8x57 Mauser

I've seen Igman, S&B, Prvi, Norma. Any experiences with these brands? Also, what is a good weight to get this calibre in? I've seen 150's-200's but I hear they perform better with 200 grain?
 
I've seen Igman, S&B, Prvi, Norma. Any experiences with these brands? Also, what is a good weight to get this calibre in? I've seen 150's-200's but I hear they perform better with 200 grain?



S&B, and Prvi brands are usually available locally and shoot extremely well in any rifles that I've shot. My Yugo Mauser prefers 170gr homeloads, but shoots anything with good results, both with lighter or heavier bullets.
 
Can you load American 8x57 brass to European 'hotter' loadings? Which brass is best for reloading? Any recommendations on bullets?
 
...Also, what is a good weight to get this calibre in? I've seen 150's-200's but I hear they perform better with 200 grain?

What are you looking to do with it? Hunting? Target shooting?

Can you load American 8x57 brass to European 'hotter' loadings? Which brass is best for reloading? Any recommendations on bullets?

I wouldn't worry about the brass, I use regular old Winchester. Just stay within the load range for the powder and bullets that you're using and you should be fine. I use Reloader 15.

I have some old 8mm ammo from as far back as the 1940's and I can tell you that it is loaded very hot. It's all FMJ though so obviously no good for hunting.

I reload for my WWII Mauser and I keep things light, 150 grain Hornady SP bullets and a very light powder load. Since I only shoot 100m at the range there's really no need to load hotter. My brass lasts longer and it's bloody accurate out to 100m.

img00105201106302042.jpg


There's an 8 shot group at 100m with open sights.
 
Any brass can work well. Just get brass of all the same maker.

For my 8mm hunting rifle I load 196 and 200 gr bullets. They don't blow up a lot of deer meat and give excellent performance on moose.

8mm is an excellent caliber when handloaded or with the hotter European makers. About the same as a 30-06.
 
I tend to agree, any brass works ok, as long as its the same maker. However, when it comes to maximum pressures, I feel the North Americans error on the low side due to ignorance of European calibers. Calibers such as 8x57 and 7.62x54R are much hotter when made in Europe than does ammo coming from North American makers.


I don't have European Charts, but I'd sure like to get some and load according to their pressures.
 
I have a M700 Remington "Classic" in 8x57JS, and I load the 180's to 2800, the 195 and 196 grain bullets to 2650 and the 200's to just a shade less than 2650.
With a modern, strong action and good bullets, the 8x57 will basically run with the 30-06 in hunting situations.
I have found Vihtavuori N150 and N550 to work very well in mine.
I have not tried it yet, but I think Reloder 17 might also be a winner.
FWIW, the brass with the largest internal capacity is the old "Dominion" brass, with Winchester next for capacity.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Italian Sporting Goods in Vancouver brings in some RWS ammo. This is excellent ammo, but very expensive. If your wallet can handle it, try some, you'll like it. If not, S&B is good ammo. I've tried 198gr Igman in the past, and found it way too hot for any of my sporting or military Mausers. Blew 3 primers with this stuff. (Still have 4 1/2 boxes of that crap!)
 
Back
Top Bottom