Author Topic: 8mm range time  (Read 665 times)

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Offline Cheesehead

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8mm range time
« on: October 31, 2006, 06:24:08 PM »
Today I took my 98 sporter to the range. A relatively light rifle, 7.5 pounds. Topped with a Lyman peep sight. My first deer rifle from my childhood. After having some trouble with military surplus misfires I wanted to test the gun and my handloads. 50+ rounds of ammo and no misfires. My hand loads were mostly 220 grain Remington bullets over a maximum charge of RL-15. This made realize a few things. The 8mm Mauser round is a heavy hitter, a serious big game round. With proper handloads it can hit very hard as demonstrated by the reactive targets reaction to a direct hit. Some 4x4 chunks of wood flipped 20 feet into the air. My point is, for how old this cartridge is, it still leaves me in awe of its power and timeless design.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline Mikey

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2006, 12:47:46 PM »
Cheese - you're right!  The 8mm is one hay of a performer and a heavy hitter.  I found, quite recently, that for some strange reason my Husquavarna made 98 in 8mm does not like the S&B soft points and they group poorly from only that 8mm (my other 8mms love'm, so go figure..), so I started reloading this cartridge for the first time.  My choice of bullets are the Nosler Accubond in 200 gn and the Hornaday 195 gn sp, both over slightly less than the max charge of VV - N160 for about 2500'/sec.  Accuracy is incredible with both bullets.  My choice of which one to load.  I am extremely pleased with this rifle and the 8mm round.  I'll be using it on my next rifle hunt.  Mikey.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2006, 01:18:33 PM »
I would bet the Hornady 195 grain is every bit as accurate as the Nosler and half the price.

Cheese
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Offline Blammer

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2006, 05:01:16 PM »
try the speer Hor Cor in 200 gr. they are exceptionally accurate for me.

Offline jack19512

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2006, 01:45:28 AM »
Here is what my K98 likes.  Of all my rifles my 8mm's are my favorite.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2006, 01:53:05 AM »
Jack

Have you ever chronographed the load you have pictured?

Cheese
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Offline jack19512

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2006, 02:05:59 AM »
No, I wish I could though.  I don't have the equipment yet but it is on my Christmas list. It is on the low end though, I estimate around 2100 fps.

Offline jack19512

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2006, 02:10:54 AM »
I always meant to work the load up some more and see how it did but just never got around to it yet.

Offline jack19512

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2006, 02:19:56 AM »
When I purchased my K98 from Centerfire Systems here in Ky. I bought my oldest son one too and his shoots the same as mine with these reloads.  I wish I would have kept the target but I didn't.  We each shot 3 rounds and ended up with one ragged hole in the target.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2006, 02:31:13 AM »
Jack

Seems like a fine, very accurate load. You do not need to change a thing. Making the load hotter could mean less accuracy for a number of reasons.
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Offline jack19512

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2006, 02:36:32 AM »
I looked in my reloading manual and for this weight bullet it looks like you aren't going to get much more velocity anyway.  If I remember correctly 2300 fps. is the max listed.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #11 on: November 05, 2006, 03:17:54 AM »
I have chronographed some 8mm handloads of mine. All with near max charges of RL-15.

Speer 200 grain @ 2466 fps

Speer 150 grain @ 2800 fps

Rem 220 grain @ 2218 fps

The 220 grain kicks hard shooting from the bench. So I stacked the sand bags higher and used a shoulder pad, much better.

Cheese

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Offline Mikey

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2006, 05:03:52 AM »
Cheese - you are correct.  The Hornaday's are every bit as accurate and only half the price.  The Horndadays have a crimp groove but I found that loading my slugs to the same oal as mil-spec, which she loves, leaves the crimp groove about 1/4" above the case mouth.  They load and chamber perfectly though.  Seems like I have a lot of shooting to do......................Mikey.

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #13 on: November 05, 2006, 06:01:58 AM »
Mikey

I recommend you take a large amount of ammo, some friends and family, and get to the range and figure this out and let us know.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline rk4570

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #14 on: November 05, 2006, 06:03:19 AM »
What type of rifles are you shooting ?

I have a Mitchells Mauser in 8mm. that I havnt shot much yet. I bought it a few years ago ( I know I  paid too much) BEFORE I started reading this forum.

I am thinking of shooting cast bullets in it, because I love to cast & reload and dont do much hunting anymore. Thanks for any ideas , help that you can give me! 8)
I spent a lot of money on Guns, Wild Horses & Wilder Women but I guess I just wasted all the rest!

Offline Cheesehead

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Re: 8mm range time
« Reply #15 on: November 05, 2006, 06:14:45 AM »
rk

I shoot a Model 98k made in Germany in 1944. I has a modern sporter stock, and has been reblued and the barrel has been smoothed out but is still stepped. A gold bead front sight and a peep rear sight. I have recently shot some cast bullets through it I got from a friend. 170 grain bullet over 28 grains of 2400, nice to shoot.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.