8mm mauser/180gr X bullets?

Pappy John · June 18, 2002, 09:39 AM

After having a bullet failure last year in deer season with a 170 gr Speer semi-spitzer (retrieved the deer, but found the separated bullet jacket on the ground from a shoulder blade hit) I decided to buy some Barnes X's to try and come up with a new hunting round. None of my load data books list any 180 gr bullet loads though. They all list 170 and 200+ gr loads and I don't want to buy the Barnes book just for a single caliber. At the price of these bullets I think they made enough money from me for a while. Has anyone done anything with this weight? I need a good starting point so I don't waste a lot of these puppies. My old round used 43 gr of 3031 powder pushing the 170 @ 2600 fps.

sricciardelli · June 18, 2002, 03:54 PM

IMR-3031 From 41.3 grains to 45.9 grains with Remington 9-1/2 primers works just fine for 175-ers.....

Zak Smith · June 18, 2002, 04:04 PM

I don't have the data you want, but here are a couple things to keep in mind.

1. Most load data for 8mm Mauser is severely downloaded so that any old barrels of the smaller diameter will not explose. American Factory 8x57 is so downloaded. Full-power 8x57JS should be around: 150gr@3080fps, 175gr@2700fps, etc. It's hard to find reliable load data for the full-power 8x57JS.

2. Barnes bullets are "harder" than lead-core bullets and thus you should use less power than conventional 180gr bullet's load.

If I were you, I would start 10%-15% below a 170 or 175gr load, and then work up. I have had good luck using WW748.

-z

Pappy John · June 19, 2002, 03:36 AM

Thanks for the input. I just bedded this reciever and don't plan on shooting it for a week or so and then I'm gonna shoot up the last of my old ammo to see if my bedding job made any accuracy improvement (its my first time with an accraglass kit). So its gonna be a while till I get to loading the X's.

Turk · June 19, 2002, 06:47 PM

Another bullet you may want to consider is a partition (nosler) or a bonded core bullet from one of the custom bullet makers.

Turk

jabojerry · November 30, 2007, 11:31 PM

Before you load up a bunch of Barnes X Bullets and hunt for deer, find the Barnes literature and read up on their design. I successfully shot a whitetail deer with a 180 gr. Barnes X-Bullet but I found the exit hole to be the same size as the entrance hole. I would never use a Barnes Bullet on deer again. I was lucky once, that will be enough. The Barnes literature will discuss its design for larger, tougher skinned game.

I have used 150 gr. Spitzers successfully on many deer but I do frequently find lead and jacket separation. Next year I will be using a 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip BT because of my emotional disappointment with the bullet separation. I have never lost a deer shot with the 150 gr. Spitzer but it is time for me to try something different.

Scorch · December 1, 2007, 01:14 AM

I loaded 8X57 for years, my favorite load was 175 gr Sierra bullet over 51.0 gr IMR4320. Gives 2,720 fps. This is a warm load, and I would not recommend starting there, but work up.

Zak, I have never seen a 150 gr bullet at 3,080 fps, the hottest I have ever seen in a 150 is at 2,930 fps. Who loads the 8X57 that hot?

Zak Smith · December 4, 2007, 05:36 PM

I have, in my K98 and M48As. It's not a max load.

Cross-checking with QuickLoad reveals that you can hit 150gr @ 3000 fps at 55,000 psi or below. The spec max for "8mm Mauser CIP" is 56565 psi.

-z

June 18, 2002, 09:39 AM	#1
Pappy John Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: the lower Susquehanna Valley Posts: 848	8mm mauser/180gr X bullets? After having a bullet failure last year in deer season with a 170 gr Speer semi-spitzer (retrieved the deer, but found the separated bullet jacket on the ground from a shoulder blade hit) I decided to buy some Barnes X's to try and come up with a new hunting round. None of my load data books list any 180 gr bullet loads though. They all list 170 and 200+ gr loads and I don't want to buy the Barnes book just for a single caliber. At the price of these bullets I think they made enough money from me for a while. Has anyone done anything with this weight? I need a good starting point so I don't waste a lot of these puppies. My old round used 43 gr of 3031 powder pushing the 170 @ 2600 fps.

June 18, 2002, 03:54 PM	#2
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	IMR-3031 From 41.3 grains to 45.9 grains with Remington 9-1/2 primers works just fine for 175-ers..... __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

November 30, 2007, 11:31 PM	#6
jabojerry Junior Member Join Date: November 30, 2007 Location: mid-Michigan Posts: 3	barnes X Bullets not for Whitetailed Deer Before you load up a bunch of Barnes X Bullets and hunt for deer, find the Barnes literature and read up on their design. I successfully shot a whitetail deer with a 180 gr. Barnes X-Bullet but I found the exit hole to be the same size as the entrance hole. I would never use a Barnes Bullet on deer again. I was lucky once, that will be enough. The Barnes literature will discuss its design for larger, tougher skinned game. I have used 150 gr. Spitzers successfully on many deer but I do frequently find lead and jacket separation. Next year I will be using a 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip BT because of my emotional disappointment with the bullet separation. I have never lost a deer shot with the 150 gr. Spitzer but it is time for me to try something different. Last edited by jabojerry; November 30, 2007 at 11:32 PM. Reason: clarity

December 1, 2007, 01:14 AM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I loaded 8X57 for years, my favorite load was 175 gr Sierra bullet over 51.0 gr IMR4320. Gives 2,720 fps. This is a warm load, and I would not recommend starting there, but work up. Zak, I have never seen a 150 gr bullet at 3,080 fps, the hottest I have ever seen in a 150 is at 2,930 fps. Who loads the 8X57 that hot? __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

December 4, 2007, 05:36 PM	#8
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	I have, in my K98 and M48As. It's not a max load. Cross-checking with QuickLoad reveals that you can hit 150gr @ 3000 fps at 55,000 psi or below. The spec max for "8mm Mauser CIP" is 56565 psi. -z __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

June 18, 2002, 04:04 PM	#3
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	I don't have the data you want, but here are a couple things to keep in mind. 1. Most load data for 8mm Mauser is severely downloaded so that any old barrels of the smaller diameter will not explose. American Factory 8x57 is so downloaded. Full-power 8x57JS should be around: 150gr@3080fps, 175gr@2700fps, etc. It's hard to find reliable load data for the full-power 8x57JS. 2. Barnes bullets are "harder" than lead-core bullets and thus you should use less power than conventional 180gr bullet's load. If I were you, I would start 10%-15% below a 170 or 175gr load, and then work up. I have had good luck using WW748. -z

June 19, 2002, 03:36 AM	#4
Pappy John Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2001 Location: the lower Susquehanna Valley Posts: 848	Thanks for the input. I just bedded this reciever and don't plan on shooting it for a week or so and then I'm gonna shoot up the last of my old ammo to see if my bedding job made any accuracy improvement (its my first time with an accraglass kit). So its gonna be a while till I get to loading the X's.

June 19, 2002, 06:47 PM	#5
Turk Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 517	Another bullet you may want to consider is a partition (nosler) or a bonded core bullet from one of the custom bullet makers. Turk