one powder for .223 7.62X54R and 8MM?

[Jeff213]

Try h4895, that powder should work for all of those cartridges.

[arslin]

I used both IMR4895, and h4895, but when I could not find it, I bought Varget. it should work.

[HarryN]

Here is a link to the norma powder reload info:

http://www.norma.cc/en/Ammunition-Academy/Loading-Data/

It looks like there is substantial overlap for their 202 and 203B powder for those rounds.

Getting Norma powder in the US is not always so easy, but since they have product overlap, others probably do as well.

If you are after the "perfect" load for your exact rifle to optimize velocity, bullet selection, use, and precision, it takes a lot of work. If you are willing to accept somewhat less than match competition results, then there are more options.

I am not sure exactly why, but 203B looks like it can be acceptably used in a lot of rifle cartridges, and it has a lot of energy in it.

[Beetle Bailey]

Varget is my favorite powder for 7.62x54r and 8x57 Mauser. Also use it for heavy bullets in 223 rem. For 50-55 grain bullets I use H335 although I could use Varget for that as well, if I wanted to.

[Tekkno]

Thanks for the input! after doing some price/round calculations, i realized that there arent too much price advantage in reloading 8mm and X54R. The bullets are so expensive that each round cost ~50cents and surplus ammo are way cheaper ( as of today). I think I am just gonna stick with reloading 5.56 for now...

[five.five-six]

Varget is my favorite powder for 7.62x54r and 8x57 Mauser. Also use it for heavy bullets in 223 rem. For 50-55 grain bullets I use H335 although I could use Varget for that as well, if I wanted to.

I have also heard that VV is very good.

EDIT, they have a load for 7.62X53r, I don't know that I want to load a powder that posts typos

http://www.lapua.com/upload/downloads/brochures/2012/vihtavuorireloadingguideed10_2012eng.pdf

[sunborder]

Thanks for the input! after doing some price/round calculations, i realized that there arent too much price advantage in reloading 8mm and X54R. The bullets are so expensive that each round cost ~50cents and surplus ammo are way cheaper ( as of today). I think I am just gonna stick with reloading 5.56 for now...

Are you out of your mind? No way will plinking reloads be $0.50 per round.

For plinking ammo, get PRVI Partizan bullets, load with bulk powder (8lbs). I use BLC-(2) for 54R and 556. Works fine.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12614

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12617

$0.23 per bullet if bought in bulk. Primer is $0.04 or so. Even with $0.12 of powder, that's $0.39 per round. Going to be way more accurate than surplus, and YOU DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN CORROSIVE CRAP OUT OF YOUR RILE BEFORE LEAVING THE RANGE. Still a bit more expensive, but may be worth it to you.

For the 8mm, though, there is no cheap surplus, and at $0.26 per bullet, you are looking at $0.42 per round vs the $0.50 or so for surplus, plus it will be more accurate and cleaner.

If you have any interest in shooting reduced loads out of a bolt action rifle, (wheel weight cast bullets with low charges of red dot, promo, 2400, etc...), you can get your costs down into the neighborhood of $0.10-15 per round. This works especially well with the Mosin Nagant, since it headspaces off the rim, and your brass will last damn near forever. See "The Load" by Ed Harris for more info.

[kcheung2]

I'm loading 8mm for 58c per round (I bought expensive Norma brass) while the surplus I see is about 65-70c and is dirtier, less accurate, and corrosive. I don't reload for x54r though, in terms if cost I can't compete against 25c milsurp so I put up with the corrosive primers.