D4064 8x57 Load Development

[dgradinaru]

Earlier this month i had time to throw together some random target loads with D4064 for my 8x57. I never had high expectations with this powder, ended up buying a couple jugs when they were available with the idea that it'll do for affordable plinking. Among the few loads i tried out yesterday which were doing 1-1.5" on average at 100 yards, i was surprised to see one load clustering tightly. 49.5 grains over 170gr Speer hotcor's seemed to have stolen the spot light and boy was I happy with the results.

If this powder meters anywhere close to IMR 4064, quick load and the data books claim a modest 2750 fps. I'll have to chronograph the load to see what actual velocity I'm getting is. So much for a plinking load, more like a do it all load at a modest price

 

[dan belisle]

Nice shooting. - dan

 

[Hitzy]

I find it just as accurate as varget in my 308 and 223 loads. I use 1 grain less in 223 and .5 grain less in 308 for the same velocity as my varget loads. It's good powder, made in Canada by IMR, just slightly outside the commercial burn rate of the IMR of the same name.

 

[DGY]

That is really nice and that velocity is also good!! I’m working on a new to me 8x57, I might have to find me some Speer hot core and D4064 !! Ho and that is some great shooting!!

 

[mussyhairhillbilly]

What model is the rifle?

 

[bearhunter]

Look at the first post pics. He lists it on one of the targets

 

[Eagleye]

OP, Very nice group with that 8x57!! I have never tried a 170 grain bullet in my 8x57's
I'm sort of stuck on 185 grain + makes this chambering shine, but it is plenty hard to
disregard those results.

I have a new [to me] 8x57 on a 700 action with a McGowen barrel, and it looks like the 196
Norma Dual Core is going to make similar groups. I tried 100V and 760 so far, and the
results are gratifying. I have some IMR 4064 here....must give it a whirl with some 185 gr
Cor-Lokts.

Do you plan to hunt that 170 Speer? If so, I would be interested in your results. Regards, Dave.

 

[dgradinaru]

That is really nice and that velocity is also good!! I’m working on a new to me 8x57, I might have to find me some Speer hot core and D4064 !! Ho and that is some great shooting!!

IMR 4064, IMR 3031, H4895/IMR4895 all worked well in my 8x57's. I've had good results with bullets in and around 170gr and heavier (This is 1 inch or better). That Includes 170gr Hornady SST/RN, 175Gr Sierra, 180 NBT, 195GR gr Interlocks, 196 Norma dual cores, 200gr Speer, 200 NAB, 220gr Sierra. Your really not going to go wrong with any of these options.

What model is the rifle?

It's a Mauser 98 built by Voere of Austria. Also marketed as 2155. Voere sources their barrels from German manufacturer Lothar Walther on thier recent builds and this is one of them. Excellent Barrels.

Do you plan to hunt that 170 Speer? If so, I would be interested in your results. Regards, Dave.

I have used it once in the spring of 2017 and took a nice black bear with it. About a 70 yard single shot to the neck dropped the bear without a single step being taken, that load was doing 2790 fps over the chronograph with IMR 4320. If the opportunity arises i will use the bullet again.

 

[hawk-i]

That's a nice group, gotta love it when it all comes together like that.

 

[bearhunter]

OP, Very nice group with that 8x57!! I have never tried a 170 grain bullet in my 8x57's
I'm sort of stuck on 185 grain + makes this chambering shine, but it is plenty hard to
disregard those results.

I have a new [to me] 8x57 on a 700 action with a McGowen barrel, and it looks like the 196
Norma Dual Core is going to make similar groups. I tried 100V and 760 so far, and the
results are gratifying. I have some IMR 4064 here....must give it a whirl with some 185 gr
Cor-Lokts.

Do you plan to hunt that 170 Speer? If so, I would be interested in your results. Regards, Dave.

The biggest problem with 8x57 right now, is finding a selection of bullets that are in stock.

Henry has some 196 grain Privi but I'm not a fan of those bullets.

I have enough 8mm bullets on hand, from 150-220 grain to keep my 8x57, 98 Sporter, going for a lot of seasons.

It's a great cartridge, with modern powders and I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned if it was the only cartridge I was able to use.

I really like the 196 grain Norma 68003 Oryx bonded bullets, accurate and hard hitting at just over 2600fps, from a 22 inch milsurp barrel.

I use a load of 56.0 grains of H414SL10/CCI250 magnum primers/Winchester Western brass.

I also like the 220 grain Hornady and the 220 grain Sierra Game Kings.

OP, I like your rifle and your groups with the D4064 are very impressive. That 170 grain Speer bullet should work really well for you on just about everything you hunt with it.

Your biggest problem will be finding more, when your present supply runs out.

 

[dan belisle]

The biggest problem with 8x57 right now, is finding a selection of bullets that are in stock.

