Long Range Loads for 8 x 57

[oneyeopn]

Ok I have been reloading my own 8 x 57 rounds for a while. I have laoded everything from 125gr bullets to 196 grain. I have loaded all sorts of bullet styles. But what I want to know is is heavier better for long distance or are the lighter bullets the best. I am just looking for advice on what I should load to shoot the longer ranges. My nephew and I set up a range on the family farm that will let us back up to 1000 yrds but I really want to become proficient at 500 before I start moving back and want to make sure I load a round that will do it. Thanks for your help!!
gun)

 

[Kevin Thomas]

oneyeopn,

I'd say the 200 SMK is probably the best bet for what you're looking for here. It's a true Match bullet and will handle these types of ranges quite well. You might try Varget or 4895, or possibly 4064 for best results. these were the powders I usually used in testing these bullets, and they generally shot quite well. Very easy bullet to get along with, too. It's not at all tempermental in the 8x57mm.

 

[oneyeopn]

Thank You Kevin. I myself have had good luck with 4064 and 4895 I have just stayed under 200 grain bullets because historically speaking the german snipers used the 186 grain aircraft 8mm bullets but if 200 or heavier works well then I really should try it. Thanks for the input.

 

[RT2506]

Varget and the 200 gr Sierra Match King sure shoots great in my 8X57JS (Mauser) rifles.

 

[oneyeopn]

Ok guys I have a pound and a half of IMR4895 and 150 200 grain SMK's. I have found that the recommended loads in My reloading manual starts with a pretty slow load without much range. Where would you recommend that I start with my powder charges so I can play around and work it out best for my rifles. I hate to guess a starting point. Thanks for your input.
Grover
gun)

 

[RT2506]

My Hodgdon 2011 manual says a start load for the 8X57mm Mauser with IMR 4895 with a 200 gr bullet is 39.0 grs for 2112 fps and the max load is 45.0 grs for 2409 fps. Data was from a 24" barrel Remington case and Rem. 9 1/2 primer. COAL 2.970 Bullet used was a 200 gr Speer SP. This manual says that Varget and H4350 will get you 100 more fps. I have had good accuracy with 42.0 grs IMR 4064 with the 200 gr SMK. Load is the accuracy load from the Sierra manual and it says it is doing 2200 fps from a M48 Mauser with 23" barrel. In a Yugo M48 Mauser 43.5 grs Varget with Fed 210 match primer Rem case and the 200 gr SMK OAL 3.165 shoot really good. Sierra manual says the velocity should be 2250 fps.

 

[ART W]

I have a Mauser marked DOU 44, produced in Bryne Bystrica arsenal in then Czechoslavakia for the German Army with the waffenamt stamps. My son bought this rifle with the original stock on it that had been cut down. It had a Timney trigger and an old Weaver 6X fixed scope which would not make elevation changes anymore. We replaced the stock with a Bell and Carlson and mounted a Burris 3-9X 40mm Ballistic Plex .

I have loaded Sierra 175 PH with 47 gains of 4064( data from Ken waters Pet Loads) and have obtained 3 shots touching in a vertical string with a MV of 2486-2490 at 100yds. I think this would be a good hunting load as I have used the Pro Hunter in 30 caliber with good results on deer.

I then tried the 200 SMK over Varget and H4350. I obtained better accuracy with max. loads and H4350. Best accuracy came at 52 grains, 2 grains under maximum.

Afterward I tried the 200 grain Nosler Accubond and got excellent accuracy at 100yds, less than an MOA (approximately .703) again with maximum charges of H4350 according to the Hodgdon Web Realoding page.
The next bullet that I will try will be the Hornady 196 grain Match bullet.

I also have some Nosler factory ammunition with the 200 Accubond. They are listed to produce 2475 fps. and come very close. They will group right at or just over 1 MOA. Hornady is now loading the 8x57 with their 196 grain match bullet called Vintage Match. Winchester now loads a 196 Powerpoint load for it as well.
I am very impressed with this rifle and the general overall workmanship and accuracy. I will keep trying to develop a long range accuracy load and will probably try the the Nosler 200grain Custom Match bullet as well.

 

[oneyeopn]

I have a Mauser marked DOU 44, produced in Bryne Bystrica arsenal in then Czechoslavakia for the German Army with the waffenamt stamps. My son bought this rifle with the original stock on it that had been cut down. It had a Timney trigger and an old Weaver 6X fixed scope which would not make elevation changes anymore. We replaced the stock with a Bell and Carlson and mounted a Burris 3-9X 40mm Ballistic Plex .

I have loaded Sierra 175 PH with 47 gains of 4064( data from Ken waters Pet Loads) and have obtained 3 shots touching in a vertical string with a MV of 2486-2490 at 100yds. I think this would be a good hunting load as I have used the Pro Hunter in 30 caliber with good results on deer.

I then tried the 200 SMK over Varget and H4350. I obtained better accuracy with max. loads and H4350. Best accuracy came at 52 grains, 2 grains under maximum.

Afterward I tried the 200 grain Nosler Accubond and got excellent accuracy at 100yds, less than an MOA (approximately .703) again with maximum charges of H4350 according to the Hodgdon Web Realoding page.
The next bullet that I will try will be the Hornady 196 grain Match bullet.

