8mm - viable only if reloading?

[RangeRover]

Pardon the milsurp newbie question, but I'd like to get an FN49, and since Egyptian 8mm versions seem to come up more often than anything else, I sense that's going to be the most likely alternative.

Scanning this and other boards, though, it appears that modern 8mm ammunition (with soft primers) may encourage slamfires, and that milsurp stuff if scarcer than the proverbial chicken dentures.

Before I take the plunge, then, I'm hoping others shooting the Mauser round can fill me in just what life is like trying to regularly feed such animals. Be prepared to do my own reloading?

Thanks.

 

[H Wally]

I'm in the same boat, except I have the equiptment, but don't know how to use it. I was lucky enough to get a rifle with lots of brass and reloading dies with it, so to shoot it I'll have to start reloading. To be honest, I'm looking forward to it. From what I read it's usually 1/2 the cost of store bought, and way more accurate.

 

[Stevo]

Milsurp 8mm is out there at gunshows in varying quantities. It seems to be selling in the $.50-.75 range at the show around here.

If you do reload, you should consider using the CCI No 34 large rifle primers. They're a harder, "mil-spec" primer for semi's.

I've got enough 8mm to avoid your problem but I've been hoarding it for the last 20 years since I bought my first milsurp.

 

[mtallman]

From what I know, you will want to use Winchester primers, as they are less prone to slam fires as Federals or Rem's. There are also the #34's, but they are harder to find and many see them as a "marketing gimmick".

Be prepared to do my own reloading?

It will certainly not be hard to find 8x57 components. If you don't have any of the gear yet, You should be able to get started with a single stage and all the necessary basics for around $200-400 depending on the quality. You will likely be able to buy large lots of once fired brass if you post in the EE, for around $15/100, with bullets being your most expensive, at around $25-30/100. Primers will be around 4c, and a lb of powder (around $28) will last you for around 180 shots. All said, you should be able to easily reload for 60c a shot, and will get quality rounds with virtually no risk of a slam fire (assuming the primers are seated correctly).

 

[RangeRover]

Commercial 8mm for the FN49?

But to hedge my bets I'm thinking I'll try to make brass for reloading from some commercial stuff. In avoiding the Igman, any other stuff out there. In the few calls I've made around I've tracked down a couple of boxes of PRVI, some Yugoslavian 8mm (manufacturer unknown), and of course Norma (at a premium). Any experience and associated warnings or recommendations for particular manufacturers/sources?

Milsurp 8mm is out there at gunshows in varying quantities. It seems to be selling in the $.50-.75 range at the show around here.