Henry has some 196 grain Privi but I'm not a fan of those bullets.

I have enough 8mm bullets on hand, from 150-220 grain to keep my 8x57, 98 Sporter, going for a lot of seasons.

It's a great cartridge, with modern powders and I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned if it was the only cartridge I was able to use.

I really like the 196 grain Norma 68003 Oryx bonded bullets, accurate and hard hitting at just over 2600fps, from a 22 inch milsurp barrel.

I use a load of 56.0 grains of H414SL10/CCI250 magnum primers/Winchester Western brass.

I also like the 220 grain Hornady and the 220 grain Sierra Game Kings.

OP, I like your rifle and your groups with the D4064 are very impressive. That 170 grain Speer bullet should work really well for you on just about everything you hunt with it.

Your biggest problem will be finding more, when your present supply runs out.

A good supply of decent bullets for 8mm's has always been an issue. I've owned (and still own a few) many, and getting good bullets (and in some instances brass) has always been tough. I have lots of 220 Hornadys, but lighter stuff not so much. - dan

 

[dgradinaru]

The biggest problem with 8x57 right now, is finding a selection of bullets that are in stock.

Henry has some 196 grain Privi but I'm not a fan of those bullets.

I have enough 8mm bullets on hand, from 150-220 grain to keep my 8x57, 98 Sporter, going for a lot of seasons.

It's a great cartridge, with modern powders and I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned if it was the only cartridge I was able to use.

I really like the 196 grain Norma 68003 Oryx bonded bullets, accurate and hard hitting at just over 2600fps, from a 22 inch milsurp barrel.

I use a load of 56.0 grains of H414SL10/CCI250 magnum primers/Winchester Western brass.

I also like the 220 grain Hornady and the 220 grain Sierra Game Kings.

OP, I like your rifle and your groups with the D4064 are very impressive. That 170 grain Speer bullet should work really well for you on just about everything you hunt with it.

Your biggest problem will be finding more, when your present supply runs out.

That's pretty good velocity out of a 22 inch barrel. I run a Zastava with a 22 inch pipe and the best velocity/accuracy combo i achieved was 2550 fps with 1/2-3/4" groups. That is with 196gr Norma dual cores and IMR 3031. If i try to run it faster i lose the accuracy, so I'm content with that combo for the time being. My 24 inch barrels on the other end easily hit 2650+ fps with RE17, trying to save that powder for dedicated loads though.

As for bullet selection and stock, i agree. It's slim pickings but they are around and when i do find fair prices i buy. Over the years i bought and stocked up my fair share when they were available, so i will be good to go for a few years. Gun shows and small shops tend to have a few boxes laying around here and there. At the chilliwack gun show i found a couple boxes of Nosler Ballistic tips and accubonds for 20$/box, cant go wrong with that price.

 

[bearhunter]

It was good to see you again at the show.

I saw the Nosler accubonds at $20/box, but left them for people that need them.

There were some other decent buys on partial boxes of 8mm and other calibers. Several partial cans of powder etc.

One fellow had CFE223 in one pound containers @ $125 each. He sold half a case on the first day and brought his price down to $100/lb on Sunday. He didn't take any home with him.

David, I get the 2600fps with the 196 grain bullets because of the powder I'm using.

It's very close to W760 but 5% appx slower.

H414SL10 was one of the experimental powders developed for commercial loaders, that incorporated two unique concepts, around 25 years ago. One of the concepts was greatly reduced temperature sensitivity and the other was an extended pressure curve, without such a pronounced spike.

For mid range capacity cartridges, from 308 to 30-06, it really shines with very consistent accuracy and velocity results.

My rifle shoots the load from above into consistent sub moa groups, out past 300 yards.

2500+fps from a 196 grain bullet is a hammer on most big game.

I've never recovered a bullet used for taking game with that load. However, I've never shot anything further away than 150yards.

 

[bearhunter]

A good supply of decent bullets for 8mm's has always been an issue. I've owned (and still own a few) many, and getting good bullets (and in some instances brass) has always been tough. I have lots of 220 Hornadys, but lighter stuff not so much. - dan

There was a time that the only 8mm bullets around, made by North American manufacturers, were the 220grain weights and all are intended for use in the now seldom seen 8mm Rem Magnum.

If you wanted lighter bullets, Speer made/makes them, but not many places stock them in BC.

Lots of European manufacturers though, but at almost twice the price of North American offerings.

I've got close to 1200 8mm bullets and at least 65% of them weigh 220grains

I don't mind the heavy bullets. If I do my part, they work extremely well, first time every time.

I shoot 225grn Hornady Interlocks in my 338-08 and 338-06.

The 338-06 will average 2600+fps with N160 and deliver consistent moa groups.

