Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Big Game in a 8x57

Any one ever run Ramshot Big Game in the 8x57 Mauser? The numbers look pretty good and I like the lower pressure.

I've tried it with several bullets in my pair of 8x57's, an old German custom sporter and an Erfurt military K-98.

It does really well with 150's in the Erfurt, over 2900 fps with pretty darn good accuracy with the military open sights. In the hunting rifle it's the powder I use for hunting loads with 180 Ballistic Tips, right around 2700 fps with good accuracy. I also tried some 195 Hornadys with Big Gsme in the sporter and they shot really well at 2450.

JB - Thank You. I too, have run the 195 Horn. but only could get about 2350 fps. with RL 15, max. load. Very accurate, But I have been thinking that maybe the bullet is too tough for that velocity. Went back to the 170GR. Interlokt RN with 49.5 grs.of TAC @ about 2550, max load. Accurate enough for my needs, but wouldn't mind trying Big Game in my original 1943 military barrel.

John-

I know this thread is a few months old, but are your hunting rifle loads with Big Game using magnum primers? I'm loading up some 8x57 with Hornady 170gn RN and Big Game and, based on your other posts about Ramshot powders, I was going to use Winchester Magnum primers. How much, in your experience, do the magnum primers affect pressures/velocities? The max load is 54gn at approx. 2750fps for 175gn bullets with standard primers. . . so, for the 170gn bullets, I was thinking a starting load of 50-52 would be okay, but was unsure how much the swap to magnum primers affected things. Thanks!

I like the 170 Hornady RN. Did well the last range trip backed with 2000mr.

backtobethel,

I used Winchester Large Rifles in the 8x57 article. They're one of the hotter "standard" primers, and I've found them to work well in many medium-sized cases with Ramshot rifle powders.

I need to update my 8mm Mauser loads! I've used the 170 grain Hornady round nose, but the 180 grain ballistic tip should work great at 2700fps and not give up much to the 30/06. Now to find some Big Game....