8x57 for eastern hunting?
- Thread starter jnsn
- Start date
bullfrog99
New member
any european ammo will be loaded up to specs unlike american crap. try PMC ammo. Or you can re-load, I like round nose bullets for the woods, i'm sure somebody makes one for the 8mm.
I have tested both Remington and Federal hunting loads, and they are severely underloaded for a proper 8x57JS (.323" bore) rifle. Chronographed muzzle velocity was in the range of 2300-2400 fps for a 170gr bullet.
I know that S&B makes full-power 196gr loads for this cartridge, but they are FMJ and not suitable for hunting. (They actually have a steel-jacket.) The MV for these is about 2550 fps out of a Yugo surplus M48A.
Handloading is probably the way to go. Here are the companies I know make bullets for 8mm:
Hornady: 125gr SP, 150gr SP, 170gr RN, 220gr SP
Nosler: 180gr Ballistic Tip, 200gr Partition
Sierra: 150gr SP, 175gr SP, 220gr SPBT
Speer: 150gr SP, 170gr SP, 200gr SP
Since full-power 8mm will push a 150gr bullet at or beyond 3000fps, I usually download to .308 velocities: 2700fps, just to make it easier on my shoulder.
-z
I know that S&B makes full-power 196gr loads for this cartridge, but they are FMJ and not suitable for hunting. (They actually have a steel-jacket.) The MV for these is about 2550 fps out of a Yugo surplus M48A.
Handloading is probably the way to go. Here are the companies I know make bullets for 8mm:
Hornady: 125gr SP, 150gr SP, 170gr RN, 220gr SP
Nosler: 180gr Ballistic Tip, 200gr Partition
Sierra: 150gr SP, 175gr SP, 220gr SPBT
Speer: 150gr SP, 170gr SP, 200gr SP
Since full-power 8mm will push a 150gr bullet at or beyond 3000fps, I usually download to .308 velocities: 2700fps, just to make it easier on my shoulder.
-z
Chad Young
New member
Actually, Sellier and Bellot makes a wonderful 196gr soft point cutting edge bullet that has proven to be very accurate and powerful in every rifle I have shot it in. S&B loads their stuff to full power, so make sure your rifle has the S (.323 inch) bore.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
That cartridge will work for eastern or western hunting. Its only drawback in western hunting is the trajectory is not as good as the .30s or 7mms. If you're "married up" to your rifle and know its characteristics, it's as good as most any "deer ca'tridge" and in heavier bullets will ruin an elk's day.
, Art
, ArtMarko Kloos
Inactive
S&B makes some righteous loads in 8x57JS.
The 8x57JS can do everything the .30-06 can do, they are very comparable cartridges. 8x57JS can take everything that walks on four legs on this continent without much trouble, its chief advantage over the .308 and .30-30 being that it can throw a heavier bullet. You can probably get more versatile load selections for the .30-06, but a rifle in 8x57JS should do just fine on most everything you want to shoot.
The 8x57JS can do everything the .30-06 can do, they are very comparable cartridges. 8x57JS can take everything that walks on four legs on this continent without much trouble, its chief advantage over the .308 and .30-30 being that it can throw a heavier bullet. You can probably get more versatile load selections for the .30-06, but a rifle in 8x57JS should do just fine on most everything you want to shoot.