What brass to start with for 8mm Mauser

[jeeptim]

Well posted here reworking some old click bang 8mm took a dozen apart filled with new powder and a few no bullett or powder to the range and the primers just kinda smoldered no bang just smoke in the action. So dident think it safe to shoot any.
Now I have 300 burdan primed rounds with bad primers and no brass so I says to myself Self you gots a boat load of 270, 30-06, 280 rem gonna pick up a set of dies can I reform these or any others to 8mm. Or if anybody wants to swap I got two five gallon buckets full of clean sorted brass and four 8mm.
Thanx

 

[plmitch]

.30-06 work great. I used a bunch of .25-06 before too.

 

[medalguy]

Yeah I have used 30-06 to form 8mm a few times. Lot of work but where you gonna find cheap 8mm Boxer brass?

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I've seen a few videos of people turning Berdan primed into boxer primed. Perhaps this is an option for you to look at. Not sure if its easier or harder in the end than just resizing another caliber though.

 

[Scimmia]

Prvi 8mm Mauser brass was pretty reasonable last I checked, but it's hard to get cheaper than what you already have.

Pay attention to the neck thickness. Part of the shoulder/body of a 30-06 case will become part of the neck in 8mm. Shouldn't be an issue, but could be with some cases.

 

[TenDriver]

I have turned plenty of HXP .30-06 brass into 8mm. Some have 4 or 5 firings on them with no issue. I've also formed it from FC .270 cases, but started loading 270 and the neck split after one firing. Pretty much anything long enough (.25-06, 270, etc) that uses the same shellholder will work (I think). Hornady also sells new brass. I have some of that as well. Good stuff.

If you're using a Lee sizing die to form your 8mm cases, you will end up with a mark from the vent hole just below the shoulder. Lee polished mine out for me, so no more mark.

 

[ssyoumans]

Avoid S&B 8mm Mauser brass!

Don't buy Sellier & Bellot 8mm ammo or brass!! I bought a few boxes of their 196gr SP cutting edge ammo because it is one of the few that loads closer to Full power. Unfortunately, the case head does not fit any of my #2 shell holders. I have not had any problems with Prvi Partizan. Just disappointed that the ammo I bought and had plans to use to reload, isn't reloadable.

I'll go back and convert more 30-06 cases

 

[Maj Dad]

I always anneal the necks of cases I reform from other cases (like anything from 30-06-size cases). I had issues with splits in 7x57 from 30-06, so I annealed them and no more problems. I was used a Spanish M1916 so the chamber was generous and I had no neck wall diameter issues. If you are using a commercial rifle with SAAMI chamber specs you might have to ream the necks.

I bought some Remington 8x57 cases in the past year or so, and it was in stock & available (and reasonable - don't remember from whom - maybe Midway, or Grafs...), and has worked very well with reloads - no splits or other issues after 4-5 loadings...

 

[Icky The Great]

PPU and Norma are going to be the best brass but Winchester and Remington are sufficient. I have 5 loading thru 70's vintage Norma brass and 2 thru Remington circa 2006. The Remington is showing some signs it may be time to scrap it. I have some fading, usually a preamble to head separation and two split necks. A few of the other necks seem thin and worn out. I may sort them and chance another reload just to see if I can get it out of it but don't think I will buy the Rem brass again unless its a steal. I have used PPU for my 7.62x54Rs and almost exclusively on the Draganov (actually its a PSL but most people do not know what that is). I found a way to attach a brass bumper so its reusable. I have 4 loading in all my 54R stuff and it still looks good. It may get one or 2 more loadings before I call it done. My 91/30 loves it better than Norma which sticks some and Rem seems a touch thin but does well with moderate loads using cast boolits. Haven't found Winchester available for either caliber yet. I would like to try it out.

 

[kcofohio]

Powder Valley, Inc. has this in stock, "PRVI AMMO 8x57 MAUSER 196 GR. SP (20)" for $15.23 a box. I'm sure it is Boxer primer. I too have bought their 7.62x54R. It is Boxer primer.

 

[4895]

If you search youtube for .30-06 to 8x57 forming, you will find a few videos. It is probably the best way since you have those cases already. You might wish to anneal but it isn't necessary since .308" to .323" isn't a big jump. In the videos, most people would partially size the brass in 8x57 die, trim off a bit and debur, then complete the FL resize with a final trim and debur. I guess you could trim the .30-06 brass first, but you would have to make a SWAG to get the right length.

I have used Varget and IMR-4064 with acceptable results (2 moa) with iron sights. Varget was just a bit tighter with 4 out of 5 in a close 1" string. Think I was using Remington 185 grain PSPCL bullets.

 

[jimbeaux82]

8 mm

I have converted 30/06 to 8 x 57 many times successfully, but it is a bit of work. Here is how I do it:

1) start with 30/06 cases
2) take decapping pin/neck sizing rod out of 8 x 57 resizing die
3) run cases thru die - use Imperial Sizing wax for best results
4) trim to proper length
5) reinstall decapping pin/neck sizing rod in 8mm die
6) lube inside of case mouth liberally
7) run cases thru die
8) retrim if necessary

Make sure that no one with a 30/06 gets hold of this ammo as it will have a .323 bullet in a 30/06 headstamped case. Could get really interesting if fired in a 30/06.

I have had some issues with case necks splitting after 1-2 firings so you might want to anneal.

I have used Privi and S&B 8 x 57 cases many times for reloading and have not had any issues at all with them. I specifically have not had any issues with S&B cases not fitting in a 30/06 shellholder.

As for ammo, the S&B is much better ammo than the Privi. On my chrono, the S&B 196 gr clocks around 2500 fps out of my 98K Mauser. The Privi 200 gr does not even clock 2100 fps.

 

[280shooter]

I just done this last winter,i used 30.06 and 270.brass,i did how ever anneal after I finished, they look good and shoot nice too,I don't own a rifle in 30.06 or 270.i bought a few cases of 8mm surplus, but they aren't
Boxer primed.good luck in trying to convert,

 

[ghfljf]

I just started reloading 8mm Mauser for a Dutch National Police Carbine. I was shooting old surplus ammo from it and needed to buy brass at a gun show vendor, all my old brass was Berdan primed. I'm watching Midway to get some Hornady brass when it shows up again. If it doesn't show up soon I will go with loaded Privi ammo and reload that. But in no hurry now it's cold outside.

 

[748]

About 10 years ago I reworked a bunch of 30-06 into 8mm.
I though it had been discontinued by Winchester. Didn't realize till later on its only run seasonally.
They are only on their 3rd maybe 4th reload and work great.

 

[jeeptim]

Well I got this reforming thing down. Used 30-06, 270, 280rem. Neck split on 25-06 so the 30-06 and 280rem were the least trouble by far.
Thanx
Merry Christmas

 

[748]

Try annealing the cases neck and shoulder before starting the forming process.
I am pretty sure that is what I did with mine.

 

[RPRNY]

Have successfully reloaded same S&B brass several times now, one batch 5 times and another only three so far. Lee cartridge holder. Sorry to hear it hasn't worked out for you.

 

[fguffey]

No bullet? no bang,

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

I suggest you purchase a forming die, the forming die doubles as a trim die when used with a hack saw and file. I would suggest a 308 W forming die first as in if you own one forming die I suggest you purchase a 308 W forming die.

F. Guffey

 

[748]

I never had any trouble finding 8mm bullets.