Mauser 8mm ammo?

[deepwoodshermit]

I've got a Mauser K98 8mm. From what I know the U.S. ammo is well under its potential, while foreign ammo is corrosive. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any good ammo? I'm not a hand-loader.

[cmshoot]

Wisconsin Cartridge has one load, it's probably a Remington Core Lokt bullet

http://www.wisconsincartridge.com/pr...?idCategory=35

Buchanan Ammunition has 15 loads for the 8x57 Mauser, most of 'em with premium bullets

http://www.pcammunition.com/results....ser&Type=Rifle

[thomasr]

While they discontinued it, Hornady used to make a 196 grn Spire point that was a decently loaded round. Ran almost 2600 FPS. You can still find some on the net if you search a little. Privi (non-corrosive) loads their 8mm ammo to Euro specs and that's considerably hotter than Rem, Fed or Win, which by comparison are very anemic. Privi makes them in a soft point too...that should be adequate for deer, but I've never tried them on animals. I have no verifiable proof, but it sure seems that even the Wolf 8mm packs a little more umph than the big three's version. I shoot a custom 8mm as well and it was the single biggest reason I got into reloading...to develop a load that exercises the ole 8mm's potential.

[Twenty five ought six]

Foreign ammo is not corrosive, as long as you are not shooting some ancient mil surp.

If you want some hot 8 X 57 (and are flush with cash) run down some Norma which is available from any number of sources.

[grouper sandwich]

The Wolf Gold is non-corrosive and has a good bit of giddy up to it and is loaded in reloadable brass. It's also realitvely cheap and certainly cheaper than the domestic pop gun ammo. I ordered mine from Midwayusa, but you may be able to find it locally.

[whitworth]

50 year old Nazi ammunition a shooter was using at the range. As I recall not one misfire.

Ammo makers will download a round, if the rifle is old and there is a heat treating problem when the rifle was manufactured. May not affect the German rifles, but I would not assume all old rifles are good.

[EMC-GUN]

Norma.

[Hunley]

Midway USA has it. The only private company I know of is Mitchell's Mausers. You can find it here: http://www.mauser.org/Ammunition/index.htm

[parolebear]

Privi and Wolf have been good for me for the money. I normally just shoot milsurp as it is just blasting with the old milsurp guns. Yes, almost all the milsurp is corrosive but what does it matter of you clean your weapon well after use. Don't forget the bolt as the salt is from the primer. I have better performance out of the Wolf/Privi than any of the American stuff. Handloading is the way to go but Wolf/Privi is fine for most whitetail hunting with the 8mm. Never shot the Norma 8mm but use Norma in my 308 Norma Mag and 6.5x55 it is pricey. I caught a old gunshop closing and he sold me what he had for 10.00 a box. I bought it all, try finding factory 308 Norma Mag.

[JWF III]

Foreign ammo is not corrosive, as long as you are not shooting some ancient mil surp.

If you want some hot 8 X 57 (and are flush with cash) run down some Norma which is available from any number of sources.

For the more budget minded Prvi and Wolf Gold (made by Prvi) is the best choices going. But the Norma will be loaded a bit hotter.

Wyman

[thomasr]

Oh, I forgot about Sellier & Bellot. They have pretty good ammo at good prices. Norma is probably the best you'll find for the ole 8mm but OMG they are proud of their ammo. If I was taking my 8mm to Africa I might consider Norma but for whitetails I think I'd find another route.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by whitworth

50 year old Nazi ammunition a shooter was using at the range. As I recall not one misfire.

Ammo makers will download a round, if the rifle is old and there is a heat treating problem when the rifle was manufactured. May not affect the German rifles, but I would not assume all old rifles are good.

The reason for downloading the 8mm Mauser has nothing to do with heat treating. To the best of my knowledge there are no M98 Mausers with heat treating problems, that's a problem with our good old 1903 Springfield. It's been said that any 1903 with a serial number below 800,000 made at Springfield Armory, and below 286,506 made at Rock Island Arsenal pose a serious risk.

The 7.92x57 started life in 1888 with a 226g 0.318" bullet at 2100 fps. The rifle was a M88 Commission rifle - this was not a Mauser rifle but rather a Mannlicher design. In 1905 Germans adopted a new loading where the bullet diameter was changed to 0.323" and the bullet lightened to 154g at 2900 fps. There are a few M98 Mausers with a 0.318" bore, but only the ones made between 1898 and 1904. In the eyes of Europeans these are two different cartridges - the 7.9x57mm J (.318) and 7.92x57mm JS (.323). Since America is ruled by lawyers and the fear of lawsuits, the SAAMI solution was to reduce the operating pressure to 35k CUP, so if someone accidentally put a .323" bullet in a 0.318" bore it would not cause a safety problem. That is the reason American 8x57mm is so underloaded and why European loadings are nearly on par with the .30-06.