Steyr 8x56R Rifle

[roc1]

Steyr 8x56R Rifle

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I just bought one of these at Big 5 for $79.I just like old MilSur rifles.I know ammo is hard to find.I was wondering what does this round compare to and where can you find ammo or what is a good load for it?
Any info welcome
Thanks
roc1

 

[Ron James]

Don't forget, you also need the enbloc clips

 

[marktx]

J&G is the best place to find it online from what I have seen. There are a few places that have the late '30s German ammo for sale but it seems to go for a good bit more. On the plus side the German does come with the enbloc clips, they can also be found online for a few bucks without too much difficulty.

Unprimed brass is (or was) available from Prvi Partizan which has led to rumors that they would be bringing complete ammo to market but I'm not sure that is gonna happen anytime soon. I seem to recall that finding correct size bullets for reloading is also an issue with some people casting their own lead.

I have only shot the German stuff through mine and have had pretty good results. At first had a few problems with rounds not going off but after soaking the bolt in paint thinner to clear out all the cosmoline functioning has been 100%. The recoil is quite brisk, maybe a little more than a Mosin but that's just my impression. Only tried shooting it once without a pad, now use a slip on pad anytime I'm gonna shoot it.

 

[rust collector]

These are an interesting gun made in Hungary, Austria and elsewhere, IIRC. Mine wears a big ol' S on the barrel shank to show that it was rechambered to the 8x56R, and I picked up a few packs of the nazi headstampted ammo that was being sold 12 years ago when I bought mine.

I've never fired it, but I read that they will rare back a bit. Sportsman's Guide has ammo, and the results of my google search are here:
http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=8x56R+ammunition&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

As with any old timer, please have it checked out by your friendly gunsmith to make sure it's safe to fire.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Ammunition availability

Two years ago I purchased 100 rounds of Hornady Custom from Sportsman's. The load is a 205gr softpoint at 2410 fps for 2645 ftlbs. I do not know if they are still available.

 

[NCsmitty]

The nominal bore size is .329 for the 8x56R where as the 8mm Mauser is .323 dia. 8x56R Privi brass is available from Grafs but bullets may be a problem. It would be much wiser to make cast bullets or buy them in the proper size. Found this at Buffalo arms.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm?viewfrom=73&catid=92&step=2

NCsmitty

 

[Big Matt]

Ammo:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=194166

http://www.jgsales.com/product_info...-era,-50-rounds-/cPath/12_47/products_id/1685

en-blocs:
http://www.ows-ammo.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/262 $15 for six clips