8mm(.323)bullets for game

[tahoe2]

to all you mauser hunters out there. What bullets do you have the best results on game with? I have three mausers,(8x57) all with their military barrels still intact. I have reloaded 175 grn Sierra "pro hunters", 180 grn Nosler "BT", and Speer 200grn "hot core". Ranging from 2500-2700 fps(from heavy to light). I have not tried these on game yet (deer, elk, bear, hogs). what's your favorite bullet for game??

 

[tahoe2]

50 views

and nobody hunts with a 8mm mauser ! that's strange.

 

[Strongbad]

Don't reload for 8mm Mauser but I do reload for 8mm/378 Weatherby and I've had excellent luck with 200 gr. Nosler Partitions. If they hold up for this thing, they'll hold up for your 8x57. We've also run a pile of Barnes X's through it over the years but considering the 8x57 velocities I think you'd have more reliable performance with the Partitions.

 

[john wall]

My 1948 Husqvarna M-640 in 8X57S. One of my all-time favorite rifles.

Another vote for the 200 gr Nosler Partition. Works, EVERY TIME. I use Alliant Reloder 15, you figure out how much to use.

 

[tahoe2]

nice husky

hows the grouping with those partitions ? I'm getting about 1-5/8" @ 100 & 3-1/2" @ 200 with Speer 200 grn "hot cores" and 1-1/4" @ 100 with Nosler 180 bt's

 

[snakeman]

nosler has a 180 bt

 

[highbrow]

Have used 185gr Rem Corelokts and 200gr Speer with good results.

 

[tahoe2]

snakeman

yes!! Nosler has 180 ballistic tips as well as 200 grn Accubonds (I haven't tried those yet). My yugo m24/47 has a scope so it can shoot pretty tight, my m98k has a ghost ring(Mojo)rear sight= 2"-3" @100 and my m48a 3"-4" @100 military sights. But I have yet to line up an animal in any of those sights yet.

highbrow, thanks for the tip on the corelokts, haven't tried those yet either

 

[Beak50]

Why hasn't the 8x57 cartridge caught on in this country?Isn't ballistically similiar to the 30-06?I reload for mine Nosler 200gr partition's,200 gr custom competition's and Hornady 150 gr. soft point's.I would like to see mor bullet weight selection but my M-48 BO like's heavier bullet's for some reason maybe the twist rate as suggested before.After my K-31 it is my favorite rifle.Oh it's a Premium grade Mitchell's I got when my friend's Dad died.I put a BSA 6-24x40 on it and am gonna change that soon as the next gun show in March.

 

[NCsmitty]

You'll find that some of the heavier bullets also possess heavier jackets and at longer range will not expand properly at 8mm Mauser velocities. They will punch holes in game similar to FMJ which may or may not kill the game quickly.
If you stick with 150-180gr bullets, they will usually expand more reliably at 8mm Mauser velocities.

One bullet overlooked because it doesn't have that sexy boattail is the 170gr Hornady interlock RN flat base, and it will reliably expand at all ranges due to it's jacket thickness with lots of lead exposed. It's a true hunter's bullet. You'll just need to check it's accuracy in your rifle. 47.5gr of H4895 will likely get it done in your 98 style rifle in good condition.

http://www.hornady.com/store/8mm-.323-170-gr-RN/

Be aware that the 185gr Rem Core-Lokt was designed for the 8MM Rem Mag, and as such, the jacket is too thick for anything but close range shots in the 8mm Mauser, because of questionable expansion.


NCsmitty

 

[soloban]

Ive had good luck accuracy wise with 200 gr Sierra MatchKings. Use the load data in the Sierra manual and push them as fast as you can. My vz24 shoots these loads very well.

 

[ssyoumans]

I spent this fall trying out different loads for my K98. Worked up some light loads for plinking.. 125gr Hornady HP at 2900fps.. makes for a nice load you can comfortably shoot all day.

Loaded up some 150gr Hornady SP, but didn't really spend the time working up the load.. but it can easily be pushed over 2800 fps and should perform very well.

My favorite is the Sierra 175gr Pro Hunter, chugging along around 2500 fps, although I was pretty conservative, and well under max.. probably can easily push it to 2650fps, making a decent larger game load.

I worked up most of my loads using W748 and CCI LR Magnum primers. W748 meters great, and seems to be right in the burn range / case fill for the 8mm Mauser. I had thought about trying some Varget, but never got around to it before hunting season began.

Hope to do some more testing as soon as it warms up a bit.

 

[jimbeaux82]

Ive had good luck on deer with the Speer 200 gr Hot Core in my 98K. Good expansion and complete pass thru on broadside shots. With this bullet you can very closely duplicate the 198 gr military rounds that the Germans commonly used. I load mine to just under 2500 fps.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I've used both Remington Cor-lokts and Winchester Silver tips in 170grn very successfully on whitetail. I have used 196grn Prvy-Partisan for targets(not hunting)and am very pleased with their accuracy.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have had more luck with Hornady 150 gr spire point bullets for whitetail than anything else. I'm using maximum load of IMR4895.
I load my own and they are hot, but very accurate. I would have thought that it would have been more accurate with a longer bullet but I was pleasently surprised.
It will really do a number on a whitetail, the last one I shot through the rib cage I could reach my hand through the exit wound. Must have taken a piece of rib out with it.
This old mauser is my foul weather gun and one of my favorite deer rifles.
It is to long and heavy to do much walking with though.

The black you see on the grip areas is uncured rubber roof patch. It always stays tacky no matter what the weather conditions.

 

[DM~]

I've shot everything from moose and bear on down to coyotes and javolina with 200NP's in my 8x57, and NP's will expand some, even in the lightly constructed coyotes and javolina.

That's why i keep on useing them, they work on EVERYTHING i hunt, and work VERY well...

They are very accurate too,



Useing one bullet for everything allows me to learn where they hit at all ranges, and that makes me a better game shot.

DM