Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What's with the 8x57 MAGNUM? I'm confused!

I just got my Rifle MAR 09 No 243 Whats with the 8x57 MAGNUM story ? I have never heard of the 8x57 Mauser being called a Magnum ! Is it a typo and should have been called Mauser and someone stuffed up or What? Also can someone explain where the title " 243 Winchester THE LAST OF THE 6 MM 'S "[HANDLOADER NO 241 2006 ] comes from? I'm still confused !

I think the point the author is trying to make is that is the US factory ammo for the 8x57 is loaded for the M93 actions and not the M98 or other more modern actions.
The .243 Win is the only commercially successfully 6mm cartridge.

Haven't seen the article but the 196 gr roundnose bullet 8x57 load marketed by Sellier and Bellot and Privi Partizan (looks like Privi Partizan loads it for both)is a real humdinger.It's the hardest hitting load from that class of cartridge I've ever seen,regardless of caliber,and the only factory cartridge I ever use for deer.The trajectory is fine out to about 275 yards,then starts to drop off rapidly,but every deer I've seen hit with it (perhaps 20)reacted instantly and dropped within a couple of steps.I'd classify that as magnum like performance....pretty accurate in several different sporterized model 98s of different barrel lengths too.

Yes, it' re: the underloaded factory ammo in the US, and past misconceptions about the round. I've always liked the round myself, and hope to buy a 700 Classic one of these days. I only have a k98k that will stay unmussed. I noticed Sauer is producing their new autoloaders in 8x57, but I doubt it will sell, or be sold, in the US.

Tongue in check on Al's part I think. The earliest 8x57's were .318 bore, then Germany switched to .323; I believe these are the "J" and "JS" bores respectively, but I could be wrong. In Europe shooters understand this and don't put the larger round in the smaller bore, in the US the ammo companies seem to load .323's only and tone the loads down.

Some of us here call the 7x57 a "magnum" or "super magnum" also, still somewhat tongue in check but also to highlight that these and other "outdated" cartridges perform much, much better than many folks think.

I'd love to have an 8x57, but the bolt on all of them are on the wrong side.........

Tikka shows a left hand 8x57 on their website whether you can get them in the U.S. who knows.

E.R. Shaw will put one of their very good barrels on bolt actions and reblue the whole thing for about $250. If you have a LH Remington 700 they can put on a Remington contour barrel.

The "magnum" part was modern 56,000 PSI CIP loads for the 8x57. When loaded to that level it equals the .30-06 and in fact exceeds it with 200+ grain bullets.

Love the 8x57 loaded to it's full potential as the Europeans do and handloaders can it's every bit as good as the .30-06 with more frontal area for bigger holes. It is after all what the .30-06 was designed to duplicate.

gerrygoat and Mule Deer,

Yeah, I know you're both right, but you wouldn't believe how long my list of "I'd love to haves" is. Well, maybe you would...

I know I'd believe it!

The funny thing is, I've actually acquired a lot of my "wish list" firearms over the years. Some I keep forever, but some I use a year or three and sell. And some I sell and then buy again!

According to the article under discussion, the 8MM has about 10% less case capacity than the 30/06. Hard to see how it's going to outrun the 06 when loaded to the same pressure. Even more difficult to believe is that a bullet that is 0.015 inch wider is going to have a perceivable difference in the wound channel it creates, or in "killing power". That is the thickness of 8 of the pages the article was printed on.

Fred

It worked - using a "hype" phrase got us all talking about the 8mm Mauser - sheeeeesh.

How about a .30-'06 Magnum? <---humor

If you want a magnum 8mm, go with an 8X68S or 8X64, or even a Rem 8mm Mag or .326 WSM. Charlie Askins had a sh*tload (that would be the technical term) of 8mm magnums built on lefthand actions, sort of a double double I guess.

I will say the (insert smaller cartridge name here) Magnum article has been a gun scribe subject for quite a few years. I thought it had calmed down with the short and wide introductions, but evidently not.

jim

For you 8mm Mauser guys, I MAY have a score for you... one of my gunshops bought a bunch of stuff from someone's widow; among the booty was about 6 boxes of 8mm 150-gn Hornady SP's that they are selling for $10 a box.

I bought a box, in hopes of cooking up a mild plinking load for my .325 WSM. My first test was dismal- 4 MOA. Perhaps my twist is wrong for such a short bullet, or perhaps I just got unlucky. At any rate, if I can't find a decent load, I won't be buying another box. If anyone wants 'em, PM me and I'll hook you up.

-jeff

I had a friend that shot an 8 x 57 with some 196 or 200 gr bullet DWM made ammo, that is till he ran out of it. Bought a bunch of it while in Europe on Active Duty Air Force in the 1950's. I never thought much of the 8mm, but some do. I could live with one if it was all I had, but I rather have a 6.5 x 55 which I do shoot or ditto's for a 338. Then again if a drilling came my way so chambered, I would improve my German right quick. I think Blaser will sell you a barrel so chambered for the R-93.

No problem throwing 180's at 2700fps plus and 200's at 2600. It's a nifty cartridge that fits into the 'efficient' category.

I have a nice vintage JP Sauer sporter with a full length tapered hex barrel, solid rib, express sights plus scope in 8X57 thats a joy to shoot. 200gr at 2650 is some serious punch, maybe not a magnum but I'd like to hear the animals opinion. I also have its twin in 9X57. That one's effectiveness really overshadow's its statistics.

The 8x57 may not outrun the .30-06 but it does a pretty good job of hanging in there.



IMHO, there are no flies on the 8x57JS's capabilities and performance. The Germans really knew what they were doing when they designed the cartridge. I'm a big fan of the .30-06 and have three rifles chambered for it but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the 8x57JS when it is loaded to its true potential. It's a true classic cartridge.

Cheers!
-Bob F.

"It's a true classic cartridge."

My feeling as well. I'd be happy to hunt with one.

Interesting graff Bob. Kind of puts things into perspective doesn't it.