8mm surplus ammo - where have I been?

jclayto · March 26, 2012, 03:12 PM

I haven't needed to buy surplus ammo in a while as I had a good supply. Today I started shopping for 8mm surplus which always seemed to be around the same price as the x54 and can't seem to find any. Did I miss the memo? Did the 8mm surplus ship sail already?

m.p.driver · March 26, 2012, 07:15 PM

You were left on the shore.Last batch that i seen was some berdan primed Yugo about 3 years ago, that came in the same time as some 24/47's.About the only thing local is some 8mm prvi.

kilimanjaro · March 26, 2012, 10:15 PM

I stocked up on the Romanian 2 years ago, glad I did, got in one last case, went to order more a week later, all gone from several sources. The Prvi 8mm is outstanding stuff, going for $20 a box here, dollar a round, so I'm buying brass and looking at a reload setup.

warningshot · March 27, 2012, 05:14 AM

About 18 months ago I had to decide on 54R or 8mm. Cost & availabilty was about the same for each... then. Not no more.

Some say 7mm Mauser, .303 Brit, 7.62 Argentine, 6.5x55 and 8mm et al, will come back. I hope so. Dought it, but hope so.

The Mosin action isn't a Mauser, but the ammo is still around and at ~.22cent to .25cent a round depending if you prefer Tuna or Spam Can varity.

**Mike Irwin** · March 27, 2012, 07:29 AM

Surplus for just about everything has largely dried up, unfortunately.

Some years ago we were awash in .303 British. Then poof, it's gone.

jsmaye · March 27, 2012, 07:50 AM

I still see surplus ammo all around; it's just not sold in cans of 1200 for .15 a round any more. Mostly it's sold in boxes of 20 for $1.00 - $1.50 a round as though it were factory fresh.

**Mike Irwin** · March 27, 2012, 11:22 AM

"Mostly it's sold in boxes of 20 for $1.00 - $1.50 a round as though it were factory fresh."

Exactly, because the supply has largely dried up, pushing surplus prices up as with any commodity that is in limited supply but high demand.

jclayto · March 27, 2012, 08:12 PM

Gosh, that stinks.. I had cases of it sitting around until my house burned last weekend. I never really thought to keep stocking up as it was always cheap and plentiful and not a caliber I shot often. Guess I'll stock up on the x54 while its still cheap. I don't shoot much of it either, but I guess I better get it while it's here.

Thanks everyone

Webleymkv · March 28, 2012, 03:08 PM

8mm surplus is still out there if you know where to look.

http://www.samcoglobal.com/Ammo-8mm.html

TX Hunter · March 28, 2012, 06:34 PM

I wish I could find some more of that Romanian Light Ball, that stuff is outstanding and not long ago was everywhere.
The Ship has definately sailed. Great cartridge, shame its so mis understood.

m&p45acp10+1 · March 28, 2012, 07:18 PM

The LGS here has a huge ammo can full of 8mm Mauser selling it for $2.50 for 5 rounds with a stripper clip. Even worse is they are teasing me with an 8mm Mauser (Not sure of origin) for $198 with all the do dads, and 4 of the stripper clips with 5 rounds each.

Looks like I will have to lay it away on Friday if it is still there.

Webleymkv · March 28, 2012, 09:46 PM

Here's a few more links for surplus 8mm

http://www.southernohiogun.com/ammo-...pper-clip.html

http://www.jgsales.com/8mm-yugo-m75-...x.-p-1755.html

http://www.centuryarms.biz/proddetail.asp?prod=AM1634

LarryNTX · March 29, 2012, 01:22 AM

Quote:

I wish I could find some more of that Romanian Light Ball

TX, Sportsman's Guide has some, but you have to buy a full 880 round case. Pretty good price.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/c....aspx?a=235122

emcon5 · March 29, 2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Sportsman's Guide has some

7.62x54R ≠ 8x57 Mauser

LarryNTX · March 29, 2012, 09:39 AM

I know, I wasn't paying enough attention. I thought he was asking about 7.62.

