Reloading 8mm Mauser, like new 323 barrel

[Dave Collins]

I would like to have reload data on an 8mm mauser, like new 323 barrel, have had it looked at by a very good gunsmith, the head space has been checked, the barrel is 50 years old and only shows a couple bullets have been put through it, I want to shoot further than standard ammo, its very accurate at 200 metres, within 20mm shooting of my pack but drops off fast after that distance, that was using 139 JS ammo, reload supplies said most reloaders for 8mm mausers use 200 grain projectiles and since I have lots of different powders I would like to work up some loads for this beauty, I'm not wanting to work up big pressures but have been told the mauser I have can do far more distance than what Im doing, the accuracy Im amazed with. I have a few guns and have worked up good safe very accurate loads but this Mauser I brought of a chap that owned it as a spare rifle for over 20 years and put 3 shots hunting with it and I want to do more with it as Im doing the same as previous owner, some of the area I hunt has good open gullys so projectile wieght will hold up good with wind, Hoping for a good recipe thanks.

 

[Jimro]

185 grain Rem Corelokt, 45 grains of IMR 4064. It isn't a fast load but it shoots well out of every Mauser I've run it through.

Jimro

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, Dave Collins.

Many reputable companies make 8mm bullets in .323", that you can choose from, and then use www.hodgdon.com or www.alliantpowder.com to compare loads that you can try. The online data is the most up to date listing, and includes some of the newest powders available. It's pretty much my go to data list, and only use my books for cross reference occasionally.

Check the Noslers out for example.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/51...-8mm-323-diameter-180-grain-spitzer-box-of-50


NCsmitty

 

[Edarnold]

Dave, your use of metric suggests you are in Europe, if so may I suggest the 196gr. Boat-tail spitzer hollowpoint bullets by Norma? When I was loading 8x57 years ago this was an excellent choice for accuracy. Also VV powders N-140 or N-150 should be suitable, I think they have data available for these bullets.

 

[280shooter]

I load 150 gr. hornady flat base, imr 4320,,, 52 grs, I used this for over 25 years, and killed alot of Deer,My Mauser loves this load. It shoot less then 1 in, groups at 100 yards,

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I load 150 gr. hornady flat base

Don't they though? I use the same bullet in my Mauser. I use 49 gr. of 4895 in my loads, I have shot these loads to 400yds+ with good success. I don't know how effective they would be for stopping power at that range but they do shoot very well out of my old milserp mauser.

My Mauser loves these bullets also.

They will sure do a number on a deer at close range. My favorite rifle caliber of all time for hunting deer.

 

[WYOMan]

200 grain Nosler Accubond over 49.2 grains of VV N-150 ( thier listed MAX). Average velocity over my chrono.. 2503 fps. Very accurate load.

 

[sig220mw]

I've had good luck with imr 4064 and 180 grain nosler ballistic tips.

 

[BigBob3006]

Dave,

All the manuals hold 36,000 CUP. This is due to the rifles manufactured in 1943 and later aren't heat treated correctly and some of the rifles brought home by returning Vets had a nasty habit of coming apart when fired with what should have been a normal pressure load. Because of the difficulty in locating 8mm brass, many of the rifles were chambered to the 8mm-06. Ascertain if your gunsmith buddy checked to determine if your rifle is safe to fire normal 50,000psi. When I first married Kathy she had a M-98 that her father had brought home. The rifle had been converted into a Carbine,the rifle was manufactured in 1938 and was a "good" action. I had the rifle stock shortened to fit Kathy and drilled and tapped to accept a scope base.

I loaded Sierra 175gr flat base bullet using IMR-4320 powder. Since the manuals all cited reduced loads I used a book I had in my personal library. I won't cite it here because it is way over manual recommended max loads. Velocity was 2685fps. For all practicable purposes this is about the same as using 180gr bullet in the .30-06, and I don't recall hearing to many complaints about it. This combination took 2 cow elk and a bull for Kathy.

The 8mm will do a good job for you.

 

[WYOMan]

Any 98 produced in 1945, should be ckecked for hardness. The Volksgewehrs should never be shot. These are the rifles you speak of, but they are not the main reason for the 7.92X57 pressures being kept low. SAAMI reduced the peak pressure because the first loading of this round used a .318 bullet. The German military rifles were standardized to the .323 bore size beginning with the GEW 98. Mauser sporters could still be ordered with the .318 bore until production of civilian rifles was ceased due to wartime demands of WW2. Many of these found thier way to the states, and were damaged after the un-witting new owner fired .323 bullets from them. It was this situation that prompted the reduction in maximum loading pressures.