Author Topic: M48 mauser loads? (Read 980 times)

Badnews Bob · « **on:** September 04, 2004, 06:31:16 PM »

I've been working up loads for the sierra game king 220gr,
Useing H4895 I've gotten some very good results at 47 to 48 grains, this is pushing 2500+ FPS with cci standard primers. I've gotten 2569FPS useing 50gr of H4895, I haven't tried magnum primers yet but I intend to do so.

My question is what are you useing and is this it or can I find more in this bullet size?

I am useing one of the basically new Yugo M48s and I've heard thease are very strong actions, is this also true?

Thanks for your replies.

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2004, 03:51:36 AM »

Badnews Bob: Your M48 Mauser action is a strong action, and if it is one of the 'unissued' ones, you basically have a new rifle. I would not sweat the strength of that action with the loads you are using, especially if you are not getting any pressure signs and the cases extract easily.

Your loads sound very good and I would say that if I was handloading the 8mm Mauser that is the type of performance I would look for with a heavy bullet like the 220 gn Gameking.

Just for giggles, you may wish to try a slightly lighter weight bullet, say the 200 grainer - even at the same velocities that should be good enough for most everything on this continent short of really big dangerous game. HTH. Mikey.

ps - you may wish to go to Steve's pages to see if he has any other load data for the 8mm with the 220 grain bullet.

deerhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2004, 03:36:07 PM »

You should also try the 185 grain Remington Core Locs that are designed for the 8mm rem mag. They dont open as fast at 8mm mauser veloocity and should penetrate deeper.

I have never used them on anything but targets, but they are accurate in my M48A. I use 41 grains of IMR 4064 or Accurate XMR 4064.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2004, 05:55:16 PM »

Thanks Gents
I have some 170gr hornadys that shoot very well, but I've been working up thease 220s in hopes of maybe ELK hunting. The 170 to 200s will all work on the whitetails around here but I want a bigger hammer for Elk.
Looks like I'm close anyhow, I shot one today at 51grs of H4895 and it flattend the primer pretty good, so I'll work on it between 47 and 50 grains. this rifle looks brand new and is a hoot to shoot, I may be nuts but hunting with old military rifles is f

un.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2004, 10:54:32 AM »

Badnews Bob: You stated "Looks like I'm close anyhow, I shot one today at 51grs of H4895 and it flattend the primer pretty good, so I'll work on it between 47 and 50 grains".

Bad news here Bob - my old Lyman manual lists a 225 gn 8mm Mauser bullet over 41.0 - 46.0 grains of IMR 4895 for 2087 - 2341'/sec. IMR 4895 and H4895 aren't so far apart on the burning rate charts (next to each other, I think) that I would want to try 51 grains of that powder. And yep, if you have flattened some primers it is definately time to back off.

Even so, a 225 gn at 2341 will get you what you want. So will a 196 grainer at 2500-2600.

Be careful out there. Mikey.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2004, 07:59:31 PM »

I agree, and it looks like the powders are closer than you say, IMR and Hodgden are now the same company looks like.

Snowshoe · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2004, 05:22:38 AM »

Hornady makes a 195g psp in .323 that I have been working with. Using 48 1/2g of IMR4064, Rem brass and Winchester lr primers, it is traveling at 2550 fps and 3 bullets will fit inside the inch with room to spare. This is out of my sportered Turk with a 3-9x40 scope. I use 170g Hornadys traveling at 2630 fps for deer hunting.

NavajoNPaleFace · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2004, 01:30:51 PM »

IMR was once 'Dupont' and I understand that the Hodgdon corporation (who purchased the company) has said the formula will remain the same.

IMR is a fine, fine powder as well is Hodgdon and each, as with any powder formula, has it's own particular applications.

I have several high powered rifles that like IMR.

Weatherby · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2004, 06:37:43 AM »

Is your M48 scoped or are you shooting with factory sights?

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2004, 08:46:26 AM »

Had to scope it. It hits about 16" high at 100yrds with the iron, I am gonna get a set of Mojo sights also. I am useing the scope base from mitchels mausers that fits where the ramp sight was with a Burris 2.75 scout scope, real easy to use and its nice being able to keep both eyes open.

Weatherby · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2004, 10:15:53 AM »

I'm surprised that you are hitting that high with 200 grainers. I've heard that they hit pretty high with lighter bullets because they were designed to shoot heavy bullets. The scout scope really seems to help with target acquisition.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2004, 08:56:02 PM »

My handloads are moving out around 200fps faster than 170 factory loads, add that to the rear sight starting at 200 meters and they hit high. It will shoot almost dead on with factory loaded ammo.(Not Mil. surplus, new stuff.)

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2004, 02:52:16 AM »

BadnewsBob - some of those Mausers came with ungodly low front sights so that they hit very high at 100 yds, but will usually be dead on at 300 - ok for the battlefield but not for serious target or hunting work. My Yugo 48A was the same way and it drove me nutz until I went to either Samco or Sarco and got a set of Swedish Mauser front sight blades. They come in standard height (for the Swedes that is), +.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 and also in a shorter version. The sights fit right into the front sight base without problem. Once I got mine to hit dead on at 100 with the S&B 196 grianers I was very happy with the accuracy. Next step is to scope it for better accuracy.

So, rather than going nutz (as I did) with different sight kits, spend ten bucks for the different Swedish front sights and that should solve the problem of high impacts. Also, the Swedish front sight blades are squared, not an inverse 'V', and pick up a lot easier than the typical Mauser front sight. In addition, a little 'squaring' of the rear 'v' sight notch really helps open up a good sight picture. HTH. Mikey.

dogngun · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2004, 03:52:54 AM »

Bob: I'm interested in those "Like New" M-48's - I always thought they were a real bargain, a really great, tough rifle for a low price. Might just have to get another one.

Mark

RaySendero · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2004, 05:15:48 AM »

Badnews Bob,

Good to here from you - I too am loading the 220 SGKs for my sporterized VZ-24 8x57 Mauser! I'm still working on that load so don't really have much too add to the good advice already here. But I would encourage you to also try the 200 SMKs and the 185 CoreLokts as both are showing 1 1/4" potential at 100 yds in my 1939 barrel! Please keep us posted on your progress. Maybe next time I'll have some results to share.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2004, 10:00:35 PM »

Hey fellas I've been working with this thing some and it looks like 47.5gr of H4895 and the 200SGK is the sweet spot, I've been able to shoot sevral 1" or smaller groups at 100yrds with the scope off the bench. Now its off with the scope and get the front sight fixed or replaced(whatever it takes

) and work it out. the scope is going on another barrelled action I bought. I gonna cut the barrel back to 18 or 20" inches Magna port it and drop it into a sporter stock, kinda my own version of the springfield M1-A scout rifle only in bolt action.

rickt300 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2005, 06:33:35 AM »

I bought a Yugo M48 a week ago and need a set of front sight blades for it. It does hit high with Yugo 196 grain ammo but is very accurate. I want to leave it as issue as possible but making the sights better won't bother me.

Mikey · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:05:28 AM »

rickt300. Sarco or Samco has sets of Swedish Mauser front sight baldes that come in different heights. And they are nice square bladed sights, too. I had to puyt a taller front sight on my M48 to bring poi to poa at 100m and she shoots great. The sights are very inexpensive and I hope they work for you. Mikey.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2005, 04:10:24 AM »

Brownells sell one just for this problem, I have one but haven't used it yet. I'm building a house and it's eating all of my shooting time

I did get to try some of hornadys 196gr rounds and was able to get 10 shot group inside of 5" @ 300 yards with battle sights, these things shoot great.