8mm Mauser for deer

[Tbolt]

Is 198gr 8mm Mauser SP too heavy for deer?

 

[Andy]

There's no such thing as "too heavy". Out of an 8mm Mauser, the 198gr will deliver plenty of power at a velocity low enough to minimize meat damage.

 

[hueyhound]

I had a buddy shoot a deer last year with the 8mm Mauser at about 50 metres, he was using soft point 198gr rounds and the bullet passed right through the deer.

HH

 

[Pathfinder]

Probably be an ideal kill anything load.

I cant imagine very much situations where I would ever use "too heavy" only "too light" .

 

[Sharkson]

I use 170 gr SP for deer out of my Mauser; I had a pass through on a doe. I use the heavier 198 for moose.

 

[Longwalker]

All the 198gr. bullets that I am aware of are round nose soft points. They shoud expand reliably on deer and have the added benefit of not messing up much meat 'cuz they are going slower than lighter bullets.

 

[Huntin' Gun]

Shot placement is everything. You likely won't 'pencil hole' the deer because of the lower velocity. Get a good hit, and it's going DOWN!

 

[Eagleye]

The 8mm Mauser is adequate for all North American Big Game [properly loaded] But any of those 196-198 grain factory offerings are very effective on deer/moose/elk, etc. They expand reliably, and since they are most often European loadings, they have sufficient velocity to do the job properly. In Chronographing NA loads vs European loads, there are some interesting revelations. The Norma 196 grain loads and the Igman 198 grainers both are faster in my rifle than any North American made 150 or 170 grain load.
Regards, Eagleye.

 

[Tbolt]

What I have on hand is actually Igman 198gr.

 

[madtrapper143]

I have used 170 grain factory fodder in the 8. Was just like my .32 special VERY effective. Those heavy loads will work only better. IMHO.

Darryl

 

[snowshoe]

I shot one Deer with a 196g Norma soft point, then switched to the 170g Hornady soft point. In my opinion the 170g is the ideal bullet for Deer out of the 8mm.