8mm Mauser load potential for hunting/target

BeaverMeat

BeaverMeat

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What are the boundaries of performance for the 8mm Mauser round. I plan on hand loading this round in the near future. As a beginner hunter I will not aim for anything bigger than a deer, but if the time should arise. Would It be possible to load a round with adequate stopping power for a moose or elk without blowing the action apart? I understand a more common round such as a 7mm mag or 300 mag are probably the smarter choice for an all around hunting round. But, I want to use a classic round which I can experiment with. So anyone with some 8mm loading experience got any pointers or advice?
 
There was another thread on this topic recently. A properly hand loaded 8x57IS is the full equivalent to the 30-06. In my research it comes in just perhaps just a wee tad better for hunting big critters at moderate ranges with its standard 198 gr. bullets as compared to the 30-06 with standard 180 grain. I have two 8x57's at the moment, and do not feel any need to go out and buy a 7mm mag or 300 mag.
The European CIP load data is far superior to the American SAAMI load data for this cartridge. Predictably, the USA data is hampered by lawyers advice regarding old and obsolete '88 commission rifles that have a smaller bore and are not safe with modern European loads. Any modern sporting rifle is safe with loads published in Europe.
 
I use the same amount of powder in my 30-06 and my 8mm.
Your not handicapped in the lease with it.
And 98 mauser action's are plenty tough,otherwise there wouldn't be so many of them.
 
Ah, I see. There is a bias towards the good ol 'merican thirty-ot-six. Be it lawyers or Springfield Armory influence.

Now to find out which load works best for the desired results. Would it be a good idea to sample some different brands of off-the-shelf ammunition to determine what load works best for my rifle? Then use the more fitting ammunition loads as a starting point for my own hand loads? I need all the advice I can get as I have never hand loaded. It's starting to look like a fun and challenging hobby.

Thanks fore the advice so far.
 
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Yes, it would be a good idea to sample different loads in your 8x57. I suggest that you try Norma first. Very high quality and they load to CIP specs. Another good but very expensive option is RWS. They pretty much price themselves out of the market though. Sellier & Bellot are average quality and low price. Same with Prvi Partizan. Winchester and Remington are like "Managed Recoil" smallish game loads.
If you use CIP reload data, and a cheap chronograph, you can match (but don't exceed) velocities in your handloads compared with the Euro factory ammo, and you will end up with fully effective and safe loads. Have fun!
 
I just forgot to mention - Hornady is the one American manufacturer who sells full ( Euro) power 8x57IS ammunition. I bought some but have not tried it yet, so try their offering too if you can find some!
 
Bambi doesn't read ballistics tables and hasn't grown Kevlar fur of late. Hundreds of years of hunters took big game with lead balls and non-expanding lead bullets. Don't believe the sales-driven Magnum hoopla. Far more important than massive power is the ability to hit the beast in the boiler room. Do that and you've got meat on the plate.

The 8mm Mauser is capable of taking anything that walks on this continent. Maybe not first choice for going into dense brush after a wounded grizzly, but - be honest - how many of us ever do that? And - be honest - how many of us can hit anything at the distances at which the Supermag's make a difference?

Deer, moose, elk, cariboo, black bear - the 8x57 will bring it home as well as anything else. Good round, no matter where the ammo is made.
 
Speaking of Hornady. Would this be a good source of reloading equipment? Any experience with their products?

Also the main reason I talk about magnum cartridges is that my my uncle and father give me crap about the 8mm not being readily available. And they don't like my choice of hunting rifle... A Yugo M98. I just recently bought a second Yugo M98 from the States which comes complete with a Zrak M76B scope and mounts; A Bosnian sniper clone with no American import markings. I probably paid a little too much for it, but I always wanted one so I consider it a charity. So yeah, call me crazy, but I am going to hunt with it.
 
I have an 8x57 in a strong, modern action, and I regard it very highly for moose and Elk or Bear hunting.

I load the 200 Partition or Accubond with a good load of Vihtavuori N550, and voila! 2600+ fps.
This load absolutely hammers a moose! I've shot two so far, and both were DRT.

The advice on ammo was also good....the Norma ammo is fast and of very high quality.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
As for brass. Is Prvi Partizan brass good for reloading, or loading in general. I have a bunch left over as this is the only ammunition I have used so far. (cheap and readily available)
 
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