what can I build with an 8mm Mauser

Is this rifle already sporterised or is it in full military garb???

You may be able to trade it for a much more suitable candidate.
 
Easiest and top pick for me would be .257 Roberts, 7x57 is too close to 8x57 to bother a change. All three use the exact same case, just necked to their respective bullet diameters, so feeding is guaranteed AOK. Also, .257 'Bob doesn't come in Tradex Mausers for $350, so it makes sense to lay out the $.
 
It would make an interesting hunting rifle with a Boyds stock.
It would, but you'll be surprised at the cost to do over a military 98 into a usefull sporter.

Count the cost and you might just see it's a better idea just to buy what you want and faster too.
 
It would, but you'll be surprised at the cost to do over a military 98 into a usefull sporter.

Count the cost and you might just see it's a better idea just to buy what you want and faster too.
What he said.



7x57 is too close to 8x57 to bother a change.
Reallllllllly. Hippie! The 7X57 has something that few other rounds do, panache, so much of it infact its worth the change just for that. The ultimate classy round.
 
If your rifle is WW2 German and apart from the stock is original military with matching serials you can get decent money for it from a milsurp fan to restore to original trim. Depending on the code(manufacturer) $500 is not outside the ballpark. As has been said to build a sporter from the ground up is not cheap.
 
Most of the north american factory ammo for this catridge is very anaemic. European loadings are quite a bit hotter. If you reload 8mm to 30-06 pressure levels it basically becomes the ballistic twin of the 30-06. The 8mm-06 conversions were for the most part done 40-50 yrs ago to utilize more commonly available 30-06 brass at that time, not to "improve" the original 8x57.
 
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Bore and groove the barrel to .358" and chamber it to 358 Norma Mag. I have one done up that way. I'm scared to shoot it..... My friends are too...... I need to find dumber friends.....
 
There are certainly no flies gathered on the original chambering of 8x57JS.

Properly loaded, it is a potent, dynamic package.

I have a 700 "Classic" so chambered, and it is a very effective unit, with 2 Moose and 2 Black bears to it's credit. [1 shot each, BTW.]

The 180 can be driven to 2800+, and the 195-200's to 2650+. Mighty good medicine, that!!
Norma and RWS, as well as PRVI all load this cartridge closer to its potential.

Our North American loadings resemble 300 Savage, not near the potential of the 8x57JS. [plus mostly in the 170 grain flavor]

I would keep it as is, shoot it and see. You may already have a winner in that Mauser!
Cheers, Eagleye.
 
Reallllllllly. Hippie! The 7X57 has something that few other rounds do, panache, so much of it infact its worth the change just for that. The ultimate classy round.


I have good experience with 7x57, here and in Africa, and to a hunter it doesn't do anything different than an 8x57, which has likely even more incredible history than the 7x57. The 8x57 fought two world wars as the primary chambering of the opposing side, and extraordinary usage throughout interesting parts of the world including Africa. WDM Bell, one of whom's books I'm presently enjoying, however did use the 7x57 on elephants a good deal, though he called it a .275 Rigby. But he also used the .303 British, and 6.5x54MS a great deal too. 8x57 is every bit as interesting as 7x57, one need not get overly caught up in what's trendy in a chambering choice. I like panache, just as I like my .375 H&H, and I like the 8x57 which also has loads of it just like my 7x57 as you mention. They're all "cool".
 
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