8x57 options

[PhotoDominant]

Is their a factory option for a nice 8x57 mauser these days?

jpsauer seems to be the only factory option made in the usa.

The mythical Remington 700 limited edition.

Problem is I cant afford the cost of the European offerings when I can find them.

Or is it better to merely "suck it up" and try to find an 06 that will work with what I like in a rifle and use as is, or try to turn into a 8x57?

I do like a sexy mannlicher stock. Stutzen classic at Sauer.

[Texas by God]

Simpson’s has Husqvarna 8x57 Mauser rifles for sale. Cabelas had some Zastava Mauser 8x57s recently. Other than that you’ll have to find a Tikka T3 Hunter or a Rem 700 Classic or the Sauer. Good luck in your search.

[sharps4590]

Keep watching the auction sites. Eventually you will come across an 8 X 57 Mauser Sporter you can afford. I watched one for almost 18 months before I bought it and it had come down 50%. It isn't a Stutzen but it is immediately post-WWI and I think a fine rifle.

[richhodg66]

The ones mentioned at Cabela's are decent, serviceable rifles, and reasonable for Cabela's. I've been fighting the urge to go buy one for a while now.

[nekshot]

At some point these old guns will be all in private hands and market value will be gone. The old "I Want" will kick in and prices will rise!

[Earlwb]

I would start checking out the pawn shops and local gun stores. You never know what might show up on their racks. But Cabelas has been selling some 8x57 Zastava Mauser rifles that look quite decent. They already put on sporter stocks too. if I remember right they even drilled and tapped them for scope mounts too.

[Adam20]

I think cz still makes them, dont know price

[jblee10]

The Remington Classic 8x57 is not a myth. I know they are out there. But I'm not selling. Can always have a sporter mauser rebarrelled if your heart is set on 8mm. I kind of like the 8X57. Factory ammo is like an over grown 30-30 but reloaded ammo is a 30-06.

[Zingger]

Jblee is correct- The Rem700 is well worth the trouble to find. Mine came out of a pawn shop on the east coast at a very attractive price. Granted it needed some love and a different stock. But it will shoot so well that if I told you, you would think I was lying. The CZ's, so far as I know, are not in the US. I have only been able to find one, that was in Canada and my FFL wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. Why not get a Savage 110 and re-barrel it?

[dverna]

Although the 8x57 is an excellent caliber, the practical option is a .30/06. Many inexpensive and accurate factory rifles and a popular caliber.

[lefty o]

simple matter to swap barrels on a savage 110.

[izzyjoe]

It just depends on what you want, if you are wanting a factory rifle, the choices are limited. But if you are willing to have one rebarreled, the possibilities are endless. Personally I would choose an action you like, and barrel it in 8mm06, you'd have the best of both worlds!

[richhodg66]

If you have a Cabela's nearby, check out those Zastavas. They're kind of plain, but nicely contoured stocks, drilled and tapped, barrels are not stepped military so they put good barrels on them, low swing safeties, good job all around and $399. Ours in KC had several on the rack. The one in Wichita had a couple too.

[tomme boy]

All the Remingtons I have heard of shot really bad. The one Zingger above he speaks of is the first I have ever heard that shoots good.

They are out there. But people collected them because of the limited run that Remington did them in. From what I seen is the people that actually shot them, sold them shortly afterwards.

[PhotoDominant]

Its a much maligned round, the 8x57 but it works.

So does 30-06, but the thing is although the 30-06 may be more popular in the states, I can get usable factory loaded ammunition at lower prices for 8x57. When your comparing fancy bullets.

Yes id like something that has the strength to be used like a military training rifle in ww2. Lots of rounds and no issues.

I have thought about rebarrelling a savage, but the most reputable places that make barrels, don't like the idea for some reason. And I have thought of swapping barrels on a Remington or Winchester but no one wants to do it

[INTRLOPER]

E.R Shaw will make you a Savage drop in in 8X57 even though they do not list them. Happiness is just a phone call and a credit card number away. I would much rather have an old Savage 110/111 in 8X57 than any overpriced Remington 700 in 8mm. Both of the 700's in 8mm I have seen/used were minute of barn door, on a good day, maybe.

[Zingger]

When I had originally purchased my R700, it was in a plastic stock. I am guessing the original stock must have pinched the barrel something fierce. I was able to source a vintage BDL stock in like-new condition. After opening the channel and bedding the recoil lug it responded extremely well. Mine will shoot sub-inch with 175 sp and imr 4064 with an average speed of 2675. I like it so much I am purchasing an 8mm-06 at the end of the week. I had a 338-06 that was a dismal disappointment and am hoping the 8-06 will redeem. After growing up with the 30-06, I have never seen one do what the 8x57 did to my deer last year. 200 yards, full front to rear, taking out a piece of the tenderloins on it's exit. Hair was in the air! Mr. Interloper is correct with the Savage action- they have a lot of things going for them. floating bolt head, user-adjustable headspace. The Rems are a hit and miss (the production was around 2500 if I remember?), and if I hadn't gotten it shipped for a touch over 5, I wouldn't have jumped on it.

[Texas by God]

The Tikka T3 8x57 shoots exceedingly well, like all Tikkas. I had Shaw rebarrel a K98 BRNO to 8x57 when in my 20’s and I used it for everything for years. It was very accurate as well. My favorite above deer round and it also is a cast friendly cartridge.

[Uncle Grinch]

I picked up a nice sporterized 98 Mauser in 244 Rem (6mm Rem) and had my gunsmith swap the barrel for a Husqvarna AB 8x57 take off barrel. The barrel was free since he had it for some time. All I paid was the fitting. Now I’ve got a very nice hunting rifle.

[8mm]

Bought a new Tikka T3 8x57 a couple of years ago for about $550. Not exactly a giveaway price but a bargain in today's market. It is consistently accurate, has excellent workmanship, and a pleasingly figured wood stock which is remarkable considering what I have seen exported from Europe on base line rifles. This rifle is a keeper!

For those who want an 8x57 there are still prewar and wartime M-98 rifles that can be had on the used market but thanks to collector demand, they are fewer in number and priced higher than in recent years. The barrel condition on wartime survivors is frequently fair to poor. Condition is everything in pricing! The best used buys that I have purchased have been wartime "bring backs" that were sporterised by returning GI's for hunting rifles. The barrels on these rifles was generally very good to excellent indicating that returning vets knew how to pick and choose from a stack of surrendered rifles.

Since this is a reloaders site, dies, bullets, and casting molds for the 8mm are fairly abundant. Brass on the other hand is not so abundant. Privi-Partizan (PPU) is the lowest priced brass available from online sources. Get it while you can!

Good luck with the search.