A friend of mine wants to hunt elk this fall but the most powerful rifle he has is a Mauser Model 98 in 8mm that his father brought back from Germany either during or immediately after WWII. He asked me if it was sufficient for elk as he wanted to use it in as-is condition shooting factory loads and using the standard iron sights. I would appreciate any info in this regard. I would reload some ammo for him if he will purchase the dies and components but before we get that far I would like to hear from the members of this forum. Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I have guided German hunters that have used the 8mm mauser for Alaskan/Yukon moose. They use what they call H-mantle bullets. Same concept as the Nosler partition. I have to say I was impressed with the cartrige and the bullets they used.

IMO, I would say the 8mm Mauser would be sufficent for elk.

Daryl

200 grain partitions at ~2700 fps, i should think so! I have a strange desire to build one for elk, even though it would be severly redundant given i already have a 30-06 and a 35 whelen. 8mm mauser is an elk thumper for sure!

I push 200 grain bullets (Norma Oryx and Barnes X) out of my modern 8x57 sporter at 2500 fps. I have not shot much with it yet but it is so far responsible for one-shot kills on the following:- a zebra at 200 yards, a kudu bull, several warthog and a half dozen or so red deer weighing up to 450lbs.

I question the need for the extra 200 fps and the increased recoil unless you are planning a lot of long shots. Either way it will do the job. Have fun with it.

I have used it on Kudu and worked fine, so it will work on elk

Super88,

A neighbor kid went Elk hunting with a group in Colorado 2 years ago. All the guys had super mag rifles and made fun of his 8mm Mauser. He brought back the biggest Elk and a really nice 5x5 Mulie.

It is a great Elk caliber as long as US manufactured factory ammo isnt used. They are pitifully underloaded. Im taking mine after Elk with handloads this fall.

I shoot 185gr corelocks moving at 2650fps out of my 8X57 and like SeanD mentioned a 200gr Partition can hit 2700fps and will make an elk real sick. I don't know how close your shots are but if he doesn't want to drill and tap his rifle there are several "no drill" scope mounting options or he could get a Mojo sight.

SeanD, Get an 8X57, you won't regret it. I have a 30-06 too but the 8mm is fun to shoot and hardly kicks at all. With the increasing bullet selection it's getting better. I used mine to drop a deer at 250 yards with 1 shot last year.

I would be more concerned that your friend practice using that old mauser with it's iron sights and metal butt, and become proficient with it, than the caliber. 8mm with good handloads is enough thump but the shooter has to put it in the bread basket.

Super 88,
My father-in-law brought several of these rifles home with him. One was sporterized into a mannlicher with a 20" barrel. My step-daughter uses this rifle for elk. Between Chris and her in-laws, this rifle is used several times a year. As already stated by several others, US factory ammo is a waste. Using the Sierra 175 grain bullet and H-4895, velocities are 2680 fps. That's about as close to an '06 with a 180 grain bullet as you can get. There has never been an elk lost with this rifle. It's a good one.

[ 04-04-2003, 20:58: Message edited by: BigBob ]

I love the 160 gr. GS Customs monolithic bullets and the 250 gr. Woodleighs in my 8x57...It compares to the 338-06 in killing power in a long throated, long magazine Mod. 98 Mauser.