K98 Loads

[Echo Bravo]

Hi

I have some 218gr .323 FMJ bullets I would like to load for my k98... but can't find any recipes.

Has anyone used these before? What worked?

EB

Information

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[John Coleman]

I normally load 195 to 200 grain bullets. Sometimes heavier and lighter bullets too though. I don't think I know the 218 grain bullets but I would think 220 grain bullet load data should be good.

[BerdanIII]

I'll check Sharpe and some early Lyman and Hornady manuals and see what I can find. Two grains' difference in weight won't cause a problem with pressure; I've weighed POF .303 bullets that varied that much. Do you want reduced loads, full throttle, or both?

[BerdanIII]

There was nothing in any of my sources for 218-gr. bullets in the 8mm Mauser, but I did find the following:

From Sharpe's Complete Guide to Handloading:

227-gr. MC (metal case), s/d = seating depth
.225" s/d - SR80 - 14.0 - 1040 fps
.225" s/d - SR80 - 22.0 - 1510 fps
.250" s/d - IMR3031 - 39.0 - 1950 fps
.250" s/d - IMR3031 - 46.5 - 2265 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4198 - 33.0 - 1895 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4198 - 39.0 - 2025 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4064 - 44.0 - 2065 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4064 - 50.0 - 2345 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4320 - 39.0 - 1925 fps
.250" s/d - IMR4320 - 48.0 - 2280 fps

You can substitute SR4759 for SR80 in the above loads, though the 14.0-gr. load should be bumped up about a half-grain to make sure that the bullet exits the barrel, and the 22.0-gr. load (about maximum, probably) will be about 100 fps faster than the velocity noted with the 227-gr. bullet. I substituted SR4759 for SR80 in Sharpe's data for the 220-gr. bullet in 7.62x54mmR and got an average velocity of 1017 fps vs. 960 fps for the SR80 load of 14.0 grains. The velocity range was 918 to 1050 fps. The 21.0-gr. SR4759 load gave an average velocity of 1505 fps vs. 1380 fps for the SR80 load. I would expect the same relative results with the 8mm Mauser.

From 8mm (8x57JS) Mauser Pet Loads by Ken Waters:

225-gr. Speer RNSP, COL 3.115"
IMR4064 - 45.0 - 2170 fps
IMR4895 - 45.0 - 2245 fps "Best heavy bullet load"

From Lyman #94:

227-gr. Jacketed (no maker listed)
IMR4895 - 39.0 - 2125 fps
IMR4895 - 45.0 - 2350 fps
IMR3031 - 39.0 - 2125 fps
IMR3031 - 46.0 - 2400 fps
IMR4064 - 44.0 - 2240 fps
IMR4064 - 48.0 - 2450 fps
IMR4320 - 39.0 - 2100 fps
IMR4320 - 48.0 - 2455 fps

215-gr. mould #323471, gas check
IMR4198 - 28.0 - 1950 fps
IMR4895 - 35.0 - 2000 fps
IMR3031 - 35.0 - 2000 fps
IMR4064 - 40.0 - 2100 fps

I included the cast bullet data to compare against the jacketed loads.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Good luck and post your results.

[MR 8x57js]

Just look in most of thr reloading manuals and use the data for the 200 Gr bullets

[Patrick Chadwick]

I have some 218gr .323 FMJ bullets I would like to load for my K98... but can't find any recipes.

Sierra has reloading data for the 220 gn spitzer.

Should be a real shoulder-belter/lip-splitter in a K98k!

Patrick

[MR 8x57js]

Hi

I have some 218gr .323 FMJ bullets I would like to load for my k98... but can't find any recipes.

Has anyone used these before? What worked?

EB

If you can get your hands on the Sierra 5TH manual they have data for there 220 gr BTSP