Zoer
Member
I am curious how many 8x57 fans are out there and what's your favorite hand load? Mine is a 200 grain nosler partition stoked by 46.0 of 4064 for Elk or Bear or a 160 barnes with 49.0 grains of 4064 for deer.
Favorite 8x57 loads
- Thread starter Zoer
- Start date
- Status
DM~
Member
I use 200NP's for everything...
I've taken moose, and bear on down to smaller big game with that bullet, and I'm convinced it's the best all around bullet for the 8x57...
I shot two white tails with it a few weeks ago...
DM
I've taken moose, and bear on down to smaller big game with that bullet, and I'm convinced it's the best all around bullet for the 8x57...
I shot two white tails with it a few weeks ago...
DM
troy fairweather
Member
mustanger98
Member
It's been a few years since I did anything with 8x57... I took a box of Hornady .323" 170gr RN and loaded enough IMR 3031 to run it 2500fps by Hornady's 5th Edition manual. Figured that oughta be good for deer. Across the bench, the first five rounds busted clay birds at 100yds. Recoil was quite mild. I called it good. Never got around to actually hunting with it though.
courtgreene
Member
While not my most accurate, my vz24 is hands down my favorite rifle. It likes Barnes ttsx over imr4895. I get good enough groups to hunt with, not stellar, but that’s not really the point of the gun.
The cartridge itself is about perfect (IMO). It has always done its job. Most run a little, but never very far. I kick myself sometimes for scoping it, but I just can’t see the sights well in low light where most hunting is done. I saved the sights so I could fix that if I ever wanted but then I wouldn’t take it hunting as often.
The cartridge itself is about perfect (IMO). It has always done its job. Most run a little, but never very far. I kick myself sometimes for scoping it, but I just can’t see the sights well in low light where most hunting is done. I saved the sights so I could fix that if I ever wanted but then I wouldn’t take it hunting as often.
I haven't reloaded for it but S&B's 196gr 'cutted' softpoint is the most accurate ammo I've shot out of my Brno 98k.
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
DM what kind of expansion are you getting with deer with 200 NP? I shot a smaller mule deer buck some years ago with the 200 np and it ran good ways , fortunately it was easy to track on snow .. the shot was center mass but the expansion wasn't very good so I quit using that bullet on deer . I haven't had a deer go very far with 160 ttsx and the all copper bullets don't leave lead in the meat the same way the 150 Hornady/sierra bullets did .
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
Dr Rob have you hunted with 196 S&B? ,, that is a very interesting looking bullet
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
Troy those are some nice looking rifles ,, agreed the full charge loads are punishing in 7 pound or less mausers
DM~
Member
Here's the only NP I've ever recovered, it was out of a big whitetail,
One of the NP's didn't exit out of a deer I shot this fall, but I didn't dig for it, in every case, there's a LOT of internal damage...
Generally, the deer run from 30 to 100 yards, just like they do when I shoot them with anything else, with the same type of hit.
DM
One of the NP's didn't exit out of a deer I shot this fall, but I didn't dig for it, in every case, there's a LOT of internal damage...
Generally, the deer run from 30 to 100 yards, just like they do when I shoot them with anything else, with the same type of hit.
DM
No, sadly all I've shot is paper and pop cans.
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
LRDGCO
member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2018
- Messages
- 689
I have done extensive testing for the 8x57JS in a M49 Persian Mauser. That 18.5" barrel raises specific issues.
I have used the S&B 196 grs SPCE, which uses a modified Brenekke TUG type bullet the "Soft Point, Cutting Edge" (though flat based I believe), and it is excellent ammunition. It made a big hole and a mess of lungs and heart exiting the other side, in the one deer I shot with it.
For reloading, I favor the Hornady 195 grs Interlock SP. Over 47.3 grs of Varget, it delivers 2,430 fps, less than 100 fps off the listed velocity in Hodgdon with a 24" test barrel. I tested H4895, H4350, IMR 8208 XBR, and IMR 4064 with this bullet and Varget delivered the best combination of accuracy and velocity in my rifle. YMMV.
For Elk, a Partition would be the safest bet.
I have used the S&B 196 grs SPCE, which uses a modified Brenekke TUG type bullet the "Soft Point, Cutting Edge" (though flat based I believe), and it is excellent ammunition. It made a big hole and a mess of lungs and heart exiting the other side, in the one deer I shot with it.
For reloading, I favor the Hornady 195 grs Interlock SP. Over 47.3 grs of Varget, it delivers 2,430 fps, less than 100 fps off the listed velocity in Hodgdon with a 24" test barrel. I tested H4895, H4350, IMR 8208 XBR, and IMR 4064 with this bullet and Varget delivered the best combination of accuracy and velocity in my rifle. YMMV.
