8x56r
- Thread starter PanzerIV
- Start date
Any 8mm (.323) bullet can be used. The 8x56R is simply a rimmed version of the 8x57 case. Most shops with reloading supplies will have 8mm bullets. Cases, on the other hand, are scarce. Norma used to maie them, not sure if they still do or not. - dan
Lee makes a bullet mould for these cartridges, as likely others do. Lee also makes (or made) dies for reloading. Watch at gun shows and you may find some Hornady factory hunting loads. I found a box in 205 grain SP. Methinks they are Russian manufacture, as they have "nny" on the headstamp.
My goodness!
1. usual bullet diameter is .329
2. case is fatter
I meant ballistically, not physically. I had an old drilling in this cartridge about 20 years ago or so, fired many rounds reloaded with 8x57 dies for the neck, and .323 bullets. Worked fine. - dan
Hornady, makes soft point bullets and Graf, makes boxer brass. .329, is the correct diameter
db, that drilling you had, may have had a .323 or even .318 bore. I had one about 35+ years ago, in 8x56R, with a .318 bore. I used the .323 diameter bullets in it all of the time I owned and shot it. The 16 gauge upper was the real problem. It had a very short cartridge case and I had to cut down hulls and go through a lot of hassle to make ammunition for it. Back then, the only 8x56R I could find, was made by Norma. $25/box, in 1972 was a real strain on the pay cheque. I was fairly new to reloading, and couldn't figure out why the Norma rounds kicked so hard. I knew Norma, loaded on the hot side but this was ridiculous. I ended up pulling the bullets out of the last two bullets and found that they were indeed .329. It was almost impossible to find any .318 bullets, so I split the difference. Nary a pressure problem. .005, is a tiny difference and the generous leade in the chamber swaged things down nicely.
db, that drilling you had, may have had a .323 or even .318 bore. I had one about 35+ years ago, in 8x56R, with a .318 bore. I used the .323 diameter bullets in it all of the time I owned and shot it. The 16 gauge upper was the real problem. It had a very short cartridge case and I had to cut down hulls and go through a lot of hassle to make ammunition for it. Back then, the only 8x56R I could find, was made by Norma. $25/box, in 1972 was a real strain on the pay cheque. I was fairly new to reloading, and couldn't figure out why the Norma rounds kicked so hard. I knew Norma, loaded on the hot side but this was ridiculous. I ended up pulling the bullets out of the last two bullets and found that they were indeed .329. It was almost impossible to find any .318 bullets, so I split the difference. Nary a pressure problem. .005, is a tiny difference and the generous leade in the chamber swaged things down nicely.
If worse come to worse and you have no other alternative you can always make the 86r brass from once fired 54r brass.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/reforming8x56/index.asp
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/reforming8x56/index.asp
