8mm cast bullets

[joshlm]

I am interested in loading some cast bullets for a mauser with a .323 bore. I buy most of my pistol bullets from penn bullets and was wondering if their 170gr flat point in .323 would work for this application. Also since the bullet is not gas checked how fast could it be pushed before running into problems with leading? Thanks

 

[joshlm]

anyone?

 

[roo_ster]

joshlm:

You're not getting any love on this question...one I was interested in since I own a Yugo M48.

Not enough of a critical mass of reloaders here for your question. Hence, the lack of responses.

Try a couple of other reloader-heavy fora:
http://forums.handloads.com/
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/index.php
http://www.shootersforum.com/

Good luck.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know the velocity but I have shot Laser Cast 165 grain plainbase over 7 to 12 grains of 700X in .30-06 and done pretty well.

That Penn would be about right for light loads in 8mm, although it is probably a .32-40 design.

If you want a lot of power, relatively speaking, out of cast rifle bullets, I think you are going to have to cast your own, with hard or heat treated metal, gas checks, and a lot of attention to sizing and lubricating.

 

[dfaugh]

Tried this

with some 170 grn gas-checked bullets, using a load from a manual that gave 2100-2300 fps....Dismal Failure...Couldn't consistantly hit the backer (24") board at 25 yards! and the ones that hit keyholed. So we surmissed that the bullets were soft (althought the wasn't much lead in the bore) and were stripping the rifling. So, make sure bullets are fairly hard, and don't try very hot loads (most other cast loads we found were 1600-1800 fps. YMMV

 

[sundog]

I use the Lee 175 grainer in my K98. Boolits are run thru a .325 die, so they are being shot 'as cast' at about .324. Velocity is kept to about 1600 and they hit paper cleanly at 100 yards. I've also used the RCBS 32-170-FN, but I 'beagled' the mould to drop a larger boolit. It works also. sundog

 

[joshlm]

thanks guys for the help. I may just get a couple of sample bullets to try before I buy in bulk. Thanks also for the suggested web sights I will take a look at them.