Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Mauser in 8x57 ?

I have a chance, although small, to buy a Mauser in 8x57 (second in line.) My intent would be to rebarrel to .284 Winchester or rechamber and rebore or rebarrel to a 9.3x62. Is this easily done with this action? I also realize the .284 has a larger in diameter case and the rim size of the 9.3 is slightly smaller.

Assuming this is to be a hunting rifle. Just one man's biased opinion, but walking away from an 8 x 57 loaded to CIP specs toward the .284 Win ? Not me, for many reasons, but one which you mentioned, feeding CAN be problematic, and if you are not doing the work yourself...problems=time=money. Don't worry about the rim size as spec'ed in drawings on the 9.3, measurement of modern production of 9.3 brass will be very close to .473". Be sure you want or need a 9.3, I am 210#, 6 ft tall, and I may be a wimp, but I do not enjoy shooting mine in full power hunting loads. Offhand, yes....off the bench...hang on. I am one of the pitiful few, the brave, that have no criticism of the 8 x 57 as a hunting cartridge...PROPERLY LOADED to it's potential.

Thanks. I don't have any criticism of the 8x57, but for lack of ammo or reloading components. I have never shot a 9.3x62 but have read many times how much easier it on the shoulder than the .338 WM and as effective all things considered.

https://ammoseek.com/reloading/bullets/.323-diameter/

https://ammoseek.com/reloading/brass/8mm-mauser

Looks like 8mm brass and bullets are available.

With my handloads in 8x57, I can match 30-06 factory ammo performance.

No offense meant to anyone, but maybe I should just admit I don't want an 8x57.

Well the 284 was made in the 1st place to try to give 270 Win ballistics from the new short M88 and M100 It was Winchesters attempt to give 30-06 powder capacity to a short shell.
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So if I were wanting 284 ballistics from a Mauser, doing all the action work to make it feed is somewhat of a worthless endeavor when you can simply make a 270 Win or 280Rem out of it, and then not have the nightmare of getting 284 brass. The 284 will no nothing better then the 280 Rem.

As far as making a 9.3X62 goes, that super easy if you have the original GEW length Mauser to start with. It's important to know you overall length of the magazine is OK beforehand because the GEW length used by Otto Bock for the 9.3X62 is a not the same as the dedicated KAR length made exclusively for the 8X57 in the WW2 years.. If you have the shorter mag box making a 9.3 is possible, but not fast and easy. It would be like like making a 375H&H out of a GEW length, you'd need to extend the front of the box and re-cut the feed ramp.


I understand you don't want an 8X57. Just your choice, and we all have out preferences. I love mine and it's a wonderful hunting arm. Deer elk and antelope have all fallen to it and it's been a delight to carry and use.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
And here is my 9.3X62 I made on a Mauser. (GEW length mag box) I made it to take 5 rounds in the mag and the stock is hand made, like the 8X57 above
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
PA170008 (2) by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Thanks szihn

You do show some nice stuff. My wife and I had thought of paying you a visit for a remodel on a pre 64 I have before COVID hit.

I have several hundred .284 cases and now that Lapua is making it I should be good. But the kind of advice you and flintlock are sharing is what I am looking for. It may not be worth doing.

The rifle is currently owned by my late Aunts brother so I should be able to get the info from him..

FWIW, I dont think the 9.3 needs to be loaded to the gills to experience its effectiveness. I like mine at about 2400 fps with a 286 NP. In a 9lb rifle it is fine and under field conditions recoil is a non factor. That weight keeps the rifle settled nicely when shooting I find.

You do know that the G98 and K98k mag box dimensions are the same, right? The Kar98 had a differnt trigger bow and trigger, but it too had the same length mag box.

I too load my 9,3x62's to about 2400 fps. This one weighs about 7.5 lbs as shown, a pussy cat:



This one even lighter. Proper stocks really help tame recoil.



Or this one:



And this one:



You could say I like teh 9,3x62 a wee bit.

Me too, I chrono'd RWS 286 gr. factory....came up just shy of 2400fps...duplicated that velocity with Varget and never looked back.

Coincidently those velocities are the same as Nosler and better than Barnes with 26" barrels. So should be good to go.

I'd get 50 8x57 cases and some decent 8MM bullets, work up a load before taking anything apart. The 8x57 hunts perfectly well, is fun on paper, too.

For no good reason, I think the 8x57 belongs in a full stock configuration with a 21 or 22 inch barrel for woods hunting.