8MM Mauser
- Thread starter ttarp
- Start date
CSmith0159
Inactive
The S&B is good quality ammo and its not loaded light like the American manufacturers 8mm is. I am having a hard time locating any though.
Sellier and Bellot comes from Czech republic, Prvi Partizan (PPU) comes from Serbia. Even the "downloaded" PPU ammo will kill anything in the lower 48 with authority, so I would buy whatever is available.
If you are hunting then maybe the S&B gets the edge, but if you are simply shooting targets then it doesn't matter although the lower pressure PPU loads will give you longer barrel life.
Jimro
If you are hunting then maybe the S&B gets the edge, but if you are simply shooting targets then it doesn't matter although the lower pressure PPU loads will give you longer barrel life.
Jimro
I fully understand the "power" of the 8x57 BUT I have concerns about the performance of the European soft point bullets. My experience with those is that, if you're shooting moose, you're fine but the lack of expansion will cause some consternation for deer hunters.
After testing some of the foreign made ammo, I opted to load my own using Remington 185 grain PSP(actually designed for the 8mm Rem mag so expansion is still a problem except at very close range) and Nosler 180 grain Ballistic Tips(that right there is a winner).
After testing some of the foreign made ammo, I opted to load my own using Remington 185 grain PSP(actually designed for the 8mm Rem mag so expansion is still a problem except at very close range) and Nosler 180 grain Ballistic Tips(that right there is a winner).
FairWarning
New member
ttarp, I have researched this topic exhaustively.
I recently discovered German Geco ammo, specifically their 185 gr SPs @ 2655 fps for $30 per 20 rds on rareammo.com. Haven't tried them yet, but I am sure they will bring the mail.
Also, you can buy excellent Nosler 180 gr ballistic tips @ 2600 fps directly from them for $47 per 20.
My traditional favorites have been Norma 165 or 196 gr Vulcan HPs,but those seem to be impossible to find now. Hornady makes Vintage Match 196 gr BTHP, but those are not hunting bullets, so the next time I find their excellent 195 gr SPs, I going to buy as many as I can!
The Privi stuff is definitely milder than S&B, but still quite powerful.
I recently discovered German Geco ammo, specifically their 185 gr SPs @ 2655 fps for $30 per 20 rds on rareammo.com. Haven't tried them yet, but I am sure they will bring the mail.
Also, you can buy excellent Nosler 180 gr ballistic tips @ 2600 fps directly from them for $47 per 20.
My traditional favorites have been Norma 165 or 196 gr Vulcan HPs,but those seem to be impossible to find now. Hornady makes Vintage Match 196 gr BTHP, but those are not hunting bullets, so the next time I find their excellent 195 gr SPs, I going to buy as many as I can!
The Privi stuff is definitely milder than S&B, but still quite powerful.
Jeeminy Pete's!
@ a buck and half a round (+ shipping?)
A couple days at the range and I'd spend enough to buy a whole 'nother rifle!
Psssst... Here's a little secret- keep it on the DL- with about 100 dollars in equipment you could load your own 8mm Mauser and make it as accurate as you cared to, full house or downloaded, in problably at least a dozen of different bullet styles and weights ....... for about a third of that ...... keep it under your hat, you know what i'm sayin'?
steveNChunter
New member
I've used the 196 gr PPU to zero my scope and target practice with, and the Hornady 195 gr Interlock Custom ammo to hunt with.
Hornady is the only American ammo I know of that isn't "downloaded" or uses .318" diameter bullets.
Oddly enough both the PPU and Hornady have roughly the same POI at 100 yards. The Hornady has a listed MV of 2500 fps. Not sure about the PPU.
The Hornady was only slightly more accurate in my rifle than the PPU. Both around 1 MOA in my rifle
Hornady is the only American ammo I know of that isn't "downloaded" or uses .318" diameter bullets.
Oddly enough both the PPU and Hornady have roughly the same POI at 100 yards. The Hornady has a listed MV of 2500 fps. Not sure about the PPU.
The Hornady was only slightly more accurate in my rifle than the PPU. Both around 1 MOA in my rifle
steveNChunter
New member
Whew, proud of 'em aren't they? There's one American made 8x57 ammo I didn't know of.
The Hornady Customs I mentioned are about $30 for 20.
I already have a set of dies ready for when I shoot the last of my ammo. The quality factory stuff is just too high for an old mil-surp round.
Not to mention reloading is just too much fun
FairWarning
New member
8mm definitely isn't a plinking round with full house hunting ammo! 
Although M75 Sniper ammo can still play that role with excellent accuracy, and the premium 8mm hunting rounds are still in the same price range as what you'd pay for similar "premium" ammo in .308 or .270, etc.
S&B 196 gr is my standard 8mm round and perfectly good for hunting, although part of the fun of 8mm is finding out which of the various ammo out there works for your setup. I need to get around to reloading, although I've been lazy because I already have a stockpile and until recently, we didn't have such price gouging and scarcity in the ammo market.
I remember buying Norma hunting ammo for $25/box and S&B for $13 a box, once upon a time.....
I definitely like the idea of reloading 175-180 gr bullets at 2600-2700 fps.
Although M75 Sniper ammo can still play that role with excellent accuracy, and the premium 8mm hunting rounds are still in the same price range as what you'd pay for similar "premium" ammo in .308 or .270, etc. S&B 196 gr is my standard 8mm round and perfectly good for hunting, although part of the fun of 8mm is finding out which of the various ammo out there works for your setup. I need to get around to reloading, although I've been lazy because I already have a stockpile and until recently, we didn't have such price gouging and scarcity in the ammo market.
I remember buying Norma hunting ammo for $25/box and S&B for $13 a box, once upon a time.....I definitely like the idea of reloading 175-180 gr bullets at 2600-2700 fps.
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Prices like these, as well as high prices for bullets for hand loading..... are exactly the reasons I went to cast bullets for my 8mm years ago. I now paper-patch 174 grain RNFP cast for my Mauser exclusively. 2200 fps through my 17.5" barrel, 1.5 moa (with iron sights) and perfect performance on our Eastern whitetails. They cost me about $12 per 20, plus some time and effort.
johnnydollar
New member
8 mm Mauser
FairWarning, once upon a time you could buy 90 rounds of FNH 8mm Mauser ammo for $25.00--or at least that's the price marked on the box of it that I have now. I wish I could buy a couple of thousand more rounds at that price!
FairWarning, once upon a time you could buy 90 rounds of FNH 8mm Mauser ammo for $25.00--or at least that's the price marked on the box of it that I have now. I wish I could buy a couple of thousand more rounds at that price!
steveNChunter
New member
I'm ready to quit after about 30 rounds with the 195 gr loads. My sporter stock doesn't have a recoil pad though. I've shot rifles that kicked quite a bit harder, but not for more than a few rounds.
I'm not too proud to say that the 8x57 with full house loads is near the top of my comfortable recoil tolerance.
Every shooter has their limit whether their willing to admit it or not
I'm not too proud to say that the 8x57 with full house loads is near the top of my comfortable recoil tolerance.
Every shooter has their limit whether their willing to admit it or not
FairWarning
New member
Jimbob, I wasn't talking about recoil, but rather than scarcity and high cost of top shelf 8mm ammo at the moment.
The recoil is no big deal to me, although I did add a slipon recoil pad to my K98 sporter.
The recoil is no big deal to me, although I did add a slipon recoil pad to my K98 sporter.