[Personal Defense Systems]

Am building a ZB39 machine gun - and it shoots 8x56R...so looking for source for cheap surplus...1938 stuff still shoots fine but AIM is all out...

Thanks!

[Cosmoline]

There's a limited supply locally. The pre-WWII Austrian stuff is running out everywhere from all I've heard. Getting harder to find at gunshows, too. And unlike 8x57JS and others, there weren't many third world nations using the Mannlicher straight pulls.

It's a shame, since the carbines are short, fast and very potent. I've got one as a project gun to mount a red dot sight on if and when there's ever good SP ammo for it. It's a very nice gun for carrying on hikes.

[0007]

I think Graf and Sons has boxer type brass for the 8X56R. Check their website.

[Cosmoline]

Bullets for this cartridge are BIZARRE, too. IIRC bores run between .328" and .334", with .329" being standard. You can find pulled bullets around, but for good hunting ammo you might need a custom order or maybe trim down a larger bullet. Standard 8mm bullets are way too small.