Tx Hunter, I understand completely. If you have a source for cheap 06 brass, and you don't mind doing the work, it's the way to go. I have done it myself, for both 8mm and 7.7mm Jap.
My situation is different from yours and these days, when I can find it, I try to buy "original" brass. At the guns shows, its not significantly different in price from most fairly popular calibers. And if you think 8mm is expensive, try buying brass for a .375 H&H, or a .350 Rem Mag (if you can get it!)
I have 3 8mm Mausers, which, sadly, I don't shoot that much these days, so my stockpile of ammo is sufficient.
years ago, I bought 5 boxes of Rem 8mm Mauser, back when they were less than the cost of breakfast for the wife and I, each. A box a month from the local Bi-Mart. Its true that it is underpowered compared to European stuff, but its accurate, fairly soft recoil, and actually has enough power for my hunting needs. Plus it leaves that good R-P brass to reload when you are done. A couple of bags of brass from the gun shows, and I've got a few hundred cases, which will last me a long time. Heck, I've still got a few boxes of Herters 8mm bullets to use up!
The one drawback to forming your 8mm from 06 is the headstamps. Make sure you mark the boxes, cause just looking at the case heads won't tell you which round it is, and grabbing the wrong box would be a bad thing.