Any good loads for the 8x56R

[brstevns]

Does anyone have any loads that worked for them in the 8x56r using the lee 338 bullet and Unique. 2400 or IMR 4198? Looking for something around 1800 FPS

[dabsond]

If I remember correctly 18 grains under the lee bullet was best for me. Bullets were tumble lubed. I loaded them as shallow in the case as they would feed and chamber from the clip. I used gas checks pressed on. The alox held them in place until the casing crimped them on. Very good accuracy at 50 yds.

[Coyote Chris]

66979The Lee guide that comes with their dies says that 24.7 of IMR 4198 will get you in the ballpark with a 170 grain jacketed bullet. Lee Makes a dandy luber sizer kit that converts .338 bullets to .329 bullets. Remember that the original bullet for this barrel was a .323 long round nose guy, which I have used with lots of success, even though it seems undersized. You cant go wrong with asking the folks over at the M95 forum on gunboards, either, as well as the the power and bullet manufacures's websites. If I told you how I do load development for this rifle, it would scare you!
(Just so as we are clear, Lee now makes the .338 bullet mould in .329 too, but I still use the .338 bullet run through their Luber/sizer...

[brstevns]

66979The Lee guide that comes with their dies says that 24.7 of IMR 4198 will get you in the ballpark with a 170 grain jacketed bullet. Lee Makes a dandy luber sizer kit that converts .338 bullets to .329 bullets. Remember that the original bullet for this barrel was a .323 long round nose guy, which I have used with lots of success, even though it seems undersized. You cant go wrong with asking the folks over at the M95 forum on gunboards, either, as well as the the power and bullet manufacures's websites. If I told you how I do load development for this rifle, it would scare you!
(Just so as we are clear, Lee now makes the .338 bullet mould in .329 too, but I still use the .338 bullet run through their Luber/sizer...



Thanks, nice group!

[Old Iron Sights]

Last time I was trying loads, things were getting better the closer I got toward 18 grains. From 5 shots, I had a tight 3-shot group and a tight two-shot group. Must have a bedding issue. I always work on loads at 100 yards.

[brstevns]

Last time I was trying loads, things were getting better the closer I got toward 18 grains. From 5 shots, I had a tight 3-shot group and a tight two-shot group. Must have a bedding issue. I always work on loads at 100 yards.



Are we talking Unique or 2400

[Smokepole50]

I have done a lot of load work-up with the 8x58 Rimmed Danish cartridge using 2400 and SR4759.
You can look at it here.
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?270996-8X58RD-Load-Data-In-Progress-Help-needed
You should be able to gather some info in relation to pressure and your cartrige.

Smokepole

[Old Iron Sights]

2400 and the lee 338 sized to about 332..

[DeanWinchester]

10.0g of Unique will work in darn near anything!

[Dschuttig]

A good place to start is 16 grs of 2400. I have gotten good accuracy up till around 21 grs. To shoot these rifles, and load for them requires a little understanding. The 8x56r never used a RN bullet. The correct bullet for factory mil spec 8x56r is a ,329 diameter 205 grain boat tail spitzer. The original chambering for these rifles was known as the "8x50r" Austrian Mannlicher and was changed slightly a few times early on, but for the sake of keeping it simple the case was 50.6 mm and shot a long 244gr cupro-nickel RN bullet that measures between .323-4. In the 1930's Steyr teamed up with the swiss firm Slothurn (I think I got that right) and redesigned the slow wimpy 8x50r mannlicher M95 to shoot a more powerful round with minimal rifle modification. And along comes the 8x56r. Unlike the 8x50r, which used a undersized bullet that was flat base and supposed to obutrate upon firing, the 8x56r was designed with full size (to groove) boat tail bullet. The case head and most of the base of the case body were kept the same size, while the neck was lengthened to 56mm and given that trademark "long slooping shoulder".
Understand that the real groove diameter of these rifles runs ,331 to ,334, I have read some rare occasions of barrels actually being ,329, but this is more of the rarity than the rule. Point being, you have to cast a bullet that drops larger than the lee mold. You have a few choices. You can get the lee 338 mold. Pretty similiar in appearance, just larger and heavier. Some people say it the cats $%#%, some say it sucks. Haven't tried it. The best design for this rifle is the "frankenstien" mold. Odd looking, heavy, but fills the huge throat and flies very well, groups well. I'm running the current group buy now if anyone is interested.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?145207-Attn-Steyr-M95-owners!-8X56R-Mihec-Oldfeller-frankenstien-Boolit-Re-do-starts-Here!!!

Your other choice is to have a custom mold made. I just sent out some samples to veral at LBt to make me a long RN for my 8x50r original rifle that matches the look of the original bullet, but casts ,334.

Hope this helps.

[EDG]

You might compare the volume of your 8X56 cases with 8X57 cases. Then use your best judgment where to start using 8X57 data as a guide.

[brstevns]

You might compare the volume of your 8X56 cases with 8X57 cases. Then use your best judgment where to start using 8X57 data as a guide.

Have read were a lot of people use 7.62x54R data?

[Doc_Stihl]

I loaded up my first 20 rounds with the Lee .329 bullet seated with 1 lube groove outside the case and just enough crimp to close the flare over 10 grains of Unique. First 5 rounds landed inside 2" at 500 at Point of Aim. Haven't bothered to try anything else yet. Velocity is low, but I doubt a white tail will shrug off a well placed round.