Author Topic: Pondering an 8x57 (Read 1991 times)

Muddly · « **on:** December 27, 2011, 07:57:41 PM »

One of my favorite calibers. Never killed anything with it. Haven't shot much of it, but I just like it anyway.Perhaps my oldest daughter being born at 8:57 pm has something to do with it too. Been thinking of a meduim bore for my Savage 111 when the current 270 barrel goes and was wondering who makes a good 8x57 barrel( 24-26 inch) and are the throats long( like the military type ) or are they shorter and more practical. Its nice to have options and the ol' 8 would be nicely different...

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2011, 12:31:25 AM »

The 8mm Mauser is also near and dear to my heart as well.

It was the first rifle I hunted deer with. It was my Grandfathers, sporterized after his return from Germany in 1947.

A number of years ago, he left us and left me with that very rifle. I have been loading for it and shooting deer with it for many years. It is a very efficient and accurate caliber. I like two bullets and one powder in mine. The Sierra 175 Spitzer and the 170 RN Hornady both pushed by a max load of IMR 4064 powder.

Mine wears a factory Mauser barrel, shortened to 20". It shoots right at 1" at 100 yards with both of these loadings.

CW

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2011, 06:03:36 AM »

Lots of men planted in the ground that will attest to its effectiveness.

BBF · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2011, 04:24:02 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on December 28, 2011, 06:03:36 AM

Lots of men planted in the ground that will attest to its effectiveness.
[/quote

Psssst, lets not stir up the natives.

Rock Home Isle · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2011, 04:42:01 PM »

I have an M48 that is in unissued condition, and I bought a slug of ammo for it when it was very cheap.

That rifle is so much fun to shoot. I hope that you get that barrel...I'll be following this thread and what it produces.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2011, 05:33:32 PM »

I have had at lest one or two since I was a kid and swear by this round. Have used bullets form 150 grain to 220 grain with great results. I have settled on 185 grain Corelokts.

Cheese

cwlongshot · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2011, 12:59:43 AM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on December 28, 2011, 05:33:32 PM

I have had at lest one or two since I was a kid and swear by this round. Have used bullets form 150 grain to 220 grain with great results. I have settled on 185 grain Corelokts.

Cheese

I need to get and try some of these!!!!

CW

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** December 29, 2011, 01:23:39 AM »

Muddly: the 8 is one of my favorites and it wallops the hay out of big game and puts them down right there. I would go up to the 'Links' link here on Greybeard's and look for barrel makers. Long throat or short is up to you and the barrel maker. I prefer the long throat as some of my handloaded 8s are longer than factory 06s and I get one hole (5-10 shot) accuracy a 100m with either the Nosler 200 gn Accubond or the Hornady 195 gn rn over a load of VithaVuouri N160 powder. If you don't see or find a barrel maker on the links page(s), then try the Montana Rifleman for barrels. They make good stuff. HTH.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2011, 02:17:03 AM »

Mikey,
Do you like the VithaVuouri powders?

I have a couple pounds of a couple flavors, but have yet to try any...

CW

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2011, 05:13:42 AM »

I had an M-48 I really liked to shoot it with 180Gr Hornady Interlock. I was loading it at 30-30 velocities. It was fun gun to take to the range.

Muddly · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2011, 07:35:55 PM »

Thanks for the encouragement! Might be on to something here! A nice thing about the 8 is it beats up a 308 pretty nicely and crowds an '06 , with substantially lower chamber presures than either. It also gives 358 performance with ballistically superior bullets ( of the same weight). The 8 also has better low end weights than the 338 cals and just about equal heavies. While bullet selection isn't what it is with a .30 cal, that might even be a good thing. How many bullet choices do you really NEED?

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2011, 09:25:08 PM »

Getting a 22-26 inch barrel for your Savage action should be easily done. A barrel maker can make in in what ever twist rate, chamber demensions, throat length or barrel contoure you want.

A couple of years or so ago I had a barrel maker make me a deeply fluted heavy barrel 28 inches long chambered in 224 THH with a 1 in 6 twist rate to go on a non-collector grade Mauser action that had been bubba up by the previous owner. Had I wanted a 26 inch or shorter barrel I would have had a infinite number of barrel makers from which to choose from and the price would have been considerable cheaper to boot. But that case holds a good bit of powder and thats a small bore diameter and it really takes a long barrel to burn all that powder by the time that 22 cal bullet gets to the muzzle to get max velocity.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2011, 02:47:36 AM »

You are correct and I agree! There are less bullet choices then the 30cal, but so what I mean who really has more??? The 22 would be only one I can think of!!!

