I have been using a JP Sauer & Son Drilling in 16X16X8X57JR. .318 Diametmmo) er Bullet. It is very accurate (196 gr. Norma Factory Loads) and I have taken 4 deer in the last 2 years two over 200lb, one a 150" class buck. I have all I need to handload. But I am looking of a maximum overall length for the brass. I would also like some starter load recommendations. My thought is to start at 10-15% below 8X57JS (.323)loads. I have a supply of 196 gr. Woodleigh bullets and Norma brass. I would appreciate information from anyone loading this round.

For the 323" 8x57JRS the case sizes are
OAL 57.00mm - 2.244"
trim to lemgth 56.80mm - 2.236"

Max cartridge length 82.00mm - 3.228"

VihtaVuori, 1995

I don't know that the 318 dia 8x57JR case are the same dimensions.
I hope this is of some help.

Lawdog,

Welcome to the forum. I too have a Sauer 8-57 JR drilling however I size down 32 Special bullets and use IMRs 3031 so my loads are not for you.

I would contact Norma. They load factory ammo for the 8-57 JR and I found this data marked 8-57 jr(s). Note the (s) !! I am not sure if its the same cartridge.

http://www.norma.cc/sortimentl...er=8x57%20JRS&Lang=2

JRS not the same as JR, JRS takes a .323 bullet.
Thanks.

Loads and notes for the 8x57JR (Not JRS)

From the German manual "Wiederladen" 4th edition published by DEVA in 2000:

8x57JR
Max case length 57.0 mm
Max pressure 3200 BAR (46,400 psi CIP piezo)

All bullets shown below are .318" diameter

Bullet..................powder...........charge...........OAL.......Mvel........pressure

Norma 196 grain......VV N140..........48.5 grains...76mm......765 m/s.....max
Delsing 196 grain....VV N140..........46.5 grains...76mm......708 m/s...2779 BAR
RWS 196 grain........IMR 4064.........47.5 grains...76mm......745 m/s...max
RWS 196 grain........Rottweil R903....48.0 grains...76.3mm....715 m/s...max
IWK 198 grain........Rottweil R907....50.0 grains...76.4mm....705 m/s...max
IWK 198 grain........VV N140..........47.0 grains...76.4mm....706 m/s...max

Personally developed loads (use at your own risk!!)

Woodleigh 200 grain..IMR 4350.........49.0 grains...3.085"....2280 fps (695 m/s)
Woodleigh 200 grain..IMR 4350.........50.0 grains...3.085"....2325 fps (708 m/s)



Some notes and comments:

All of the "J" bore 8mm rifles I have personally slugged have been between .3195-.321" groove
diameter. This includes rifles chambered for 8x57J, 8x57JR, 8x58R Sauer, 8x57R/360 and 8x72R.

Some of these rifles have chambers that will yield fired cases that will freely accept .323"
bullets, but some do not; some may or may not depending on the particular brand of brass.

At least one rifle I have in 8x57R has a chamber that is tight enough at the neck that fired RWS
brass will not freely accept .318" bullets! Beware of this as chamber pressures will increase
dramatically if there's not enough neck clearance to freely release the bullet when fired. I
ended up neck reaming the RWS brass to get reliable bullet clearance which resulted in better
velocity consistency and plainly visible less stress shown on the fired cases.

Standard RCBS 8x57 dies work fine for all the 8x57J and 8x57JR rifles I have seen by merely
replacing the expander ball with one of .317" diameter. With the neck reamed RWS cases mentioned
above no expander ball of any sort is needed.

I have found that the chambers in most 8x57J and 8x57JR rifles will allow shallower seating of the
typical 196-200 grain bullets (a longer over all cartridge length), but that ballistic uniformity
and groups were much better with more of the bullet shank seated in the neck as shown with the OAL
lengths in the above data. Some of the shallow-seated rounds I have fired even exhibited hang
fires, never a good thing. Just something to keep in mind.

Thank you, just what I was looking for.

I finally got around to putting some loads together here is what turned out.
200 grain Woodleigh RN SN (.318"), 47.5 grs of 4350, CCI Primer clocked at 2361 fps; compared to 196 gr. Norma factory loads at 2404 fps.
They shoot to the same place at 100 yds, quite accurately.
Thanks for all the help.