Has anyone tried "The Load" (13 grs. Red Dot) in 8mm Mauser with lead pills?

[1KPerDay]

I've been shooting reduced (published) loads of 8.5 grains Unique under Laser Cast 170 FP in my .30-30 at 18 yards indoors, and it's super fun on steel targets and doesn't beat them up. I have only one 8mm Mauser, a Czech Vz. 24, and I rarely shoot it because I don't have a rifle-length range close enough to me for convenience.

I was cataloguing and reorganizing my reloading crap (brass mostly) last weekend and found my 8mm empties and wondered if anyone here had tried reduced loads with the 8mm Mauser. It might be fun to shoot indoors, assuming the velocities were low enough not to destroy the steel or cause dangerous frag.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I will be watching this post, Thanks for asking the question I didn't ask.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-Sounds like the loads that I was using in my Lee Metford Cavalry Carbines.
Just for fun.

 

[AJC1]

Use "the load" as a guide for reduced loads for milsurps. Ed Harris is the originator of the article. I suggest you download and read the entire thing.

 

[25-20 WCF]

You can’t use “the load” in your Czech rifle. Please send it to me for disposal.









Sorry, couldn’t resist.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I've been shooting reduced (published) loads of 8.5 grains Unique under Laser Cast 170 FP in my .30-30 at 18 yards indoors, and it's super fun on steel targets and doesn't beat them up. I have only one 8mm Mauser, a Czech Vz. 24, and I rarely shoot it because I don't have a rifle-length range close enough to me for convenience.

I was cataloguing and reorganizing my reloading crap (brass mostly) last weekend and found my 8mm empties and wondered if anyone here had tried reduced loads with the 8mm Mauser. It might be fun to shoot indoors, assuming the velocities were low enough not to destroy the steel or cause dangerous frag.

I have and it does work as Harris described. I bought lead “hunting bullets” from a company called Quality Cast - 210gr FN-GC - and loaded them with 13gr Red Dot. Accuracy out to 50yds was pretty good, really.

The best part is that same bullet over 35gr of IMR 3031 was good for 100yd Whitetail. Super accurate and it punched through even good sized bucks. But hauling that rifle around was a drag so I put it up. I sold off my entire Mauser collection years ago - saved one: a VZ24.

If you have 4198, 3031, or 4895, the same 180-210gr bullets you use for reduced loads will work for full power loads as well.

 

[1KPerDay]

Use "the load" as a guide for reduced loads for milsurps. Ed Harris is the originator of the article. I suggest you download and read the entire thing.

I have… asking for experience here

 

[1KPerDay]

I have and it does work as Harris described. I bought lead “hunting bullets” from a company called Quality Cast - 210gr FN-GC - and loaded them with 13gr Red Dot. Accuracy out to 50yds was pretty good,

Thanks! I think I’m going to try some of these

8MM 180Gr GCFP

8MM-180-GCFP

quality-cast.com

Pretty spendy by my outdated standards but I like that they’re coated and gas checked.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I have… asking for experience here

Okay, here's my experience.

I have never loaded or even fired an 8mm Mauser, with or without The Load.

I have, however, loaded and fired a few other cartridges with The Load. 7.62x54r, .30-06, 6.5x55 Swede; that sort of thing.

In my experience, The Load is suitable for jacketed bullets, but is too hot for cast.
I generally run 11-12 grains Red Dot (Promo in my case) with cast.

Take that for what it is worth, as my experience is not with the particular cartridge you are wanting to shoot.

 

[MEHavey]

but is too hot for cast.

... even #2/gas-checked?

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

... even #2/gas-checked?

I have tried checked, but not #2 alloy. Almost all my cast shooting is CWW.

Don't get me wrong, with 13gr I was not stripping the rifling, but accuracy declined.

 

[1KPerDay]

Okay, here's my experience.

I have never loaded or even fired an 8mm Mauser, with or without The Load.

I have, however, loaded and fired a few other cartridges with The Load. 7.62x54r, .30-06, 6.5x55 Swede; that sort of thing.

In my experience, The Load is suitable for jacketed bullets, but is too hot for cast.
I generally run 11-12 grains Red Dot (Promo in my case) with cast.

Take that for what it is worth, as my experience is not with the particular cartridge you are wanting to shoot.

Thank you. I wondered about that. I’ll also read up on using lower charges of Unique as well (assuming I can get published or credible data). It’s working great in the .30-30. I’ve read on castbullets forum that people like 10-11.5 grains Unique under a lead 170-180ish bullet in the 8mm Mauser.

 

[Jim Watson]

Lacking Red Dot, I shot some cast .30-06 with 12 grains of 700X. Also with 7 grains; ptooey.
Normally shot 4 close, one a bit out. But those were commercial cast bullets and I did not weigh and inspect them like I did .38-55s I cast myself.

 

[armoredman]

I have a few light pistol powder loads with cast bullets in 8mm Mauser that worked well in a re-barreled 1916 Spanish Mauser.

175gr Lee cast gas checked and powder coated, 10 gr 700X, COAL 2.75, excellent results for me.
216gr Lee cast gas checked and powder coated, also 10gr 700X, COAL 2.95, not bad for me.
Only one load with Green Dot even came halfway close, that was;
216gr Lee cast gas checked and powder coated, 12 gr Green Dot, COAL 2.95, and the note I have simply says "not bad", BUT, that load was tried probably over 10 years ago.
Academic porpoises only, etc.