8mm Mauser surplus ammo suggestions

[vmuth]

Hi All, just recently finished up a project and now it's time to shoot it. When I started the project earlier this year, ammo was about 35 cents a round. Now that it's complete and ready to shoot, the ammo cost is crazy.

I picked up a 1918/1920 Gewehr Mauser carbine. I have not really seen anything like it before so I got it. Restored the wood stock myself and it was pretty fun. (Stripping, sanding, staining, BLO and varnish coated.) Sent all the metal to a local shop to have it sandblasted and Cerakoated. I took the stock to the shop and they put it all back together.

Now it's time to reward myself and shoot it but holy cow. I can't find reasonable cost surplus ammo anywhere so I can just take it out to blast some rounds.

Any of you have any suggestions for purchsing ammo?

Thanks.

[Dirty_gaijin]

I have turk 8mm but they're hot and dirty from poor storage like most turk 8mm. If you want to use that. I don't use it as I shoot mostly semi auto 8mm.

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[Mustang]

Where are you located?

[hambam105]

If you reload...

270 and 30-06 brass cases can be reformed to 8mm. You might get some assistance doing so depending on your location.

[pitfighter]

"...I got 200 Rds Romanian 8x57 in a spam can I'd trade for 100 Rds .303 - lol!.."

8mm can be found cheaply enough on line.

These Romanian spam cans seem pretty reasonable on line, GB or any of the major surplus retailers.

[2shotjoe]

You may want to get a wolf firing pin spring to shoot the harder primers on surplus ammo.

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[vmuth]

I'm in San Diego.

I'm pretty new into reloading. Just started earlier this year so I'm pretty much learning to load for the typical 308, 243, and 223 copper rounds.

What sites are you all buying your surplus ammo from and what site is GB?

Thanks.

[2761377]

GB = https://www.gunbroker.com/

ebay of guns

[five.five-six]

If you reload...

270 and 30-06 brass cases can be reformed to 8mm. You might get some assistance doing so depending on your location.

Do tell, I have some 30-06 brass but no Garand ATM

[five.five-six]

GB = https://www.gunbroker.com/

ebay of guns

Which means if you win the auction, you were willing to pay more for it than anyone else in the entire world

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Where are you located?

[smle-man]

Watch out for Yugo 8mm ball headstamped 11 54. Most of it is fine but some have hairline cracks through the base of the case. When they let go it may split the rifle's stock or at least blow the floorplate out of the magazine.

I've not seen this problem with other Yugo headstamps.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have always found Turkish 8mm to be the cheapest surplus by far. But as noted above, it is hot and dirty. I have also found rounds that were cracked at the neck. I personally like the later production Yugo 1975 (?) surplus which shoots well and looks like new production ammo.

When I got my first Mauser I was trying to buy as much ammo as I could afford, but a few range trips later I realized I was never shooting more than 30-40 rounds at a time because it is a rather stout cartridge.

(And in before the inevitable commentary by some self appointed expert that recoil is only a factor if you are shouldering the weapon incorrectly.)

[2761377]

^^^ back in the day I bought a sporterized K98 and 50rds Egyptian 8mm at a gun show.

14 rounds later I sold the rifle from too much recoil. I don't think I'm recoil sensitive but it just wasn't fun. still have the remainder of the ammo.

36 lonely Egyptians, stuck in an ammo can in SoCal. que triste

[Mustang]

OP, if you find the recoil objectionable, you might try this. I've used one for years and they are very effective.

https://www.dowdlesports.com/Shooters-Friend-Recoil-Pad_p_38123.html