Reloading 8x57

[rmckeon]

hey guys,

I'm looking for advice, recommendations, and any cautionary notes you might have on reloading 8x57 ammo for my k98k.

does anyone have any pet loads they can share?

in particular, I'd like some differing viewpoints on powders and projectile weights. I'm most curious about the affects on compression that pertain to the differing projectile weights.

cheers,
Rob

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Claven2]

196gr projectiles are what your rifle was designed for, though 200gr will be identical for practical purposes. Powders similar to H4895 would be a good place to start.

Some manuals list "standard loads" and then list hotter loads ok for the K98k. Use the K98k loads wherever possible. the lighter loads, also called "lawyer loads" were invented so ppl with .318" Gew88 barrels won't blow themselves to bits and sue the publisher.

[rmckeon]

interesting... I already have a healthy supply of IMR 4895 ... but was curious if the burn rate was suitable... since H4895 is similar to IMR4895, would the IMR powder be suitable in your opinion?

[Steve1973]

I found the 8mm 195 grain and 150 grain Hornady's to be nice, accurate and cheap bullets to use. The 195's will allow you to get very close performance wise to the standard WW2 German load. I use 47 grains of IMR4064 with the 195's and 50 grains with the 150's with great results. Varget produced the same results but is a little pricey. (though more stable in the winter than 4064).

[Gibbs505]

I thought that the standard german K98 load was a 150 grain bullet from before WW1?

[ganderite]

Yes, military ammo is 150 grains. Same weight as the 30-06.

If you have IMR4895, use that. Appropriate powder.

If the bolt and rifle serial numbers match, you can load ammo to match modern hunting ammo.

You did not mention what the object of the exercise was. Plinking? Informal competition to 300 yards. Hunting?

For hunting I would suggest the 196 or 200 gr bullet. Same bullet great for deer and moose.

For paper punching, I suggest you try the 150 gr bullet and test loads from 42 to 48 grains. This will start you at a nice, mild recoil load and work up.

Go with whatever load groups well.

[Steve1973]

Not sure during WW1, but the WW2 and pre-war standard German load was 196 grain running along around 2500 FPS give or take.

[Claven2]

I think the earliest smokeless loads were using a 147gr spitzer, which the Turks continued to use well past WW1.

By WW2, the universal machineguns and rifles were using a 196gr spitzer in most countries.

[rmckeon]

If you have IMR4895, use that. Appropriate powder.

If the bolt and rifle serial numbers match, you can load ammo to match modern hunting ammo.

You did not mention what the object of the exercise was. Plinking? Informal competition to 300 yards. Hunting?

yes - the serial #'s match.

the object is, ultimately, to hunt with this rifle. but, 99% of my shotting is done at the range. that said, I prefer to practice with my hunting loads - given the need for consistent and accurate placement of my shot - be it at 50yards or 300 yards (especially the latter).

my preference is to use 195-200 grain bullets but keep my CUP well within the safety range (below 50,000) ... just to be safe.

I have IMR4895 that I use for my Garand loads, but I don't mind shelling-out for a different powder for my k98k loads, if it's preferable or more "healthy" for the rifle...

[green]

Original 7.9x57 (8mm) was a 227 gr RN at 2200 fps.
This was replaced by a pointed 154 gr at 2800fps (S Patrone) in 1905.
In WW1 a 198 gr pointed boat tail at 2500 fps was adopted for MGs (sS Patrone). In the 1920s the sS ctg was adopted for all rifles and MGs.