8mm mauser ammo

As a general rule, don't buy surplus 8mm. Practically all of it is well past its shelf life and will give you unpredictable results, ranging from failure to fire to squibs. And it's all corrosive (not a problem with a bolt action, though; just boresnake it with solvent). There's very, very few surplus options worth even considering. However, another member recently found this. This is pretty much the only good surplus left:

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8435&dir=18|830|854

Unfortunately, the sources I normally use, AIM Surplus and AmmoToGo, are also out of 8mm right now. However, I expect it will be back in stock soon. I ordered some just a few months ago. ATG doesn't require you submit proof of age, and you can legally purchase it as long as you're 18.

I recommend PRVI Partizan. Reasonably priced, and good-quality ammo.

I recommend PRVI Partizan. Reasonably priced, and good-quality ammo.

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+1 here. PRVI is some pretty good stuff and the brass is pretty decent if you plan on reloading it.

I have shot hundreds of rounds of Yugoslavian '50s and '60s 8x57 surplus. It is surprisingly accurate thanks to the heavier 198gr projectile. The only issue with Yugo surplus is the deeply recessed primers. Oftentimes, mainsprings are worn from repeated compression and expansion, and lose some of their potential to store energy. This results in a light primer strike, which isn't enough to collapse the primer cup and set it off. The solution is to get a stronger replacement spring (I use a Wolff 22# mainspring) It fires all the Yugo ammo without fail. I have yet to have a Yugo cartridge that has failed to fire, hangfired, or shown signs of excessive pressure. The only really bad surplus 8x57mm is that Iranian/Persian stuff that none of the importers can get rid of; don't waste your money on it.

Before having a Wolff spring installed some of the Yugo ammo needed a second primer strike.
Since that change, every round of both Yugo and Czech ammo has been 100% on the first strike.

Somebody mentioned that there is unsafe surplus, but the only surplus I found (Internet) back in '09-'10 was excellent Czech and Yugo.
Maybe some private sellers did not know how to store it.

It has been my habit since '09 to first buy ammo, then look for the gun.
For many people, this has helped them avoid the recent 'troubles'.

I've shot tons of the '50s and '60s Yugo and concur on the hard/deep primers. It shoots quite well, especially after changing out the firing pin spring. The Yugo M75 Sniper surplus is awesome. I need to get more of it. Avoid the Persian surplus (both 8x57 and 30-06) like the plague that it is. Haven't heard much good about it. I started out with Czech surplus, but it was mixed headstamp and somewhat inconsistent.

I started reloading when the Yugo started drying up, so hopefully I'll be ok for a while. The brass on the M75 looks great (late '90s production) and I may have to try my hand at berdan reloading before too long.

Matt

ldlfh7 said:

+1 here. PRVI is some pretty good stuff and the brass is pretty decent if you plan on reloading it.

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+2. Best you can get, and the brass is awesome.

Something important to know. See the groove on the rear of the cocking piece in the pic below?



If you suffer a misfire, rather than lifting the bolt to cock the rifle in order to try a 2nd time, use the rim of a cartridge or empty case in this groove to recock the piece. MUCH safer.

Enjoy!

I'll sell you, tomg303, a few hundred rounds of nice Yugo 8mm surplus (I've fired a few hundred, shoots great) to tide you over. I'll do 55 cents per round delivered (which makes it more like 45 cents per round, considering shipping). Ive been in your boat, I'm currently looking for some normal priced 22-250...Anyway, just pm me and let me know.

I ended up reloading to get regular supply

Yup. Reloading gets you first quality ammo.

I anneal 270 and 30-06 cases a little farther down toward the web, form them to 8x57, and trim them. Those cases are easier to get, and cheaper.

You do have to look around to get loads that use the full potential of the 8x57.