8 MM 125 gr loads.

Grant 14

New member
Going thru my Dads stuff I ran across about a 1000 125 gr 8 MM bullets. spitzer/soft point. Are there any loads for that light of a bullet in the old 8 by 57? I have never heard of an 8 MM varmint load. Any ideas??? Grant.
 
Why not? True, I don't think the current manuals list anything smaller than 150. Quickload's bullet file, however, does list a number of makes, including Hornady. My suggestion is to start with one of the major's 150 data for a medium burn rate powder like IMR-4895 or Re-15 and go for accuracy. I'm not sharing QL results (not tested data), but you will have velocity out the wazoo at modest loads. If you have a setup you'd like to try, PM me, and I will tell you if you're going off the rails or not.
 
I bought a bunch of Speer 125 gr bullets back in the late 60s.

I never shot anything but paper with them.

They were reasonably accurate in my 98k to 150 yds. Never tried them any farther than that.

I am remembering 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" for 10 shots.

Speer #14 does not have them listed, but Lee Modern 2nd edition does.

That was a long time before I got my first chronograph, so I don't know about velocity.
 
I suspect these are the Vernon Speer bullets, since my Dad bought a lot of stuff from him. I dont know why, because I dont think we ever had an 8 MM that he didnt sporterize to some common caliber. I will find a trading use for them someday. I dont think I will buy an 8 MM just to shoot ground squirrels. Thanks for the reload info. Grant.
 
8mm Mauser 125gr spire point
IMR 4198 44.1gr (MAX) 3100fps
IMR 3031 49.2gr (MAX( 3100fps

Test gun Mauser K98

Data from Hornady Vol II (1973) (data provided for information only, use at your own risk!)

Speer and Hornady both did 125gr 8mm slugs in the 70s, I think other bullet makers did too, but I'll have to check.

I dont think I will buy an 8 MM just to shoot ground squirrels.
I don't think anybody ever did...

The bullets were intended for people who already HAD an 8mm to be able to shoot varmints with something more suitable than 150gr+ bullets.

Like the 100, 110, and 125gr .30 cal bullets, intended for plinking and varmints, something to let people use their deer rifles in the summer.

And, just FYI, the 125gr 8mm bullet is the correct bullet for the 7.92x33mm Kurz round.
 
Grant 14, next time you find yourself at a used book store, check if they have any old copies of reloading manuals. I've found some at garage sales. The data by and large is still accurate even if the book is 20 years old or even older.
 
Lots of 125 grain data on Hodgdon's site. Says they used Hornady SP's, but Hornady doesn't list a 125. Rumoured to be discontinued around 2008. Graf's is showing a 125 grain HP. Also a Hornady that they don't list. Graf's shows a Prvi 124 grain FMJBT too
A Spitzer SP isn't necessarily a varmint bullet. 125 SP's were a deer sized game bullet. That HP would likely be a varmint bullet.
Can't imagine why you'd work up an 8mm Mauser load with 'em when your regular deer/moose load will do that. Nothing like varmint hunting as practice for larger game.
 
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