Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 8x57 opinion experience?

Another popular chambering in Europe. What do you folks say on this side of the pond...particularly regarding hunting deer size game and up, THANKS

I have several,hunted and killed game. I see no difference in them and the .308/30-06 class guns. I own a 8x57,8x60 and an 8x63(8mm/06)

fj,

I am kind of partial to the 8x57.... See:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...ening_day_in_Mi_or_Lady_Dian#Post5821620

GH

I'm a big fan of the 8x57. It is very, very similar to the 30-06 with heavy bullets. Most of my hunting is larger deer at shorter ranges, and so i have a 8x57 not a 30-06 and my standard load is 200gr at about 2600fps, and factory loads are only around the 2500fps (except for RWS who push a bit harder). You can push up to 2700fps if you really want. In theory the 8x57 generates about 10% less recoil than the 30-06 for the same ballistics and i like to think i can tell the difference, but probably can't. I am looking at giving the Hornady new military competition 200gr bullet a go for longer ranges - they quote a BC of .52 (though i take all BCs and especially Hornady's with a grain of salt).

One of the things to like with the 8x57 is that if you don't reload you can buy american ammunition, which all runs at very conservative pressures and have a reduced recoil and price load, and then step up to european ammunition for when big deer are on the agenda.

But i'd be the first to admit if i were in north america i would never go past the 30-06. It is more versatile with better long range ballistics and far more readily available - 30-06 isn't nearly as popular in my part of the world.

I have a M98 sporterized in 8x57, has a Williams peep sight on it and I just love it! Bought it last year after deer season so I have just worked up loads. [img:center][/img] [img:center][/img] Some Reminton 185 gr. bullets, and Nosler 200 gr. Part. My shooting is at 100 yards and less here at home, so I opted for the heavier bullets! Can't wait to shoot a hog very soon with this rifle!

[img:center][/img] My M 98 GEW in 9x57 and what I shoot in it [img:center][/img] [img:center][/img] shoots cast boolits sized to .359 246 gr. 29 grs. Brigadier 4197, haven't clocked it yet! Somewhere around 1700-1800 fps.

I have a couple of Husqvarnas and a Remington 700 parts gun in 8x57. It is a good cartridge that is under-loaded by Fed/Rem/Win with a 170 grain bullet at 30-30 levels, so if you aren't going to reload for it, it really under-performs.

If you reload for it, the 195 grain Hornady SpirePoint is a nice medium game bullet that you can push at around 2600 fps from a 24" barrel.

Jeff

Never shot any factory stuff, I haven't tried the 195 gr. Horn's either. Their Interlock's is my favorite bullet in 6mm, 7mm, 308 and now I'll try to those 8mm too!

fartjack: I killed my first kudu with an 8x57....nuff said



If I were shooting it today it would be loaded with 195 gr. Hornady...

196gr Oryx from a Ruger 77 tang in 8x57. It's a killer, just like another couple dozen I can think of. That said, it's about as big as I need to run these days for most anything. It will get the nod for the next moose hunt.

Used to own a 700 Classic so chambered and it did whatever I asked of it.

The 8x57mm cartridge would probably be the round that Rodney Dangerfield would use on big game...it don't get no respect. In reality, it was the most powerful military service rifle cartridge in general use during WWI and WWII. A 198-grain bullet at over 2500 fps or a 154 at over 3000 fps (in some Turkish service ammo) is nothing to sneeze at.

I understand the rationale for the reduced pressure loads from US manufacturers, but they do make the 8x57 into a .32 Special. When loaded to its potential, the 8mm doesn't give up anything to the .30/06.

Same bullet weight for Moose?

Likely, or a 200gr Partition.

I picked up a couple boxes of 200 gr Nosler Partitions last week at a gunshop and they must have been there for years I paid $26.00 and change a piece! What a find!

The 8x57 was one of my first encounters with reloading many moons ago along with the Japanese Arisaka 7.7.. My 8mm was a sporter and wore a classic Weaver K-4. Can't say anything negative and have only praise because it was a real capable deer/black bear stopper in the timber or open country.Wish I still had it and would love to take it afield again.

What a beautiful Mauser ! Is the receiver case hardened ? I love the look of your rifle.

Capable of taking the largest game. This one with two Hornady 170 RNSP Interlocks at 100 paces.

This one will be chasing critters in South Africa coming June. Loaded with the 180 gr BT. My first go at hunting with the 8x57.

Tony, very nice rig. What are the "details" on it?