From Sweden i am, just listened to this podcast. I hunt with a 8x57is, chambered in a Sako 85 hunter with short barrel and suppressor on it. I think it definitely has it's own place, I see it as a option to the 30-06 as they are really close in performance. All depends on how you load it. 30-06 will have better bc and higher speeds, but also wants a longer barrel. 8x57 uses a little bit faster powder, has less powder and bigger bore so works great in shorter barrels. Also gives a little bit bigger hole in the animal and heavier weights, over here we load it with up to 250 gr bullets. But mostly use around 200 gr. So for me who hunts moose in tight terrain, the 8x57 fits perfectly in my compact rifle and delivers a bigger punch than 308. I Would however choose 30-06 if I was mostly hunting in open terrain where I can carry a longer rifle comfortable and use the better ballistics of the 30 cal.
Ofcause you would choose the 30-06... because you forgot about the 8x60 Mauser... and the 8x64 Brenneke... or real power in the form of the 8x68... European hunters do not need American cartridges
@@hendrikvanderschyff7812 That's a boring outlook you have. There are great cartridges over there, there are great cartridges over here! Why limit yourself for arbitrary reasons? And as a side note, none of those cartridges you mentioned will ever be as approachable as 30-06, 308 or 8x57 here in Sweden, unless it's sold as Norma Jaktmatch in 50-round packs. It's by far the most widespread and affordable practice round up here, and it's a real consideration one has to make when choosing a moose or boar cartridge.
I am hunting here in Germany with the 8x57 S in 3 guns: old WWII Mauser, Browning Double Barrel as 8x57ISR und super modern Blaser R8 Ultimate with full on tech. I also have .308, 30.06 and 9.3x62, 9,3x64 and div. 7mm rifles - but the 8x57s is by far my favorite
My neighbor growing up as a young boy was an older gentleman nicknamed “skeeter” that was like a grandpa figure to me who always hunted with a sporterized k98 Mauser 8mm, it was his favorite rifle that quite literally killed hundreds of deer over the many years. So growing up I always wanted a Mauser to hunt with like skeeter. I ended up getting a really nice k98 and fashioning a high turret scope mount that is my favorite and most accurate deer Rifle that will out shoot many of my other deer rifles. Side note after skeeter died his son ended up giving me his old Mauser that he use to hunt with and needless to say I was a blubbering mess. I was so grateful for his gift something that I will pass to my sons with the story and also So I can still go hunting with his Mauser keeping the tradition and also feel closer to skeeter.
In 1976 in Fargo ND I purchased a sporterized 8x57 German war Mauser. The barell had been cut to 24 inches and it had a Fajan stock that really needed a lot of work. I spent a considerable amount of time making the stock look and feel like a nice fitting gun stock. I must have removed almost half the stock material that I started with. I then checkered the pistol grip and forearm. This really turned out great and I got a lot of compliments on the stock. The action was in pretty good condition. I cut the bolt handle off, bent it and rewelded it on to the action. I then was at a gun show and bought new bottom metal and a Timney trigger along with a new safety that relocated it to the side of the rear bolt. I still have this rifle after all these years. This rifle has taken Pronghorn, Mule deer, White Tail deer and Elk without any problem. The rifle shoots consistently at 1 MOA.
I have hunted with 8×57 mauser in model 98 sporting rifles made in Germany and custom made there since I was in my early 20's I'm now 61. I never lost a deer or bear with one shot . A fantastic round that can take all large game in North America.
I shoot 8mm in military calibre competition in Australia. I use S&B 196gr FMJ in my 1944 K98 all matching. Very full loading and really packs a punch. Very accurate; bullseyes at 500m open sights. Just love it.
This cartridge and the 7x57 Mauser are historically very important because they are how the .30-06 came to be. I doubt cartridges like the .30-06 and .308 would be around today if it wasn't for these.
Hornady 196gr puts it right with a 30-06. My first bolt gun was a sporterised 98 gew, and it dropped a few deer after i switched from Remington round nose it was a shooter.
I shot my first deer with a numbers matching k98 in 1985. I was the youngest kid and the only option left in our family was that "old German gun". I wish I appreciated what I got to use then like I appreciate the 8mm now.
I also shot my first deer with an 8mm. yugo m48. My friends made fun of me until they saw what happened to the deer lol. From then on, every time we went hunting together it was "are you bringing the 8mm out?" That was in 2000 when I was in high school
Me also, first white tail, 6 pointer. it slammed that bastard. I remember being worried about having to track it, I didn't have to track anything. 250 yard solid box shot. Meat was good, right through the lungs and heart. Mod 98 still had the Nazi markings which was kind of spooky (I'm Irish, black and Native American but still....good shooting rifle. I'm pretty sure my grandfather brought it back from WWII, they had to Sport it I'm guessing he cut off the rear stock to shove it in his is duffle. Grandpa served in the WWII, Dad in Vietnam, me in Iraq and Afghanistan. I use different rifles for different things now, I have best accuracy s using a .243 for white tail deer hunting in MN, longest shot yet at 400 yards in the woods. But I still use the 8mm for wooded areas, or my 30-30 or 30-06. Done hog hunting down it Texas used a 6.5 and later brought my 8mm. Day and night. That 8mm rolled it. Took a few 6.5 (300 pound hogs), only took one 8mm
I sporterized an old Turkish Mauser. I've used it for the last 25 years. Mule deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion and bobcat have all felt the wrath of the 8x57. Love this cartridge!!
@@hardlylivin6602 you can also skeletonize your car and remove all the doors, roof, hood and it will still run but that won't save it from being the ugliest thing ever. The worst part is when Bubba drills and accidentally deactivates the gun trying to mount a scope. Should have just bought a $250 hunting rifle
I hand load 8x57 I hunt with a new-barreled k98 and a Yugo m76 It does everything 30-06 can do but with the bonus of a heavier bullet. Absolutely love the cartridge.
I hunt with an old Zastava factory-sporterized version of their M48. Bought it all beat-up off the used rifle rack at Cabelas as a refurbishment project and really took a liking to it after it was done.
I've been using the 8x57 for years. Started off with a sporterized k98k and had the ability to shoot Mule deer, moose, black bears , whitetails, and more. Used it for lots of chores on the farm. Since then I've bought several commerical made 8x57s in Cz, Sauer, tikka, Remington and etc. Very happy with the performance. With careful reloading work I got 150's to 3000 fps, 180gr to about 2800 fps, 200gr up to 2700 fps which all have been safe In my modern rifles. I've been taking game with these loads pretty much every season. I also guide in grizzly country and don't feel under gunned carrying the old reliable 8mm. At the end of the day it's literally on par with the 30-06 at normal hunting ranges (0-350 yards). The -06 does eventually overtake it due to higher BC bullets but the animals won't tell the difference.
I bought a yugo Mauser back about 20 years ago from a place in the shotgun news that is a shooters grade for $70 and also bought 700 rounds of 8mm on stripper clips in bandoliers for $30. The ammo was stamped 1940. It was very hot. I love shooting this rifle. I would never sell it for any amount. I highly recommend getting one and shooting it.
From Norway her Been hunting Moose and deer for over 10yrs with the 8x57 using modern copper bullets.. Sauer 101 and lately the German Heym SR21 beats .308, 6,5 cartridges all day long. Perfect cartridge with short barrels and silencers! Bullets from 100gr to 220gr! Just love it! And yes I want a episode on 323wsm and 6,5-284 Norma, and I’m curious about the 7mm Sherman.. bring me more cartridge talk it’s the highlight of UA-cam these days! 👌
Sorry to have discovered this excellent video only now -- nearly a year after release, but better late than never, I guess. Ex-NY'er-now-a-Mainer here, and I "stalk" with two (2) 8mm Mausers; a fully-sporterized K98, and a slightly-sporterized G98 with the original 29-inch barrel. Both have original markings, and have been fitted with scopes. The G98's only sporterized modification was having the stock shortened in the front, and the top handguard removed. The fully-sporterized K98 had lots of weight removed (e.g. the ball on the bolt handle has been hollowed out) and thus it kicks like a mule. The G98, however, is a dream to shoot. Have taken many a white-tail with both; the K98 is a nimble brush-gun, while the G98 is more of a long distance / cross-valley rifle. Although I have plenty of factory ammo (e.g. Remington Core-Lokt), I've gotten into hand-loading for these. Now that I'm in Maine, I'm going to enter Maine's moose tag lottery and hopefully win. I'd love to take one of the Mausers out for a moose hunt!
I have an 8x57 Ackley Improved that is a tac driver. Very accurate and very fun to shoot. My normal big game rifle is a 1939 Mauser 98k that has been sporterized. Have never had to make a second shot on anything. The Ackley I regularly shoot out to 1,000 yds and my other I would and have taken to 500 yds easily. I have hunted with mine since 1975.
Greetings from across the pond. I wanted to weigh in on the cartridge's relevance to this day: It is actually on the rise in my opinion, for one particular reason. Unlike the ever-popular .30-06 for example, it performs really well in fashionably short barrels with modern loadings. And with the abundance of suppressors used for hunting here in Europe it is a very good option to get yourself a handy tool. In fact, my next rifle - a designated wild boar driven hunt rifle - will be chambered in 8x57mm. Keep up the good work!
