8 MM Lebel

[JP4]

I've been searching far and wide for some data on the 8x50R Lebel. I have a No.5 Remington Rolling Block made on the French contract and chambered for the Lebel cartridge. Any one have any load data for this beast. I have Graf brass and a 250 gr GC Lee mold which was a special order group buy for the 8mm Mauser on another board. I have tried a few of the hard ball loads from the Lee data sheet that comes with the dies but they seem very light and I get sooting on the brass due to lack of sealing pressure. I haven't migrated to the upper end of the Lee data since I've only had it to the range a few times and have been tweaking the loads a grain at a time. I would rather use cast bullets but can't find any real data.

Any Ideas?

Jim

[JW6108]

Lee data is known for being conservative, thus the sooting. No data here for a 250, but this will give you some of loads toward the upper end with the listed bullets.


11th Edition Cartridges of the World has the following for 8x50R Lebel:

Bullet Powder Grains Velocity Energy

170 SP IMR4895 49 2570 2500
198 SP IMR3031 46 2380 2481
198 SP IMR4895 45 2450 2645

170 Rem. Factory load 2640 2630
198 Military load 2380 2481

Could another member verify this data from COTW for JP4? Thanks guys.

[JP4]

Thanks for the input but I should have mentioned that I do have COW. Those loads seemed a bit stout and I am not sure they would be good in the No. 5 Rolling Block action. I'm sure that this old girl shot military ball at some point in it's existance but I'm hoping to treat her gentler in her old age.

Jim

[carpetman]

If you have a cow you should plenty of butter to make lube.

[KCSO]

My tarrget load with the Lebel is 12.5 grains of Red Dod under the Lee bullet made for the M95. I size it to 325 and it will go under 3" at 100 with iron sights. I have also used 9.0 of Trail Boss and 10.0 of Unique.

[JP4]

Thanks for the info.

Jim