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Author Topic: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?  (Read 1482 times)

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Offline wsjones

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Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« on: February 20, 2008, 01:29:27 PM »
I just bought a couple hundred rounds of 8mm surplus ammo from my local gun shop and I want to figure out where it was manufactured and when, and if possible, if it's corrosive.

The shop said they believed it to be 1970's vintage and probably either Romanian or Yugoslavian.  The case is steel and the head stamp is 2 numbers, located opposite each other on the case head:  "22" at 12 o'clock and  "74" at 6 o'clock.  I pulled a bullet and it's a nominal 156 gr. BTFMJ.  The powder was a medium size extruded grain type that looked about like 4350 and had a fresh nitrocellulose powder smell (not off smelling or ammonia-y).

Any help with when and where it was manufactured?  I could see the 74 meaning 1974 but the 22's no help.  Thanks.  -WSJ
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Offline wsjones

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2008, 01:43:18 PM »
Duh.  Guess I just answered my own question in about 30 seconds after posting here.

Romanian Factory 22, 1974 according to http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Cool.  Still don't know if it's corrosive and would appreciate any info.  Thanks in advance.  -WSJ
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Offline Wynn

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2008, 02:05:28 PM »
All surplus 8x57 ammo should be considered corrosive regardless of what a distributor or salesman tells you. To not treat it as such can be a expensive lesson. :'(
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Offline Mikey

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 01:47:49 AM »
WSJ:  look into the cases of some with the pulled bullets.  If you see two primer flash holes the primers are corrosive.  If you see just one primer flash hole it is not corrosive.  It is the priemrs, not the powder that is corrosive.  HTH and good shootin'.  Mikey.
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Offline wsjones

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 12:08:38 PM »
Mikey:  Thanks, I had no idea how one could tell.  I'll check it out.  And regardless, it looks like nice ammo (there's a red lacquer sealer around the bullet and primer) and I can't wait to see how it shoots and what velocities are.  I'll post here if anyone's interested.

Also, BTW, I picked up a couple of 1983 vintage Yugo 196 gr BTFMJ surplus loads today.  I haven't pulled a bullet but will shoot over a chrono this weekend and let anyone interested know the results.

Thanks.  -WSJones
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2008, 01:12:43 PM »
I am an 8mm fan, keep us posted.

Cheese
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Offline blackpowderbill

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2008, 02:01:01 PM »
I shoot lots of the Romanian stuff. I has a greenish lacquered case with Red sealer on the primer and around the bullet / case junction.
My current case is stamped 77 , 22. Real good stuff. I have not had a misfire in two and a half cases. It is corrosive, the fired cases will rust quickly. Within a few days of firing,the inside of the cases will have a uniform layer if fine rust. It is accurate and kicks less than the 196 gr stuff.
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Offline wsjones

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2008, 02:42:15 AM »
Blackpowderbill:  That sounds exactly what I bought, except for being 3 years newer.  If it shoots well I might stop down to the gun shop and pick up a few more boxes of it while it lasts.  They're selling them for $6.95 for a box of 20, which appears to be about as cheap as it gets these days.  And I'm supporting my local gun emporium.  -WSJones
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Offline iiranger

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Assume... Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2008, 09:20:03 AM »
The popular thought, least Jack O'Connor days, the corrosive primers were more "long lifed" and reliable. Some suggest easier to make too. Hi tech brought no corrosive to USA in the 1950s for Military or earilier. I don't think there was a .30 Carbine loaded corrosive. Outside USA? I would bet corrosive to be SAFE, SAFE, SAFE!

Pick a black powder solvent and use it; or hot water thru the gun/bore after firing. If the trip home is long, hit it with some WD 40 or equivalent to keep out the humidity (unless you are in AZ). This/ hot water or black powder solvent [black powder makes corrosive residue]  will "cut" the corrosive salts and then you can just clean normally ... ENJOY. Luck.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2008, 09:31:28 AM »
Brownell's once had a paper out stating that other than to stop the bluing process , WD_40 should not be put on guns . Several gunsmiths have told me the same . It can not only reduce live ammo to useless it has an affect on the metal .
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Offline blackpowderbill

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Source Question?
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2008, 04:36:25 AM »
When I was at Colorado School of Trades in the mid 80s they taught us that the older non-corrosive priming compounds where not as stable and consistent as the more conventional corrosive compounds then in use.  Thus most GI ammo and US 30-06 Match ammo was loaded with corrosive priming to ensure long shelf life and consistency at the matches.

  With the priming available today this is no longer a concern.  Our current NC primers are as stable and consistent as anything ever made.
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Offline wsjones

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Re: Surplus 8x57 Mauser Ammo - Velocities
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2008, 02:45:06 AM »
Chrono results for 8x57JS, 156gr. BTFMJ, Romanian Factory 22, 1974 vintage:  Average of approximately 60 rounds through a pre-war 98K, a Yugo M24/47, and a Yugo M48 was 2580 fps across my Chrony set about 10feet in front of the muzzles.

Accuracy seemed good, although we only shot at paper for 5 rounds each with the 24/47 and 98K.  The rest of the time was spent shooting clay pigeons stuck in the snow at ranges of 45-75 yards and hung from the target backstop at 85 yards.  Conditions were perfect, no wind, sunny. mid 20's, and both my friend and I were pleasantly surprised how easy these rifles were to shoot.  From a rest (good bench but impromptu rest and no sand bags) we were death on birds placed in the snow.  The backstop birds were tougher to pick out with the open sights against the timbers of the backstop.

We also shot some 1954 vintage ammo he had that had no headstamp that I could make out and that he didn't know the bullet weight of.  It shot decent but kicked more, leading us to suspect 196gr. or similar.  We also shot one 15-count box of my Yugo 196gr. 1983 ammo, which also shot well and kicked noticeably more than the 156's.  Somehow I've lost the chrono resluts for the 196 gr ammo.

Anyway, I'd recommend the 156gr Romanian ammo, at least for casual banging away.  -WSJones
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