hello all,

have seen other forum members post they use a 30 06 length mag box for the 7x57 enabling them to seat bullets out farther to increase veolicty. can the same be done with the 8x57 with similar results?

you can only seat out so far.
the model 98 is built for the 8x57 case and has all the room necessary in the magazine.

the reason so many used to seat out was because the throats were cut for a 175 gr rn bullet, a 140-150gr bullet had about 1/2" to go before anything touched the barrel.

I've never seen and 8x57 which wasn't on an action with the same magazine length as the .30-06. There may be some, but to my knowledge, all of the '98 Mausers originally chambered in 8x57 had magazines of about 3.35" or so.

so my point is with a modern action the 8x57 can be handloaded to its potential. curious as to where the most useful bullet weight lies; 200, 220, 250 for typical hunting to max at 300 yards and usually shorter.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've never seen and 8x57 which wasn't on an action with the same magazine length as the .30-06. There may be some, but to my knowledge, all of the '98 Mausers originally chambered in 8x57 had magazines of about 3.35" or so.

No, they were supplied with magazines of 3.230".

200gr is the common weight here for moose and bear.

Most usefull bullet weight? Kinda depends on the application.

For deer and the like I am partial to the Sierra 175 or the one of the Nosler 180's.

Teh 150's work fine but the BC is disappointing. Still, for small animals or small shooters not wanting as much recoil it can be a good choice.

Best all around weight for longer range or bigger animals would be a 200. I like a Partition of AB depending on what I am hunting and where. A 200 at max velocity is pretty likeable. I just stocked up on Partitions.

Hornady makes a nice 196 (198?) grainer that I use in my 8x57JRS; have not shot anything but paper with it though.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've never seen and 8x57 which wasn't on an action with the same magazine length as the .30-06. There may be some, but to my knowledge, all of the '98 Mausers originally chambered in 8x57 had magazines of about 3.35" or so.

No, they were supplied with magazines of 3.230".

THanks for that correction, Mike. Despite the 1/8" difference, with most common weight bullets the 57mm case can be loaded to a length that does not restrict powder capacity (so long as the throat is long enough to allow it.)

I've seated 170 to 185 grain bullets out to almost 3.250" which is about .090" shorter than the 30-06 . The extra .090" might get you a grain or 2. In one of my 8mms with a 22" barrel I have gotten up to 2750 fps with a 175 grain bullet. I choose not to go any further. It, however, IMHO, should be totally adequate for Elk size game.It happens to be superior to the original 172grain 06 military load.
As z1r indicated the heavier bullets put it in a category for bigger game. roger

My favorite is the hornady 195gr spire point over 50.3 grains of RL 15. Well balanced and puts these north coast black bears down quick.
2640 fps and moa in my husky 8x57

A friend used to use the old Hornady 220s on moose and grizzly with his 8x57 in an M70 with top safe loads. They gave deep penetration and seemed to open up enough to kill well.


.

Hornady 170 RNSP Interlock is all you need.

My 8x57 w/20" barrel is loaded to 3.00" overall length with 200 grain Accubonds. Accurate is an understatement.

Three biggest kills: 6x5 Elk, 30" Waterbuck, 8x7 Red Stag

I have more than 1 8x57, but my favorite seems to have about the same length magazine as a standard K98k or maybe even a wee tad shorter. It is a Steyr SBS Professional, with everything just as it came from the factory.

My preferred load in it uses 200 gr. NP spitzers. and They work tickety-boo through the magazine and action.

I cant remember the length but I use 200 hot cores on a bull elk 180 yards away this year. Bullet was under the skin on the otherside. I seat my 150s the same length as 200s

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

Best all around weight for longer range or bigger animals would be a 200. I like a Partition of AB depending on what I am hunting and where. A 200 at max velocity is pretty likeable. I just stocked up on Partitions.

Agree here. The only bullet I ever use for my 8x57's (all two of them ), is the NP 200...either RN or SP.

I have both types on hand in good supply, just because it worked out that way over the years when I was laying in my stock in amounts that presumed I would live and shoot forever.

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
..... curious as to where the most useful bullet weight lies; 200, 220, 250 for typical hunting to max at 300 yards and usually shorter.

Yeah I'm a little late seeing this thread, BUT

I'll 3rd, 4th, or whatever we're up to now - That the 200 gr bullets are the way to go in an 8x57.

quote:

Originally posted by bluefish:
so my point is with a modern action the 8x57 can be handloaded to its potential. curious as to where the most useful bullet weight lies; 200, 220, 250 for typical hunting to max at 300 yards and usually shorter.

If you use modern high energy powders like Vv N550 or Reliant RL17, you don't need to seat the bullet "out farther"

I'm loading 200gr Speer Hotcores @ 3.030 COAL & getting right at 2700 fps. @ just under 60K psi. That will shoot + or - 3" MPBR out to about 270yds & 6" low @ 300yds.

I load that short because the throat in my miltary take off bbl is very short. It shoots under 1/2" @ 100yds though so I don't want to change it.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've never seen and 8x57 which wasn't on an action with the same magazine length as the .30-06. There may be some, but to my knowledge, all of the '98 Mausers originally chambered in 8x57 had magazines of about 3.35" or so.

No, they were supplied with magazines of 3.230".

My VZ500s (commercial Yugo M48)have a magazine ID of 3.235 & the K98s I have have 3.315" long boxes.

quote:

Originally posted by wildcat junkie:

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've never seen and 8x57 which wasn't on an action with the same magazine length as the .30-06. There may be some, but to my knowledge, all of the '98 Mausers originally chambered in 8x57 had magazines of about 3.35" or so.

No, they were supplied with magazines of 3.230".

My VZ500s (commercial Yugo M48)have a magazine ID of 3.235 & the K98s I have have 3.315" long boxes.

Yeah, the Yugos and other intermediates were 3.230" and the std's were 3.310" None were 3.350" as supplied.

My point being, other than Commerical variants like my Brno, none of the military Mausers had '06 length boxes which are usually 3.400". My Husqvarna commercial 8x57 has an '06 length box but bullets cannot be seated out long enough to take advantage of the extra length.

I like the 185 Rem CL in my 98. unfortunately the law says I gotta find a non lead bullet . great pig slayers.

quote:

Originally posted by CLL:
I like the 185 Rem CL in my 98. unfortunately the law says I gotta find a non lead bullet . great pig slayers.

I have used a lot of those bullets, still will until my stash runs out. I haven't bought any new 185's but I hear that they aren't made the same. Too bad, they always performed well for me.