I'm not talking old rifles. My comment was regarding the calibre's relevance today. I encourage you to check out any German (Blaser, Sauer, Mauser, Heym, Haenel, Merkel, Steel Action, ...) hunting rifle manufacturer's current production line, and many other Europeans (Sako/Tikka, CZ, Steyr, Rössler,Sabatti,...). Most - if not all - offer 8x57IS in the mentioned modern (=short) barrels.
Don’t forget that a lot of european countries at some point had a ban on “military (derived) calibers”. France only allowed sale of .308 and .223 in 2013 I believe…
The family of cartridges based off the 8x57 is a wide range. At the small end the 5.6x 57 is still the hottest factory .223 then the 6mm Remington, the .257 Roberts, the near extinct 6.5x57, the ever popular 7x57, the parent 7.92x57 with 9x57 and 9.3x57 at the top end . They all have great virtues
I'll second that ! I have both 5.6x57 and 6.5x57, awesome .22 centrefire power in the 5.6 and a great deer allrounder in the 6.5. The modern Creedmoor is just a fashion item that was 100+ years late to the party.
Have been shooting with 8x57js for past 25 years in South Africa.Bushveld and Kalahari hunting eland with no problem.A real gem.Using 165g Peregrine bullets South African made
Ive used a 8mm turkish mauser for several years and gotten deer with it every season I used it . I have had others military bolt action rifles in that caliber in the pass I took deer with . Great round , very underrated . I always loved old military rifles and the history behind them .
I hunt with a Remington 700 factory chambered in 8mm Mauser. They had a short run in early 2004. From what I gather, they didn't make many. I'm mostly a target shooter so my first time hunting wasn't sure I was really going to be able to take an animal, but my very first shot at a hog dropped it like nobody's business. Also helps when my shot placement was spot on, but yeah I love my 8mm Mauser hunting rifle!
I walked into a cabelas one day 4yrs ago to buy a cheap 1911 due to my budget. As always, I looked around the used guns/surplus section to get my window shopping fix and noticed a mauser. It was a Vz 24 going for 350 bones. I had never seen one before that but was in great condition...I sat with myself thinking I could buy a 1911 any time, and I may never get a chance like this again. I walked out of the store with the mauser and it's one of my favorite rifles to shoot and show off.
First of all, thanx for your informative Podcast. Mr. Mackenhirn is an encyclopedia. I'm from Germany and hunt with a 8x57 in a blaser R8 straightpull with a 20' barrel, and a silencer. Ammunition wise my choice, if I can get it, is 160 gr. Barnes TTSX. I like it a lot. My alternative is a Blaser R8 20' in .308. Barnesd 130 gr. TTSX. Usually I hunt roedeer and wild boar. I never needed a different t, more powerful cartridge. Those two riffles and cartridges tick all my boxes. Greetings from Germany. Thomas
In Europe there are many 8mm Mauser derivatives like the : 5.6x57mm Mauser 6.5x57mm Mauser 7x57mm Mauser/.275 Rigby An old obsolete 8.8x57mm 9x57mm Mauser 9.3x57mm Mauser 9.5x57mm Mannlicher-Schönauer/.375 Rimless Nitro Express 8x60mm 8x60mm S 8x64mm Brenneke 7x64mm Brenneke 9.3x62mm Mauser 9.3x66mm Sako Magnum/.370 Sako Magnum As well as the rimmed versions of many of those.
Have several 8mm Mausers. My favorite is a 1914 Orbendorfer commercial Mauser with beautiful dark burled wood, safari sights, barrel banded sling mount, schnabeled. Its the rifle ryan described. Same action and the stock just as pretty as an old Rigby. Not for sale :).
30-06, 8mm Mauser, and .303 Brit were the cartridges I learned to reload first. The real advantage of the 8mm was its ability to function extremely well in full automatic weapons like the MG-42. The US Army tried to modify the MG-42 to fire 30-06, but the length of the cartridge required a longer cycle and did not work. The MG-1 is a modern version of the MG-42 and is chambered in 7.62 NATO and functions just like the 8mm. The case length of the 7.62 is close to the 8mm, therefore it cycles the same way.
The 8 mm Remington magnum was one of Craig Boddintons favorite calibers and he hunted lots of game in more country’s and is considered one of the great writers of the 20th century
You guys should do a podcast on cartridge efficiency and compare typical calibers on a spreadsheet. I always hear MC Ryan talk about cartridge efficiency often on cartridge talks.
I had an 8 x 57 and a 30o6 I loved the 8mm hand loaded with 200 gr as I lived in British columbia Canada it was extremely accurate shot many moose elk and mule deer Al's shot bear never had had to fore more than one shot and they all dropped where they stood in some ways it hit harder than my o6 incredible cartridge
I just picked up 1,000 round of surplus Yugo 8mm Mauser for 40 cents per round to shoot out of my Kar98AZ and Yugo captured Kar98k. I used to love shooting my Mosin Nagant when less than 5 years ago it was 25 cents per round. Now it is 60 cents per round for the same 7.62x54r and might be getting even more expensive. Now the Yugo 8mm seems like a more attractive option. It's actually good ammo. I've shot hundreds of rounds so far and they all went bang even though the ammo was made in 1940. Accuracy is good enough to hit a 1/3 steel silhouette at 100 yards every shot with both of my rifles, which is good enough for me. I can't believe I've slept on surplus 8mm for so long. It's not that hard to clean the corrosive slats after every range session and I wonder how cheap it used to be 5 or 10 years ago.
I swear I could listen to the rambling that bleeds from one caliber to another for hours on end! The history and parent cartridges that are referenced on every episode is music to my ears. To listen to someone who has that much knowledge on a vast array of calibers off the cuff is amazing. I now know I don’t hold a candle to Ryan. I’m in awe!
I've gotten several8 Mausers over the years. If I didn't have my Savage110 in 06 I would have sporterized a Mausers and used it. Another thing I ran across fairly often back in the80s was the Mausers rechambered in 8mm/06. The chamber was just lengthened to the size of 06 and then a06 case necked up to 8mm. It was a great round. Can't shoot much now because of my health but I do enjoy discussing this cartridge.
I had the best of both back in the day. I had and 8mm06 that was rechambered back in the 70's. It was and beast of and cartridge. With 175gr sierra sbt i was getting 2900fps with and 24.5in barrel. Witch made for and great deer rifle. Loaned it to a buddy for deer season after his gun was stolen. With 50 reloads of that 175gr sierra . He killed 5 deer that year and gave back 40 rounds and 10 brass. He said he shot it from a bench 3 times took 2 to get a yote on tge run. And one shot each on 5 deer two bucks and 3 doe. He tagged out that year. He bought that rifle from me 1 month later with his tax money...
In Finland it could be had off the shelves (sort of, you can order a rifle which is 8x57 and it does not incur in any fancy stuff surcharge). But for the 308 you have heaps more options for everything (guns, ammo, reloading) even here, so the 8x57 is far more niche than you'd expect.
The first rifle I ever shot, when I was about 8 or 9 in the early 1960's, was a surplus K98 in 8x57 my father bought for probably about $20. He later sold it to my uncle who had it destroyed in a house fire(really). I purchased a sporterized K98 earlier this year in 7x57, and it shoots way better than I do, and I have shot sub 2moa with it.
For my high school project I built an AR15 and researched its history and development in both the commercial and military applications including US and foreign military (mostly through Diemaco, now called Colt Canada. I thought it was really cool and I'm thankful my teacher let me do it.
Thanks for bringing this one to your viewers. Back in the ‘90s I had a mild interest in 8x57(due to historic significance), 8mm-06, and 8mm Rem Mag equally. Even pondered getting into the wildcat thing with an 8-08 Improved(longer lasting brass and just looks cooler). Never enough interest to commit. Fast forward to ‘09 and I discovered some really nice A-Bolt Micro Medallions at Cabela’s with oil finished stocks, richly blued metal, light, octagonal barrels…and all were chambered in 325 WSM. At that time I had a measure of hate for the cartridge. Everyone(that I knew of) wanted to see the next WSM as a 338. I wanted to see one in 358(based on the case dimensions and action length[Model 70] that made more sense to me). So here’s this gorgeous rifle in a chambering I cared nothing for….so it went home with me. And I began with what turned out to be an adventure in feeding this thing. I own only hunting rifles and it is my most accurate one. Yet another example of hate making a turn for the better. Just owning this thing has helped me maintain an interest in other 8mm cartridges. My number one pick for an 8x57 hunting……sorry, STALKING rifle would be a 22” NULA. They have an action sized specifically for this cartridge length. I have to add my voice to those asking for a 10 Minute Talk on the 325 WSM. This episode has reminded me of the one you guys did on the 8mm-06. Thank you for that one. Thanks again for this one. And thanks for this show in general. Great entertainment👍
Strasser RS14 Evo Thar is my first and still goto hunting rifle in 8x57IS ... Forested area in Austria with ranges up to about 200m ... Works like a charm from foxes to wild boar 😊
A better and more plentiful rifle that's very much glossed over. It did start as a sort of failure by being based on the P13 and P14 rifles that Britain gave up on (with good reason), but the P17 was extremely successful.
