Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 8x57 mauser loads

I bought a Rem. 700 Classic this past spring in this chambering. The rifle has a 24 inch barrel, and shoots very well after I beded it. In working up hand loads, I`ve been impressed with the results, and wondered if anyone else has simular experiences. In particular, with 150 grn bullets, using TAC powder, reaching close to 3k and with 4064 and 180`s, close to 2900 fps. None of the usual high pressure indicators present in either load.
Comments or added results?

Thanks

My experience with the 8x57 and 8mm-06/8mm-06 Imp. has all been with military mausers,and it's all been uniformly very good.
I've found that the military barrels,assuming they are in good shape and the actions are properly bedded,shoot very well.
I have found that it is possible to safely go over the loading manual maximums,which are set intentionally low due to all the old warn out mausers around.
125 gr. bullets , if you can find them,can shoot accurately enough to be considered serious woodchuck loads.Most 150's do well,especially the old Hornady RNs,again if you can find some.
You'll find that the European factory stuff is loaded considerably hotter than the domestic ammo.The Privi Partizan 196 gr. loads are usually very accurate,and very effective on game.
My experience has been mostly with IMR 4350 and 4895 but my loading logs are packed away from a move several years ago.As stated above,if you are careful in your reloading,you are likely to find you can safely exceed the manuals and achieve some pretty surprising and pleasing results with all bullet weights up to around 200 gr.

Try the Remington factory 170-gr CoreLokt ammo, which is slightly undersized and lower pressure for the older 8x57s.
I shoot it in my 1888 Mauser. It is all you need for deer and hogs inside 200 yards, and a pleasure to shoot.

Steve...I`ve an 8mm06 AI also on a 1909 Argintine,love it.
The 8x57 tho did pleasantly surprise me. Working the cartridge/rifle up to it`s potential was fun, and showed the 8 to be no slouch!
I`ve been expecting folks to suggest I`m way over pressure in arriving at these velocities, but again, no adverse pressure signs.

One of the 8-57's that I am shooting now has a carbine barrel length and showed low velocity and very low pressure with its inital work up. Since then I have increased the powder charge to over book max. and the result has been excellent accuracy and still moderate pressure signs except that it has not been over the chrono since.

Mine has the typical 'mauser' throat and the bullets are seated way way out to a COL of 3.25" due to the action being too long with a 3.4" box. My load is the 180 Ballistic Tip over IMR 4064.

[quote=CGPAUL]Steve...I`ve an 8mm06 AI also on a 1909 Argintine,love it.

Clayton, what velocities do you get with the various bullet weights?

I had a customized (military) 8X57 mm 30 years ago and was very impressed with its performance. It us truly one of the most under-rated cartridges around, generally attibuted to the low pressure loadings offered by US manufacturers. The 8mm-06 should be even better, just as the 338-06 betters the 30-06.

4064 works very well in my .323 Mauser 98s.

Wayne

Sam....In the AI..4895 with 150`s, both Horn and Sierra, gives me over 3100FPS. Sierra 175`s are a bit over 3k. Again, this is with a 24 inch Douglas and is the 8mm-06AI. I`ve shot these loads for over 20 years, deer and Elk. I found the 150`s were excessivly destructive on deer, so went to the 175`s.

Sav.99...would be interested in a velocity read with 4064 and the 180`s. This was the load that really impressed me in my 700.
Nice looking rifle BTB.

How about you Wayne..any numbers? just for discussion?

I'm running 180gr TSX's at 2625 with 48gr of IMR-4064 from a 21" barrel.

From what I recall of the inital workup the velocity from the 20.5" bbl. I don't expect much variance from 2600-2700 fps. The charge has been worked up to over 48 grs but as I mentioned the seating depth or COL is 3.25".

I have some Rem 185 on the bench I hope to test this wkend, loaded with 50 grns. of 4064. COL is 3.125. I use a drop tube to keep the charge at neck/ shoulder junction so the powder is not compressed too much. This combination produces some nice 100 ydr groups, at round 2850fps.
I don`t think I would feel under-gunned for elk.

The usual pressure signs don't kick in until about 70 KPSI. If you are content with that, then you are alright.

I had an 8x57 which I instrumented. At safe pressure, I was never able to exceed about 2750 FPS with a 180 grain bullet.

Have you tried the 195g Hornady or 200g Partition. Both are very accurate in my IMP with the 195g a real tackdriver.

My wife fed me with Elk for several years with the 8MM Mauser with Remington 170(Memory?) bullets.Her favorite rifle.I had her switch to my .270 but she does not like it.

Like the 30-40 Krag,the 8mm puts 'em down if you do your part.Way to much is put into Velocity/Energy and ballistics rather than shot placement and knowing your rifle and it's limits.

Jayco

Sam...no, I have not tried 195`s in my AI. I have shot the 200 Part.with good results.
The 50grn 4064 load I shot today I got out of Ackleys Vol.I handbook. He suggesed max to be 52 grns with the 180 at about 2795. No info on the gun used to develope this load. Working up to Ackleys listing in my rifle showed presure with 180`s at 51 grns. My velocity here exceeded Ackleys max listing.
Today at the range, I shot Horn.150`s and the Rem 185`s at 300 yrds.Both print at same POI at 100yrds. I came up 4 min.and both printed the same POI at 300.
I`m still impressed with this old cartridge...tho in a modern firearm. It`s nice to know many? elk have fallen to it.

Steelhead...I`ve not tried them, TSX`s. How did they shoot...problems?

Been shooting 150gr Speers and Sierras over IMR 4064 in my 8x57 M98s for many years. Most loads are in the 48gr to 49gr range with that bullet weight and they've worked very well on whitetails here in PA.

Ever since I discovered how accurate and deadly the Hornady 125gr bullet was in my 20" barreled M98, that's all I shoot in it now, for deer. About 52 grains of 4064 works pretty well for that one. R-P brass, CCI 200 primers in all.

Was mighty tempted to buy a new M700 Classic a year or so ago when one of the local distributors has them on close out for around $400. Then I figured I didn't really need another 8x57.