New life for my Mannlicher 1908

[laloremus]

I recently receive a set of 8 x 56 Mannlicher dies from CH, also a trimming die, the base reducing die is in back order, however with patience I resize first 30-06 brass without the neck expander, then cut the brass, and resize again with the expander.

finally I will be able to shoot my rifle, that now is 100 years old. maybe 101 years.

My load is 42 grains of IMR 3031 and sierra .323 150 grain spitzer.

The catridges fit and function perfect in the magazine and chamber.

I will shoot it the next saturday.

Look the picture wher is a .308 , center the 8 x 56 MS and a 30-06

 

[NCsmitty]

That's a wonderful old rifle. I understand that brass can be made from trimmed 8x57 Mauser.
There's a couple loads listed for it on http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=407.

Good luck.

NCsmitty

 

[laloremus]

Thanks

Thanks NCsmitty, here in Mexico is hard to find 8 x 57 mauser brass, I think it´s also posible to use 7 x 57 brass to make the 8 x 56 MS, the 30-06 is a bit fater at the base, thats why is necesary a base reducer die. 30-06 brass is available in large cuantities and thats why I use it for the project.

With the dies I also ordered a special lube from CH, for the base die, it works just fine for the hard ammount of presure that is needed to put the 30-06 brass trough the 8 x 56 resizing die.

I will post the targets, and see how it group.

Regards

 

[laloremus]

Target

I received my dies, and made brass from 30-06. The result 8 x 56 brass is fine. Also I acquiere an original box of old Winchester 8 x 56 MS ammo, with 200 grain bullets and comparing the brass made from 30-06 with the original, there is no diference. Also I buy two boxes of Federal 8 Mauser ammo, and pull out the bullets, refor and trim the brass and put all together again resultin in fine 8 x 56 Ammo.
It´s a lot easier two reform the 8 x 57, than the 30-06. I hope to find mor 8 x 57 in Mexico.

here is a target at 100 meters shot withe 8 x 56 MS made from Remington 3006 brass with sierra 150 grains .323 bullets and 40 grains of 30-31, I need to aim at six o clock, it shoots high. But as I shoot targets I´m acustommed to hold six o clock.

Shooting at anothe target, the federal ammo, with 170 grain bullets, impact in the same place than the reloaded 150 grains ammo, the original Western ammo with 200 grains bullets impact exactly at six o clock in the point of aim.