Finally someone with a audience can explain that the 6.5x55 is limmited by the pressure standard of old. Also that it actually has something more to offer than the 6.5 creedmore in speed.
The the real Swedish Mausers (Carl Gustaf, Husqvarna) M94/96/38 (all the same action) were required to use a special high quality tough Swedish steel. Even the “Swedish” Mausers built in Germany (Oberndorf) were required to use that special steel. The 6.5x55 in the M96 action was proof tested to almost 66,000 PSI. Anyone who tells you that the M96 is a weak action does not know what he is talking about. The 6.5x55 cartridge was developed by a joint Swedish and Norwegian commission. The Norwegian military opted to use the Norwegian Krag-Jorgensen action for their rifles chambered in 6.5x55. That action is definitely much weaker than the Swedish M96 which is why the SAAMI MAP for 6.5x55 is so low and the warnings about “old weak military action” are given. The 6.5x55 can definitely be hand loaded to take advantage of its case capacity in the stronger actions but you still need to carefully develop your loads using standard procedures and watching pressure signs.
My first hunting rifle was a sporterized 6.5x55 swedish mauser at the age of 11ish. Fast forward to a few years ago I really wanted an 8mm mauser to take to the range and woods occasionally. Picked up a yugo m48 that needed the stock refinished. Refinished the stock, installed a huber concepts trigger and now it's one of my go to rifles. It's fairly short and not too heavy in the recoil department.
Hearing about the 8mm Mauser really has me intrigued about the .325 WSM, another 8mm cartridge that’s never heard of anymore. Thanks for the episode fellas!
@@lancepugh6081 The 8mm Mag. sounds like a monster, on both ends of the rifle! From what I’ve read, it would be an exceptional longer range elk/moose/caribou rifle with some hotter handloads. Personally though, the WSM seems a little more “fun” for lack of a better word, being able to function in a short action, lighter weight rifle. Thanks for letting me know about the 8mm Rem. Mag!
i restocked and finished my 98,, put a new trigger in it and a boyd stock,,used it for 12 years then swapped the barrel to 35 whelen,, now wish it was original , even though i love it.
There are some wild 8mm Mauser loadings out there. I shot some surplus ammo (I’ve also seen videos of it on YT) that had a 198gr bullet going 3000 fps. Made my 300 Win Mag look weak. I think it’s a wildly underrated cartridge.
I have two rifles in the chambering, one is an original number matching 1939 production German K98 and the other is a sporterized 1942 production gun. My target load is 150 gr Sierra SP over 52 grains of H380, which will shoot 3 rounds in 1" at 100 yards. My standard hunting load is 160 Branes TTX on top of 49 grains of Varget that will shoot 5 rounds in 1.25" at 100 yards. I have successfully used this load for coyotes, hogs, deer, and antelope out to 200 yards. Using IMR 4064 and a 200 gr Nosler partition I have successfully taken Elk, Axis, and Bison with the same gun. The groups using the 200-grain bullet open up, so I keep my shots under 150 yards, but it is still very effective on the larger animals. I love the Mauser 98 and the 8mm Mauser cartilage, thank you for helping keep it alive!
The 8mm caliber has been near and dear to me since the very beginning of my gun-owning and hunting life. I have 2 main 8mm rifles: a VZ-24 in 8x57mm, and a 325 WSM. Both are loaded to modern pressures, and have performed well on the hunt. Sad to see the 325 WSM becoming a handloading only proposition (much like my 8mm-06 AI), and even sadder to know the reloading manuals won't treat the 8x57mm Mauser as they treat my beloved 45-70. The 325 WSM does need a place on your podcasting. As I understand it the WSM community really, and I mean REALLY, wanted a 338 WSM. When the 325 WSM was unveiled, it was panned by most as a "not quite the 338 WSM we wanted" on most of the gun forums I frequented then. It's kind of amusing, really: the .323 bullet gets panned as being not much more effective than the .308 bullet ("it's only .015" difference!"), yet the .338 crowd have no end of boasting about the superiority of...the same .015" difference.
I know it's a year later, just started watching your channel. I have been hunting with a 1956 Spanish Mauser in 8x57 for a few years and love the round I've been playing around with the idea of building a modern rifle chambered in it.
I’m really curious about Ryan’s perspective on the Sig .277 Fury. Will it usher in a new era of case design? Will it become a top-tier hunting cartridge? Cheers, guys!
Just watching this after loading a bunch of 8x57 for our WI deer season this weekend. I have 2 custom hunting rifles chambered in 8x57 with typical Mauser actions, double-set triggers, etc. Fabulous shooters and this will be my first year with all copper projectiles in it. Should be grand!
Just watched your piece on the 8 x 57 JS. I have a Schultz and Larsen Ambassador with 3 different barrels, 8 x 57JS, 7 x 64 and 9.3 x 62. Manufacture about 4 years ago. All great calibres that I use here in the UK, Europe and Africa. 23:36
Enjoyed listening to this conversation, I'm a proud Mauser owner. The 7 x 57 Fabrica de Arms la Caruna . . . I may have butchered that spelling. Got that rifle a few years ago, 1938 like you were talking about. Mint condition, dirt cheap because someone had put a 3x9 Tasco scope on it. But still insanely accurate. Now the biggest downfall, the safety could not be used, because it was too high for the scope. Fortunately, I knew a fellow that took one from another rifle that was shorter, put it on and work's good. It is a little stiff, but I just keep it in the vertical position, a little bit of pressure to the left, fire ! I also have the 7.92x57 Spanish, sporterized, not the best job, but the rifle still shoots fiercely accurate, with iron sights. . . . Here's one for you to take into account. I also have the 8mm, 1944 Ankara. . . Biggest difference between Spanish and the Turk ? The distance from Spain to Turkey. . . . Regarding the time on the 7x57? I ran into that with a box of ammo, the store owner gave me the wrong one by accident, no big deal. He exchanged it and said the rim was for a single shot. . . . I've never seen a single shot Mauser.
i love the 8x57! I moved to the land across the pond and I have hunted with on and found the recoil very mild. It is a all round cartridge but unfortunately it is falling to the side to all the newer ammunition.
The letter "J" often mentioned by English speaking sources is actually an "I" for Infanterie (German for "infantry"). A stamped "I" at the cartridge bottom in writing styles used in the past in Germany could be easily mistaken for a "J". Even in the 21st century the "I" is often substituted by a "J" in English speaking communities and German ammunition manufacturers often write "JS" instead of "IS" to avoid confusing customers. The letter "S" stands for Spitzgeschoß ("pointed bullet"), and the English designation "spitzer" for that style of bullet is derived from this German term.
My family has a G 43 my grandfather brought back from WW2 . It hasn't been shot in a long time. It's always been one of my favorite rifles we have. I was he was here to know more about it's history. I do know he had a scope with it coming back across the Atlantic and apparently had taken it off to clean it. Well the ship listed hard and the scope rolled off into the Atlantic.
Just some friendly advice: if you ever decide to shoot it, which it will doubtlessly still function, I would highly recommend getting a different gas block rather than what is on the rifle currently. G43s were notoriously over-gassed to help deal with mud and ice. So over-gassed they’ll, almost literally, shoot themselves to pieces without a new gas block dialing back that over-gassing. Thats quite a piece of history you have, even before the family connection. Thanks for sharing!
The pleasure mauser you mentioned is a South African name for the 7x57 hunting rifle from around 1895 more expensive than normal mausers these where bought by well off Burgers in the Republic of the Free State and Zuid Afrikaanse Republic and used very effectively against British forces in the Anglo Boer war. Seen a couple and highly prized by collecters here in South Africa
The .30-06 was probably based off the 7x57mm, which in turn was based off the 8x57mm. Since the .308 is a shortened .30-06 case, by a round-about path the .308 is a direct, offshoot descendant of the 8x57mm.
Stalking is specifically the hunting of Deer in the UK, professional deer hunters are called "Deer Stalkers". I like that terminology it's subtle, very British. 🇬🇧
I have several. My first one was an old intermediate length 98 German sniper rifle that my dad and I customized. In 69, Ackley, who was a friend of my dads, made what he said was his first and only reamer for a 8x57 AI and helped me rechamber it. Then he said "dont you dare call it an Ackley Improved, its your baby, call you whatever you want it. Now, several reamer manufacturers offer it but it was never one of Ackley's. He told me everyone either wanted an 8mm-06 or the 8mm-06 AI but I bugged him for quite a while since I had the shorter action. Still have that rifle with a presentation grade Oregon broadleafe Maple stock. It will shoot sub half inch groups with several different bullet weight. It will run over 3000fps with a 175gr Sierra and 180gr Nosler. I've taken several elk and a trainload of blacktail and mule deer with it.I have 7 different 8mm's either standard chambering or different wildcats ive designed. Btw, its not the 8mm JS or J. The US screwed up the German lettering. It's "I", not J. " I " is for infantry, "S" is for Spitzer. Long live the 8mm!
