Marstar Swedish 8mm surplus ammo

Andy said:
Call me sceptical. I haven't tried the BBQ, but when I've heated them with a torch (quickly or slowly) all that happened was they made a "weak fart noise" and were done. Even a loaded round (yes I did it and lived), was just a loud pop with the bullet moved a couple of feet, but the primer remained fully intact in both instances

I did this a few years ago in response to a deluge of "it's dangerous" concerns about fires and the mistaken belief that loaded ammo would explode in a mushroom cloud of red mist.

That explains my Profile Pic.
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Well, I'm no longer sceptical. Learning is good.

I heated two empty 8X63 cartridges, not in my BBQ (that ain't ever gonna happen) but with a torch more quickly than a BBQ would by running the flame across the body of the cartridge, and one gave the weak fart noise, but the other gave a loud bang and expelled the primer. I think that more gradual heating is the trick, as perhaps the first cartridge had the primer compound burned off in degrees, while the second went off all at once.
 
Volhv said:
1.475 length at 218 grains.... not bad how far is the top of the cannelure from the tip of the bullet?

The German 7.9 SME (steel core) have a projectile length of 1.469 and 0.929 from tip to top of cannelure, and weighing in at 178 grains.
SMK (AP), SMK L'spur (APT), and PMK (API) also have the same external dimmentions and weigh 178, 154, 156 grains respectively.

Thanks for the research on loading for it. Nice to have an idea of where to start, and what it can do.

Just as a side note. I got as high as 2600 fps out of the 197.5 projectiles with the original powder, and the 178 is still in the works...... 2700 fps showed signs like some resistance to opening the bolt, but the primer looked fine. Need to crank it down due to less volume because of the longer projectile.... despite the lower weight. Anyways, enough of my rambling, the point is, I haven't seen load data in manuals over 2400 fps for a 200 grain 8x57.
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8X63 bullets

Open-base FMJ-BT
218 gr
OAL - 1.475"
Cannelure - 0.885" from tip
Length of flat (0.323") - 0.475", from start of Boat Tail to about 0.075" past the cannelure
Boat Tail - length - 0.190", diameters - 0.275" to 0.323"
 
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Hey Andy, quick question... Would it be worth picking up a cheap yugo mauser and modifying the bolt face/reaming the chamber to fire these, or would other problems present in such a project?
 
Ar180shooter said:
Hey Andy, quick question... Would it be worth picking up a cheap yugo mauser and modifying the bolt face/reaming the chamber to fire these, or would other problems present in such a project?
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The Yugo Mauser is only a good choice if it's a M98, not the M24/47 or M48 as they're Intermediate Length actions and won't allow the 3.350" length of the 8X63 into the mag, i.e. they'd be single shot only.

I'd prefer something that's already a sporter too, such as what Tradex sells, e.g.:

https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/m98-mauser-sporter-8x57-12
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/husqvarna-commercial-fn98-8x57-41

You'd need to rechamber, but might get away without modifying the boltface (50/50).

Worth it? Buy enough ammo and I'd say yes. Once you run out, you can rebarrel.
 
Andy said:
Well, I'm no longer sceptical. Learning is good.

I heated two empty 8X63 cartridges, not in my BBQ (that ain't ever gonna happen) but with a torch more quickly than a BBQ would by running the flame across the body of the cartridge, and one gave the weak fart noise, but the other gave a loud bang and expelled the primer. I think that more gradual heating is the trick, as perhaps the first cartridge had the primer compound burned off in degrees, while the second went off all at once.
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No one was as surprised as I. We used to make mini pipe bombs by pulling the bullets and folding the case mouths shut. They blew up chunks of dirt well enough, but certainly weren't loud.

This was loud. I've only ever popped primers through a barrel, and this was several times louder. I would rate is slightly above .22LR, though to be fair I've never shot a .22LR in the kitchen so maybe the comparison is off. I'll also make some allowance for the fact the unexpected pops (primer or desk) are the loudest.
 
Andy said:
Well, I'm no longer sceptical. Learning is good.

I heated two empty 8X63 cartridges, not in my BBQ (that ain't ever gonna happen) but with a torch more quickly than a BBQ would by running the flame across the body of the cartridge, and one gave the weak fart noise, but the other gave a loud bang and expelled the primer. I think that more gradual heating is the trick, as perhaps the first cartridge had the primer compound burned off in degrees, while the second went off all at once.
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FWIW, when militaries "demil" cartridges prior to selling for brass scrap, they run them through a flash furnace that heats them up in a safe enclosure, not unlike a BBQ, albeit much more reinforced.
 