**Mike Irwin** · March 29, 2012, 10:00 AM

That's a pretty good price compared to what I've been seeing at gun shows lately...

Maybe I should finally spring for a Moisin Nagant...

Anyone know what the shipping runs on an 880 count tin?

emcon5 · March 29, 2012, 07:24 PM

Quote:

That's a pretty good price compared to what I've been seeing at gun shows lately...

Maybe I should finally spring for a Moisin Nagant...

SGAmmo has better prices, and as a bonus, they aren't Sportsman's Guide.

http://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-ammunition/762x54r

TX Hunter · March 29, 2012, 08:29 PM

I will go ahead and order a 880 Round Box. Thanks again. OOPS, I checked the link it was 7.62x54 I would recomend getting that though, because one day the 54 will dry up too.
I ordered some 8x57 Dies this afternoon and a couple of hundred bullets.

TX Hunter · March 29, 2012, 08:59 PM

I have been reloading alot this year for .308, but ordered dies and bullets for 8x57 Mauser. Ive got a Yugo 24 47 Rifle that I bought from Samco Global with a bent bolt handle, that I love.
Ive got some 8x57 brass, and a nice pile of 30 06 brass.
Here is a good Yutube video of how to make 8x57 brass from 270 Winchester cases, you can do the same with 30 06 brass a little easier.
I like this guy, he is pretty cool.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYOYG97msAA

carguychris · March 30, 2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Anyone know what the shipping runs on an 880 count tin?

Not sure, but FWIW you want to order them in pairs, because you'll typically be charged less per unit and you should get a protective wooden crate and a can opener.

TX Hunter · April 1, 2012, 08:12 AM

In a way though with the Surplus ammo gone, or dang near gone, and the factory ammo expensive, and underloaded this may put a few more nice Mausers on the market, for those of us who ''Roll our own''.

CowTowner · April 2, 2012, 10:45 AM

Just to drop one more link.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...dir=18|830|854

Tom68 · April 2, 2012, 11:40 AM

I for one won't be messing with any more surplus 8 x 57. Last box I bought from LGS mic'd at .318...which I measured AFTER shooting 2ft groups at 100 yds. I haven't slugged either of my mauser barrels, I'm pretty certain both are closer to the .323 spec than .318!

This past weekend I was hitting 1/2 gallon milk jugs at 100 yards with factory Privi. Now I'm collecting once-fired factory brass and I'll get a set of dies when I have about 100 pcs. I don't intend to shoot more than a hundred or so of rounds per year through these rifles.

mauserMan · April 2, 2012, 03:35 PM

I got burned hard when surplus 8mm (not the over priced sniper stuff) disappeared over night. It was super strange because one weekend I spent hours scouring around finding plenty of sources searching for the best deal. The next weekend (after I got paid) I went to order and *poof* EVERYONE was out of stock. I loved that 50's Yugo stuff. Got mine from J&G. My k98 ate it right up. Never a cracked, let alone burst case. Maybe about 5-10 FTF's out of 900 rounds fired (I rechambered and restruck all of the FTF and they fired fine on the second hit)

I did buy 150 rds of 50's Yugo from a gun show once. Terrible stuff. Once I got home I "QC rejected" about 15% of the rounds as dangerous. I blamed it on mishandling.

Most of the links above, although appreciated, are for the much more expensive "sniper grade". I did see the one link for 50's Iranian. (link) I never heard any reports on it though. Anyone have any experience with it? I just want it for plinking, so a reasonable number of FTF's are OK for the price and I really don't care about accuracy, but I'm not willing to risk any serious damage to my k98.

Thanks in advance for any comments or opinions. Also, apologies for making this my first post here instead of doing a proper introduction.

Mike

shaunpain · April 3, 2012, 03:12 PM

I am also seeing a lot of 54R, which is great, I've been slowly stockpiling it up. I am seeing factory ammo from the Russians, and it's great to know that the gun will run anything through it. My brother and I were discussing K98s the other day and I had to forewarn him that there is just absolutely no way he'll be able to feed it (living in Chicago, I can't get any ammo shipped here... ugh). I went with an Ishapore Enfield recently in 7.62 NATO expressly because I knew I'd never find .303 at any of my local shops.