There are a lot of conversions of military 98 mausers to hunting rifles in Europe. The really old rifles, build before the 1905 are using the 8x57J so it is usually loaded to a lower pressure. You can get factory loads for the JS in Europe that are quite a bit hotter. There is also the 8x60S. They were 8x57JS reamed for the new cartridge, as the military 8x57 was banned for some years for civil use after the first world war. In new weapons in Europe the 8x57 has lost ground against the 7x64, introduced in 1927 and designed as a sniper cartridge in 1917. In case capacity in between the 280 Remington and the 280 A.I. Mauser necked the 8x57 up and down. 9,3x57, 9x57, 7x57, 6,5x57 and 6x57. After the second world war RWS introduced in 1964 the 5,6x57. All those cases have or had a rimmed variant. SAMI gives a max pressure of 35,000 psi and CIP 56,560 psi. That would explain the anaemic ammunition produced in the USA. Hand loading for a modern rifle or not to old 98, you should be able to go to 60,000 psi.
I've used the 8x57 quite a bit, and always thought of it better than the .30-06, although there is not much to say between the two. As far as hunting goes, I'd rather have a 9x57 any day, or better yet a 9.3x62 which will cover all bases anywhere. The 7x57 is a great round as well, and fills some areas. I think the 8x57 was mainly downplayed because there was never, and has never been any real selection of sporting ammo for it outside of Europe, and this contributed to it's not being spoken of much. The sporting ammo offered by the big names has always been reduced loads due to the possible chambering in the older .318 bore Mausers, and this handicapped it as well. I look at the 8 as a great cartridge, but one that is even better necked up to 9. If I had to choose rifles and could only have one, I'd just go for a 9.3x62 and be happy. Especially when brass is formed from .30-06.
Fellow wisconsinite here. I was handed down a war trophy k98k awesome gun all serial numbers matching with all the old nazi stampings still on it shoots great with my hand loaded 220 grain sierra bullets I can easily keep golf ball groups at 100 yards cant wait to drop a deer with it
My father hunts with a sporterized Kar98k in 8×57IS and has done so for the last 25 years. My next rifle will be a Sauer 404 in 8×57IS. It's an awesome cartridge that drops red deer and wild boar without any problem.
I've never been hunting but one of the first, if not the first centerfire rifles I bought was a Mitchell's M48. It usually comes along on the range trips.
Stalking rifle is something you can very comfortably shoot without support or off-hand. Light barrel profile, maybe a shorter barrel (for the Americans newest fashion). The key is it has to be quick to shoulder and get that first shot off. Tikkas in the hunter models actually work very well in this role. A great gun for a fusion of the European stalker and American tradition is actually a lever gun.
Funny there was no mention of the 8mm-06 from Ryan. In my youth I met several older hunters who brought home Mousers, spoterized them and punched them out to use necked-up 30-06 brass due to the scarcity of 8x57 brass. Many local used gun racks still had some in the 80’s & 90’s. Haven’t seen any in a long while.😮
i have an M48- 8mmx57 mauser. i have been (foolishly) thinking about which "modern" cartridge I could turn this thing into. now I'm just going to keep it as is. I have used it primarily for deer .
I hunted mule deer in WA two seasons ago with an Ethiopian contract Czech K98k, made in 1945 just after the war. Wasn't successful, but man it felt cool to be prowling the foothills of the Cascades with that old Mauser. S&B 196gr SPCE loads have okay accuracy for such an old war horse. My dream is to take a deer or elk in the timber with it using iron sights someday.
My first hunting rifle was a 7mm Argentine Mauser at age 14, I hunted with it successfully for years using the iron sights....i paid around 25.00 for it in the local hardware store in about 1961
I am hunting using 8x57 JS, I have one new Sauer 100 XT and one Husqvarna 1640 from 1957 in 8x57 JS i use both for every thing like Moose, deer, wilde pigs and roe deer. Wont change to 30-06 or 308 for any thing.
I just picked up a beautiful example of a matching Yugo M48, not a Mitchell's Mauser, and spent a little bit of time cleaning out the remnants of cosmoline, to find a BOLD Mauser target trigger installed, set at 3# pull, a nice addition to find. I can't wait to take it out this upcoming deer season and put it to use. Keeping it iron sights though.
Just a sidenote but it is not 'J' it is capital i, it stands for Infanterie, ie infantry. The old German writing of an i looks similar to a J which is why it often gets confused. S stands for Spitzgeschoss (spire point). There were different versions, for example MG crews had one with thicker brass and so on.
After hunting successfully for Whitetail in northeastern Pennsylvania with a model, 94 Winchester in 30-30 and a model 99 Savage in 300 Savage, my first firearms purchase as a 17-year-old was a 1944 vintage Mauser 98 war trophy in 8 mm Mauser which had been sporterized by its former owner. That was in 1969. I still own this rifle. Though half my age, Ryan seems to be living in a parallel firearms universe which many of us seem to do.
I've shot every deer I've been able to recover with my 2 8x57 rifles. Ones a k98k sporter I finished and the other is a Yugoslavian m48a. Still the most impressive was a doe I took on a farm destroying crops with an old yugo m75 heavy ball, hit her infront of the right rear leg and it came out infront of the left shoulder leaving everything in between as black jelly. But even with factory hunting ammo and even Hornady match its an absolutely devastating cartridge that I feel comfortable hunting anything in Western PA with.
Me and my buddies call the 8x57 the homing bullet. We have never missed any target with the 8mm. I would love to hunt with one. We have the running joke of just point it in the general direction of the target and it will do the rest.
I am a mauser enthusiast. The 7.92x57 has been one of my favorites for years. Have hunted with several models, all war rifles. My current hunting gun is a m48 Yugoslavia. Been thinking of a vortex long eye relief scout 2 to 7 x 32 scope. for it You also mentioned my other favorite rifle, 6.5x55 swede. Have hunted with it as well.
I have a wartime German mauser and Yugo m48 I hunt with the m48 mostly whitetail and although the rifle is a tad heavy for walking around it takes deer very efficiently with my handloads. I just picked up a 30-40 rifle and would be interested in your thoughts on that cartridge and if it is still relevant compared to the 30-30 rifle or other similar.
Got one too! A rifle my dad bought when he was 16 years old( he just turned 81) it is a Mauser 98 Danzig made, military model professionally sporterized, side panels light slim stalking stock, double set triggers, butter knife bolt handle… less than perfect bore but shoot 200gn accubond sub moa with a fix 4x scope!! Nice light handy rifle that I will take for bear and/or moose this coming season!!
From Sweden i am, just listened to this podcast. I hunt with a 8x57is, chambered in a Sako 85 hunter with short barrel and suppressor on it.
I think it definitely has it's own place, I see it as a option to the 30-06 as they are really close in performance. All depends on how you load it. 30-06 will have better bc and higher speeds, but also wants a longer barrel. 8x57 uses a little bit faster powder, has less powder and bigger bore so works great in shorter barrels. Also gives a little bit bigger hole in the animal and heavier weights, over here we load it with up to 250 gr bullets. But mostly use around 200 gr.
So for me who hunts moose in tight terrain, the 8x57 fits perfectly in my compact rifle and delivers a bigger punch than 308. I Would however choose 30-06 if I was mostly hunting in open terrain where I can carry a longer rifle comfortable and use the better ballistics of the 30 cal.
Ofcause you would choose the 30-06... because you forgot about the 8x60 Mauser... and the 8x64 Brenneke... or real power in the form of the 8x68...
European hunters do not need American cartridges
@@hendrikvanderschyff7812
That's a boring outlook you have. There are great cartridges over there, there are great cartridges over here! Why limit yourself for arbitrary reasons?
And as a side note, none of those cartridges you mentioned will ever be as approachable as 30-06, 308 or 8x57 here in Sweden, unless it's sold as Norma Jaktmatch in 50-round packs. It's by far the most widespread and affordable practice round up here, and it's a real consideration one has to make when choosing a moose or boar cartridge.
I am hunting here in Germany with the 8x57 S in 3 guns: old WWII Mauser, Browning Double Barrel as 8x57ISR und super modern Blaser R8 Ultimate with full on tech.
I also have .308, 30.06 and 9.3x62, 9,3x64 and div. 7mm rifles - but the 8x57s is by far my favorite
My neighbor growing up as a young boy was an older gentleman nicknamed “skeeter” that was like a grandpa figure to me who always hunted with a sporterized k98 Mauser 8mm, it was his favorite rifle that quite literally killed hundreds of deer over the many years. So growing up I always wanted a Mauser to hunt with like skeeter. I ended up getting a really nice k98 and fashioning a high turret scope mount that is my favorite and most accurate deer Rifle that will out shoot many of my other deer rifles. Side note after skeeter died his son ended up giving me his old Mauser that he use to hunt with and needless to say I was a blubbering mess. I was so grateful for his gift something that I will pass to my sons with the story and also So I can still go hunting with his Mauser keeping the tradition and also feel closer to skeeter.
I really like your post. And I have a similar story, However I didn't get a Mauser. Lol
How much do you want for skeeters Mauser?
@@birddog7492Wonderful tribute to an old timer. Well done.
