8X57 load for 20" barrel... deer/elk load

[lefteyedom]

I am cutting the 8x57 Mauser barrel down to 20". (GEW 98 bubba truck gunwith a fixed 4x scope)

Would like it to reach out to say 350-400 yards deer, elk, coyote... Wyoming truck gun load

Any suggestions on what would be an ideal load? Bullet/powder/charge?

 

[Edarnold]

The Sierra 175gr. Spitzer always did well in my 8mm's, should do well on the class of game you mention. Powder for a 20" barrel should be faster rather than slower, I used H380, don't know if it's even available anymore. I would think Varget or 4320 should get you about 2600 fps which should get the job done if can judge the range.
IMHO

 

[j. rap.]

I personally like bullets in the 150 grain range and 180 grain. I would recommend nosler ballistic hunting tips.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd load for a 20 inch barrel just like I load for a 24 inch barrel, faster powders for shorter barrels is a wild goose chase.

350-400 yards is outside MY effective range on anything but artificial targets that I can't wound.

 

[Steve C]

Really, one bullet for coyotes that weigh around 30 lbs, deer at 150 lbs and Elk at 500 to 700 lbs.? You want to shoot all of them at ranges up to 400 yds.! Assuming you have a good barrel and re crowned the muzzle properly the bullet weight selection with Elk on your list pretty much makes a heavier 170 to 200gr bullet the choice.

You can buy Hornady 125gr Spitzers for varmints and push 'em to 3,000 fps for flat shooting long distance but deer needs a bit heavier and elk is a large animal and is better shot with a deeper penetrating heavy bullet.

Personally I'd forget about 1 bullet and use 125's for the Coyotes which is likely the only thing you will hun 11 mongth out of the year and put together a heavier bullet load for the deer and elk season and resight the scope in. Just record your changes in settings and change them back to the lighter bullet after season.

Heavy bullets driven hard kick like a mule and are more expensive than lighter weight for varmints.

As for powders I've used W748, IMR4064, and AA223.

 

[WYOMan]

My elk / deer load : 200 grain Nosler Accubond over 49.2 grains of Vihtavouri N150. That is the MAX listed charge so you need to work up to it. Chronographed at 2503 fps average out of a 24 in. original military barrel.

 

[lefteyedom]

Truck Gun.Purpose

The primary purpose of a "truck gun" is to be available 24/7. They are never really meant to be the primary hunting rifle. A truck guns second value is it's reliability as a understudy should the primary rifle fail. It should be a little too heavy for Coyotes yet powerful enough for Elk.


I am a member of the one bullet weight per gun club. ( Of course I have 1/2 dozen "hunting" rifles). I have found that most rifles shoot one load better than all others. Once that load is found it becomes "that" rifle's load. 225grn in a 338 Win mag, 139grn in 7-08, 105 in 25-06, still working on the 223...


Coyotes do not care whether they sub-come to a 125 gr or a 200 gr bullet but, Wyoming's winds demand a heavier bullet. It is not hard to break out the range finder and in dial the range. It is not so easy to judge the wind. For that reason I am inclined to go with the 175-200 gr bullets.

Thank folks for the suggestions...WyoMan I think I am going to try your load.... If it works in Buffalo it should work in Cheyenne !

 

[lefteyedom]

Nosler 200gr load page

FIY... Nosler load data
http://www.nosler.com/Reloading-Data/8x57-JS-Mauser-200-Grains.aspx

 

[helotaxi]

Coyotes do not care whether they sub-come to a 125 gr or a 200 gr bullet but, Wyoming's winds demand a heavier bullet. It is not hard to break out the range finder and in dial the range. It is not so easy to judge the wind. For that reason I am inclined to go with the 175-200 gr bullets.

Bullet weight isn't the determining factor on wind drift. Ballistic coefficient and velocity are all that matters. Assuming the same bullet weight and velocity, the bullet with the higher BC drifts less in the wind. If you look at a ballistics program and run wind drift numbers for a particular bullet and then change the bullet weight in the program and nothing else, the trajectory, both drift and drop, will remain completely unchanged.

 

[WYOMan]

lefteyedom; Nosler lists 49.5 as MAX, VV lists 49.2. VV's MAX was the most accurate load that I tried. I also used the COAL listed from VV's data.