Marstar's "Reloaders Special" - a Pictorial Essay

[Andy]

I've been buying Marstar's 8x63mm "Reloader's Special" for more than three years, and there must be more than me and a couple of other guys I know who do the same. I've not only used the components (powder, bullets and scrap brass), but have rechambered a mauser to the round and shot it - a lot. I went so far as to record my findings on a website that some of you have visited at http://www.8x63swedish.pridham.ca/

The ammo is all 60+ years old and has evidently been stored under excellent conditions. The ammo comes on belts in (very fragile) cardboard cartons of 250, seven of which (1750 rounds) are stored hermetically sealed in a "sardine can" within a wooden box. The wooden box weighs a stated 76 Kg and I believe it.

I have used many pounds of the powder, a bunch of the bullets, and have accumulated quite a bit of brass, whose value has risen to the $1/lb level. All primers have gone "boom", but I have seen about 5% brass loss due to cracked necks - normal for old brass. The powder is miltary flake with a burn rate that seems to be between Varget and H380 (about IMR 4320) and I use it extensively in milsurp loads. The bullets are cupro-nickel plated, weigh about 218 grs and are very aerodynamic.

I am fortunate to live only an hour away from Marstar and have been able to make an appointment to pick it up, saving a great deal on shipping. At the same time they graciously allowed me to take the pics of the sealed crate.

There is not much point in replicating the website, but I do include a few pics that show how the stuff is packaged.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

Thanks for posting this, it was fun just to look at it. I've always wondered who bought this stuff

 

[dangertree]

That rifle you have chambered for it. Is it possible to extend a 98 chamber for the 63. Much more to it than that?

I've looked at this ammo at well, really should order some.

 

[ElmerFudd]

Andy, I found the web site to be quite an interesting read. Interesting how much value brass had back during the war. I can just hear the sergeant teaching them "After you shoot the enemy be sure to clean up your brass."

I wonder what Canada Post would charge to ship 76Kg to the West coast!? Ouch...

I was wondering who would be buying this stuff from Marstar when I first saw it there. Now I know!


Fudd

 

[Andy]

1. The 8x63mm Swedish will work quite nicely in any Standard-length M98 action. You will need to acquire the correct reamer (I recommend Pacific Tool and Gauge), and will need to extend the mag length to 3.35"+ unless you are content with single-shot (the ammo is that long).

2. You can't ship ammo by Canada Post. Marstar strips it down to the ammo inside the cardboard cartons inside a sturdy box, and will ship it as inexpensively as possible - but expect the shipping to cost almost as much as the ammo.

 

[Silverback]

A friend of mine just bought two cases of this ammo and he told me that it cost him about $300.00 delivered to his door in Alberta. He is also getting a rifle rechamered to 8X63mm so it should be interesting to see how it is to shoot.

 

[desporterizer]

Everytime I call to see if they have any, they say they are out of stock.

 

[Andy]

They are not out of stock, but until a few weeks ago their stock was inaccessible behind some other ammo. I believe now that they have plenty on belts, but none "belt-free". It was all belted ammo when they got it, and it is a laborious process to remove it (I know, I've done it).