In 1976 in Fargo ND I purchased a sporterized 8x57 German war Mauser. The barell had been cut to 24 inches and it had a Fajan stock that really needed a lot of work. I spent a considerable amount of time making the stock look and feel like a nice fitting gun stock. I must have removed almost half the stock material that I started with. I then checkered the pistol grip and forearm. This really turned out great and I got a lot of compliments on the stock.
The action was in pretty good condition. I cut the bolt handle off, bent it and rewelded it on to the action. I then was at a gun show and bought new bottom metal and a Timney trigger along with a new safety that relocated it to the side of the rear bolt.
I still have this rifle after all these years. This rifle has taken Pronghorn, Mule deer, White Tail deer and Elk without any problem. The rifle shoots consistently at 1 MOA.
I have hunted with 8×57 mauser in model 98 sporting rifles made in Germany and custom made there since I was in my early 20's I'm now 61.
I never lost a deer or bear with one shot .
A fantastic round that can take all large game in North America.
I shoot 8mm in military calibre competition in Australia. I use S&B 196gr FMJ in my 1944 K98 all matching. Very full loading and really packs a punch. Very accurate; bullseyes at 500m open sights. Just love it.
Yep sb is a great round!
This cartridge and the 7x57 Mauser are historically very important because they are how the .30-06 came to be. I doubt cartridges like the .30-06 and .308 would be around today if it wasn't for these.
I was going to make a similar comment because it’s amazing how some enthusiasts don’t know about the 7x57 being the 30-06’s father so to say
7 mm mauser has the same balistics as 7-08.
Hornady 196gr puts it right with a 30-06. My first bolt gun was a sporterised 98 gew, and it dropped a few deer after i switched from Remington round nose it was a shooter.
@@Trash_panda_real no, the 7-08 has the same ballistics of the 7x57.
@@mcinteer19 The 7X57 is loaded to a lower pressure than the 7mm08.
I shot my first deer with a numbers matching k98 in 1985. I was the youngest kid and the only option left in our family was that "old German gun". I wish I appreciated what I got to use then like I appreciate the 8mm now.
I also shot my first deer with an 8mm. yugo m48. My friends made fun of me until they saw what happened to the deer lol. From then on, every time we went hunting together it was "are you bringing the 8mm out?" That was in 2000 when I was in high school
1st deer to cast bullet squirrel. ditto, ended up rebarreled to 257 ack have a yugo 48 aswell
That’s fucking badass
Me also, first white tail, 6 pointer. it slammed that bastard. I remember being worried about having to track it, I didn't have to track anything. 250 yard solid box shot. Meat was good, right through the lungs and heart.
Mod 98 still had the Nazi markings which was kind of spooky (I'm Irish, black and Native American but still....good shooting rifle. I'm pretty sure my grandfather brought it back from WWII, they had to Sport it I'm guessing he cut off the rear stock to shove it in his is duffle.
Grandpa served in the WWII, Dad in Vietnam, me in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I use different rifles for different things now, I have best accuracy s using a .243 for white tail deer hunting in MN, longest shot yet at 400 yards in the woods. But I still use the 8mm for wooded areas, or my 30-30 or 30-06.
Done hog hunting down it Texas used a 6.5 and later brought my 8mm. Day and night. That 8mm rolled it. Took a few 6.5 (300 pound hogs), only took one 8mm
I sporterized an old Turkish Mauser. I've used it for the last 25 years. Mule deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion and bobcat have all felt the wrath of the 8x57. Love this cartridge!!
Dammit bubba
@@jason200912 Can you please explain the logic behind sporterising a surplus rifle? Are deer immune to guns with a military configuration?
@@hardlylivin6602 you can also skeletonize your car and remove all the doors, roof, hood and it will still run but that won't save it from being the ugliest thing ever.
The worst part is when Bubba drills and accidentally deactivates the gun trying to mount a scope. Should have just bought a $250 hunting rifle
Me too.
@@hardlylivin6602 you obviously have not carried the heavy old one
I hand load 8x57
I hunt with a new-barreled k98 and a Yugo m76
It does everything 30-06 can do but with the bonus of a heavier bullet. Absolutely love the cartridge.
I hunt with an old Zastava factory-sporterized version of their M48. Bought it all beat-up off the used rifle rack at Cabelas as a refurbishment project and really took a liking to it after it was done.
I actually have a Remington 700 Classic in 8x57. Love the caliber!
It was my very 1st deer rifle, I built it back in 1987. Still Have it today, love my 98K.
I've been using the 8x57 for years. Started off with a sporterized k98k and had the ability to shoot Mule deer, moose, black bears , whitetails, and more. Used it for lots of chores on the farm. Since then I've bought several commerical made 8x57s in Cz, Sauer, tikka, Remington and etc. Very happy with the performance. With careful reloading work I got 150's to 3000 fps, 180gr to about 2800 fps, 200gr up to 2700 fps which all have been safe In my modern rifles. I've been taking game with these loads pretty much every season. I also guide in grizzly country and don't feel under gunned carrying the old reliable 8mm. At the end of the day it's literally on par with the 30-06 at normal hunting ranges (0-350 yards). The -06 does eventually overtake it due to higher BC bullets but the animals won't tell the difference.
I bought a yugo Mauser back about 20 years ago from a place in the shotgun news that is a shooters grade for $70 and also bought 700 rounds of 8mm on stripper clips in bandoliers for $30. The ammo was stamped 1940. It was very hot. I love shooting this rifle. I would never sell it for any amount. I highly recommend getting one and shooting it.
From Norway her Been hunting Moose and deer for over 10yrs with the 8x57 using modern copper bullets.. Sauer 101 and lately the German Heym SR21 beats .308, 6,5 cartridges all day long.
Perfect cartridge with short barrels and silencers! Bullets from 100gr to 220gr! Just love it!
And yes I want a episode on 323wsm and 6,5-284 Norma, and I’m curious about the 7mm Sherman.. bring me more cartridge talk it’s the highlight of UA-cam these days! 👌
Sorry to have discovered this excellent video only now -- nearly a year after release, but better late than never, I guess. Ex-NY'er-now-a-Mainer here, and I "stalk" with two (2) 8mm Mausers; a fully-sporterized K98, and a slightly-sporterized G98 with the original 29-inch barrel. Both have original markings, and have been fitted with scopes. The G98's only sporterized modification was having the stock shortened in the front, and the top handguard removed. The fully-sporterized K98 had lots of weight removed (e.g. the ball on the bolt handle has been hollowed out) and thus it kicks like a mule. The G98, however, is a dream to shoot. Have taken many a white-tail with both; the K98 is a nimble brush-gun, while the G98 is more of a long distance / cross-valley rifle. Although I have plenty of factory ammo (e.g. Remington Core-Lokt), I've gotten into hand-loading for these. Now that I'm in Maine, I'm going to enter Maine's moose tag lottery and hopefully win. I'd love to take one of the Mausers out for a moose hunt!
I have an 8x57 Ackley Improved that is a tac driver. Very accurate and very fun to shoot. My normal big game rifle is a 1939 Mauser 98k that has been sporterized. Have never had to make a second shot on anything. The Ackley I regularly shoot out to 1,000 yds and my other I would and have taken to 500 yds easily. I have hunted with mine since 1975.
Greetings from across the pond. I wanted to weigh in on the cartridge's relevance to this day: It is actually on the rise in my opinion, for one particular reason. Unlike the ever-popular .30-06 for example, it performs really well in fashionably short barrels with modern loadings. And with the abundance of suppressors used for hunting here in Europe it is a very good option to get yourself a handy tool. In fact, my next rifle - a designated wild boar driven hunt rifle - will be chambered in 8x57mm. Keep up the good work!
What short barrels because the garand was a fairly short rifle barrel for the time
@@jason200912 51cm or even 47cm (20" and 18,5" respectively) are very common options these days. The Garand has 60cm (24") apparently.
@@Stakkatoking i don't ever see 20 or 18.5 chambered for 8mm mauser. the k98 was 23.62"
I'm not talking old rifles. My comment was regarding the calibre's relevance today. I encourage you to check out any German (Blaser, Sauer, Mauser, Heym, Haenel, Merkel, Steel Action, ...) hunting rifle manufacturer's current production line, and many other Europeans (Sako/Tikka, CZ, Steyr, Rössler,Sabatti,...). Most - if not all - offer 8x57IS in the mentioned modern (=short) barrels.
Don’t forget that a lot of european countries at some point had a ban on “military (derived) calibers”. France only allowed sale of .308 and .223 in 2013 I believe…
The family of cartridges based off the 8x57 is a wide range. At the small end the 5.6x 57 is still the hottest factory .223 then the 6mm Remington, the .257 Roberts, the near extinct 6.5x57, the ever popular 7x57, the parent 7.92x57 with 9x57 and 9.3x57 at the top end . They all have great virtues
I'll second that ! I have both 5.6x57 and 6.5x57, awesome .22 centrefire power in the 5.6 and a great deer allrounder in the 6.5. The modern Creedmoor is just a fashion item that was 100+ years late to the party.
The 6.5 swede is pretty much a slower twist Creedmoor from 130 years ago
Have been shooting with 8x57js for past 25 years in South Africa.Bushveld and Kalahari hunting eland with no problem.A real gem.Using 165g Peregrine bullets South African made
Ive used a 8mm turkish mauser for several years and gotten deer with it every season I used it . I have had others military bolt action rifles in that caliber in the pass I took deer with . Great round , very underrated . I always loved old military rifles and the history behind them .
