Reloading for the 8mm Mauser. Tips

[USMCM16A2]

Guys,




Not wanting to shoot the corrosive ammo in 8mm, do any of you reload. I would like to know as much info as possible, bullet weights, brass, powders, powder charges. What types of rifles you shoot, where do you get your supplies. Thanks, USMCM16A2

[diginit]

Corrosive is fine. It's been fired for a century. As long you run a few patches with a water based solvent,windex etc. through it after shooting. No worries. But you may get a few funny looks while srpaying windex into the chamber.... I have. My Mauser is a 24/47 and the bore is still fine. Sharp lands and deep groves. Squeezed off over 500 rounds the past couple of weeks. I think I'll wear out the barrel before it rusts.
Gun boat has some projectiles for sale for a good price in the parts forum here. Just search it.
What type rifle you shooting?

[Nodda Duma]

Your best bet is to look up what the starting load and max load is for your choice of bullet and powder, and then work up from the starting load. Steer clear of Lee's book for the 8mm Mauser (and make sure your barrel slugs to .323)..his loads are listed for older Mauser actions like Gew 88 and don't make sense for later actions (like Mauser 98, k98, etc.). I use Hornady for a reference...it's more in line with what other data books say.

That being said, I reload for the K98k that I inherited from my grandpa. I run 42 gr of IMR4064 under Hornady's 150 gr soft point and CCI 400 primers. I use Remington brass and neck size only. Worked real good when I had the bullets seated out to .020" behind the lands, but the bullet sits pretty far out on the cartridge. I'm working up a load for the same thing, but with the bullet seated to recommend OAL (per Hornady's book). I think that load will be somewhere in that range as well.

-Jason

[ar15barrels]

I would like to know as much info as possible, bullet weights, brass, powders, powder charges.

Look in your reloading manuals.
You do own at least three reloading manuals right?

[Pthfndr]

As Randall says, read your reloading manuals first.

Second, always work up loads for YOUR rifle. don't assume what works in another (old) rifle will be safe in your old rifle.

Third, you didn't say what model of 8mm Mauser you have.

Ok, that said, I reload for my unissued Persian Mauser 98/29. Made in Brno by the Czechs, they are arguably the pinnacle of of the model 98 Mauser.

I shoot the Sierra .323 200gr SMK over 45gr of either IMR 4064 or AA 4064, with either a GM210M or Fed 210M primer in RP brass. That gives me 2500 fps velocity and outstanding accuracy.

Here's 10 shots off sandbags, from the bench, with the IRON sights, at 200 yards. The X ring is a little over 2". This is typical of this rifle, and I have repeated it several times.



I (and others) have pushed the same bullet even faster with no pressure problems. But I see no need to. It will knock down the rams at 500 meters with authority at 2500 fps.