Novice Reloader - IMR 7828 and 8mm Mauser

IMR7828 is magnum rifle powder. Has to do with the burn rate. Partial to IMR4064 for 8mm Mauser sized cartridges myself. Good stuff for a lot of cartridges.
Hodgdon's site gives 200 grain data. That's close enough. 5 grains won't matter.
Avoid buying components on-line. The shipping costs will hurt and negate any cost savings.
 
sunray said:
IMR7828 is magnum rifle powder. Has to do with the burn rate. Partial to IMR4064 for 8mm Mauser sized cartridges myself. Good stuff for a lot of cartridges.
Hodgdon's site gives 200 grain data. That's close enough. 5 grains won't matter.
Avoid buying components on-line. The shipping costs will hurt and negate any cost savings.
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I have seen lots of positive comments on the IMR4064 recipes, mostly the 175grain bullets. I have to admit that the making your own is more about the challenge of do-it-yourself than the savings. Safety is key here like anything to do with this sport but I feel I have only chipped at the tip of the iceberg.

I will head out to the range tomorrow or Saturday to see where my current settings take me. I have seen lots of people that seem to her their bits online but out here there seems to be plenty of local choices available. I recently got introduced to John Pullens shop and he has an excellent setup.

I don't mind plugging Island a Outfitters here. They run an excellent store with people that know their stuff. Some exceptions, but overall excellent. They can be pricier on some things but for a small operation I suppose they have to. They put me on the right track with reloading and had the powder I wanted, the IMR4064. When I'm done with the Hodgdons I will try the IMR4064.
 
As a side comment, found commercial Remington 8mm ammo in a store here in Whitehorse... but $45.00 for a box of 20... Thanks but no thanks. Have to look into reloading equipment for back home.


Knotking we shall see what happens when Cabelas opens their new store... Can't wait to go inside and see their stock!!!
 
teenahlake said:
what else do you reload for, find something that will do double duty
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You have a good point there. One I'm confident on the 8mm mauser I will look into the 30-06 conversion as well as 9mm. Thank you to DR1953 for the Lee Enfield as that will give me another direction on reloads.

Definitely a can of worms. I love this sport, plenty to learn and this forum sure helps.
 
I have heard that 30-06 can be resized for 8mn mauser as well so maybe there is a link.

On a good note, I shot my first full load of 20 rounds.
First run of 5 rounds was a test. Thus one went well, same load out as per above. I'm keeping track of how it shoots and I see a definite difference. I don't have a chronometer so I can't say for sure. Where I would normally hit the target slightly high and to the right it is now lower and to the right. AKA a in the 430 position.

I made another batch at 40.7 vice 40.5 and I will try it tomorrow.

Love it.

I am using two types of brass, federal and J&B? S&B? Yellow box anyway. This batch is the Federal case and I notice the Lee number 2 shell holder doesn't like the S&B, only fits my Federal brass. I went and got the equivalent in RCS and it fits fine. Interesting.
 
Seller and Bellot. Czech. It's good brass in my experience. 8 mm mauser cases can be made from 30-06, but in my opinion, that's more trouble than it's worth. You have to cut the case down, size the neck, then turn off the excess metal. It's fairly involved from what I hear. I haven't done it myself.

Do you have a set of calipers?? check the seating depth. That can cause the difference in shot placement. Also, it's possible that mixing s&b and federal brass could be causing the difference. Euro spec brass is much different from american made brass... Europeans load this round much hotter than the americans do.
 
Seller & Bellot, the writing throws me. It's $35 a box, taxes in, hence the desire to reload.

Resizing a 30-06 is far down on the to-do list but I'd like to try it. Yes, I have a set, two, of calipers. Essential in order to check that the C.O.L. Is what it should be. In my case it should be 2.994" as per that a Hornady guide.

So far so good though, the action is not tough to cycle when removing the casing, I've examined the casings and done see evidence of improper head space or excessive pressure or carbon around the neck.

I mentioned it on another novice loaders post but I repeat it here, fresh quality batteries on the scale. I was getting conflicting measurements when I used the batteries the scale came with or sometimes rechargeables.

Once I get this down I will get a die set for 9mm and Lee Enfield (303?/308?).
 
I re-read what you wrote on that, "In guns like the 8mm wartime mauser, it seems that the best accuracy can be found near the max load...."

I went out today with my box of 20 reloads at the 100 yd range. 4/20 MIA but the rest within a 12" grouping. I am going to point this to my own bad habits and realize I have a long way to go. I haven't used a rifle like this since my younger days in the navy using the FN C1. My cheek is a bit sore from some of the wrong ways I have gripped but I am improving. This goes right into my desire and aim in this sport, to work out the bad habits of the many years of "hurry up and get the rounds down range, clean up and go home" that all my refresher shoots became.

I tried a reload as per above using federal cartridges, federal 215 primer, H4895 at 40.7 grain, Hornady 195 gr sp and I hesitate to say that's the best but it's not bad. It's not that far from the top of the neck of the casing but there is room for more so I may up it to 41 but not right now. I'm going to keep it within 40.5-40.7ish until I get a bit more consistent with the environmental and human factors. It was damn hot and noisy out today so I could've done better.

I am simply just happy I am consistent and safe with my reloads. As they say it's just the beginning but I'm copying the notes here into my reload log for later. I keep all my settings and where the rounds land in Hubert as well as costs. I will take a picture of one of the casings and get an opinion on if there is anything I am missing ie headspace, carbon blow back etc. Be gentle :)
 
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