I hunt with a Remington 700 factory chambered in 8mm Mauser. They had a short run in early 2004. From what I gather, they didn't make many. I'm mostly a target shooter so my first time hunting wasn't sure I was really going to be able to take an animal, but my very first shot at a hog dropped it like nobody's business. Also helps when my shot placement was spot on, but yeah I love my 8mm Mauser hunting rifle!
The 8 x 57 is a wonderful hunting round! With a good bullet it’ll take anything the 30/06 can.
That's a rare bird! Having an 8mm 700 would be fantastic! Consider me jealous
It was the 700 Classic. I would love one in 8mm Mauser and 6.5x55 Swede.
@@currituck same here
Yea i had one i bought new in 2010 but traded it off like a dummy.
One day i plan to buy the first one i run accross..
I walked into a cabelas one day 4yrs ago to buy a cheap 1911 due to my budget. As always, I looked around the used guns/surplus section to get my window shopping fix and noticed a mauser. It was a Vz 24 going for 350 bones. I had never seen one before that but was in great condition...I sat with myself thinking I could buy a 1911 any time, and I may never get a chance like this again. I walked out of the store with the mauser and it's one of my favorite rifles to shoot and show off.
First of all, thanx for your informative Podcast. Mr. Mackenhirn is an encyclopedia. I'm from Germany and hunt with a 8x57 in a blaser R8 straightpull with a 20' barrel, and a silencer. Ammunition wise my choice, if I can get it, is 160 gr. Barnes TTSX. I like it a lot. My alternative is a Blaser R8 20' in .308. Barnesd 130 gr. TTSX. Usually I hunt roedeer and wild boar. I never needed a different t, more powerful cartridge. Those two riffles and cartridges tick all my boxes. Greetings from Germany. Thomas
Finally! Been waiting years for you to cover the 8x57. Recently procured myself a 1913 Persian after many years of searching.
In Europe there are many 8mm Mauser derivatives like the :
5.6x57mm Mauser
6.5x57mm Mauser
7x57mm Mauser/.275 Rigby
An old obsolete 8.8x57mm
9x57mm Mauser
9.3x57mm Mauser
9.5x57mm Mannlicher-Schönauer/.375 Rimless Nitro Express
8x60mm
8x60mm S
8x64mm Brenneke
7x64mm Brenneke
9.3x62mm Mauser
9.3x66mm Sako Magnum/.370 Sako Magnum
As well as the rimmed versions of many of those.
Have several 8mm Mausers. My favorite is a 1914 Orbendorfer commercial Mauser with beautiful dark burled wood, safari sights, barrel banded sling mount, schnabeled. Its the rifle ryan described. Same action and the stock just as pretty as an old Rigby. Not for sale :).
30-06, 8mm Mauser, and .303 Brit were the cartridges I learned to reload first. The real advantage of the 8mm was its ability to function extremely well in full automatic weapons like the MG-42. The US Army tried to modify the MG-42 to fire 30-06, but the length of the cartridge required a longer cycle and did not work. The MG-1 is a modern version of the MG-42 and is chambered in 7.62 NATO and functions just like the 8mm. The case length of the 7.62 is close to the 8mm, therefore it cycles the same way.
MG-3
Its a very popular cartridge here in Sweden. My Antonio zoli drilling is chambered in 8x57JRS.
The 8 mm Remington magnum was one of Craig Boddintons favorite calibers and he hunted lots of game in more country’s and is considered one of the great writers of the 20th century
You guys should do a podcast on cartridge efficiency and compare typical calibers on a spreadsheet. I always hear MC Ryan talk about cartridge efficiency often on cartridge talks.
I had an 8 x 57 and a 30o6 I loved the 8mm hand loaded with 200 gr as I lived in British columbia Canada it was extremely accurate shot many moose elk and mule deer Al's shot bear never had had to fore more than one shot and they all dropped where they stood in some ways it hit harder than my o6 incredible cartridge
I just picked up 1,000 round of surplus Yugo 8mm Mauser for 40 cents per round to shoot out of my Kar98AZ and Yugo captured Kar98k. I used to love shooting my Mosin Nagant when less than 5 years ago it was 25 cents per round. Now it is 60 cents per round for the same 7.62x54r and might be getting even more expensive. Now the Yugo 8mm seems like a more attractive option. It's actually good ammo. I've shot hundreds of rounds so far and they all went bang even though the ammo was made in 1940. Accuracy is good enough to hit a 1/3 steel silhouette at 100 yards every shot with both of my rifles, which is good enough for me. I can't believe I've slept on surplus 8mm for so long. It's not that hard to clean the corrosive slats after every range session and I wonder how cheap it used to be 5 or 10 years ago.
I swear I could listen to the rambling that bleeds from one caliber to another for hours on end! The history and parent cartridges that are referenced on every episode is music to my ears. To listen to someone who has that much knowledge on a vast array of calibers off the cuff is amazing. I now know I don’t hold a candle to Ryan. I’m in awe!
Stalking sounds so much cooler! Well said! We often use the phrase "still hunting" for what the Brits call stalking. Well done discussion on the 8x57.
I've gotten several8 Mausers over the years. If I didn't have my Savage110 in 06 I would have sporterized a Mausers and used it. Another thing I ran across fairly often back in the80s was the Mausers rechambered in 8mm/06. The chamber was just lengthened to the size of 06 and then a06 case necked up to 8mm. It was a great round. Can't shoot much now because of my health but I do enjoy discussing this cartridge.
I had the best of both back in the day. I had and 8mm06 that was rechambered back in the 70's.
It was and beast of and cartridge.
With 175gr sierra sbt i was getting 2900fps with and 24.5in barrel.
Witch made for and great deer rifle.
Loaned it to a buddy for deer season after his gun was stolen. With 50 reloads of that 175gr sierra .
He killed 5 deer that year and gave back 40 rounds and 10 brass.
He said he shot it from a bench 3 times took 2 to get a yote on tge run.
And one shot each on 5 deer two bucks and 3 doe. He tagged out that year. He bought that rifle from me 1 month later with his tax money...
In Finland it could be had off the shelves (sort of, you can order a rifle which is 8x57 and it does not incur in any fancy stuff surcharge). But for the 308 you have heaps more options for everything (guns, ammo, reloading) even here, so the 8x57 is far more niche than you'd expect.
The first rifle I ever shot, when I was about 8 or 9 in the early 1960's, was a surplus K98 in 8x57 my father bought for probably about $20. He later sold it to my uncle who had it destroyed in a house fire(really). I purchased a sporterized K98 earlier this year in 7x57, and it shoots way better than I do, and I have shot sub 2moa with it.
For my high school project I built an AR15 and researched its history and development in both the commercial and military applications including US and foreign military (mostly through Diemaco, now called Colt Canada. I thought it was really cool and I'm thankful my teacher let me do it.
I have two.... a Zastava M76 semi auto and a K98 manufactured in 1942 by Sauer and Sohn and was a Russian Capture.
Both beautiful rifles
Thanks for bringing this one to your viewers. Back in the ‘90s I had a mild interest in 8x57(due to historic significance), 8mm-06, and 8mm Rem Mag equally. Even pondered getting into the wildcat thing with an 8-08 Improved(longer lasting brass and just looks cooler). Never enough interest to commit. Fast forward to ‘09 and I discovered some really nice A-Bolt Micro Medallions at Cabela’s with oil finished stocks, richly blued metal, light, octagonal barrels…and all were chambered in 325 WSM. At that time I had a measure of hate for the cartridge. Everyone(that I knew of) wanted to see the next WSM as a 338. I wanted to see one in 358(based on the case dimensions and action length[Model 70] that made more sense to me). So here’s this gorgeous rifle in a chambering I cared nothing for….so it went home with me. And I began with what turned out to be an adventure in feeding this thing. I own only hunting rifles and it is my most accurate one. Yet another example of hate making a turn for the better. Just owning this thing has helped me maintain an interest in other 8mm cartridges. My number one pick for an 8x57 hunting……sorry, STALKING rifle would be a 22” NULA. They have an action sized specifically for this cartridge length.
I have to add my voice to those asking for a 10 Minute Talk on the 325 WSM.
This episode has reminded me of the one you guys did on the 8mm-06. Thank you for that one. Thanks again for this one. And thanks for this show in general. Great entertainment👍
Swedish army had a machine gun in 8mm06 (8x63).
Strasser RS14 Evo Thar is my first and still goto hunting rifle in 8x57IS ... Forested area in Austria with ranges up to about 200m ... Works like a charm from foxes to wild boar 😊
I LOVE the 8x57…. As you said, it’s so seriously under-rated… great power, low recoil, etc
Low recoil ? Compared to what 😅
Low recoil 😂
We need a P17 enfield podcast. More popular than the 1903 in the war but few people know that
A better and more plentiful rifle that's very much glossed over. It did start as a sort of failure by being based on the P13 and P14 rifles that Britain gave up on (with good reason), but the P17 was extremely successful.
