Favorite 8x57 (8mm Mauser) load?

[Jim B.]

I would like to hear what people are using for deer in the 8x57.  I have acquired a nice little Mauser and it will be my backup/foul weather rifle this year.  I would like to find a good deer load with either 150 or 185 gr bullets.  I would also like to hear what works well in the K98/M48 type rifles as good practice loads. Please share your experience!

Also, I am looking for a good online source of general information (not history) of the 8x57 cartridge.  I have read Ken Waters two articles in Pet Loads but have found very little other information about the cartridge and its performance - most writings focus on its history.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jim B.

[ajj]

Well, I can volunteer that IMR 4064 makes a great "all purpose" powder in this cartridge, (and others) and that it will serve both for hunting and practice rounds with the jacketed bullets of your choice.

[Snowshoe]

I am using the Hornady 170g RN with 49.5g of IMR4064, and getting 2630 fps. It is very accurate and effective on the 1 deer I got with it. I also have taken a deer with a Norma 196g bullet and 46g of 4064, for a velosity of 2450 fps.

[Val]

I have a sporterized K98 Mauser, an original condition K98 and an original condition Yugo M48.

The sporterized K98 is a fine looking hunting rifle and I'm getting 3 shot groups at 100 yds right at 1". It shoots well with 180 Nosler Ballistic Tips with 43 grains of IMR 4064. CCI 200 primers. I get a muzzle velocity of 2272 fps. It also likes 200 grain Speer Spitzers with 44 grains of Varget. I get a muzzle velocity of 2265 fps with the Speer 200 grain pellets.

My two milsurp mausers both like the 200 grain speers and didn't likr the 180 Nosler BTs. None of my 8mm mausers like 150 grain bullets.

I recently purchased some 185 Remington Core lock bullets which are pretty inexpensive. I'm going to try them as plinking bullets for my Milsurp Mausers. I'm also going to try them as reduced loads for target plinking.

[Mikey]

Jim B.  I have used the Sellier and Bellot 196 gn cutted edge soft point and fmj exclusively in all my (4) 8mms and each one likes the S&B ammo best.  The S&B factory load data indicates those 196 gn bullets move at 2500'/sec or a bit better and would make that a great load for most anything on the north American continent.  HTH and good luck.  Mikey.

[Jim B.]

Mikey,

The S&B 196gr FMJ is the only ammo I have used so far in this rifle.  With the Mojo sights it printed nice groups of a couple of inches.  I have not seen the S&B softpoint ammo here in the States - do you know of a source?

I am looking for a lighter bullet to handload because I do not need the extra momentum of a large bullet for deer and the lighter slugs will shoot a little flatter.

Jim B.

[Val]

The Speer 150 grain spitzer in .323 is a quality bullet for the 8mm Mauser. My Mausers don't seem to like the lighter bullets but I read where some guys get good results with the lighter bullets. You just need to try them in your gun and see.

[like2shoot]

Natchez shooters supply carries the SP 8mm ammo. Several other companys advertise it in SGN. I have used it and it shot well.

[Mikey]

JimB:  I have obtained my 8mm 196 gn soft point ammo from Natchez in the past and there are others that advertize this ammo in the Shotgun News.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Badnews Bob]

serria 220gr game kings over 48 grains H4895 @2500fps+,  1" groups outta my yugo M48 @100 yrds. deer hammers.

[Sweetwater]

My 2 cents worth.
According to the Boys in Lewistown, Idaho, at least back in the early '80's, the Speer 150gr 8mm was their "light" bullet, therefore it was built with a light jacket. I found this out when my 8mm blew up on a Whitetail ribcage and produced a neat little flesh wound, but no entry. Successive shots put the deer down and after I got it home and taken care of, I got on the phone to Speer and that was their explanaton. Never had the problem with a Sierra or Hornady 150gr and 51gr of IMR3031 really lit up the sky when I touched off my Persian Carbine. Bullets lighte than 150gr are available, but never shot well in my rifle.
Regards,
Sweetwater

[zasxcd]

I have owned and handloaded for many 8x57's. One factor that you need to keep in mind is that most 8x57's had VEERRRRRRRYYYYYY  long throats, even beyond what would be called "freeboring". I checked a dozen or so spare barrels a while ago using a 5/16 inch brass rod inserted into the chamber and throat, and measured the maximum depth it would go in to. In all of the barrels (except one) the rod went in OVER 3-1/2 inches! These barrels came from a wide variety of donor rifles. The ONE with a short throat will be used for my next custom 8x57, and BTW it was a Turk T38 barrel, although other Turk T38 barrels also had the super long throating. Seat your bullets out as far as the magazine will allow, also many rifles respond best to use of very heavy bullets. I have to believe throat length is part of why.