance class, an American one will be in .30-06 most likely, a British one in .318 WR and a German one in 8x60. The differences serve one purpose only: They provide topics for endless discussions among hunters on one being a marvel and the others about useless.