8x57mm J Loads

[jdh1946]

I have a nice vintage C G Haenel sporter rifle based on a 1888 Commission rifle action. It has a .318 bore and I need a good light to medium hand load for whitetail deer using 200gr Woodleigh bullets. The rifle is in excellent shape and probably dates from early 1900's. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Edarnold]

For a starting point, the .30-40 Krag with pressures around 40,000 psi uses 34gr of IMR 3031 behind a 200gr soft point for about 2100fps ( in a 30" barrel )
The data for the 8x57J that I found looks hot, based no doubt on the assumption that the rifle would be on a M98 action. Factory loads with a 196gr bullet are listed at 2400fps, which suggests pressures higher than 'medium'.
Another round with about the same capacity is the 8x56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, which uses 40gr of 3031 behind a 200gr SP for 2050fps. I'd guess that would be your top end, and would certainly be an effective white-tail load at realistic range. Unless your local deer are the Kevlar armored mutants that need a .300 WinMag, as some hunters suggest...

 

[itsa pain]

I have a nice vintage C G Haenel sporter rifle based on a 1888 Commission rifle action. It has a .318 bore and I need a good light to medium hand load for whitetail deer using 200gr Woodleigh bullets. The rifle is in excellent shape and probably dates from early 1900's. Any help is greatly appreciated!

JD that must be a beautiful rifle. varget powder shot very good in my 8x57 S which can be loaded hotter. try 40 grains of varget with that bullet and post results