My son picked up a Yugo Mauser in 8x57. I picked up some RCBS reloading dies, some Speer 170 grain Hotcors, and I worked up some initial reloads using 50 grains of H414 (the only powder I have on hand) with Remingon 9 1/2 primers. OAL 2.95 inches. Remington brass. Any thoughts on how this load will do? Middle of the road, I suppose? What is THE accuracy powder in the 8x57?

Thanks, Dogger

I load:
50,0 grs Vithavuori N 140,
170 grs Hornady Interlock
CCI 200, Brass: Geco (RWS)
OAL 72,3 mm, Vo 820 m/s

Ohne Gew�hr !!!

I'm not convinced that there's one powder that is more accurate in this round than a lot of others. H4895, Varget, IMR 4320, H380, and several other medium-burning powders are well suited to this cartridge. H414, being similar in burning rate to IMR4350, might be on the slow side for a 170-grain or lighter bullet in the 8X57, but it would be good with bullets of 195 grains on up!

I have reloaded the 8x57mm for some time. I tried lots of powders and bullet combinations. For the 3 8x57's rifles, none of the loads I tried were substantially better than others, although some combinations did give somewhat higher velocites. All of the bullets were 200 grain spitzers, such as Nosler Partitions or Speer HotCor. The old military rifles and one new military rifle, all shot around 3 to 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards, using the original military open sights.

However, one day, I came across some old Herter's ammo in 8x57 caliber and discovered that it shot groups 2 to 2.25 inches. This ammo had round nose bullets which weighed 196 grains and a powder charge of around 47 grains, the exact number escapes me right now and I am not near my notebook to look it up. So, don't quote me on this weight. Obviously, the old Herter's box didn't state the load.

However, in thumbing through Lyman loading manual of the same vintage as the ammo, I discovered a load with the exact same weight using IMR4064 powder and the same weight and style of bullet, 196 grain round nose.

This bullet is made by Woodleigh, so I would suggest you start there with IMR4064 powder. Check a loading manual for a safe load for the 4064 and work up a load.

The round nose bullet makes sense, as it puts the nose of the bullet much closer to the begining of the rifling, for increased accuracy.

I did the same thing, using 220 grain RN bullets for my WW2 vingtage French MAS and much improved the accuracy in that as well.

RobertD

I have 7 8m/mx57 mausers that I load for.
I have a pet that I made into a scout.There are two powders that I use that have given good hunting accuracy; IMR 4895 And Accurate 2520.
With 4895 the 175 Sierra bullet was driven to 2500 ft./sec with no high pressure signs.
With the same bullet and aa 2520 velosities from 2564 to 2687 ft./sec. were recorded.The group for 5 shots was 1/2" horizontal and 2" vertical sustained fire.( shoot load shoot---)2 power scope.
With 185gr. Rem. aa2520 produced a velosity of 2500 ft. /sec.
I'm sure higher velosities are safely obtainable but this is for now as high as I care to go. Roger

Have to agree with eldegullo (above) regarding powder choices. Also, even though they're round nosed bullets (and thus not nifty looking or even "sexy"), don't overlook Hornady's 170gr. RNs. With IMR 4064 they are superbly accurate in my 8mm Mau.

I like this round a lot. I "sporterized" a M48
(scoped, timney trigger, new stock) and okay so maybe I over did it, but it's real fun to shoot ;-)

I've pretty much setteled on

Fed 210 primers
Hornady 170 gr. RN (#5235}
48 gr. RL15
stuffed into Remington brass
With a Lee factory factory crimp

I normally get 5 shot groups (100 yds.) with 3 to 5 holes touching off of sand bags provided I'm doing what I should. Also (mostly) get 2 1/5 (or less) in groups offhand if I take my time. It's not the hottest load possible but I sure like the accuracy.

OOPS, that should have been Hornady part number 3235
not 5235

I am using the 170g Hornady RN with a full load of IMR4064, and getting 2637 fps and 1 1/2" groups. This is from a sportered Turkish Mauser. Horndy sent me their new load notes, and it has a top load of 49.4 [my full load] grains of IMR 4064 with the 170 RN. They have a new 195g psp out that I would like to try too. I have used some old 196g Norma's with 46g of IMR 4064, for a mv of 2450 fps, and 1" goups. I liked the accuracy, but the bullet was very fragile, and exploded on impact with a 150 lb whitetail. It made quite a mess.

Quickload and my experience predict that with H414, 170 gr Speer, and 2.95" OAL, that:

1) The SAAMI max pressure of 35,000 psi would be reached with 51.3 gr.
2) The max CIP pressure for 8mm JS would be reached at 59 gr for 56 kpsi.
3) The bolt would be very sticky at 60.9gr. for 64kspi.
4) You will find your best accuracy, 2750 fps, and 47 kspi at 56 gr.

