8MM Mauser Steel Jacketed Bullets

markr · November 6, 2013, 04:27 PM

I recently purchased a box of 100 loose 8MM Mauser ammo with what looks like steel jacketed bullets. I was going to shoot it in my VZ24.

Can anybody fill me in on what this ammo is?

Thanks

kilimanjaro · November 6, 2013, 05:19 PM

Brass case or lacquered steel? Headstamp marks?

adrians · November 6, 2013, 05:47 PM

does it look like this ?,, I have a few of these.

Turkish I think

,,,,, probably wrong though,,

RJay · November 6, 2013, 06:40 PM

They are soft steel jackets, been in use long, long time. Will not hurt your rifle.

BoogieMan · November 6, 2013, 08:23 PM

I learned something new. I have some very similar rnds for my 303. I was always told they were AP rnds. In a stripper clip with 2rnds of white tipped. I was told they are tracer.

James K · November 6, 2013, 09:24 PM

If old, the jackets might be cupro-nickel, a common jacket material through the 1930's. If later, they may be mild steel plated with cupro-nickel to keep the steel from rusting.

U.S. makers have not used cupro-nickel since about 1935, generally using gilding metal, which looks like copper. WWII U.S. bullets were usually steel jacketed, but plated with gilding metal rather than cupro-nickel for rust prevention.

The mild steel used in bullet jackets will not decrease barrel life unless you plan to fire an awful lot of it in short periods, like 750 rounds per minute.

Cupro-nickel jackets will cause a build up in barrel, but cupro-nickel plated steel will be no problem (check with a magnet).

Jim

markr · November 7, 2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

The mild steel used in bullet jackets will not decrease barrel life unless you plan to fire an awful lot of it in short periods, like 750 rounds per minute.

That might be fun to attempt in this 80 year old bolt action rifle!

Quote:

does it look like this ?,, I have a few of these.

Turkish I think ,,,,, probably wrong though,,

They look exactly like those. Except your headstamps have the Turkish crescent moon and star. Mine do not. Just letters/numbers.

I plan to break one down and weigh the components, then cut the bullet in half so I can see the cross section. No reason in particular, just out of curiosity.

James K · November 7, 2013, 04:05 PM

"The mild steel used in bullet jackets will not decrease barrel life unless you plan to fire an awful lot of it in short periods, like 750 rounds per minute."

"That might be fun to attempt in this 80 year old bolt action rifle!"

More practice, more practice!

Jim

Gunplummer · November 10, 2013, 07:10 AM

Stick a magnet on them.

Tidewater_Kid · November 10, 2013, 10:51 AM

There are few sites to look at on the internet for headstamps. It seems my favorite is now gone. Here are a couple of others.

Here's a few:

http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes

http://www.tacticoolproducts.com/headstamps.pdf

November 6, 2013, 04:27 PM	#1
markr Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: Arsenal of Democracy Posts: 405	8MM Mauser Steel Jacketed Bullets I recently purchased a box of 100 loose 8MM Mauser ammo with what looks like steel jacketed bullets. I was going to shoot it in my VZ24. Can anybody fill me in on what this ammo is? Thanks __________________ I like to make beer, bullets, and jerky.....but not at the same time. Washed up 11B1P

November 6, 2013, 06:40 PM	#4
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	They are soft steel jackets, been in use long, long time. Will not hurt your rifle. __________________ Ron James

November 6, 2013, 08:23 PM	#5
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I learned something new. I have some very similar rnds for my 303. I was always told they were AP rnds. In a stripper clip with 2rnds of white tipped. I was told they are tracer. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

November 6, 2013, 05:19 PM	#2
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Brass case or lacquered steel? Headstamp marks?

November 6, 2013, 09:24 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	If old, the jackets might be cupro-nickel, a common jacket material through the 1930's. If later, they may be mild steel plated with cupro-nickel to keep the steel from rusting. U.S. makers have not used cupro-nickel since about 1935, generally using gilding metal, which looks like copper. WWII U.S. bullets were usually steel jacketed, but plated with gilding metal rather than cupro-nickel for rust prevention. The mild steel used in bullet jackets will not decrease barrel life unless you plan to fire an awful lot of it in short periods, like 750 rounds per minute. Cupro-nickel jackets will cause a build up in barrel, but cupro-nickel plated steel will be no problem (check with a magnet). Jim

November 7, 2013, 04:05 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	"The mild steel used in bullet jackets will not decrease barrel life unless you plan to fire an awful lot of it in short periods, like 750 rounds per minute." "That might be fun to attempt in this 80 year old bolt action rifle!" More practice, more practice! Jim

November 10, 2013, 07:10 AM	#9
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Stick a magnet on them.

November 10, 2013, 10:51 AM	#10
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	There are few sites to look at on the internet for headstamps. It seems my favorite is now gone. Here are a couple of others. Here's a few: http://cartridgecollectors.org/?page=headstampcodes http://www.tacticoolproducts.com/headstamps.pdf