Any how, for bullets, you have a couple 150 grain's, a 170 RN, a 175 spritzer. then Remington has a 185 and 220G Corlokt and a Nosler a 200g Partition. PLENTY of excellent bullet choices.

Your spot on about eating the 308 but it WILL equil the '06 at similar pressure's. I don't like to admit it but your also correct it's a better 358win too!!

(It's near and dear to my heart too)

I say build one!!!

CW

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2011, 02:59:32 AM »

One of the reloading manuals has a story from different writers or such for each cart. The one for the 8X57 is from a writer who's first experince was being fired at by a German fighter while on the deck of a ship in WW2 . Said it made an impression. I have had several vets tell that an 8X57 bullet would go thru the bottom of a RR track and a 3006 would not.
As for the bbl you could most likely order the twist you wanted and ream any chamber you wanted .

cwlongshot · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2011, 03:47:05 AM »

I remember that story!!

Something to remember the 8MM used a 196g bullet as std. While the '06 is 150. Yes different weights where used and same for the 8MM.

CW

Cheesehead · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2011, 04:43:26 AM »

I have done so much reloading of the 8mm over the years. I can be very economical if done right. I collected a large amount of 30.06 brass and converted it to 8mm Mauser by using a cut off die to set the shoulder back to 8mm specs and to roughly trim to a length of 57 mm. Bought a quantity of 8mm surplus, corrosive ammo and pulled the 196 grain bullets for re-use. Also buying bulk bullets can bring a considerable savings, like the Remington 185 Corelokt in a 500 pack.

My Father was on the recieving end of many 8mm rounds in Europe during WW2, and had a great respect for the round and rifle, he brought home 2 battle field rifles. My nephew still uses one today, and I supply him with 100's of rounds for practice and hunting.

Cheese

Drilling Man · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2011, 11:10:48 AM »

I've shot quite a few big game animals with my 8x57jrs. I load 200NP's to 2,550 fps, and i've taken everything from moose and bear on down to animals as small as coyotes and javolina with it.

It does a good job, and i have no reason to use any other bullet for all of my hunting with that cartridge.

DM

Drilling Man · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 2012, 09:27:33 AM »

Here's the first big game animal i shot with my 8x57JRS/200NP's,

And here's a buck i shot with it a few weeks ago,

200NP's are a great all around bullet.

DM

BBF · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2012, 10:18:20 AM »

DM
Did you ever use any of the Norma bullets?

Drilling Man · « **Reply #19 on:** January 01, 2012, 12:33:11 PM »

I have used Norma bullets, but not in 8mm, at least not on big game.

DM

cwlongshot · « **Reply #20 on:** January 01, 2012, 12:41:52 PM »

DM,
NICE BUCK!! Congrats!!

CW

mauser98us · « **Reply #21 on:** January 01, 2012, 05:00:53 PM »

Quit pondering and giterdun!

Mikey · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2012, 01:16:34 AM »

Drilling man: nice buck.

CW: yep, I like the VV powders. They measure cleanly, burn cleanly and are consistent performers. The same load of VV160 puts two different bullets (200 gn Accubond and 195 gn Hornady RN) into the same hole at 100m at about 2500'/sec.

yooper77 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 02, 2012, 04:26:48 AM »

Quote from: Muddly on December 27, 2011, 07:57:41 PM

One of my favorite calibers. Never killed anything with it. Haven't shot much of it, but I just like it anyway.Perhaps my oldest daughter being born at 8:57 pm has something to do with it too. Been thinking of a meduim bore for my Savage 111 when the current 270 barrel goes and was wondering who makes a good 8x57 barrel( 24-26 inch) and are the throats long( like the military type ) or are they shorter and more practical. Its nice to have options and the ol' 8 would be nicely different...

I like the 8x57 Mauser, but how about just re-bore/re-chamber your 270 Winchester into a 8mm-06, plus maintaining your factory barrel. Easily re-size plentiful 30-06 Springfield brass and still have your 8mm/.323 caliber rifle, but with a tad more power.

yooper77

Drilling Man · « **Reply #24 on:** January 02, 2012, 12:21:30 PM »

Thanks guys, he is a GREAT buck for around here...

8-06 would be a good choise and then you can lower the load a bit if you choose to.

I've spend many years hunting big bears, and i don't consider an 8x57 to be a cartridge i'd choose for big bears, but i would and have used a PROPERLY loaded 30-06. Perhaps going 8mm 06 would give the 200MP's that little extra to do the job?

Now, before you jump all over me on what i just said, i'll add that i based it on what "I" have personally seen with both used on the biggest big game.

DM