Why do you bring a P17 to a 8x57mm discussion? Go find a P17 video and post you jibberish there.
Finally someone with a audience can explain that the 6.5x55 is limmited by the pressure standard of old. Also that it actually has something more to offer than the 6.5 creedmore in speed.
260rem.
The the real Swedish Mausers (Carl Gustaf, Husqvarna) M94/96/38 (all the same action) were required to use a special high quality tough Swedish steel. Even the “Swedish” Mausers built in Germany (Oberndorf) were required to use that special steel. The 6.5x55 in the M96 action was proof tested to almost 66,000 PSI. Anyone who tells you that the M96 is a weak action does not know what he is talking about. The 6.5x55 cartridge was developed by a joint Swedish and Norwegian commission. The Norwegian military opted to use the Norwegian Krag-Jorgensen action for their rifles chambered in 6.5x55. That action is definitely much weaker than the Swedish M96 which is why the SAAMI MAP for 6.5x55 is so low and the warnings about “old weak military action” are given. The 6.5x55 can definitely be hand loaded to take advantage of its case capacity in the stronger actions but you still need to carefully develop your loads using standard procedures and watching pressure signs.
My first hunting rifle was a sporterized 6.5x55 swedish mauser at the age of 11ish. Fast forward to a few years ago I really wanted an 8mm mauser to take to the range and woods occasionally. Picked up a yugo m48 that needed the stock refinished. Refinished the stock, installed a huber concepts trigger and now it's one of my go to rifles. It's fairly short and not too heavy in the recoil department.
The J is a actually an I for „Infanterie“. The J carried over from the font of german writing of the time.
325 WSM ten minute talk! Let’s go!
Hearing about the 8mm Mauser really has me intrigued about the .325 WSM, another 8mm cartridge that’s never heard of anymore. Thanks for the episode fellas!
Wait till you read up on the 8mm Remington Mag performance.
@@lancepugh6081 The 8mm Mag. sounds like a monster, on both ends of the rifle! From what I’ve read, it would be an exceptional longer range elk/moose/caribou rifle with some hotter handloads. Personally though, the WSM seems a little more “fun” for lack of a better word, being able to function in a short action, lighter weight rifle. Thanks for letting me know about the 8mm Rem. Mag!
Used to be 8mm-06 surplus rifles that are 8mm Mausers rechambered for the 30-06 case dimension and using the 8mm-06 wildcat cartridge.
325 is a superb cartridge.. It was my favorite of the WSMs.
Never went to field with it though.
i restocked and finished my 98,, put a new trigger in it and a boyd stock,,used it for 12 years then swapped the barrel to 35 whelen,, now wish it was original , even though i love it.
There are some wild 8mm Mauser loadings out there. I shot some surplus ammo (I’ve also seen videos of it on YT) that had a 198gr bullet going 3000 fps. Made my 300 Win Mag look weak. I think it’s a wildly underrated cartridge.
How long was that barrel? 😂
@@projectjeger out of an M48 Mauser so about 24”. The stuff is definitely over pressure (stiff extraction, flat primers, etc) but it does it.
I have a yugo 8, a turkish 8, a brazilian mauser, and a hakim in 8mm. Love the 8mm. So much fun to handload for.
Please ask Ryan on the 325 wsm talk to compare it to the 338 ruger compact magnum, and discuss why Winchester never released a 338 wsm.
Love my Hakim in 8mm Mauser ! A little expensive to shoot nowadays !
I have two rifles in the chambering, one is an original number matching 1939 production German K98 and the other is a sporterized 1942 production gun. My target load is 150 gr Sierra SP over 52 grains of H380, which will shoot 3 rounds in 1" at 100 yards. My standard hunting load is 160 Branes TTX on top of 49 grains of Varget that will shoot 5 rounds in 1.25" at 100 yards. I have successfully used this load for coyotes, hogs, deer, and antelope out to 200 yards. Using IMR 4064 and a 200 gr Nosler partition I have successfully taken Elk, Axis, and Bison with the same gun. The groups using the 200-grain bullet open up, so I keep my shots under 150 yards, but it is still very effective on the larger animals. I love the Mauser 98 and the 8mm Mauser cartilage, thank you for helping keep it alive!
A friend of mine has hunted with one since 2000. He has never missed a deer or hog with it. Highly effective. He loads it with 150 grain soft points.
The 8mm caliber has been near and dear to me since the very beginning of my gun-owning and hunting life. I have 2 main 8mm rifles: a VZ-24 in 8x57mm, and a 325 WSM. Both are loaded to modern pressures, and have performed well on the hunt. Sad to see the 325 WSM becoming a handloading only proposition (much like my 8mm-06 AI), and even sadder to know the reloading manuals won't treat the 8x57mm Mauser as they treat my beloved 45-70.
The 325 WSM does need a place on your podcasting. As I understand it the WSM community really, and I mean REALLY, wanted a 338 WSM. When the 325 WSM was unveiled, it was panned by most as a "not quite the 338 WSM we wanted" on most of the gun forums I frequented then.
It's kind of amusing, really: the .323 bullet gets panned as being not much more effective than the .308 bullet ("it's only .015" difference!"), yet the .338 crowd have no end of boasting about the superiority of...the same .015" difference.
I know it's a year later, just started watching your channel. I have been hunting with a 1956 Spanish Mauser in 8x57 for a few years and love the round I've been playing around with the idea of building a modern rifle chambered in it.
I’m really curious about Ryan’s perspective on the Sig .277 Fury. Will it usher in a new era of case design? Will it become a top-tier hunting cartridge? Cheers, guys!
Speaking of a Military round, would love to hear about the 30 carbine or the never dying 41 caliber
+1
@@robertfree1908 +Deux
Just watching this after loading a bunch of 8x57 for our WI deer season this weekend. I have 2 custom hunting rifles chambered in 8x57 with typical Mauser actions, double-set triggers, etc. Fabulous shooters and this will be my first year with all copper projectiles in it. Should be grand!
Just watched your piece on the 8 x 57 JS. I have a Schultz and Larsen Ambassador with 3 different barrels, 8 x 57JS, 7 x 64 and 9.3 x 62. Manufacture about 4 years ago. All great calibres that I use here in the UK, Europe and Africa. 23:36
Enjoyed listening to this conversation, I'm a proud Mauser owner. The 7 x 57 Fabrica de Arms la Caruna . . . I may have butchered that spelling. Got that rifle a few years ago, 1938 like you were talking about. Mint condition, dirt cheap because someone had put a 3x9 Tasco scope on it. But still insanely accurate. Now the biggest downfall, the safety could not be used, because it was too high for the scope. Fortunately, I knew a fellow that took one from another rifle that was shorter, put it on and work's good. It is a little stiff, but I just keep it in the vertical position, a little bit of pressure to the left, fire ! I also have the 7.92x57 Spanish, sporterized, not the best job, but the rifle still shoots fiercely accurate, with iron sights. . . . Here's one for you to take into account. I also have the 8mm, 1944 Ankara. . . Biggest difference between Spanish and the Turk ? The distance from Spain to Turkey. . . . Regarding the time on the 7x57? I ran into that with a box of ammo, the store owner gave me the wrong one by accident, no big deal. He exchanged it and said the rim was for a single shot. . . . I've never seen a single shot Mauser.
i love the 8x57! I moved to the land across the pond and I have hunted with on and found the recoil very mild. It is a all round cartridge but unfortunately it is falling to the side to all the newer ammunition.
Well I don't have a 8x57 but I sure do have a 8mm Remington Mag. I also have a custom made 7x57 Mauser that is just gorgeous.
I have learned so much from these and greatly appreciate the knowledge. Can you guys do one on the 35 Remington please?
The letter "J" often mentioned by English speaking sources is actually an "I" for Infanterie (German for "infantry"). A stamped "I" at the cartridge bottom in writing styles used in the past in Germany could be easily mistaken for a "J". Even in the 21st century the "I" is often substituted by a "J" in English speaking communities and German ammunition manufacturers often write "JS" instead of "IS" to avoid confusing customers. The letter "S" stands for Spitzgeschoß ("pointed bullet"), and the English designation "spitzer" for that style of bullet is derived from this German term.
Yes, i write a I like a J too when i am handwriting. Allot of people do it in Germany.
My family has a G 43 my grandfather brought back from WW2 . It hasn't been shot in a long time. It's always been one of my favorite rifles we have. I was he was here to know more about it's history. I do know he had a scope with it coming back across the Atlantic and apparently had taken it off to clean it. Well the ship listed hard and the scope rolled off into the Atlantic.
Just some friendly advice: if you ever decide to shoot it, which it will doubtlessly still function, I would highly recommend getting a different gas block rather than what is on the rifle currently. G43s were notoriously over-gassed to help deal with mud and ice. So over-gassed they’ll, almost literally, shoot themselves to pieces without a new gas block dialing back that over-gassing.
Thats quite a piece of history you have, even before the family connection. Thanks for sharing!
