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Author Topic: Can mausers handle hot ammo?  (Read 848 times)

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Offline 300grJHP

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Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« on: November 15, 2009, 02:48:19 PM »
My mauser 98 is an 8mm.  It's in great shape.  Can it handle hot ammo (Seller & Bellot) or should i stick to remington factory ammo.  I don't want to damage the gun, but if it will handle hotter ammo, i'd like to shoot it.

thank you
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Offline billy_56081

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2009, 02:50:27 PM »
If your mauser has been checked and is in good shape, any factory ammo is fine. European ammo is loaded withing the SAAMI specs.
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Offline securitysix

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2009, 05:38:26 PM »
European ammo is NOT loaded within the SAAMI specs.  European ammo is loaded to CIP specs.  CIP specs for a lot of cartridges are the same as SAAMI specs.  CIP specs for 8mm are hotter than SAAMI specs for 8mm.  American ammo (Remington and Winchester) is loaded to SAAMI specs.  European ammo (S&B and Prvi, for example) is loaded to CIP specs.

That said, as long as your Mauser is in good shape, it should handle CIP spec ammo without a problem.  American 8mm ammo is considered "underpowered" by many.
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Offline torpedoman

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2009, 06:22:07 PM »
Yes it will handle anything you find on the shelfs and then some it is a very strong action, and in addition if you puncture ar blow a primer, it has vents built into it that will allow the pressures to escape and divert them away from the shooter. One of the reasons that it is used to build custom guns in calibers a lot more powerful than the 8mm.
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Offline Mikey

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2009, 01:08:58 AM »
S&B ammo is made to original European ammo specifications.  It is not 'hot' unless you compare it to the US made ammo, which is underpowered and gutless (my opinion).

Just have your local gunsmith check the headspace to make certain it's safe, get some S&B ammo and then enjoy your 8. 

S&B makes plain ball 198 gn ammo and also has a 198 cutted edge soft point.  The later shoots extremely well in all but one of my 8s but in all honesty I need to try it again as I think my scope may have bellied up while I was testing it. 

I handload for that one 8mm and what a rifle:  200 gn Noslers at 2500'/sec+ with 3 in the same hole at 100m.  I think I'm gonna use that one fer hog bustin' next time - it's too good not to.
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Offline TribReady

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2009, 04:00:58 AM »
Ditto on the responses. The European ammo is what that rifle was designed for.
Once headspace is verified, you are good to go.

I love S&B ammo (and so do my rifles  ;) )  I have had some really good groups with HotShot 196gr SP lately. The HotShot 8mm is made in Serbia (Prvi ammo)
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Offline 454Puma

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2009, 01:33:39 PM »
The 8x57 mm cartridge spec is 50-52,000 PSI!  I keep my reloads to about 48,000 range  in my G98/40's  both in great shape.  Some surplus ammo is pushing more then the 52,000! Turk ammo comes to mind!

So get a chrony and check your loads/ammo! I run my Privi 198 gr loads to 2500 fps 1 gr under max laod! ;D
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2009, 01:48:50 PM »
Check your bore.
.323 it should be able to handle anything commercially available.
.318 this is why the Remington ammo is loaded like it is.
There are older 8X57 rounds (7.92X57) rounds out there that were:
A weaker actions like the mauser 88 that is a manlicher action.
B barreled in .318 as the early bores were.
the 323 also known as the JS came just WWI.
If your gun is a 323 then anything will work and do not worry.
But the 8X57 fully loaded - Kicks. and that steel but plate hurts after a couple hundred rounds
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Offline cbxboy

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 02:37:22 AM »
To get back to the very quick question my personal answer is shoot what you find available.  In another post I read you mentioned a vet bring back K98 correct?  You'll be just fine.  I will admit the Turk ammo is "hot" meaning that either poor storage or the fact thats its only pushing a 147 grain bullet make it feel hot. 

I have probably fired more 8mm ammo than any other ammo....barring 9mm...and have never once had an issue.  I would avoid Turk in a semi auto action but have never been shy feeding it to any of my mauser actions.  A three lug system with a gas vent.....about as safe as any of these surplus rifles.  Every rifle poses a risk, the K98 is not free of risk, just very low in my opinion. 

As a previous poster went into the .318 vs .323 discussion I would say that as you are a .323 (assumption from other post) I personally would not fret about diameter sizes.

Get a set of loading dies if thats your thing and load your own.  I often times will shoot "pansy" loads as its just more comfortable. 

The bigger issue in my opinion is you said you "do not want to damage your gun".  Then I would leave with saying shoot only non corrosive ammo.  Unless you are familiar with cleaning up after corrosive ammo.......corrosive ammo would do more damage than a full powered load :) :)   
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Can mausers handle hot ammo?
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2009, 06:11:26 AM »
I was giving the reason why Remington down loads the 7.92X57 to 30-30 / 32 Win Spl levels is due to the
weak action of the 88 and the 318 pre WW I bore.  And liability issues.  Standard 8mm Mauser is similar in HP to 30-06 + or -.  Sorry I was not clearer in my earlier post.  I had a phone call come in.
as long as it is a Military 98 that was made after 1915 then it will be a .323 bore and the 98 action is one of the strongest military actions made.
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