Guess at FPS-is it fast enough?

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HEAVY METAL 1

HEAVY METAL 1

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I don't own a chronograph hence my question...I worked up a load in my 8MM Turkish Mauser using Remington 195 gr & 52.3 gr of H380. It is very accurate. My original intention was to use this for short range (100 yds or so) elk hunting, but I do not know if it is fast enough to expand sufficiently. Has anyone else worked up a similar load that knows the speed? I can't find my source for load data (I worked up the load 4 years ago). Looking at Sierra's data for 175 gr bullet using H380 leads me to guess that my load is ~2500 fps, but that is just a WAG. I do not intend to use this on game until I am confident it will do the job.

What I'm hoping for is someone using the same bullet w/ same powder in a long barreld Mauser as then it should be a close match.

Anyone?
 
I'm not sure where you got the load data for that round but Hodgdon does not list H380 on their site for any bullet weight in the 8mm Mauser. When a powder company doesn't list load data doe a powder/caliber combination there's usually a very good reason. I would find a new load for hunting and keep that load for killing paper since it's so accurate in your rifle.

I agree with you, proper expansion is important especially with controlled expansion bullets usually used for Elk hunting. You might want to drop the bullet weight to 180gr to ensure good velocity in that 8mm. It is a low pressure round after all.
 
I worked up a load in my 8MM Turkish Mauser using Remington 195 gr & 52.3 gr of H380. ...but I do not know if it is fast enough to expand sufficiently.
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Your load is probably at maximum or maybe a hair above as Speer lists 52.0gr of H380 as maximum with their 200gr Spitz-SP with a muzzle velocity of 2,469 fps from a M98 VZ24 so your 2,500 fps MV guess is most likely correct. Not sure what bullet you are using but any American made copper jacketed soft point bullet made for the 8mm should expand well. Foreign bullets can be as good as any US product or a poorly made soft point with a military bi-metal or even steel jacket that's too thick (or thin) to expand properly in a controlled manner.

Take an old phone book (or several) held together with duct tape and soaked overnight in water to the range and shoot it at 100 yds to get some idea of how well your bullet upsets.
 
Steve, that is exactly where I extrapolated my load from. I am using a Hornady interlock bullet. So with that speed approxamation will I get sufficient penatration andexpansion?
 
I could not find a listing for a 195 gr Remington 8mm.
Now we have a Hornady. Are you sure?

Any road, you are at the Speer maximum, based on European practice and IN EXCESS OF SAAMI SPECIFICATIONS. That softpoint should expand at mv 2500 +/-. Europeans have shot 196 gr 8x57 with good results for many years.

Do be careful about extrapolating outside known data. I don't know how you concluded that .3 gr powder = 5 gr lead but it is a small change and probably less significant than whether a Hornady bullet is harder than a Speer.
 
So with that speed approxamation will I get sufficient penatration andexpansion?
Click to expand...

I would certainly think so but if you want the best answer contact Hornady customer service either by e-mail or telephone and ask. They are friendly and helpful and more knowledgeable about their product.
 
Good morning
Looked in the Speer number 10 and it shows a 200 grainer on top of 52 grains of H380 giviing 2469 fps from a 98 Mauser with a 24 inch barrel. They also show 52 grains as MAX. A 200 grainer at 2450 is no mouse load. Anything it connects with at any range is going to feel alot of hurt. But understanding military sights... yea your good at 100 yards for any vege eater out there.
Mike in Peru
 
Steve, that is exactly where I extrapolated my load from.
Click to expand...

It's not considered safe practice to interpolate loads. You can (generaly) use load data for a heavier, but similar, bullet safely. But you should not ever exceed that published load.
 
As long as your rifle is not showing any signs of excess pressure your load is just fine. I have a 30-40 Ackley Imp. built on a '98 action and load 180gr Hornady Interlocks with 50gr of H380 and I could go heavier if I needed to - which I don't.
Extrapolation and interpolation of load data may be considered unsafe practice in this day and age, but many factory cartridges that started as wildcats would never have seen the light of day had it not been for intelligent, cautious experimentation by hand loaders such as Elmer Keith, P.O. Ackley and Townsend Whelen.
H380 falls somewhere between IMR 4320 and 4350 in burning rate. It is an excellent powder for medium capacity cases. It gained it's fame in Bruce Hodgdon's original 22-250 load of 38gr behind a 52gr bullet (hence it's name) and is known as a fine powder for the 6mms, .257 Roberts, .308 Win and the 30-06.
Your load is probably pushing that 195gr bullet at close to 2500fps which is right in there with .308 Win and 30-06 velocities. H4831 or 4350 might get you a few more fps but if you have the H380 I'd use it.
You can rest assured that your load will kill any elk that walks within reasonable distances - at least out to 250 or 300 yards if you do your part.
 
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