8mm Mauser ammo question?

Question

I would love to take my 8mm out this year for deer. I was wandering what is the most powerful 8mm ammo on the market for hunting? Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

You are somewhat limited on 8mm ammunition that is suitable and soft/expandable point for hunting Deer. Try midwayusa.com, as they have the most reasonable, and competitive prices on factory loaded 8mm Mauser ammo I've seen. Your only other option is to find a friend or someone who reloads that could make some up for you.

Answer 2

Stay away from the Winchester and Hornady, they are loaded so light it's a joke. I think Federal are as well. You see, the old '88 and '93 Mausers can't handle the pressures of full 8x57 like the 98 Mauser and ammo companies here are afraid of loading up 8mm the way it is supposed to be for fear of lawsuits.

The best in my opinion hunting ammo in 8mm is the Sellier and Bellot from Czech Republic.

The S&B has a full load and the soft point hits hard. Lots of places have it. J&G sales, Cabelas, etc.

Answer 3

It is selling for around $30.00 a box because of diminishing interest in the round, which is a shame really. Forty years ago, Remington and Winchester loaded the 8 X 57 Mauser so that its ballisitics were very close to those of a .30-06. Since that time, they have reduced the loads considerably to where their ballistics are pretty much the same as a .30-30. If your rifle is in good condition, consider purchasing Hormady ammunition. It's quite a bit hotter.

Answer 4

I agree with JD on that one. Only one thing. I have a friend that I hunted with for years. He had a 8mm Mauser and it worked great for deer. The only problem was it was like hitting the deer with a train. He lost a lot of good meat (shoulders and rib meat). You probably need to take JD's advice and find someone that would work you up some hand loads for your gun. Use a good, controlled expansion bullet like Nosler, or the Barnes X. That way you'll have good penetration without the violent expansion that has a tendency to ruin a lot of good meat. Good luck.

Answer 5

If you have an old commission rifle you will most likely have to reload. Anything that is 98 or newer uses the 8x57js round; Sellior & Bellot makes a selection; I ordered some with 196 grain soft point barnes bullets that step out around 2700 fps, about like a 30-06, only with a heavier slug. The 196 has terrific stability and long range wind bucking charactaristics.

Answer 6

not sure what atomic radiated deer these guys are hunting but in PA, remington factory loads (170 grain core-lokt)get it done with authority, drops them one shot one kill. handloading is best though, using a hornady 170gr round nose and imr 3031 powder tack driving load in a sporterized 8mm mauser. Safety note there are different 8mm mausers some are .318 caliber and some are .323 caliber if you are not sure have a gunsmith check, you should have a .323 caliber i would guess it is what most a referring to when discussing an 8mm mauser

Answer 7

just pull the bullet on fmj surplus ammo very carefully put he powder back in the brass and seat the fmj backwards so it has an exposed lead front kinda looks like a wad-cutter I don't know Elmer Keith used to it in the past supposedly it is good out to about 200 yards
JUST KIDDING do not do that if you could you would have reloading equipment and could make your own soft point bullets for hunting
but as pointed out earlier look at midwayusa.com they have a few offerings for the 8mm
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7536&categorystring=653***690***

Answer 8

JD's right. You can't use military surplus, and American loads are anemic. RWS is hard to find, so Norma may be the only game in town. Most of us who use the caliber seriously for hunting load our own.