8mm Surplus drying up?

Status
Not open for further replies.
JonB

JonB

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
968
Location
Tampa
Looks like 8mm Mauser is starting to disappear. I have a spreadsheet that I use to track 7.62x54R and 8mm prices and while updating it, it looks like 8mm is getting scarce. I just ordered another 900 rds which gives me around 3k total - plenty for me considering I make it through about 25 rds before my should says no more.

7.62x54R is still plentiful and cheap.

Since I am new to surplus rifles, this may be a normal flux in supplies and all the usual places are just waiting on new lots to arrive. No idea. I read on another forum that US customs is starting to burn the wood crates the surplus ammo comes in which requires dealers to repack it. Might add time to how long it takes to hit the shelves.
 
Nobody is making quantities of 8mm anymore. There may well be millions of rounds still available, but even now it is only 10 cents a round. No real good reason to wait.
 
Only reason I did not buy an 8mm Mauser today is the fact that the ammo is about $2 a round here in Europe.... :(:(
 
Initially, I was going to get into military surplus starting with 8mm guns. After more 'research', I went with .30-06 instead, because I saw supplies of 8mm vanish and prices go up (Ammoman was who I used as a guideline, his 50's Yugo doubled in price in a short time). I also like the Garand WAY more than the Mauser (it's all about the sights).

After that, suppliers replenished their stocks and sold 8mm at slightly higher prices--no big deal. Ammoman was a different story, he turned out to be a poor choice to use as a litmus test of the ammo market. It's good that you're checking multiple sources.

It sounds like you have plenty of ammunition, anyway. The internet (and this forum) does a lot to promote ammo hoarding, which in turn does a lot to diminish supply and encourage price hikes, which encourages more ammo hoarding, and so on.
 
Is 8mm even being made? At all!?!? Every nation today either uses NATO or Soviet munitions. Even some rogue states use NATO munitions.

If the old school rounds like 303, 30-06, etc. surplus is hardly seen today then 8mm should be or eventually will be never seen again.
 
Why would they be doing this?
Click to expand...

My guess is to prevent the spread of those Asian wood-boring beetles that are killing trees in some parts of the U.S.
 
8mm is already not a hoardable round. too expensive.

the only hoardable rounds right now are 7.62x54R and 7.62x25 TOK.

those are VERY affordable, VERY accurate, and will keep for at least 20 more years abecause they use corrosive primers made in the 70s or 80s.
 
The days of $3- 70rd bandoliers of turk 8mm ammo are long gone.

I haven't shot anything but handloads in my 8m for the last 3 years or so.
 
im heading to the funshow tommorow. il check prices, whats the average price now? (il adjust for MA market)
 
Where did you buy your 1k of 8mm, and how much? I need to get some for my Mauser, as I have none at the moment.
 
Check cheaper than dirt - although they may be out now too. I got a case of 1200 from them. Nice shooting stuff on stripper clips.

Other places: KYimports - they had Yugo stuff in last I looked.

Widener's has some in stock - $33 for 300 rds. Not a bad deal, but shipping might be high depending on where you live.

AmmunitionToGo.com had Romanian stuff in stock last I looked as well.
 
300 for 30$? that seems about Par with 7.62X54r
Click to expand...

Pretty close - within a few pennies per round if you shop around for the 7.62x54r.
 
US customs is starting to burn the wood crates the surplus ammo comes in...
Click to expand...

My guess is to prevent the spread of those Asian wood-boring beetles that are killing trees in some parts of the U.S.
Click to expand...

Is it stupid for me to have wood ammo crates in the house?
Should I get rid of the wood ammo crates?
 
i have only word for all of you.


RELOAD.

whenever you fire those cases. what do you do throw away the brass. You can clean those up. deprime neck size. reprime fill with powder. press in a bullet, crimp and your good to go. If you all know the ammo is gettin scarce. then save the brass. go to the reloading section of this forum. then learn how to reload. its a lot easier than you think. Same time you will be saving a lot of money. Cant find the bullets. Then you get bullet molds. Cast your own bullets, size and lube them then pres them.

need to see how easy reloading is. let me attach a link for you all to watch using a hand held lee classic loader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctwbQgjjLo
 
Isn't most surplus ammo Berdan primed? Ie not reloadable? (at lest not without great effort and good luck finding Berdan primers....)
 
Isn't most surplus ammo Berdan primed
Click to expand...

Yes, much imported surplus is Berdan. Scrat, I'd like to see your cost for reloading Berdan primed brass. 10 cents a round is tough to beat, even if you've already got the brass.

Me, sadly, I've got more money than time.... :(
 
Isn't most surplus ammo Berdan primed? Ie not reloadable? (at lest not without great effort and good luck finding Berdan primers....)
Click to expand...

Even berdan primed cases can be reloaded. only difference is the depriming tool. However if cases ie ammo is running low id reload. As far as the reloading bill. Its actually a lot cheaper and more effective reloading than buying new or mil surplus.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Any places have both 7.62x54r and 8mm surplus still?
Replies
6
Views
513
weaselchew
W
M
  • Locked
Yugo 24/47 Mauser -8mm
Replies
23
Views
3K
ThomasT
ThomasT
G
  • Locked
wheres the ammo?
Replies
1
Views
452
jagdpanzer347
J
N
  • Locked
Whats your oldest dated surplus ammo
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
762gunr
7
A
  • Locked
WWII Mauser 98K versus WWII M1 Carbine
Replies
21
Views
2K
courtgreene
courtgreene
Back
Top