For Elk, a Partition would be the safest bet.
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
That is real good velocity from a 18.5" barrel. I have a 20" barreled sporterized k98 I hunt with and have wondered how much velocity I am losing with the short barrel . I have not had any luck getting the 195 Hornady to shoot as well as the Partition. I am guessing the Hornady is a softer bullet than the Nosler
Mosin Bubba
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 1,936
Have never gone hunting with my Gewehr 98, never will because of the silly length, but I shot some Romanian light ball FMJ loads out of it and they were very accurate with a recoil that could almost be described as pleasant. Wish I could find more. Most of the 8mm loads out there are just punishing.
I guess the Remington Core-Lokts aren't terrible, even if they are way underloaded. That's what I'd go with if I ever did hunt with mine, But those hot machine gun loads will rattle your teeth out. I can't make it through more than one stripper clip of them.
I guess the Remington Core-Lokts aren't terrible, even if they are way underloaded. That's what I'd go with if I ever did hunt with mine, But those hot machine gun loads will rattle your teeth out. I can't make it through more than one stripper clip of them.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
You could do a lot worse than the factory 8x57 Remington and federal loads. 170 grains around 2,300 FPS is equal to the fabled 35 rem and its 200 grain bullet at 2,000 FPS
troy fairweather
Member
some of the rem 8x57 loads used a .321 bullet, in some of the fast production rifle of the war with the .325 plus grove. the rifles may not like the ammo but will shoot penty good for hunting. the 8x57 comes close to the 3006 power but i think the 8x57 handles the heavy bullets better.
the 1891 argentine in the one picture i posted has a j.p sauer and sohn 1/4 octagon to round with the full rib. it is chambered in 8x57 but has a true 8mm bore and grove. .309 bore and .315 grove. i have to fine some bullets for the rifle and a mid load for it. the 91 are strong but don't have good gas venting. and the thing is 120 + years old.
i would like to try some .318 bullets but that my be to much for the gun. i need to modify a bullet mold. it is a pretty barrel tho.
the 1891 argentine in the one picture i posted has a j.p sauer and sohn 1/4 octagon to round with the full rib. it is chambered in 8x57 but has a true 8mm bore and grove. .309 bore and .315 grove. i have to fine some bullets for the rifle and a mid load for it. the 91 are strong but don't have good gas venting. and the thing is 120 + years old.
i would like to try some .318 bullets but that my be to much for the gun. i need to modify a bullet mold. it is a pretty barrel tho.
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
Great looking barrel for sure ,,, knowing what your rifle can and can’t do is mighty important. I often shoot my 30/06’s and 8x57 side by side and there is very little difference in practical tragectory or recoil
DM~
Member
My experience with bigger big game, a properly loaded 30-06 (200NP's) will out perform an 8mm Mauser every time...
For normal big game, it doesn't matter one bit, I use 200NP's because I like one bullet for everything, and I worked up that bullet/load in my 8x57 with moose in mind.
DM
For normal big game, it doesn't matter one bit, I use 200NP's because I like one bullet for everything, and I worked up that bullet/load in my 8x57 with moose in mind.
DM
mustanger98
Member
Reminds me of that Turkish magnum crap a bunch of us bought 15-20 years ago. Four clips and to the chiropractor I went. I got a good deal on the stripper clips, but that ammo is over 80 years old and probably oughta be scrapped. Surplus, commercial, or handload... there's much better ammo to enjoy the Mausers with.
OP
OP
Zoer
Member
I saw a youtube where someone chronoed that Turkish ammo and it was over 3,000 fps with a 150 grain bullet ,
WelshShooter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2014
- Messages
- 491
Here's my ladder test using Ramshot Big Game powder, neck sized PPU brass after first firing, .323" 198gr PPU FMJ seated at 3.175". Fired out of my Yugo M48.
Can't remember what the steps were (most likely 5 rounds per charge, starting from min and working up 1% per step) but the final group with a charge of 47.0gr was the best. You can see a sort of pyramid shape with the highest charge at the top producing a tight group.
Fired from a bench at a distance of 100m.
Can't remember what the steps were (most likely 5 rounds per charge, starting from min and working up 1% per step) but the final group with a charge of 47.0gr was the best. You can see a sort of pyramid shape with the highest charge at the top producing a tight group.
Fired from a bench at a distance of 100m.
troy fairweather
Member
how do u like the ppu 198 fmj. i have some and the bt looks close to the old lapua bullets.
WelshShooter
Member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2014
- Messages
- 491
I find the bullets are a bit undersized, so they have a low amount of neck tension (you could push the bullet deeper by hand). Not sure if this is due to my Lee sizing dies or PPU brass. It doesn't seem to have an effect on the target though
- Status
