I recently aquired a 1908 MS carbine in 8x56MS. Any reloading tips, pitfalls, or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Not much data out there on the 8x56mm Mannlicher cartridge, however, it's not a difficult number to work with. Brass may still be found on occasion, but I usually make cases from Winchester or Norma 8x57mm brass. Only takes one full length pass thru the die. Full length, because some Mannlichers appear to have a tight chamber, so squeeze that brass as much as possible. Bullets are standard 0.323 8mm. Powders like H-414 and IMR-3031 work well. Cartridges of the World has some suggested loads. I've used 41.0 to 44.5 grains of H-414 with 200 grain slugs in two M1908s. Have a friend that loads stiffer, but these are old actions, and this cartridge was loaded in the olden days to what amounts to a super .30-30 WCF.

LLS

I have read that the bore could be .318 but I have not slugged mine yet. Would seem odd for Mannlicher to use that obsolete bore size so late in the game. I still need dies if you have any. Thanks.

I have never heard of any 8x56ms having a .318 bore. The cartridge was invented after the .323 bore had been standardized for the 8mm family.

It is actually not the .318 bore (in a mauser) that causes problems. A .323 bullet will have no problem. It is the neck of the chamber that causes overpressure when an "S" cartridge is fired in an "I" chamber. The tighter neck simply does not want to let go of the bullet.

I agree with Kurt, I don't think Steyr ever made a 0.318 bore 8x56mm or 8x60S for that matter

LLS

The bore is actual a bit larger than that of a 8 mm S and should be .327 My RWS manual advises to use a standard 8 mm S expander in your die to make sure that the standard .323 bullets are seated firm enough in the case.
BTW The book says that you can use 8x57JS cases but that it can be a bit difficult to resize them, as the diameter of the Mannlicher sae is a bit smaller.

Ken Waters did a Pet Loads article on the 8x56MS in an issue of "Handloader" several years ago that's pretty good. Properly sized and headstamped 8x56MS brass is made by Horneber and available at http://www.huntingtons.com/cases_horneber.html relatively reasonably. I've used their 9x56MS brass and liked it well.

That would be "Handloader" issue 175 of June, 1995.