My first double is a german 8x57r scalloped boxlock. I inherited it and a 9.3x57 mauser at the same time. I did not handload at the time so it was pretty hard to find amo for the pair, but I eventually came across 40ish rounds for 8mm, 186 gr and 90ish round of 286gr original kynoch for 9.3.

The 8mm did not regulate that well with the load, that coupled with the fact that the 9.3 shoot 1.5" at 200m pretty much sealed it to a back up gun.

I hunted bear and moose with 9.3 and took around 30 bears and a half dozen moose with it. But one day when going out for a deer drive with some freinds I forgot the 9.3 ammo. I used the 8mm that day, and most days since. It came up on running deer like lightning I was getting off two shots before any of my friends could find the deer in there scopes. I took 2 spike bucks and a 150 class 10 pointer that day. All at under 100m and all running. I was in love.

My dad has a 1200 acre hobby farm on a plateau with a lake in western quebec. The 8mm lives there now. Getting guns acrooss the border is a pain and it just feels right to have it live in a gun safe under the floor boards. It takes a couple of deer a season and from ammunition depletion, I'm pretty sure my dad uses it on coyotes and other pests.

Now all I need is a 9.3x74r, a 450/400 3", and a 577NE. Oh well I guess the bite has me as well.