That samco link that someone posted should help. I've dealt with them before on a rifle and they were solid. Just... hard to understand over the phone!

March 26, 2012, 03:12 PM	#1
jclayto Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 600	8mm surplus ammo - where have I been? I haven't needed to buy surplus ammo in a while as I had a good supply. Today I started shopping for 8mm surplus which always seemed to be around the same price as the x54 and can't seem to find any. Did I miss the memo? Did the 8mm surplus ship sail already?

March 27, 2012, 07:29 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Surplus for just about everything has largely dried up, unfortunately. Some years ago we were awash in .303 British. Then poof, it's gone. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 27, 2012, 07:50 AM	#6
jsmaye Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Location: Amarillo, Tx Posts: 616	I still see surplus ammo all around; it's just not sold in cans of 1200 for .15 a round any more. Mostly it's sold in boxes of 20 for $1.00 - $1.50 a round as though it were factory fresh. __________________ No matter how big and tough you are, when a two-year-old hands you a toy phone you'll answer it.

March 27, 2012, 11:22 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	"Mostly it's sold in boxes of 20 for $1.00 - $1.50 a round as though it were factory fresh." Exactly, because the supply has largely dried up, pushing surplus prices up as with any commodity that is in limited supply but high demand. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 28, 2012, 07:18 PM	#11
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	The LGS here has a huge ammo can full of 8mm Mauser selling it for $2.50 for 5 rounds with a stripper clip. Even worse is they are teasing me with an 8mm Mauser (Not sure of origin) for $198 with all the do dads, and 4 of the stripper clips with 5 rounds each. Looks like I will have to lay it away on Friday if it is still there. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 26, 2012, 07:15 PM	#2
m.p.driver Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 552	You were left on the shore.Last batch that i seen was some berdan primed Yugo about 3 years ago, that came in the same time as some 24/47's.About the only thing local is some 8mm prvi.

March 26, 2012, 10:15 PM	#3
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	I stocked up on the Romanian 2 years ago, glad I did, got in one last case, went to order more a week later, all gone from several sources. The Prvi 8mm is outstanding stuff, going for $20 a box here, dollar a round, so I'm buying brass and looking at a reload setup.

March 27, 2012, 05:14 AM	#4
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	About 18 months ago I had to decide on 54R or 8mm. Cost & availabilty was about the same for each... then. Not no more. Some say 7mm Mauser, .303 Brit, 7.62 Argentine, 6.5x55 and 8mm et al, will come back. I hope so. Dought it, but hope so. The Mosin action isn't a Mauser, but the ammo is still around and at ~.22cent to .25cent a round depending if you prefer Tuna or Spam Can varity.

March 27, 2012, 08:12 PM	#8
jclayto Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 600	Gosh, that stinks.. I had cases of it sitting around until my house burned last weekend. I never really thought to keep stocking up as it was always cheap and plentiful and not a caliber I shot often. Guess I'll stock up on the x54 while its still cheap. I don't shoot much of it either, but I guess I better get it while it's here. Thanks everyone

March 28, 2012, 03:08 PM	#9
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	8mm surplus is still out there if you know where to look. http://www.samcoglobal.com/Ammo-8mm.html

March 28, 2012, 06:34 PM	#10
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	I wish I could find some more of that Romanian Light Ball, that stuff is outstanding and not long ago was everywhere. The Ship has definately sailed. Great cartridge, shame its so mis understood.

March 28, 2012, 09:46 PM	#12
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	Here's a few more links for surplus 8mm http://www.southernohiogun.com/ammo-...pper-clip.html http://www.jgsales.com/8mm-yugo-m75-...x.-p-1755.html http://www.centuryarms.biz/proddetail.asp?prod=AM1634

March 29, 2012, 09:39 AM	#15
LarryNTX Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2010 Location: a little north of Dallas Posts: 124	I know, I wasn't paying enough attention. I thought he was asking about 7.62. __________________ Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.

