New to me 8x57-Loads?

[1Shirt]

Have a new to me Civ. version 98Mauser, Belgium made in 52 on the way, and have 50 new virg Rem cases loaded with 13 gr Red Dot over the Lee 175. That was the only blt. I could find a mold for on short notice, and it is sort of an ugly duckling looking thing. However so is the 150 Lee 30, and they shoot in most everything I have in 30 cal very well. Know I can't go wrong with the 13 gr. Red Dot starting load, but am looking for the experiance of some others with this blt and other powders. Blt sizes to .3235, and am trying both Lars Red and Lee mule snot. Have always kind of avoided the 8x57, but felt this was to good a deal to pass up, and had a set of brand new Bear dies (made in Lincoln Ne. befor -I believe Hornady bought them out many moons ago). I thank in advance all who respond to this thread.
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[mike in co]

Have a new to me Civ. version 98Mauser, Belgium made in 52 on the way, and have 50 new virg Rem cases loaded with 13 gr Red Dot over the Lee 175. That was the only blt. I could find a mold for on short notice, and it is sort of an ugly duckling looking thing. However so is the 150 Lee 30, and they shoot in most everything I have in 30 cal very well. Know I can't go wrong with the 13 gr. Red Dot starting load, but am looking for the experiance of some others with this blt and other powders. Blt sizes to .3235, and am trying both Lars Red and Lee mule snot. Have always kind of avoided the 8x57, but felt this was to good a deal to pass up, and had a set of brand new Bear dies (made in Lincoln Ne. befor -I believe Hornady bought them out many moons ago). I thank in advance all who respond to this thread.
1Shirt!:coffeecom
go look in the mil rifles with cast boolts section....probably sized to small...more like 325

[Maven]

1Shirt, I have a Shaw re-bbl'd. 8 x 57mm Mau. as well as the Lee 175gr. mold. At first I was doubtful that it would shoot well since the [bore riding] nose wasn't a snug fit in the rifle's muzzle. However, at 50 yds., it would group into one big hole. Several weeks ago I decided to try it at 100 yds. and was quite surprised and impressed with its accuracy. (I posted pics of both the 100 yd. target and the rifle recently.) I size mine to .3245" + Felix Lube and seat into the rifling, which is 3.035" in my case. As I don't have any Red Dot, I use WC 820 (AA #9 burning rate) since past experience in larger .30cal. cartridges (metrics included) and the 8 x 57mm has been entirely positive: 20.6grs. (Lyman pistol powder measure) is plenty powerful for punching paper. When I run out of it, H/IMR 4198 or AA 5744 will be my second and first choices, respectively. Alliant 2400 merits consideration also, but I haven't much experience with it beyond the 7.62 x 39mm and the .45-70. And, it's not nearly as dirty in rifles as it is in revolvers.

[Larry Gibson]

1Shirt

If the "new" rifle has the long throat that milsurps have I would suggest the Lyman Lovern 323470 or the 323471 if you can find one. Both of my moulds drop as cast at .325 which is what I size them too and I've not found a M98 that they were not a good fit to the throat in. Both are extremely accurate bullets, especially at high velocity. I also have been getting very good results with the past GB mould that cast a bullet at 190 gr similar to 311291 only with a FN. The nose is a snug fit in the bore of the three 8mms I'm shooting these days. Attached is a picture of a GC comparison test (Hornady GCs against my own). They are the GB bullet over 28 gr 4895 with a 1/2 gr dacron filler in 1939 Turk cases with the berdan primer. No attempt was made to "work up" the load. It is just one that usually works in a plethora of cartridges. Also note that those bullets were from the 6 cavity mould and no selection was done other than a casual look for defects when GCing. 1.5 moa for 10 shots out of a M24/47 Yugo M98 isn't all that bad without trying, eh?

Larry Gibson

[shastaboat]

It's suprizing that more has not been done with the 8X57. I've been loading 37 gr of IMR 4198 for 2380 fps in my 18.5" carbine. I also load 27 gr. of 2400 for 2170 fps. This is with 323470 and I have recently been using the same loads with Lee's bullet that is casting at 177 gr. avg for me and both sized .325. The Lyman wighs out at 173 gr avg. (both cast in WW). I have to admit the Lee bullet is outshooting the Lyman but both are accurate. I've shot groups less than 1" but generally I run about 1.5".

[jonk]

I've shot it the last 4 years running at Camp Perry. Great round.

That's also a superb bullet mold for 90% of 8mm Mausers you are likely to find.

[Moonie]

My load is 35gr H4895 under the Karabiner boolit.

[frkelly74]

I have had fun with the Lee 175 in my Czec . Sized at 324 over 10 gr Unique. Shoots to point of aim at 50 yd and very mild recoil. I wish It was a 2 cavity.

[Blammer]

Rem 700 in 8x57

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/323407.jpg

[Blammer]

and now a 100yd target

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/DSCN8418.jpg