So why are you seating so short?
Hodgdon says 53 gr and seat short:
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/857mmmau.php
But Hodgdon says that 4198 will give the highest velocity for 150 gr 8mm [wrong]. Obviosly the slower powders listed were for loads at a different pressure.

I would increase to 3.23" and use 59 gr for the accuracy load.

I used 4064 and Speer 170's in my sporterized Turk and got groups around .8". Velocity was in the 2650 area.

Thanks for the tips. I found an article on the web that suggested the Yugo action struggles with smooth feeding of round noses. I have found that to be the case with Remington roundnose factory loads. Too bad as I really like the roundnose bullet. I think I will make it to the range Wed night, and can check out these spitzers I put together.

Playing with the 'ol Yugo, this is what I cooked up:
1) 185 R-P Core-lokt
2) 49.5 IMR 4895
3) WLR primer/LC68 NM brass
4) COL: 3.010"
5) Vel: 2566fps

For my K98 8x57
1)185 pspcl REM.
2)Winchester Cases
3)52grn. H380
4)CCI LR primers
I dont have a crony so I wont guess , but they shoot good .

1. imr 4064 51 grains, 150 sierra bullet out of a turk 29 inch barrell. getting 2950 fps with 3 shot groups all bullets touching at 100 yards... with scope on bags....sweet gun.

steve

Remington is supposed to make next year's Classic in 8x57 according to an article in Rifle Shooter magazine. If they do, do you think it would be possible to handload "hotter" loads than is available in loading manuals for military rifles? In effect make our own +P loads? Would there be other limiting factors, other than the rifle, like brass?

Bob257

Dogger:

First I was a former inmate of Yorkshire Elementary School in Manassas.....

The H 414 will do just fine, Have confidence in the Round Nose bullets as they just plane work.

Contrary to what Clark posted ( as I usually agree 100 % of everything he says), 4198 is a good powder to use with the 8 x 57 for Velocity.
Slower powders are listed a lot, just to hold down pressures. Sort of like loading 4350 or 4831 in a 223 or 30/30.

I tried a bunch of powders in my CZ Mausers and RL 7 or IMR 4198 are what I settled on. Combination of accuracy and velocity, and recoil.
I am looking for a 200 yd load with that rifle with the RNs.

I am looking forward to playing with it after hunting season is over, using the 220 grain bullets. Seems to be that the 8mm Mauser is highly underloaded in the USA, based on lawyers and no one knowing the difference of the earlier 8 x 57s.

Just wondering why do lawyers act like everyone is so stupid and that the entire population needs their input to make a common sense decision?

Of course they have created a society that it is more profitable, (especially for them), to be stupid and irresponsible personally, than to exercise a little God given common sense.

Of course last week I saw some bozo at the range trying to figure out why 30/30 ammo would not feed in his 30/06 right. I asked him why he did not buy 30/06 ammo instead. Typical trailer park answer, "the 30/30 stuff was on sale and cheaper..... isn't 30 caliber stuff all the same???"

Here's your sign......

Seafire,

Looking at Hodgdon's on line data in 2003 for 8mm and 150 gr. http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/857mmmau.php

H4831 57.0 2452
H4350 54.0 2552
H414 56.0 2773
H380 54.0 2778
BL-C(2) 46.0 2553
H335 49.0 2744
H4895 50.0 2747
H322 46.0 2726
H4198 41.0 2848

This bears some resemblance to Hodgdon's first load book, er, pamphlet [ two covers and five pages]; The 8mm load for 4895 is 50 gr. producing 2747 fps. BL-C, however is 55 gr. producing 2994 fps. Prices for 4895 is $1.50/lb can, $20.50/20lb drum, $34.50/50lb drum, $64.50/100lb drum, and $99.75/150 lb keg.

Chrono graph testing with the Berkeley chronograph graph is 75 cents. I guess Hodgdon, having spent the 75 cents, has not been willing to update.

I just tried to check my intuition with Quickload.
It shows all the powders that Hodgdon shows at LOWER velocities with 150 gr. bullets and H4198 as having HIGHER velocities than H4198 at the same pressure at the H4198 load, 43797 psi.

If I raise the pressure to 57,000 psi and case filling to no more than 100%, the hierarchy is still the same.

--
A society that teaches evolution as fact will breed a generation of atheists that will destroy the society. It is Darwinian.

I've had good luck with 4064, N-202, and H-380. With the best groups sizes with H-380 I like a load of 54grs and a 175 gr Sierra, does 1/2moa or better, at 2700 fps.