I also have some Nosler factory ammunition with the 200 Accubond. They are listed to produce 2475 fps. and come very close. They will group right at or just over 1 MOA. Hornady is now loading the 8x57 with their 196 grain match bullet called Vintage Match. Winchester now loads a 196 Powerpoint load for it as well.
I am very impressed with this rifle and the general overall workmanship and accuracy. I will keep trying to develop a long range accuracy load and will probably try the the Nosler 200grain Custom Match bullet as well.

that sounds a lot like my 36 VZ24 with all the stamps BRNO that I have built but with a bushnell scope. Thanks for the loads, I have taken a deer at 372 yards one shot with it, Using my loads of 46.5 grains of 4064 and a Speer BT 186 grains.

gun)

 

[Riptide]

Sorry to zombie the thread, but OneEye - what's the make on that brake? I have a '41 duv from berlin that is currently configured pretty much identical to your VZ, but I really like the looks of that brake. How effective do you find the brake? I don't consider the 8mm unpleasant, but I don't often have a spotter with me. Thanks.

 

[oneyeopn]

Not a problem Zombie Away.
Here is the link to it, it was purchased from Brownell's
MUZZLE BRAKE - Brownells

It works very well and I ended up putting it on 3 different rifles.
Good Luck and All XXXX's

 

[dgthomp]

Very nice looking Rifle one eye!

Anyone know where to have that quality of bolt work done? (having the Handle dropped)

I'm thinking on the Brake, but would like the Bolt work done for sure and am a little leary of Gunsmith's in general due to a butcher job I had done - once... Never again.

Dan

 

[dchamp]

Here is my 2bits worth. I shoot a Rem 700 8X57 and am currently using 160gr Barnes TTSX at 2850fps MV with IMR3031. It shoots well and I have data out to 500yds but it should stay stabile out to 1000yds. My son used it in Africa earlier this summer on plains game from Steenbok to Zebra and Gemsbok and it was devastating. In the past I've used 180gr Nosler BT's & TSX's with Varget or RL-15 with good results and with 195-220gr bullets I've had good success with H-414. While heavier bullets with similar profiles generally have higher BC's, I think the 160gr Barnes is higher than most 180gr bullets available on the market today. Either way whether light or heavy, most bullets I've shot with my 8X57 will take various game out to 500yds (although thats pushing it in my opinion) and punch paper out to 1000yds.

 

[Clark]

10 years ago I got a 1903 Turkish Mauser for $50 at BIG5. Those rifles were rebarreled from 7.65x53 to 8x57 in 1938.
I bent the bolt the Oxyacetylene, forging blocks, and a hammer.
I drilled and tapped and put a Harrell mount on it [when they were $20 at Midway]. I put a paper shim under it to make it fit parallel with the bore.
I can tell I did a trigger job on it, feels like take up, force, and over travel. That must have been a Silver solder job.

I put on my test scope: 6.5x20x40 boosted to 13x40x40 with high Grand
Slam rings and bore sighted it to within 1.5" at 50 m.
Win 8x57 brass, WLR primers, seated with RCBS, 47 gr. IMR4895 surplus bulk powder [faster than canister and acts more like H322]

200 gr. Sierra Match King, new brass, 3.625" with Sinclair 30 cal
nut, 1" 5 shot group at 100m [first 4 shots were 1/2" and I made the
whole range stay hot to wait for my 5 th. shot], flattened primers
2618, 2633, 2649, 2623, 2650, 2626, 2638 fps

The old rifle got another trip to the range in 2005 with hunting bullets and a lesser scope:
220 gr. Sierra #2420, 48 gr. IMR4895 3.22", Quickload predicts 2630 fps, measured 2600 - 2625 fps 1.1" 5 shot group @50 yard

 

[Jerrywoo]

10 years ago I got a 1903 Turkish Mauser for $50 at BIG5. Those rifles were rebarreled from 7.65x53 to 8x57 in 1938.
I bent the bolt the Oxyacetylene, forging blocks, and a hammer.
I drilled and tapped and put a Harrell mount on it [when they were $20 at Midway]. I put a paper shim under it to make it fit parallel with the bore.
I can tell I did a trigger job on it, feels like take up, force, and over travel. That must have been a Silver solder job.

I put on my test scope: 6.5x20x40 boosted to 13x40x40 with high Grand
Slam rings and bore sighted it to within 1.5" at 50 m.
Win 8x57 brass, WLR primers, seated with RCBS, 47 gr. IMR4895 surplus bulk powder [faster than canister and acts more like H322]

200 gr. Sierra Match King, new brass, 3.625" with Sinclair 30 cal
nut, 1" 5 shot group at 100m [first 4 shots were 1/2" and I made the
whole range stay hot to wait for my 5 th. shot], flattened primers
2618, 2633, 2649, 2623, 2650, 2626, 2638 fps

The old rifle got another trip to the range in 2005 with hunting bullets and a lesser scope:
220 gr. Sierra #2420, 48 gr. IMR4895 3.22", Quickload predicts 2630 fps, measured 2600 - 2625 fps 1.1" 5 shot group @50 yard