Hello, I've bought several cases of your surplus 8mm mauser ammo. Now forgive me if there is a thread already, but can I reload these rounds?
Hello, I've bought several cases of your surplus 8mm mauser ammo. Now forgive me if there is a thread already, but can I reload these rounds?
Good luck finding primers.
I know, berdan primers, they make me cry.
I reload my Mexican surplus brass. It is Berdan primed. The primers are around. You just have to look. Check some gun shows and when you find some buy enough to do you. Hard part is getting the old primer out. I use a drill and I made a pick from an old rat tail file. Also don't forget to remove the decapping pin when sizing.
What is the make of the ammunition or head stamp? Is it brass or steel case? Does it have a year of production on the head stamp or boxes or cases?
That info is indeed several years out of date.
Berdan primers are not in stock in any retailer here in Canada as far as I have been able to find. I don't think any have been imported subsequent to the coup in Ukraine, they were all coming from Russia.
Interesting part to me is a bunch of new Barnaul ammo has been showing up recently, so why not some primers...
I discard my Berdan primed brass, once fired. Not worth the trouble in my book.
From time to time, Boxer primed brass can be found for 8mm Mauser (new and used) from several dealers advertising on CGN.
I reload converted .30-06 Springfield brass, because it is readily available in quantity (.270 Win works too). I cut extra length with pipe cuter (0.25"?), lube the cases, resize with 8x57 Mauser die, trim to desired length, chamfer/deburr and reload.
I'll agree with BlackSheepSquad - these days it seems easier to reform .30-06 or .270Win into 8mm Mauser. It's a bit of a PITA, but then again brass prep in general sucks.