I've got a hankering to put an 8x57 barrel on a late model Husky, I think even though it has been aroud a long time, it would be different enough in a modern rifle to be cool.

Do any of you medium bore buffs have any insight on the caliber?

I'm thinkin about the 200gr Nosler or maybe the 220gr Hornady as my starting point.

What do ya'll think?

Sounds like fun. The Nosler will perform well over a range of velocities and should take care of anything from whitetails to moose over reasonable ranges.

You may be able to find 8 x 57 brass readily enough, but if not, I've never had any trouble forming it from '06.

[ 12-10-2002, 01:49: Message edited by: Stonecreek ]

Anyone that has been around this forum for awhile knows that I am a "rabid" fan of the 8mm bore.

I have an 8mm-06 Ackley Improved on a rechambered M98K, I am working on rechambering another M98K to 8X68S and I eventualy want to rebarrel an "intermediate length" commercial VZ500 M98 action to 8X57. The VZ500 action has the "butterknife" bolt handle and a lever release hinged floorplate. I think it would be sexy in a full length "Manlicher" stock.

I personaly have loaded the 8X57 to 2800fps with 180gr Nosler Balistic Tips, a little over 2600fps with 200gr Partitions. I would expect the 220s to come in @ 2450fps or so.

IMR 4064 in compressed loads works well with the 180s, IMR 4350 works well with the 200gr Partition when slightly compressed. This is with cases formed from once-fired military 30-06 brass.

If your going to put a new bbl in 8X57 on then why not make it a 8X57 AI? With the bullets you mentioned it should definatly benefit from the extra powder and it is still an 8X57, just not the same old 8X57 everyone else has. Besides, I want to know how how well one of those performs and if you made yours improved then you can let me know.. That is if I dont do it first..

The 8X57 cast bullet mold in the cast forum under old fellers post look interesting as well.. I think Im going to order one.

I was wondering how long it would take until the AI was mentioned.

It's a possibility but I will probably lean towards the standard.

Heck,,, GO all out and make it an 8mm Gibbs..

9 point 3,
My wifr a a M-98 that her father brought home at the end of WW II. The rifle had been customized. The way this cartridge is loaded in this country is a shame . When loaded to its safe potential the cartridge is almost on an even footing with the '06. Our daughter Chris now has the rifle and has taken several elk with it. The load pushes a Sierra 175 grain SBT to 2675 fps. I'm glad that Kathy likes her pre-64 Win. M-70 FW in .270. I don't think I could get that rifle back from Chris with a baseball bat. The fifth edition of the Hornady loading manual has loads that go to 50,000 psi. I make 8x57 cases out of .30-06 without much trouble. Good luck.

In a 98/22 Czech Mauser with a 29" bbl. (I think), I'm getting 2965 fps chrono'd (Oehler 35 twin screen) from 155 gr. surplus Turk circa 1940's ammo -- the cheap stuff in the green bandoleers. Similar chrono speeds with the Equadoran ammo in the grey cardboard 15 rd. box (on clips), circa 1950's.

Phenomenal accuracy out to 700 yds with this set up. Iron sights off a bench at rocks about the size of an office chair. We can pick which corner of the rock we want to hit. Same results with a M-1938 Turk.

That's what the surplus guns are turning out with surplus ammo.

I shoot a nice old Brno 21 rifle in 8x57...I really like it with 160 gr. GS custom H.V. bullets...It works great on deer and elk...I also shoot the 200 gr. Speer and Noslers, the 185 Rem Corelokts, and the 225 gr. Woodleighs...

The 8x57 is an all around winner akin to our 06, maybe a tad better and closer to a 338-06, but that is debatable. The europeans love it.

In Persian m98/29, throat lengthened 0.300" to allow use of long bullets, using Hornady 220 grain and H4831sc I can get 2450fps but that is very heavily compressed. I don't cruch it that much, just for a few cartridges to check it. Those I think were max. 220 grains at 2450 is excellent. I have some 180 and 200 grain Barnes that I want to try. i think the 200's would be just about perfect at 2550 fps.

Go for the 8, its a great round.
There is a cartridge from Bosnia, called Igman, that is non-cor,and reloadable. So far it shoots very well from several of my "8's".

Good luck with your project.

Terry,
Where do you buy the Bosnian ammo? TIA 45nut

What process is involved in making 8x57 from 30-06 brass. Is there a specific set of dies needed or will a full lenght 8x57 sizer do it? Thanks in advance.

bama7x57

I've made tons of 8mm brass with the RCBS file trim die. Run it in, cut it off, FL size it in your 8X57 dies and load.

I wouldn't mess with the "improved" version of this cartridge. It was damn well designed to begin with. As all have said, it's an excellent round; however, it definately needs the loving touch of the reloader to bring out its true potential. Factory ammo for it sux.

Sorry, been travling.
www.ammunitionstore.com

The 8x57 is a marvel of efficency, I was just looking at the Sierra manual, they have 7 powders listed, 5 give the same speed for a max load. In chrono tests, I've seen extremely uniform loads, once I thought my chrono was broke, I had 3 shot's in a row with the exact same velocity, so I had to fire my .270 across the screens to see if it was working, it was. The load was with H-380.

[ 12-14-2002, 17:14: Message edited by: GSF1200 ]

Thanks wildcat. I have a lee trimmer so I can follow your advice word for word. Looks like I have a "project" to work on this evening. I have a Turkish mauser and with milsurp 155 fmj it cronos 2950 pretty consistantly.

Bama

Here is how I form 8x57 from 30-06.
First I run the '06 cases just through the expander ball. Then I look at this pile of 8mm-06 cases and ask WHY I don't ream the chamber. Then I trim then, run them through the resizing die (it's easier to size trimmed cases), then trim them again.
I have done a couple of hundred cases this way some to save money and some to use Winchester brass instead of Remington. But I've done my last one. From now on I'll but Win 8x57 if I can find them and Rem if I can't. Now if I was to get a few hundred matched headstamp '06 cases (WIN or Lake City) I MIGHT change my mind.

At the range where I shoot, there are gazillions of '06 and .270 cases left on the ground. I pick 'em up. Believe it or not, .270s can be converted to 8 MM also.

Needless to say, I don't buy 8 MM cases anymore!

Puncher

Most 8 x 57 rounds I fire are cast bullet loads, using the Lee 175 grainer. Sized to .325", they shoot quite well. Loaded to European intensities, Hornady 150 grain spire points get almost 2900 FPS from the 24" barrel of my G98/40 "mountain rifle".

The American factory loads are a joke.

Deputy Al