Author Topic: 8mm Mauser (8x57) (Read 1039 times)

jack19512 · « **on:** January 02, 2006, 01:02:43 AM »

Anyone handload for the 8mm Mauser? Just purchased a K98 with ATI synthetic stock from Centerfire Systems. New to the 8mm and would like to hear from others with experience with this caliber. What have you found to be accurate in yours as far as mil-surplus and factory ammo? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Snowshoe · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2006, 01:15:07 AM »

I have a Turkish Mauser that has been sportered, and have been hand loading for it from the start. The best powders I have used are IMR4064, Winchester 748, and Varget. I have loaded Hornady 150, 170, and 195g bullets. The 150's at 2800 fps, the 170's at 2630 for deer hunting, and the 195's to around 2550 fps. I only neck size the brass, and have had very good accuracy with all loads. Hornady has loading info for higher preasure loads, and there is a lot of info on line. I am in the middle of moving, so all my reloading information is packed away.

Zeke Menuar · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2006, 06:59:56 AM »

I have three milsurp Mausers. I use IMR 4064 to load Hornady 150gr Interlocks and 175 gr Sierra Pro Hunters. Results are very good.

ZM

june6th1944 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2006, 12:54:34 PM »

I have a German k98 circa 1943 that I couldn't hit the paper at 100 yards with S&B 196g and Remington 170g factory loads. Handloaded 150g Speer Spitzer w/ 49/50/51gr of IMR 4064, and bingo, 1 1/2 groups w/ the 50g loading--with iron sights!

It was the ammo. I researched and found the German 8x57 was loaded w/ a 154g Spitzer at 2936fps (very fast for a period shoulder firearm) and I duplicated as best I could w/ excellent results. Commercial stuff is so underpowered it is ridiculous in my gun. I only neck-size w/ a Lee Loader I got a year ago on eBay.

At this very moment, I am waiting for the stock to dry and then I'll reassemble b/c I polished the two-stage trigger to improve the sandpaper trigger pull I had--trying to improve that 1 1/2 inch group. That group is outstanding in an old battle rifle w/ a two-stage trigger and iron sights. I'll put a scout scope on at some point to see what happens.

Good luck.

BigJakeJ1s · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2006, 03:05:37 PM »

Handloader magazine has a nice article on reloading the 8mm mauser. They found ~200 gr bullets work best for accuracy. Hornady has (had?, no longer on their website, and a lot of places are out of stock) a potent, accurate 195 gr ammo. Most commercial ammo uses 170 gr bullets and annemic 30-30 type loads for it. S&B and Norma both have hotter, 195-200 gr ammo too.

I just got dies for mine for christmas, so I'll be working up some loads too.

Andy

june6th1944 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2006, 03:23:53 PM »

I should clarify bullet weights the Germans used in their Mausers. The 154g bullet was chosen in 1905 with ~2900fps (you see different numbers from 2880 to 2936fps). This loading prompted the US to develop the .30-06 from the .30-03 (they changed bullet weights).

Around 1942, the Germans switched to a 196 or 197g bullet at ~2450fps (again you see different numbers from 2444 to 2476fps). Any soldier didn't really care about any of this though, the things still hit where they were aimed.

Take your pick w/ either weight, I think you can't go wrong. I need to work up some loads though with the 196g S&B bullets that I can pull from what I haven't shot. I want to see how they will do at ~2450fps in my rifle. I forget if you are handloading, but if you can, you should--you'll be happier and won't be tempted to chunk your rifle.

Good luck.

jack19512 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2006, 07:04:13 PM »

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the info. I do plan on reloading for the 8mm. You guys can save me a lot of trial and error.

Val · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2006, 04:18:21 PM »

I have a sporterized K98 Mauser, a Russian Capture K98 and and a Yugo M48. They all like the 200 grain Speer Spitzer with Varget powder. The Sporterized K98 shoots three shot groups right at 1" with the 200 grain Speer Spitzers. It does not like 150 grain pellets.

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2006, 03:48:38 AM »

I have a VZ-24 pre war, a K98 with 1939 date stamps, a Yugo M48A, a VZ/CZ-24/52 (factory rework) and a Swede 98 Husky factory sporter, all in 8mm. I shoot the S&B 196 gn sp to under one inch with the scoped Swede and within 2-3" (eyeball dependent) with all the others.

One thing I noticed about the mil-spec 8mms is that the front sight height causes them all to print about 1' high at 100 yds. Every single dang one of them. Easy fix though - get a set of Swede front sight blades and insert a +1 blade and she should shoot to point of aim at 100m. Once you know where to hold your sight picture you can shoot those things accurately. Strangest dang thing I have ever seen - every single manufacture of those mil-spec mausers has exactly the same front sight height even the Swede sporter.

Nice thing about the Swede front sights is that they are square and give you a better sight picture. Works for me anyhow and HTH. Mikey.

jack19512 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2006, 03:53:23 PM »

I got to shoot the 8mm Mauser yesterday. I ordered some Yugoslavian mil-surplus ammo from Aim. Here is two three shot groups labeled A & B. They were shot from 75 yards. The nickel is there just for comparison of group size. I plan on reloading some 8mm ammo around 200gr. bullet weight.

jack19512 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2006, 06:48:54 PM »

I am reloading the Swiss 7.5X55 Berdan primed brass and plan on reloading the 8mm Berdan primed brass. Does anyone know what size Berdan primers I will need for the 8mm? Thanks

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2006, 02:34:13 AM »

Large Rifle.