Store Bought Cast Bullets for an 8mm

[tkcomer]

I have an old K 98 Mauser. The bore slugged at .317/.323. I want to shoot low power loads using Unique. Would these bullets be a good match for my gun: http://www.hunters-supply.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=192 The bore is clean and shiny, but I won't know what the gun will do until I buy some bullets. I'm trying to figure out the best type of bullet to use without the gas check. Thanks for any replies.

 

[R.W.Dale]

It should work fine.


Might I suggest trying trail boss. I know the old guys still swear by "the load" but this is the 21'st century and we now have powders that will preclude the very real and all too common possibility of blowing a rifle up in your face from an invisible double or triple charge

 

[EMC45]

That is a bullet designed for cowboy action shooters and it for the .32 Special I do believe. It should do great in your 8MM. If you have Lee Liquid Alox a few swirls in it and dry over night and you would be in business. I would recommend 10-12gr. Unique! It has been doing great things for many years! Get a piece of .250 dowel rod and cut it to about 3 inches long. drop it in charged 8MM case and strike a line on the dowel rod where 10gr. of Unique brings it up to in relation to the case mouth. Now charge all your cases and check them all. A dowel rod, a strong flashlight, and common sense and you're good to go! Now go shoot that thing!!!!!

 

[tkcomer]

That's good to hear. I'll order some. I've asked about Trail Boss before, but “most” people claim it won't be any more accurate than Unique. I've used Unique in my Win 30-30 for low power loads. Not that accurate but it's still fun to shoot. I have bursitis in my shoulder and I can't take that kick anymore. Unless I go in for the shots. Which ain't fun. And I do have the Lee Liquid Alox. I use it on my store bought 30-30, 357 and 44s.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The benefit of TrailBoss isn't in it's performance it's in it's volume. For example 16g fills up a 30/06 case completely making it impossible to double charge. Throw 12 or 24 g of unique in there and you might not be able to tell the diffrence. And that's the problem with "the load" it's either fun or it blows your rifle to pieces with no in-between

 

[tkcomer]

I understand the safety point. Been using Unique for several years in the 30-30 with the RCBS Uniflow. I had hoped the Trail Boss would have been a better powder as I can get that locally. But “most” people seem to say Unique does a better job. Plus I have load data from my Lyman cast book. I was more worried about the bullet. Once again, 'most” people say you need to be 2 thousands over, and the Hunter's Supply bullet is only 1 thousands over. My 30-30 slugs at .300/.308 and I use .310 Laser Cast bullets. I still get some leading at the first couple of inches in the barrel, but I “hear” that's because they are a gas check design and I don't run the checks. The Hunter's Supply bullet is a flat base bullet. I hope I don't run into the leading I get from the 30-30.

 

[EMC45]

Unique used to be marketed as a rifle/shotgun/pistol powder. It will do fine for what you need.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I had hoped the Trail Boss would have been a better powder as I can get that locally. But “most” people seem to say Unique does a better job.

I don't know what kind of "people" you've asked but I cannot imagine them claiming unique does ANYTHING better if they've actually used both.......well maybe blow your rifle up better.

I urge you to read the TB thread and heed the replies of those of us who've used both propellants

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=531717