The pleasure mauser you mentioned is a South African name for the 7x57 hunting rifle from around 1895 more expensive than normal mausers these where bought by well off Burgers in the Republic of the Free State and Zuid Afrikaanse Republic and used very effectively against British forces in the Anglo Boer war. Seen a couple and highly prized by collecters here in South Africa
The .30-06 was probably based off the 7x57mm, which in turn was based off the 8x57mm. Since the .308 is a shortened .30-06 case, by a round-about path the .308 is a direct, offshoot descendant of the 8x57mm.
Stalking is specifically the hunting of Deer in the UK, professional deer hunters are called "Deer Stalkers".
I like that terminology it's subtle, very British. 🇬🇧
I have several. My first one was an old intermediate length 98 German sniper rifle that my dad and I customized. In 69, Ackley, who was a friend of my dads, made what he said was his first and only reamer for a 8x57 AI and helped me rechamber it. Then he said "dont you dare call it an Ackley Improved, its your baby, call you whatever you want it. Now, several reamer manufacturers offer it but it was never one of Ackley's. He told me everyone either wanted an 8mm-06 or the 8mm-06 AI but I bugged him for quite a while since I had the shorter action. Still have that rifle with a presentation grade Oregon broadleafe Maple stock. It will shoot sub half inch groups with several different bullet weight. It will run over 3000fps with a 175gr Sierra and 180gr Nosler. I've taken several elk and a trainload of blacktail and mule deer with it.I have 7 different 8mm's either standard chambering or different wildcats ive designed. Btw, its not the 8mm JS or J. The US screwed up the German lettering. It's "I", not J. " I " is for infantry, "S" is for Spitzer. Long live the 8mm!
There are a lot of conversions of military 98 mausers to hunting rifles in Europe. The really old rifles, build before the 1905 are using the 8x57J so it is usually loaded to a lower pressure. You can get factory loads for the JS in Europe that are quite a bit hotter. There is also the 8x60S. They were 8x57JS reamed for the new cartridge, as the military 8x57 was banned for some years for civil use after the first world war.
In new weapons in Europe the 8x57 has lost ground against the 7x64, introduced in 1927 and designed as a sniper cartridge in 1917. In case capacity in between the 280 Remington and the 280 A.I.
Mauser necked the 8x57 up and down. 9,3x57, 9x57, 7x57, 6,5x57 and 6x57. After the second world war RWS introduced in 1964 the 5,6x57. All those cases have or had a rimmed variant.
SAMI gives a max pressure of 35,000 psi and CIP 56,560 psi. That would explain the anaemic ammunition produced in the USA. Hand loading for a modern rifle or not to old 98, you should be able to go to 60,000 psi.
I've used the 8x57 quite a bit, and always thought of it better than the .30-06, although there is not much to say between the two. As far as hunting goes, I'd rather have a 9x57 any day, or better yet a 9.3x62 which will cover all bases anywhere. The 7x57 is a great round as well, and fills some areas. I think the 8x57 was mainly downplayed because there was never, and has never been any real selection of sporting ammo for it outside of Europe, and this contributed to it's not being spoken of much. The sporting ammo offered by the big names has always been reduced loads due to the possible chambering in the older .318 bore Mausers, and this handicapped it as well. I look at the 8 as a great cartridge, but one that is even better necked up to 9. If I had to choose rifles and could only have one, I'd just go for a 9.3x62 and be happy. Especially when brass is formed from .30-06.
I hunt with a 6.5x57 Ackley, 120 grainers outa that baby at 3100fps very versatile cartridge. I also have a 6.5x55
Fellow wisconsinite here. I was handed down a war trophy k98k awesome gun all serial numbers matching with all the old nazi stampings still on it shoots great with my hand loaded 220 grain sierra bullets I can easily keep golf ball groups at 100 yards cant wait to drop a deer with it
My father hunts with a sporterized Kar98k in 8×57IS and has done so for the last 25 years. My next rifle will be a Sauer 404 in 8×57IS. It's an awesome cartridge that drops red deer and wild boar without any problem.
Love JP sauer, I have a Sauer 100 XT in 8x57mm.
I've never been hunting but one of the first, if not the first centerfire rifles I bought was a Mitchell's M48. It usually comes along on the range trips.
Thank u for doing this cartridge it's been something I've been wanting you all to do. Awesome episode will reference it many times most likely
I do most of my deer hunting in Michigan with a Remington 700 Classic in 8x57. I've also used it to hunt in an old Turkish Mauser. No complaints.
Stalking rifle is something you can very comfortably shoot without support or off-hand. Light barrel profile, maybe a shorter barrel (for the Americans newest fashion).
The key is it has to be quick to shoulder and get that first shot off. Tikkas in the hunter models actually work very well in this role.
A great gun for a fusion of the European stalker and American tradition is actually a lever gun.
Funny there was no mention of the 8mm-06 from Ryan.
In my youth I met several older hunters who brought home Mousers, spoterized them and punched them out to use necked-up 30-06 brass due to the scarcity of 8x57 brass.
Many local used gun racks still had some in the 80’s & 90’s. Haven’t seen any in a long while.😮
I certainly enjoy mine. It's a Persian Mauser made in Brno. The steel is very good.
i have an M48- 8mmx57 mauser. i have been (foolishly) thinking about which "modern" cartridge I could turn this thing into. now I'm just going to keep it as is. I have used it primarily for deer .
I hunt with a Remington mod 700 classic in 8mm Mauser today. Love the cartridge, been hunting with 98's since I was a teen back in the 70's.
I hunted mule deer in WA two seasons ago with an Ethiopian contract Czech K98k, made in 1945 just after the war.
Wasn't successful, but man it felt cool to be prowling the foothills of the Cascades with that old Mauser. S&B 196gr SPCE loads have okay accuracy for such an old war horse. My dream is to take a deer or elk in the timber with it using iron sights someday.
It's about time!! Thanks, guys!
Ya'll should do one on the 7.5x55 Swiss, that round brings alot to the 30-06 and .308 development!
My first hunting rifle was a 7mm Argentine Mauser at age 14, I hunted with it successfully for years using the iron sights....i paid around 25.00 for it in the local hardware store in about 1961
I am hunting using 8x57 JS, I have one new Sauer 100 XT and one Husqvarna 1640 from 1957 in 8x57 JS i use both for every thing like Moose, deer, wilde pigs and roe deer. Wont change to 30-06 or 308 for any thing.
I just picked up a beautiful example of a matching Yugo M48, not a Mitchell's Mauser, and spent a little bit of time cleaning out the remnants of cosmoline, to find a BOLD Mauser target trigger installed, set at 3# pull, a nice addition to find. I can't wait to take it out this upcoming deer season and put it to use. Keeping it iron sights though.
Just a sidenote but it is not 'J' it is capital i, it stands for Infanterie, ie infantry. The old German writing of an i looks similar to a J which is why it often gets confused. S stands for Spitzgeschoss (spire point). There were different versions, for example MG crews had one with thicker brass and so on.
I would love to hear a cartridge talk on the .338 Federal.
Me too. I'm a little sad that it's almost obsolete, though.
It is still my favorite hunting cartridge. Ammunition is just hard to find now.
338 federal is an amazing round. Love the ballistics. For a 300 yard hunting rifle it is an amazing option for elk, moose, deer and other critters.
After hunting successfully for Whitetail in northeastern Pennsylvania with a model, 94 Winchester in 30-30 and a model 99 Savage in 300 Savage, my first firearms purchase as a 17-year-old was a 1944 vintage Mauser 98 war trophy in 8 mm Mauser which had been sporterized by its former owner. That was in 1969. I still own this rifle. Though half my age, Ryan seems to be living in a parallel firearms universe which many of us seem to do.
I've shot every deer I've been able to recover with my 2 8x57 rifles. Ones a k98k sporter I finished and the other is a Yugoslavian m48a. Still the most impressive was a doe I took on a farm destroying crops with an old yugo m75 heavy ball, hit her infront of the right rear leg and it came out infront of the left shoulder leaving everything in between as black jelly. But even with factory hunting ammo and even Hornady match its an absolutely devastating cartridge that I feel comfortable hunting anything in Western PA with.
Me and my buddies call the 8x57 the homing bullet. We have never missed any target with the 8mm. I would love to hunt with one. We have the running joke of just point it in the general direction of the target and it will do the rest.
I am a mauser enthusiast. The 7.92x57 has been one of my favorites for years. Have hunted with several models, all war rifles. My current hunting gun is a m48 Yugoslavia. Been thinking of a vortex long eye relief scout 2 to 7 x 32 scope. for it
You also mentioned my other favorite rifle, 6.5x55 swede. Have hunted with it as well.
I have a wartime German mauser and Yugo m48 I hunt with the m48 mostly whitetail and although the rifle is a tad heavy for walking around it takes deer very efficiently with my handloads. I just picked up a 30-40 rifle and would be interested in your thoughts on that cartridge and if it is still relevant compared to the 30-30 rifle or other similar.
Got one too! A rifle my dad bought when he was 16 years old( he just turned 81) it is a Mauser 98 Danzig made, military model professionally sporterized, side panels light slim stalking stock, double set triggers, butter knife bolt handle… less than perfect bore but shoot 200gn accubond sub moa with a fix 4x scope!!
Nice light handy rifle that I will take for bear and/or moose this coming season!!
Oh and wearing wool and leather boots…. No plastic all classic!!