I own a modern, storng and new rifle (new action and barrel) in 8X57 JS, and I want to reload it using Speer 170gr bullets. The barrel is 24" long. What are the maximum speed I can get in a rifle like this if I want the pressure around 60.000 PSI?
What are the recommended loads to get this?

Accurate powder lists the CIP limits as 97% of .30-06 or 58,200 psi for 8x57IS. Accurate powder list a max load for a 170 Hornady bullet at 2754 fps from a 24" barrel. I would imagine a Speer would be right there too. 60,000 psi wouldn't be all that "hot" depending on your rifle.

Cartridge: 8x57mm JS Mauser (8mm Mauser)
http://www.realguns.com/loads/8x57mmjs.htm
Note: CIP 56,000+ PSI MAP loads for use in sound Model 98 actions or equivalent.
Firearm: GEW 98 Military Mauser
Barrel: 29.1"

-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by 6_5X57:
I own a modern, storng and new rifle (new action and barrel) in 8X57 JS, and I want to reload it using Speer 170gr bullets. The barrel is 24" long. What are the maximum speed I can get in a rifle like this if I want the pressure around 60.000 PSI?
What are the recommended loads to get this?

you should be capable of achieving 2,700'/sec with the 170 grain bullet and a starting load of 50 grains of Win 748 and work up.....(possibly to about 55 grains....data from Hornady manual)

That data is in stark difference to the data in the above post by BFaucett as follows
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" Re 15 52.2 2820
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" Benchmark 47.9 2765
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" Varget 50.8 2810
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" IMR 4895 51.0 2870
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" RS TAC 50.9 2826
Speer Hot-Cor 170 .323" Win 748 51.8 2865

A 170 grain bullet at 2865'/sec is nip and tuck with the 30-06.....pressures are not stated.....
be prudent here.

The slightly lesser case capacity of the 8x57 as compared to the .30-06 is approximately offset by the larger bore. Generally, with a given bullet weight, you can expect similar velocities at similar pressures in these two cartridges.

In other words, you can expect to slightly exceed the velocity of a 180/.30-06 and be just short of a 165/.30-06 with a 170/8x57, assuming equal length barrels, similar pressures, and powder speeds optimized for the cartridge/bullet combination.

The "speed" of barrels and chambers vary, of course, but this guess won't miss the average far.

1903 Turk Mauser 8mm 27.5" barrel, [barrel cut back 1.5" from 29" and recrowned]

48 gr. IMR4895 220 gr. Sierra 2420, 3.22" OAL, measured 2,600 - 2,625 fps, no extractor groove growth



Quickload predicts 2,630 fps, 58,912 psi


Sometimes this load works, gives great groups and velocity, and other times the primers seats too easily on the next loading. I think it is on the edge, and if the bullet touches the lands, the pressure goes up.

I have found using faster powders in the 8 x 57 with long throated bullets can really crank out some velocity...

This isn't pressure tested so work up.. maybe tnekkcc can work up some pressure data for ya...

Speer 170 grain SMP with an OAL of 80 mms...
CCI Large Rifle primer....

Powders: RE 7, IMR 4198....

4198 worked up to 47.5 grains

RL 7 worked up to 48 grains....

Work up in your rifle, but these loads were reloadable 7 plus times before any brass failure.. and this was usually neck splits, etc from being full length resized each time...primers were nice and tight...

1.5 grain more on each tho, were starting to pop primers...

Have tested these in a 98 commercial Mauser ( 1930 production date, two different CZs 1924 and 1930 production dates., and two different Turkish Mausers..1945 or so production dates

Velocity exceeded 3000 fps in all rifles and 3100 fps in two of the CZs...

Accuracy was pretty darn good for each of these rifles, in comparisons to other loads..

work up carefully tho, as you can tell they are HOT.... but they sure will be flat shooting...

IN the field tho, I'd go with the 175 grain Sierra SP instead as the Speer actually performed better at lower velocities than at higher velocities...

cheers
seafire

If you want to be on the safe side go to www.lapua.com and download their guide for Vihta powders. Allowed maximum pressures here are higher than on your side of the pond, main reason is that the 8x57 IS does not have to be loaded sufficiently low so that a 8x57 I rifle (and the shooter) survive it when firing the IS's larger bullet (.323 instead of .318).