FR8 1st firing

[matm0702]

Hi Folks

Brought home a nice Spanish FR8 Saturday and tried it out today. 1st three shots
were cast flat nose bullets of approximately 178 grains. I got these from a local gunshop whose owner I'm friends with. I let me have 400 rounds of these cast loads. They are all in military 7.62 Nato brass. I broke one down and found it to have 21 grains of what may be 2400. They shot very well giving a 1 inch group at 50 yards. Recoil was low but had a loud bark. Will Chrony some later as I wish to duplicate the load. I believe the mold was a Lyman. BHN as checked with a Lee tester is around 11 and bullet size is approximately .311. J-word remington 150 grain stuff shot as well but at a minimun sight setting. One odd issue is the cast rounds hit 1 inch to the left while the J-word bullets hit 1 inch to the right. Was a very good time today. I am interested in a more powerful hunting load but may already have it with my existing rounds. Just need some chrony time.

Mike

[Bret4207]

Aren't those great guns? Mine dotes on the RCBS 30-180 FN with 13.0 Red Dot and straight WW boolits. There are articles around on how the front sight works to correct for drift.

[Gee_Wizz01]

The FR8 is great little rifle, I have been shooting cast boolits in mine for years. Mine has a huge throat, but shoots well. In the past I got great results with the Lyman 311291 and Reloader 7 or 2400. My rifle also likes the Lyman 311359 with 12 to 14 gr of Unique. I seat the 311359 just barely in the case, seated to the middle of the bottom band. This load shoots 1" groups at 50yds Recently I tried the NOE 311-165 Ranch Dog design and it is shooting very well with Reloader 7. I seat the bullet out until it just touches the lands, so it is loaded long. I haven't taken my FR8 hunting yet, but I am planing on taking it next year.

G

[EMC45]

Got one too. It loves cast! I shot some Chinasport 147gr. copper washed steel at 100 yds once and got a fist sized 5 shot group about 8 inches above POA. Not too bad for laying on my belly in the dirt!

[Chunky Monkey]

Aren't those great guns? Mine dotes on the RCBS 30-180 FN with 13.0 Red Dot and straight WW boolits. There are articles around on how the front sight works to correct for drift.

I think they are pretty nice and I want to get one. I shot one last year vv! Now that I got my M1 and a couple of carbines the FR8 is moving up on my list!!

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee267/Metzy84/100_0055.jpg

[Doble Troble]

My FR-8 is my favorite Mauser! Mine REALLY likes 4198 with the Lee C309-180-R - 21.0 gr - got that load from a recommendation here a few years back. This is a great board.

Bullets drop at 0.310 but I size them anyway to put the gas checks on. Don't remember OAL, its either touching the lands or just short enough to feed.

Boringly accurate is the only problem. If memory serves I use the 300 yd apature at 100 and its just a bit high, and accurate!

Front sight is eccentric, turning adjusts windage. Adjustment works the same as the CETME. Get a CETME front sight tool, they're cheap.

[Calamity Jake]

I've had one for 3-4 years now, don't shoot it much, 311413@ .310 and 14 of 2400 shoots about 2.5 inches @ 100 when I do my part.

At one of our monthly Mil Bolt matches last summer our side match was carbines at 50 yards 10 rounds in 10 minutes from the bench, the FR 8 and above load scored 98 with 4 Xs
on the SR 21 target, finishing 2nd

Yap that front sight adjusts windage and elevation at the same time.

A WARNING!! DO NOT SHOOT FACTORY 308 WIN IN THE FR8 SOME ARE LOADED TO 55K PSI
THE FR8 IS FOR 7.62 NATO(42-45K) OR LIGHTER AMMO!!

[Bret4207]

The FR8 is a 98 Mauser action. The FR7 is a 93/95 based action and is the one the warnings allegedly apply to.

[matm0702]

I had a 1916 carbine in 7.62. It was nice but I was afraid to shoot it so traded it off for a Russian 91/59. I kept my eyes open for a FR8 or a Isreali mauser. A Isreali is next on my list. Now to find a 200 grain flatnose mold that would drop .311 for hunting purposes.

Mike

[TCLouis]

I have looked for one of those.

They used to be few and far between, but now they are nonexistent.

Oh well finally going to tuse a New milsurp 308 and an action I have to build a cast boolit 308 rifle this spring. As smooth and shiny as that barrel is, I will be surprised if it does not shoot well.

[abunaitoo]

Shot mines today.
Lee 155gr 311di
10.5 of 700x.
Lite load
3 out of 5 in the X at 50yds.