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Reloading the 8x57

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Whale View Drop Down
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    Posted: May/31/2017 at 15:04
Does anyone reload the 8x57 for hunting? My uncle gave me his Tikka T3. Will try it for deer and hogs.
Thanks Charles
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/31/2017 at 16:35
Interesting cartridge. I got.....nothing! Bucky

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/31/2017 at 17:40
I do.

Or used to.  I have not been shooting my 8mm much, so I have not had a need to reload much.

It is a great caliber and it is best with 180 to 220gr bullets, IMO.  Keep in mind that some modern 8mm bullets were designed to expand at 8RM velocities.  If you plan to hunt with it, do some research on the bullets.  Simply constructed soft nose designs work well.  I think 180gr Ballistic Tip also works well.   There are others I am sure, but this is a little outside my field.

I had good results with Ramshot TAC, H4895 and IMR4350.  As I recall, it was a pretty forgiving cartridge to reload for.

ILya 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/01/2017 at 09:32
When comparing military ball ammo, I think the 7.92x57mm is superior to the 30-06. The problem, as you may know, is that commercial 8mm Mauser is loaded down, because early rifles had smaller bores and firing WWII ammo could damage the older rifles.
I think the ball round is a 170gr. spire point.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/01/2017 at 11:35
Original military rounds were either 150 - 154gr ball or 196 - 198gr ball, depending on where they originated.  As I recall 154gr Turkish ammo was launching at around 3100fps.  Romanian was a bit slower at just under 3000fps.

Heavier ball that I tried was Yugo and Portuguese and I think it was moving at around 2500fps (a little slower for Portuguese).

Of the modern manufacturers, Prvi and S&B make reasonably full power 8mm Mauser ammo.  American manufacturers used assume that we are all functionally retarded and can tell the difference between S-bore and non-S bore rifles, so they heavily downloaded commercial ammo to the point where it is an equivalent of "reduced loads" in any other caliber.  The only good thing about it is that  it makes for good hunting ammo for new hunters.  It is plenty peppy enough to take down a pig or a deer, but with a lot less recoil.  Federal still makes the wimpy round and Remington used to (they still might, but I have not seen it much).

Hornady, Norma and Nosler make full power 8mm ammo.

S&B has a FMJ and softpoint 196gr ammo that launches at around 2600fps.

PRVI has 196gr SP gr and 198gr FMJ ammo that is a little less peppy, but still respectable at around 2400fps (weirdly, their 200gr Match ammo is slower at 2200fps or so).

ILya


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Whale Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/03/2017 at 21:47
Thanks Ilya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Whale Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2017 at 20:09
As an update Ilya, the rifle likes Nosler and S&B factory ammunition. Will start to reload before the summer ends.
Charles
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