T S T V Mauser?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Are you saying I can just buy 32 40 and shoot it in this rifle

For heavens sakes! NO!

a similar "ecological niche".

It is just ballistically similar to... not the same as...

But Buffalo Arms has ready-loaded ammunition, and reloading gear will be available somewhere (Lyman, CH).

the rear sight is 100-175 and max at 300 meters. It should be fun to shoot.

Sight range sounds correct. Similar useful range to a 32-40. Very light to shoot, and can be super-accurate at 100 meters.

Patrick

[DaveN]

I knew what you meant. If I understand the 32 is the bullet(the 8.15 =.316 or smaller by .004?) and the 40 is the 8.15X(46)so not the same but as I thought it would be like the characteristics of firing a 32-40? The info I saw on line was reference to 8.15X46 norm or 8.15X46R. I know I'm keeping you busy but any difference or just diff names for the same thing?

[Patrick Chadwick]

The correct (CIP) designation is 8.15x46R

(Nominal) bullet diameter 8.15 mm
(Nominal) case length 46 mm
R = Rand (German for rimmed)

But the following designations have been used in the past
8.15x46.5 R Jagdgewehr Normal
8.15 Frohn
8.15x46 R Frohn
8.15 Harstang
8.15x46 R Normal

it's all the same!

[Patrick Chadwick]

You can buy ready-made ammo (expensive) from Buffalo Arms.
If you are a reloader, you can buy the proper cases (expensive)
or, according to the "Handloader's Manual", reform 30-30 cases.
It presumably recommends this because 30-30 cases are cheap
- but you would need the dies (expensive).

However, looking at the CIP dimensions, you could probably fire-form 32-40 cases without using a die at all, if you trim the case to length first. I have not tried this, I am only saying that it seems plausible on the basis of the CIP data.

The reloads published by Visier all use 0.321" copper-plated (NOT jacketed) lead or g.g. lead bullets with 148 gn / 170 gn bullets made by Haendler und Naterman, who publish a lot of loads on the Internet (you have to dig around their site a bit to find it). I believe such plated bullets are also available from another manufacturer in the US. The amount of powder for these loads is tiny - about 12-13 gn of Vihtavuori N110. And in a pinch you might be able to use off-the-shelf unjacketed lead bullets for a 32-40.

But all this is without any kind of guarantee, it is just info you could also find if you know where to look. If you are an experienced reloader, you now have enough tips to get you going in the right direction, and if you are not, then get assistance from someone who is!

[DaveN]

WOW$65 a box of 20 that's $3.25 a shot WOWfor $30 more I can have a can (192) 30 06 with clips in bandoleers ...but i can't shoot them in my T.St.V Mauser. I'll have to think about it as I am looking forward to shooting this rifle.

[Patrick Chadwick]

WOW$65 a box of 20 that's $3.25 a shot

Well if that's too cheap, how about getting some ready-loaded 577-450 cartridges for a Martini-Henry

And now you know why I took the trouble to sugggest you take a look at adapting 32-40 components!

[jmoore]

There's a little info on the round in the European Sporting Cartridges chapter of Cartridges of the World BUT don't look in the area just bigger than 8mm- it's entry is back toward the "front" (or weaker) of the 8mm rounds. Apparently a fairly popular target shooting round for 200m standing type matches but probably in an earlier than 1930's era.

Just two loads listed in addition to the nominal factory spec load. Roughly 150gr bullet at around 1800-1900 fps, IIRC.

[DaveN]

I'm tempted to get a box of twenty just to be able to shoot it. after all the gun itself was cheap. TSTV Mauser $120. Box of 20 8.15X46 $65($80.38 with shipping). Shooting it priceless.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I'm tempted to get a box of twenty just to be able to shoot it. after all the gun itself was cheap. TSTV Mauser $120.

No, that wasn't cheap, that was a giveaway price! Sell it over here an you can stick an extra 0 on the end of the price tag.

Getting a box of 20 is the simplest thing to do - you have enough to test the rifle out properly at something like 100 meters. After that, you know if it is worth spending money on reloading equipment. And with fire-formed cases you only need to use a neck-sizing die. A 32-40 neck sizer* plus 32-40 lead or copper-plated (NOT jacketed) bullets is what I would try, but my motto is "Packrats are parsimonious"- I have a lot of hungry muzzles to feed!



* since 32-40 is longer than 8.15x46R it will only size 2-3 millimeters of the neck. In fact, you could simply get a normal 32-40 die and grind about 3.3 mm off the base.

[DaveN]

If I buy 20rnds I'll have 20 cases to re load and if I buy 20(8.15X46at $25) cases I will have 40 total after reloading. I'm first going to the gun shows Melbourne in feb+Orlando in march as in Mel I've seen alot of reloaded ammo but didn't have the need to look. I have very little experience with reloading, all 9mm hand gun ammo about 2000 rnds with a single press, a scale, dies but all borrowed about 11years ago. I would be starting from scratch. The place where I bought my bullets(If still in biz) maybe a good place to start to see if they can make them. I feel another branch of this collectors tree starting to sprout.