Has anyone else been waiting really long for a shipping notification? Placed my order a week ago and still haven't heard anything back yet, other than a notification to say it's in processing.
 
matthunt101 said:
Has anyone else been waiting really long for a shipping notification? Placed my order a week ago and still haven't heard anything back yet, other than a notification to say it's in processing.
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Pretty much the same here, talked to them on Monday to re-confirm my shipping preference but haven't seen any notice with the promised tracking numbers yet. I have ordered from them before and there was always a fair bit of time elapsed from start to finish of the orders, not hitting the panic button yet but really looking forward to getting my mitts on this stuff.
 
I just recieved my two belts worth, shipping was $46.95 so not too bad considering I'm in Alberta
It's really nice ammo, even comes with the 10 tracer rounds/per belt boxed separate
Now the fun starts in stripping it all down...
 
Received my 3 crates today wife was less then happy......

only 1 crate still sealed other 2 the metal top was open only 1 crate has the tracer ammo 10 rnds per belt was hoping every crate had it 2 crates are 1941 dated one is 42 ammo looks good not tarnished belts have metal ends but not like American ends my crates years ago did not have metal ends

NOT fun getting them inside and downstairs... glad I borrowed a 2 wheel dolly from work!

3 crates top right is the one with tracer notice marked differently
iGHSGC1.jpg


Crates were sealed 2 were open when I received them tracer lid markings
yibhmTb.jpg


what it looks like with metal lid off
U0BvTLv.jpg


metal ends of belt and box of tracer 10 rnds
CtRFQ1S.jpg
 
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I always found the tracer to be time expired...it still shoots but it doesn't light up.

I also had a bad experience with some of the crates themselves......some of the lids were absolutely infested with termite tunnels. I initially shook the lids out on the driveway, and lots of eggs/larvae came out of them. What I couldn't tell was if the termites were 1945 swedish termites, 1990 Dominican Republic termites, or 2005 Ontario termites. The crates all went out to secure storage in the shed.
 
I believe that was the story when this stuff first came out a decade or so back. It was rumoured that Marstar bought it as regular 8mm, and only discovered the real story behind it once it showed up. Perhaps someone with contacts in Marstar could verify.

It was also around that time that the matching 8x63 barrels showed up in the US at Sarco. They were not the same profile as a regular M1919 barrel. I think they were sold as project barrels for somewhere around $20 or $30. Go to sarcoinc.com/mauser98tackdriverheavybarrels.aspx

I still have the reamer for these out in the shop. I think I also still have a couple of the regular 8mm barrels waiting for conversion.
 
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stencollector said:
I believe that was the story when this stuff first came out a decade or so back. It was rumoured that Marstar bought it as regular 8mm, and only discovered the real story behind it once it showed up. Perhaps someone with contacts in Marstar could verify.

It was also around that time that the matching 8x63 barrels showed up in the US at Sarco. They were not the same profile as a regular M1919 barrel. I think they were sold as project barrels for somewhere around $20 or $30. Go to sarcoinc.com/mauser98tackdriverheavybarrels.aspx

I still have the reamer for these out in the shop. I think I also still have a couple of the regular 8mm barrels waiting for conversion.
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My understanding is that the ammo was bought by Marstar from the Dominican Republic, thinking that it was 30-06.

Starting after 1950, a great deal of military equipment was surplused from Sweden to the DR, including machineguns that shot 8X63, so it makes sense that ammo would be part of the deal.

#1bcshooter said:
They still have the 8x63 browning barrels . Only $35.00 !!!!!!!
If only we could get them shipped up here :mad:
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/8x63-swedish-barrel-blank.aspx
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The barrels from Sarco could be imported if properly processed.
 
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#1bcshooter said:
They are a machinegun part .
I doubt you could import one
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I heard from a friend in the business that the State department was no longer approving export permits for anything beltfed (for civilian use) whether automatic or semi automatic. He told me that North Sylva still had some room on one of their permits for more of the MG34s, but that was going to be it. So it is questionable whether this just applies to the whole weapon, or to parts as well. It could be argued that these barrels are for semi autos.
 
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