I had posted here about my bad experience with Remington ammunition. Yesterday a good friend took me to Fleet Farm in Appleton and I bought a box of Federal Power Shock PSP type 8x57 Mauser ammunition for US$ 15 which was cheaper than the Remington RN 170s I had bought earlier from Gander Mountain. To Federal's credit, the boxes were open and not sealed (like Remington's were) and I opened and saw the ammunition - it was really beautifully made! I have not shot it yet but, needless to say, I bought a box immediately and shall try it sometime next week.

I have something good hopefully, as it seems on appearances alone, the Federal ammunition is much better finished than Remington's.

Good hunting!

Would that be Appleton, Mysore, India or Appleton, WI, USA? Fleet Farm and GM make me suspect the latter...

For cheaper 8x57 factory ammo, I use the Winchester 170 and the Fed 170 - I've not bothered with Rem as it a round nose, while the other two are pointed. In my rifles, the WW has been more accurate. Norma is good but expensive, and S&B is cheap but crappy. The Fed and Winchester sort of split the difference. For deer and black bear these "lame" loads are plenty for the distances hunted in northern Wisconsin. Anyway, good luck.

The Federal ammo will render the 8X57 just about equivalent to a 30-30 since it needs to be loaded to SAAMI specs. You'd be much better off with S$B.

9.3 X 62...
Your observations about S & B seem to be from a reloading standpoint and I don't disagree with you. However, the original post seems to indicate that he is interested in off-the-shelf ammo. In that case I have found , on two ocassions, that S & B is quite satisfactory.

9.3x62,

I am in Appleton, WI. A lovely little town with great people!

Gentlemen,

For someone who has hunted pigs are very close range with ball from a 12 bore shotgun, I presume this would still be MUCH better? I am planning to order Sellier and Bellot as Cabelas have some special offers on them that other members here have pointed out. My friend who took me to Fleet Farm also had some Prvi Partizan ammunition which he likes a lot but it is no longer available here.

My posting about the Federal ammunition was because I was badly disappointed with the Remington which I bought here. Federal is a lot cheaper and looks better made too - the Twin Cities Rod and Gun Club here (which I joined as a member on Tuesday) has rifle days from Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday to Tuesday are shotgun only days, so I'll have to wait until sometime next week to try the different brands of ammunition out. This is going to be fun! With my primitive 1942 Mauser with open sights only, I shall try to do my best and have fun doing it at the range.

Good hunting!

Concerning the S&B ammo, I posted this in a different thread but thought I would share it here also.

I recently purchased a new Remington 700 Classic in 8x57. I wanted to try out some "European level loads" instead of the underloaded American 8x57 ammo. I looked at all of the European factory ballistics charts that I could find and discovered that RWS had the highest velocity, for a given bullet weight, followed closely by Sellier & Bellot. With RWS being rather expensive, I purchased some of the S&B ammo to test.

The factory spec muzzle velocity for the S&B 196 gr Soft Point Cutting Edge (SPCE) load is 2,592 fps.
See: http://www.sb-usa.com/rifle_pages/sba85703_spec.htm

These were the results from my chrono test of the S&B 196 gr SPCE ammo in my Rem 700 Classic with a 24" barrel:

Shot# Velocity fps
1 _____ 2,646
2 _____ 2,648
3 _____ 2,636
4 _____ 2,637
5 _____ 2,645
6 _____ 2,667

(Chrono about 15 feet from the muzzle. Velocities are not corrected back to the muzzle. Just raw data. Close enough for me.)

Average Velocity: 2,647 fps
Energy: 3,050 ft lbs
High Velocity: 2,667 fps
Low Velocity: 2,636 fps
Extreme Spread: 31 fps
Standard Deviation: 10 fps

Good velocity with low extreme spread and standard deviation. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Maybe S&B has improved their quality in the last few years?

-Bob F.

I have used 170gr bullets at 2300fps in the 8x57 and it is a very effective killer on deer and hogs, it easily beats the 30-30.

I clocked some Federal 170 grain at 1950fps from my old 22inch barrelled mannlicher.

Much better off with European ammo.

BFaucett,

I just need to get Sellier and Bellot after reading your post. Some European members have also recommended it highly.
It is one of very few ammunition brands available in India and it seems to be highly regarded over there in 30-06, a popular caliber to say the least.

Deerdogs,

I have not yet shot either but compared to the Remington ammunition, the Federal definitely looks better finished. I shall go by every experts' advice and buy European ammunition as this is essentially a European favourite and the best ammunition is naturally to be expected from Europe in this caliber, I guess. The problem is that Appleton is a very small town and the variety that is available here in ammunition brands is very strictly limited, though nearly everyone here hunts quite enthusiastically.

Good hunting!

mehulkamdar,

As you're currently staying here in the U.S., the S&B 8x57 ammo is available from Cabelas. That's where I purchased mine from.

Here's the link:
Cabelas' Sellier & Bellot Rifle Ammunition

Quite reasonably priced too. $11.99 per box (of 20)

I have heard in year's past about the S&B ammo not being of very good quality. But, at least based on this 8x57 ammo that I purchased, I have to say that it seems to be quality ammunition. I have a suspicion that since the end of the Eastern Block that S&B has been improving their quality control and their product. That's just a guess but it would be plausible one.

Since my S&B 8x57 ammo purchase, I've also purchased some S&B ammo in 9.3x62 but I haven't had a chance to fire it yet.

-Bob F.

mehulkamdar

You need to start loading you own ammo, It's great hobby

/ JOHAN

I wholeheartily recommend Sellier & Bellot rifle ammo.

This is not only may experience, but several times supported by gun mag tests ( german "Visier" ).

No, I�m not Czech, I�m Austrian.

S & B rifle ammo is accurate ( Federal MUCH less!! ), pistol ammo is good, revolver and shotgun ammo: opinions are indifferent.

Regards, Hermann

I just picked up a sporterized Mauser in 8x57 at a gunshow (stamped 1954, I believe its one of the Turkish ones) and am wondering if I can fire the european stuff in it, since I have heard to stay away from the hotter stuff in older rifles. Is this true? Will the 98's take the european stuff, or do I stick to the weaker US stuff to be safe (I have other harder hitting modern cartridged rifles, and don't mind 30-30 ballistics for where I hunt).

Thanks for the input!

Also, roccommended brands if any ammo is ok? Does anyone have the ballistics of what the variosuones are loaded to?

Dave,
You might want to check out www.hotflashrefinishing.com/. I've used them myself, very nice work and a good turnaround time.