Help: 8mm accuracy load wanted...

[Smokey Joe]

Am considering entering a Vintage Military Rifle league next summer, using an 8mm Yugo Mauser M-48. There don't seem to be too many suggestions for an "accuracy load" in 8mm. Rifle must be "as issued," but you can fancy up the ammo any way that works.

I've got plenty of brass, and LR primers (LRM's too, if needed) and am thinking of using 200 grain SMK bullets. Powders: I have on hand IMR 4064, Varget, H4350, and H380.

Any suggestions?

 

[Cosmoline]

IMR 4064 was my go-to powder for 8x57JS when I loaded for that round. The most accurate bullet I ever fired from my M-48 was a real oddball--a Barnes solid! I no longer have the exact load details on it, but I remember it being IMR 4064. Unfortunately I don't know that the 8mm banded solid bullets are even being made anymore. They were very expensive so I don't know if it's worth trying to find any now. You might try TSK too.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Thx Cosmoline!

IMR 4064 is "supposed to be" the powder of choice for 7.9x57JS, according to my reading. Thanx for re-confirming that!

Anyone, further comments on bullets to use?? There aren't as many 8mm bullets as there are many other diameters.

 

[rcmodel]

Lyman #49 reloading manual has an "accuracy load" listed for every jacketed bullet weight they tested.

Powders listed as most accurate:
125 grain = IMR-4064
150 Grain = AA-2700
170 grain = RX-15
220 grain = IMR-4350

That is not to say it means anything at all whatsoever in your rifle.
Every rifle is different.

That is why you have to work up a load in your rifle to find the best load for it.

rc

 

[Smokey Joe]

That's the problem...

RC Model--You said

That is why you have to work up a load in your rifle to find the best load for it.

You're perfectly right, and I'm well aware of that factor, and prepared to do so. However, NONE of my resources has much to say re: 200 grain SMK's and what load to use. (I'm an experienced reloader, have been doing it since the 1960's, posses quite a number of loading manuals.) So I'm looking for a starting point.

Guess it'll be with IMR 4064. If that doesn't pan out, I'll try others.

 

[Clark]

I got a 1" 5 shot group at 100 meters with a $50 1903 Turkish Mauser with 200 gr Sierra Match Kings at 2600 fps.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Hodgdon website was helpful...

But DURNED if I can copy the stuff from the website onto this page!! :banghead: Suffice it to say that with IMR 4064, they start at 40.0 grains and max at 44.5 grains, with a 200 grain bullet, and with Varget, they start at 40.5 grains and max at 47.5 grains with a 200 grain bullet. So I'll try that.

Shoulda gone there in the 1st place, I guess.

 

[ForneyRider]

I made a bunch of different loads for my brother's m98.

Primers: I went with CCI 200 out of availability.

Powder:
I used Varget with all. H4895 has higher velocities in load data from Hodgdon, but I had Varget powder on the bench for other cartridges.

Bullets:
125gr Hornady JSP and JHP (aside: both discontinued - too bad, I think the 8x57 with these bullets would be excellent for varmint/small game, Norma makes a 125gr FMJ)
150gr Sierra Pro Hunter(These have the highest BC of the 150gr commercial bullets)
200gr SMK
200gr Accubond - The gunsmith had the L-W barrel finished-reamed to this bullet. Hard to find now. The Sierra's have been the easiest to attain.

COL:
The COL varies quite a bit in load data. I used 2.96in for these loads, but load data can take the 220gr out to 3.14in. and the 200gr out to 3.04in.

I used an RCBS x-die for reloading spent brass in the m98. I noticed minimal scoring on the body of the brass, if any, and the brass fed excellently in the rifle. I used an RCBS f/l die for the 700 Classic.

Brass:
We have been using R-P and W-W brass. Norma and RWS make brass as well. We are going with Norma for some over-max loads with the 220gr Sierra Game King.

Performance:
They were all sub-MOA. The Sierra 150 Pro Hunter and 200gr Accubond were the most accurate. My brother complained of the recoil with the 150gr with his bad shoulder.

The 150gr Sierra came out 2750fps with 51gr of Varget. Pretty close to Sierra data. BTW, Sierra has been excellent at providing additional info via email.

The 150gr Sierra in a friend's 700 Classic has the same devastation as a 30-06 on white tail deer.

Currently, I am looking for 220gr target loads. The 220gr (.323) bullets are reported by Sierra as not offering good expansion at 8x57 velocities for hunting, but offer good accuracy. However, their accuracy loads are around 2000fps in their load data. Hodgdon's load data online offers max speeds ~2400fps with variety of powders including: H4895, Varget, etc. We may also try IMR 4350 to get 2600+fps.

Lot of the load data is limited by the SAAMI low pressure spec and even CIP pressure spec of 48,800psi. With quality brass and firearm, the load can be pushed to much higher performance than factory Rem/Win/Fed loads.