325 WSM from 8mm Mauser K98

[Dixie Dude]

Can you convert an 8mm Mauser K98 into a 325 WSM?

If so is it worth it?  I already have a 35 Whelen Mauser. 

What would the converson cost approximately? 

[mauser98us]

I would not. I think the 325 is interesting, I like anything 8m/m. The advantage of the 325 is that it fits in a shorter action. Putting this in a standard length mauser kinda negates the round. I think if you did a 8m/m-06 improved or an 8m/m Gibbs you could come pretty close to the 325 performance wise.

[Dixie Dude]

What is an 8mm Gibbs?

[mauser98us]

What is an 8mm Gibbs?

30-06 case blown out by fireforming or hydralic pressure to 8m/m.This round has a 35 degree angle shoulder and an extreme short neck of.250.   Max velocities given by Rocky Gibbs were 150 grain/3346 fps.200 grain/2913 fps. The 06 case is pushed dimension wise about as far as it can go.

[strut64]

The other problem with 325 in a k98 is getting it to feed right out of the magazine.   It is relatively easy to get a new chamber cut or
screw on a new barrel chambered right but getting the feed out of the magazine requires opening the feed rails.  The gunsmiths who can do this correctly are
hard to find.  If you over do it you just ruined the action.

[mauser98us]

Don't have a dimension drawing,but I don't think the .325 is long enough to clean out the standard 8X57 chamber. It would on the width but not on the length. I may be wrong. I just don't know.

[Dixie Dude]

I was thinking of using a standard caliber with commercial ammunition.  I do reload, but...  I was just wondering what would be the most powerful cartridge that could be used in the Mauser action.  I knew the .325 was 8mm.  It is shorter so it may not work in the existing action.  Also it has a larger base so the bolt head would have to be reworked.  I guess the 338-06 or 35 Whelen is the most powerful cartridges to be used in this action. 

[gunnut69]

If you don't mind a re-barrel there are many powerfukl wounds used in the 98 action. The 404 Jeffries comes to mind but there are others.. Getting the rifle to feed from the magazine is a problem but there are smiths that can make that happen..  What's the rifle to be used for...? The Gibbs line of cartridges push the 30-06 to the end but the most interesting (my opinion) is the 6mm-06. Roughly the eqivalent of a 240 Weatherby. The 240 is another round that will work thru the 98..

[parkergunshop]

Dixie Dude,

The standard military 8 M/M Mauser barrel, will work ok as a 8 M/M 06, but opening up the barrel for a larger diameter shell is pushing the limit, I for one like a little more meat for a safety factor over the slim military barrels at the chamber for the large diameter magnum cases loaded to higher pressures than the stock 8 M/M round.  Feeding can be a real problem with these short fat cases when used in a action not specifically designed for them.

I see no real advantage in the new fat shorter than 30/06 length rounds and in the near future some of them are going to be obsolete due to lack of demand that means scarce factory ammo if at all.  This is just a passing fad to be avoided  from my viewpoint.   They will go the way of rear engined cars made in the USA in due time.  Much of the ammo for these short fat rounds is already way over priced.

If you want magnum performance rebarrel to a bigger diameter shank barrel  to a 30/06 length magnum case as someone noted earlier.

[parkergunshop]

Ok,

Here is the difference in price for the ammo at Midway Arms:

325 WSM $58.99 a box,  8 M/M Mauser $30.99 a box,   300 Winchester Magnum 28.49 a box.

Odd ball low volume ammo  for the 325 WSM is  currently costing over twice what the standard 30-06 length 300 Winchester Magnum costs.
And note that it is out of stock, limited availability.

The only advantage for the WSM rounds is with the marketing dept, pushing new guns and new calibers to attract the unwary.


Winchester Supreme Ammunition 325 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) 200 Grain Nosler AccuBond Box of 20
Product #: 790047
Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK
4.75 stars$58.99

Winchester Super-X Ammunition 8x57mm Mauser (8mm Mauser) 170 Grain Power-Point Box of 20
Product #: 451420
Status: Out of Stock, Backorder OK
4.83333333333333 stars$30.99

Winchester Super-X Ammunition 300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain Power-Point Box of 20
Product #: 651784
Status: Available
5 stars$28.49

[Dixie Dude]

What about a 338-06?  It might be too much since new rifling would have to be bored.  I might just leave it alone.  I already have a 35 whelen in a Mauser action and a 30-06.  Also, no particular need to hunt with it. 

[mauser98us]

Ain't no flies on the standard 8X57 round. If the bore is good,it might be a great idea to leave it be.

[Mckie Hollow]

Leave it be, work up some loads, and go shoot anything this side of a grizzly. S&B claims that thier loads are good for clawed animals. That's saying something!

[parkergunshop]

Dixie Dude,

Good idea and advise to keep the 8x57 as is and work up handloads for it.

My favorite deer rifle is a Persian 98  Mauser in 8 M/M with a 18 inch barrel in a mannlicher stock.  This is basically a VZ24 Czech action made in Iran on Czech machinery under Czech supervision.  The workmanship on these is excellent.

I use the old Norma .323 196 grain bullets with  IMR- 3031 for a velocitly of 2380 FPS

In a 24 inch barrel this load should give about 2550 FPS

You will find this load in Ken Waters, Pet Loads some of the loads are hot.

Since the old Norma 196 grain has been discontinued, I have now switched to the RWS 196 grain .323 bullet this is an H-mantel design:

170 grain Speer over xx grains of H-380 for 2600 FPS from an 18 inch barrel,  this is a safe load and should give over 2750 FPS from a 24 inch barrel.

You can easliy top 2850 FPS with the 150 grain bullets in the 8X57 without exceeding the pressure  limits for a 98 Mauser Action.

The 8x57 only gives up less than 100 fps with most bullet loads of the same weight from a 30-06.

[parkergunshop]

Found another issue with the .325 WSM in a 98 Mauser Action or any action where you have to spend money making major modifications for the .325 WSM, actually the round was obsolete before it was introduced bad design.


The pressure for the top 325 WSM loads in the Hodgen load data run up to 63,400 PSI and still gives the 200 grain bullet 100 feet per second less than the 200 grain bullet from a .338 Winchester Magnum for its top loads.

The top load for a 338/06 with the 200 grain bullet equals the .325 WSM and is only 100 FPS behind the .338 Winchester magnum.

And the 338/06 with the 225 grain bullet velocity equals the 220 grain bullet from the .325 WSM.

And you have an option to use the 250 grain bullet in the 338/06 which will out class the .325 WSM on large game.