The 338-08 with 45grains of W748 or WC867 will give me 2400fps out of a 19.5 in bbl/98 Mauser receiver.

I really like this well balanced little rifle, with its double set triggers. It's one of the best tree stand rifles I've ever used.

Just heavy enough to absorb recoil, weatherproof stock, very maneauverable, while sitting in the stand and short enough not to hang up on branches. Accuracy is right around 1.5 moa, consistently at 100yds.

A fellow I lend this rifle to has a rather unimaginative nick name for it. He's an old Norwegian, so calls it Odin's Hammer.

Not hardly but I will admit, second shots are only required when the shooter doesn't do their part.

Felt recoil is about the same as that in a 308Win Mod 70 FWT.

 

[dgradinaru]

Got out to chronograph the load. 3 Shots averaged 2520 FPS. Somewhat low but at the end of the day it'll do for a low recoiling practice load.

 

[Eagleye]

I am sitting on a number of 8mm bullets, starting at the 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip,
and Nosler 180 grain E-Tip, plus quite a good supply of Remington 185 Cor-Lokts.

196 grain Norma Dual-Cores, 196 grain Norma Alaska, 196 grain Norma Oryx, 200 grain
Speer Hot Cores, 200 grain Nosler Partitions, 200 Grain Nosler Accubonds, 220 grain
Sierra Game Kings, and 220 grain Hornady Interlocks. [Plenty of the latter]

For the 8mm Remington Magnum only: 200 and 220 grain Swift A-Frames.

I am feeding 3 - 8mm Rifles at present. A 8x57JS, a 325 WSM, and an 8mm Remington
Magnum. The 8x57 will drive 196/200 grain bullets to over 2600 fps. The WSM to just
over 2900, and the big 8 will drive the 220 A-Frame to almost 3100, using Reloder 26.

I like the 8mm rifles, too bad bullets can be a problem at times. Dave.

 

[bearhunter]

The only reason I finally settled on the 338-06 as an all around Moose/Elk rifle was because good 8mm bullets have always been difficult to find.

I really like Norma offerings and a few other European offerings but they've always been horrendously expensive, when compared to their North American counterparts. They're also very hard to find in any quantity over a couple of hundred.

I had a 8mm/06 and loved it. Sold it for the above reason.

I never took a shine to the 8mm Rem Mag or the 325WSM, only because I'm recoil shy. I'm using my 338-06 rifles less and less as I age. They seem to be gaining weight from so much time sitting in the safe?

Now, I'm mostly using the 6.5x55 and 8x57js. They work very well, if I do my part.

I gave my step son a lovely custom 7x57 tonight. He's drooled over it since I built it a couple of years ago. I haven't used it for almost 2 years now, so now is the time for him to have it, while he can still enjoy it.

I have always liked the 8mm cartridges.

I hunted for two years with a French 1886 carbine, chambered for the 8x50r Lebel. I also used one of those very accurate and handy three shot, 1915 St Etienne Turkish Forestry Carbines. It's a great little cartridge and every bit as capable as the 8x57js, under most circumstances.

I like the 8mm Kropatschek as well, but the rifle I shoot likes cast lead bullets much better than jacketed. Not sure why.

If you have decent bullets in an accurate rifle, the 8mm is pretty hard to beat on North American big game, when it comes to medium size cases, with relatively low recoil.

IMHO, it has to be hand loaded in the 8x50r and 8x57js to get the best performance out of the bullets.

North American manufacturers don't spend much time or money on making good ammunition for the 8x57js. Some European manufacturers, such as Rottweil and Norma make some good hunting ammo, but it was overly expensive, even before the shortages, seldom seen and difficult to order.

Eagleye's situation pretty much mirrors my own ventures with 8mm cartridges.

I even went so far as to neck up the 308Win to 8mm, using a neck and throat reamer. Performance was quite good, almost the equal of the 8x57.

32 winchester special is an odd ball 8mm, but it's a great cartridge, performing well above the 30-30Win IMHO.

The .321 diameter bullets are literally unobtanium but I've always shot the .323 diameter bullets through the rifles I loaded for, without incident.

 

[bearhunter]

Got out to chronograph the load. 3 Shots averaged 2520 FPS. Somewhat low but at the end of the day it'll do for a low recoiling practice load.

I wouldn't feel the least bit undergunned with that velocity with those excellent bullets.

You could try a slightly slower powder, if you feel the urge to pick up another 50-100fps, such as H414/W760, W748 or Varget.

These powders are slower and less bulky than IMR3031, they require a magnum primer for proper ignition.

 

[Philthy1]

I've done the exact same load. Works great for me too. I'm a big fan of the D 4064

 

[tony d]

I have a fair amount of that powder may have to give it a go anyone tried the 170 SST on game ? I know that I have been using the 180 ballistic tip and it is a lot and it is tougher than most ballistic tips