March 29, 2012, 10:00 AM	#16
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	That's a pretty good price compared to what I've been seeing at gun shows lately... Maybe I should finally spring for a Moisin Nagant... Anyone know what the shipping runs on an 880 count tin? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 29, 2012, 08:29 PM	#18
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	Thanks Larry I will go ahead and order a 880 Round Box. Thanks again. OOPS, I checked the link it was 7.62x54 I would recomend getting that though, because one day the 54 will dry up too. I ordered some 8x57 Dies this afternoon and a couple of hundred bullets.

March 29, 2012, 08:59 PM	#19
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	I have been reloading alot this year for .308, but ordered dies and bullets for 8x57 Mauser. Ive got a Yugo 24 47 Rifle that I bought from Samco Global with a bent bolt handle, that I love. Ive got some 8x57 brass, and a nice pile of 30 06 brass. Here is a good Yutube video of how to make 8x57 brass from 270 Winchester cases, you can do the same with 30 06 brass a little easier. I like this guy, he is pretty cool.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYOYG97msAA

April 1, 2012, 08:12 AM	#21
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	In a way though with the Surplus ammo gone, or dang near gone, and the factory ammo expensive, and underloaded this may put a few more nice Mausers on the market, for those of us who ''Roll our own''.

April 2, 2012, 10:45 AM	#22
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Just to drop one more link. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...dir=18\|830\|854 __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

April 2, 2012, 11:40 AM	#23
Tom68 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 349	.318" vs .323" I for one won't be messing with any more surplus 8 x 57. Last box I bought from LGS mic'd at .318...which I measured AFTER shooting 2ft groups at 100 yds. I haven't slugged either of my mauser barrels, I'm pretty certain both are closer to the .323 spec than .318! This past weekend I was hitting 1/2 gallon milk jugs at 100 yards with factory Privi. Now I'm collecting once-fired factory brass and I'll get a set of dies when I have about 100 pcs. I don't intend to shoot more than a hundred or so of rounds per year through these rifles.

April 2, 2012, 03:35 PM	#24
mauserMan Junior Member Join Date: March 31, 2012 Posts: 2	I got burned hard when surplus 8mm (not the over priced sniper stuff) disappeared over night. It was super strange because one weekend I spent hours scouring around finding plenty of sources searching for the best deal. The next weekend (after I got paid) I went to order and poof EVERYONE was out of stock. I loved that 50's Yugo stuff. Got mine from J&G. My k98 ate it right up. Never a cracked, let alone burst case. Maybe about 5-10 FTF's out of 900 rounds fired (I rechambered and restruck all of the FTF and they fired fine on the second hit) I did buy 150 rds of 50's Yugo from a gun show once. Terrible stuff. Once I got home I "QC rejected" about 15% of the rounds as dangerous. I blamed it on mishandling. Most of the links above, although appreciated, are for the much more expensive "sniper grade". I did see the one link for 50's Iranian. (link) I never heard any reports on it though. Anyone have any experience with it? I just want it for plinking, so a reasonable number of FTF's are OK for the price and I really don't care about accuracy, but I'm not willing to risk any serious damage to my k98. Thanks in advance for any comments or opinions. Also, apologies for making this my first post here instead of doing a proper introduction. Mike Last edited by mauserMan; April 2, 2012 at 04:10 PM.

April 3, 2012, 03:12 PM	#25
shaunpain Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 854	I am also seeing a lot of 54R, which is great, I've been slowly stockpiling it up. I am seeing factory ammo from the Russians, and it's great to know that the gun will run anything through it. My brother and I were discussing K98s the other day and I had to forewarn him that there is just absolutely no way he'll be able to feed it (living in Chicago, I can't get any ammo shipped here... ugh). I went with an Ishapore Enfield recently in 7.62 NATO expressly because I knew I'd never find .303 at any of my local shops. That samco link that someone posted should help. I've dealt with them before on a rifle and they were solid. Just... hard to understand over the phone! __________________ "Shut up, crime!"

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