Anyone load 8mm Mauser Match Ammo?

[Lovesbeer99]

I'm pretty sure there are a few people who use a match rifle in 8mm, but not too many. Any way I see that speer makes a 200 grain BT Match bullet but I don't have a speer manual and I can't find load data for this bullet any where else.

Does anyone use this bullet or any other 8x57 match bullet with any success?

Thanks in advance.
Lovesbeer99

 

[GooseGestapo]

No one else has answered, so maybe I can help.

I don't, and haven't, loaded for the 8mm, but have other very similar calibers. I too, have read quite a bit about the 8mm through the years so perhaps I can steer you in the right direction.

My Nosler #4 lists data for their 200gr Partition. The data should be applicable to the 200gr match bullet, however, downrange trajectory should favor the 200gr match.

They list 52.0gr of IMR4350 at 2,698fps as most accurate, and maximum load. Due to past experience with 30/06, .257Roberts, and 7x57Mauser, and .308, I'd say that sounds about right.

For something different, try either IMR4064, or Varget at 46.0gr, as well as RL-15. (Maximum, approach with caution). Start at 42-43gr and work up.

This data was developed in a Lilja 24" barrel with a minimum spec. chamber, so your barrel may be a bit looser, and capable of higher powder charges to approach this data. Also, if loading for an older military 8mm, I drop the charges perhaps 15% to start off.

The Speer #12 lists H380 as the fastest powder in their tests, at 52.0g for 2,479 from a M98 VZ24, evidently a surplus rifle and barrel. Velocities were a bit lower and charges a tad higher than the Nosler data.

My limited hunting experience with the 8mm is that it is an outstanding cartridge and has simply been overlooked due to it's Metric origin, and having been used by the "other side" during WWII.

Hope this helped.

 

[David Wile]

Hey Lovesbeer,

My Lyman #47 manual has data for a 220 grain spire point jacketed bullet in the 8mm, and since you are planning on using a 200 grain bullet, there should not be any problem using the data from a 220 grain bullet as long as you start low and work your way up as usual. As Goose said earlier, your match bullet should fly a lot better than a regular spire point, and the match bullets are usually much closer to their stated weight than regular jacketed bullets. I suspect the closer tolerance on match bullet weights has more to do with their superior performance than anything else about them.

The Lyman manual starting and max data for the 220 grain bullet is as follows:

IMR 3031 33.4 & 38
IMR 4064 36 & 41
IMR 4895 34.3 & 39
IMR 4320 36.1 & 41
H-380 36.9 & 42
760 39.6 & 45
IMR 4350 39.6 & 45 (compressed load with 220 gr bullet)

I know the above loads are less than what Goose quoted, but the loads I quoted are for a 220 grain bullet. I would think you could start somewhere in the middle of these loads and work your way up and past the max loadings for the 220 grain bullet. Since you are asking about match bullets, I assume your intention is to find the loading that results in the tightest grouping. If that is the case, you are likely to find the tightest groups somewhere below the hottest loadings, and often you will find your tightest group at or below medium loadings.

Take your time working up new loads and have fun.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[Sunray]

The only 200 grain Speer bullet has on their site is a spitzer SP. No Hornady A-Max 8mm either. Sierra makes a 200 grain Matchking though.
Hodgdon's site has lots of 200 grain jacketed 8mm bullet loads. Load for the bulet weight. Who made it doesn't matter. I'd lean towards IMR4064 or Varget.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

Thanks for the responses. Sunray, you are correct about speer vs sierra. I must have mixed them up. To clarify, I plan mostly to punch paper and I'd like it to be as accurate as I can get. I'm not convinced it will help since I'm not using a match gun or barrel, I'm actually using a surply 24/47 that's pretty beat up, but with Sierra 150 hunting bullets and 38 gr or IMR4895, I can keep very respectable groups from the bench at 100 yards with iron sights. I'm looking to rechamber this rifle but thought I'd play with some match grade 8's to see what happens. From what I've read, I agree with GooseGestapo and the 8 is under appreciated, but a good performer.

Side note- some load data is based on the reduced load of the 8x57 that is really no better than a 30.30, like the lee manual. But the speer #14 states that the data is based on Europeon standards and the K98 platform so it exceeds the saami pressures by a lot. My load stated above is kind of in between. It's groups well with a little less kick.


I was mostly looking to see if anyone actully completed with an 8. I guess not. How accurate are these rounds?

 

[Clark]

Someone died and his son in law sold me a 2 pound coffee can of 200 gr Sierra Match Kings for the 8mm.

I have shot a 1" 5 shot group at 100 meters with a $50 1903 Turkish Mauser from BIG5.

It was jammed into the lands, 40X scope, and ~ 2600 fps

 

[Afy]

I won a match shooting 196 grain sierra's over 42 gr TU 5000 at 100 meters, for what its worth. But that was with a Vz24 in 8x60.

 

[NCsmitty]

I'm sure some of you are aware of the 8MM data from the realguns.com site. It's full power stuff, just start back by 10%.
http://www.realguns.com/loads/8x57mmjs.htm

NCsmitty

 

[280shooter]

I shoot 8mm alot.And anythng heavier then 150 gr,really are for the likes of 8mm Mag,
I have cz,44 and the rate of twist for that will shoot 150 gr alot better,then the 200 gr.Yes I know you have a box of 200 gr,bullets,
But I tried the 170s and 200.but My rifle likes the 250s,
Heres what I have found that works well for me,First off,my rifle is a custom built with the mil.barrel re worked,

I use IMR 4320,52 gr,
now that works well in my rifle.

once you load up al them 200 gr, give that load a try,