8x56R published load data

[longusmc]

I have the following manuals and non of them have load data for this cartridge.

Accurate Smokeless Powders Loading Guide #2
Lyman 49th Reloading Handbook
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #4
Speer Reloading Manual #14
Nosler Reloading Guide #6
Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 7th and 9th Editions
Barnes Reloading Manual #4

I also checked the Hodgdon/IMR reloading data center web page and no data listed.

What gives? Where can I find published data?

[texassako]

The only published data I could find is jacketed data in magazines: Rifle Issue #139 - January, 1992, and Handloader Issue #279 - August, 2012.

[Buckshot]

Lee has load data published with their loading dies. Folks have been reloading this cartridge with jacketed and cast for quite a few years now and a web search such as "8x56R reload data" should turn up some info to at least get you started. This info:

Was obtained off of one site. While not a legitimate 'Published Source' his data looks to have been intelligently thought out, and I doubt that what he shows is what he picked out to start with. In using it I'd back off some and then see what you get if you need to work up.

1938 nazi marked surplus ammo (2337 fps)

.330 Hornady 205 grain bullet (Graf and Sons) 44 gr IMR 4064, (2083 fps)

.330 Hornady 205 grain bullet 45.9 IMR 4895 (2168 fps)

.330 Hornady 205 grain bullet 46 grains Varget. (2155 fps)

.330 Hornady 205 grain bullet 47 grains IMR 3031. (2355 fps) Will never exceed.

.329 Bufallo 150 grain spire point 47 grains IMR 3031. (2489 fps) Will never exceed.

.329 Bufallo 150 spire point 46 grains Varget (2168 fps)

.329 Bufallo 150 spire point 44 grains IMR 4064. (2150 fps)

.329 Bufallo 150 spirepoint IMR 4895 46 grains. (2252 fps)

Yes, I used the same charge for 150 and 205 grain bullets. The Hornady 205 grain are made by Prvi. Primers used were Remington 9 1/2, 205 grain, .330 bullets C.O.L. =3.000. 150 grain, .329 bullets C.O.L. =2.95

For reloading cast, all you need to do is to start out with generic data for for the 8x57 Mauser or most any other old 'Full power' military cartridge. Start with a mid range charge and go from there. It would actually be wise to start with jacketed ammo to ascertain the possible real world accuracy of the rifle/carbine. If you do contemplate cast, you'd be wise to slug the throat and the beginning of the barrel and also upset a slug at the muzzle. These generally have some rather unusual chamber, throat, and groove dimensions. As for upsetting a slug at the muzzle you may find some odd/different bore measurements there from years of energetic cleaning from the muzzle with a steel rod.

................Buckshot

[Mike 56]

Here is Lee data

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg95/51colt/4f471eff-264f-41bc-bc2c-b04062fbaa78.jpg (http://s246.photobucket.com/user/51colt/media/4f471eff-264f-41bc-bc2c-b04062fbaa78.jpg.html)

[dabsond]

I shoot mine with a .330 unsized cast bullet over 18 grns of 2400. Pleasant shooting and very accurate at 50 yds. If ever there was a rifle to try shooting cast, these are it.

[longusmc]

Thanks for the Lee data. I have to look but I'm sure I have that issue of Handloader stashed away.

[Mike 56]

here is some more 56R data http://www.realguns.com/loads/8x56r.htm

[mace2364]

There was an article in shotgun news some time ago about handloading for the 8x56R. It primarily focused on some "plinking loads" using .358 bullets sized down. I don't remember when though.

[chrispy]

With the Lee data, I just want to know where do you get the 125 gn, 150gn and 170gn 329 cal bullets?
I cannot even get 180gn 338's to swage down, best I can get is the Speer Hot Core J-words 200gn.

The ultimate shooter for me is Lee 338-200 2R cast bullet, sized to 334. Am still experimenting with powders.

Chrispy

[ajjohns]

Never saw 125's. 150's and 170's are available from Buffalo Arms. I've only used the 205 Hornady yet. The question I have is are the big variances in the diameters of the bore. Do the lands get big when the groove dia gets big? I would suppose so but that can cause a problem in the diameter of the nose of a certain boolit for fit in the throat. But, I would suppose a military arm would have a generous throat? Maybe not? When I fire mine, ( j-words so far) the inside dia of the case neck is .338. That's plenty. Haven't got to slug the bore yet to see what's going on there.

[junkbug]

I had a copy of that Lee data that must have been slightly older. It said you could use 8mm mauser bullets (.323"). The data was severely under loaded and I had partial ignition with a starting load of IMR 3031 and a .323" 150gr bullet. The powder fused into a blob, and the bullet stuck in the bore. Temp was about 35 deg Farenheit. After that I stopped trusting their data. Loks like they just changed the recomended diameter bullet. I didn't save my old copy, so I don't know if the charges have changed.

[jonk]

Interestingly, the old 8X50R also usually had a .329 nominal bore, but used .323 bullets; it was expected they would upset into the rifling.

These are fun guns but can be tricky to get to shoot well. As Buckshot says, the throat and leade areas are often pretty interesting; I made a cerrosafe cast of my two guns, and both demanded a .334" bullet. The bore slugs to .331 on one of them and .330 on the other, not too far off the .329 nominal, but I was getting horrible results with cast lead until I started sizing for the throat vs. the bore. Using the Lee .338 mold the trick also was to seat WAY out... to just engage the rifling only about 1/16" of the bullet is in the case for my carbine, and for the long rifle I honestly think I could breech seat and have the bullet all the way out of the case. The only issue here of course is bullet seating; the Lee dies don't open the case enough to seat such a fat bullet and the bullets bind in the seater die. My solution there was two fold- first, to put a .338 expander in the die set with a few thousandths polished off, second to seat in a .348 winchester seater; though the neck isn't supported it works well enough.

As for load data, I have found that in general, 7.62X54R data is a good place to start as it is a slightly smaller case; compare to Lee's data above, and work up watching for pressure issues.

[alaska6.5hunter]

Buckshot; thanks for sharing my data above and thanks for saying that it was intelligently thought out. I just want to add my original disclaimer:
Disclaimer... reload at your own risk. My loads may exceed what little published reload data there is for the 8x56R. I do not advocate loading over maximum published load data, so I must say DO NOT USE MY LOAD DATA, AND HAVE YOUR FIREARM CHECKED BY A COMPETENT GUNSMITH BEFORE USE. At first, I tried published data but it was really weak and gave low pressure problems: sooty cases, no recoil, severe blowback. With the loads below, I had no high or low pressure problems or indications of approaching either.
Loads that I used... Some worked better than others, but all 5 shot groups were under 2.5 inches.
The Varget and IMR 3031 did the best groups. You can see my targets on the link below. The 205 grain and Varget has become my favorite load for white tails. Also, you can see my scope mount in the other posts. The IMR 3031 load was pushing the limit. I had low pressure signs with all Lee load data that I tried. Lately, I've been experimenting with Unique powder and cast bullets....no recoil and very, very accurate out to 100 yards, but probably not strong enough for hunting.

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=106669 (http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=106669)