I am gathering the reloading components for my old Mauser Sporter that has the .318 bore (it slugs nearly .319).

And I spotted this Hornady bullet that looks suitable, have any here tried it ?

http://www.hornady.com/store/32-Cal-.321-170-gr-FP/

TIA

The thread on the old '98 is here http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=291119&page=1

I use woodleighs in mine. They still make them at .318 diameter. Shot a nice black bear with it afterwards. I know nothing of the hornady.

I tried Remington's 8mm Mauser factory load which uses 170gr .321 bullets but this was not accurate in my 8x57 I rifle (a rebarreled Mannlicher Schoenauer M1910). Then I found and bought a batch of RWS 196gr .318 bullets and had them handloaded by a local gunsmith. The accuracy in my rifle is excellent.

With kind regards,
Jani

Postoak,
You can easily size .321" bullets to .318"(or .319"),I do this for some of my rifles. If a .321" bullet fits into a case fired in your rifle and not sized,you can use it w/o sizing to .318".The 196gr bullets noted above are great,just a good bit more expensive.
Mike

Those are bullets made for the 32 Winchester Special. They are also for the 32 Remington (SemiAuto Rifle).
Both of which I load as well.
FWIW,,the 32Rem is supposed to have a groove diameter of .319/320. But I haven't slugged mine to find out. These 321 jacketed bullets work fine. 8mm Numbu bullets (102gr LRN)do as well for plinker loads.

I've used the 32Win Spec bullets in a .318 8mm Mauser cal (88 sporter) and found that if you back off on the loads,,use minimum or near minimum loads in 8x57, they are more accurate.

Perhaps the bullets themselves are of a lighter weight jacket or overall construction and they just can't be pushed as fast. Maybe it's just their shape,,I don't know, just guessing.

But that's my experience.
Perhaps the thinner jacket .321 dia collapses to the .318 groove much easier too than a heavier built one. Maybe too easily and it gets roughed up a bit causing poor accuracy when pushed along too fast.
Again just my guesses.

I use standard 8x57 (.323) loading dies.
Neck sizing only. Plus I do not expand the neck.
The expander button is removed and replaced with one from a 25cal (IIRC) so it doesn't do anything but carry the decapping pin.
The sized only neck has what I feel is perfect friction fit/pull for the smaller dia bullet.
I'm sure that would vary die to die.

You could always just reduce the dia of the .323 expander button too.

Kutter,
Thats pretty much my experience, with these bullets also;but they are satisfactory.I load 8x57I,IS,IR,IRS,and 8x72R with normal 8x57 dies (with or w/o expander as appropriate), just as you do.The bullet in a fired case trick works with .323" bullets also. They can also be sized to .318"( this is within .005");I do this sometimes when I need a little "harder" bullet.
Mike

Postoak,

I cast my own bullets for about 15 different calibers....I cast using pure linotype for hardness, and gas check most of my bullets allowing me to drive them near or at jacketed bullet speeds without leading and with 'superb' accuracy....for hunting the hollow point lead gas checked bullets are great.....

For the .32/8mm Caliber some very good moulds are available and many of the older moulds, which I collect, are available on ebay and other outlets....if you watch the auctions from time to time.....

You can size the .32/8mm's at .320, .319 or .321 or whatever suits your gun, allowing you to experiment for accuracy with your specific rifle and load...I always size cast bullets one or two thousandth's over bore diameter for best accuracy........In the .32 range I load for the 32-40 Marlin sized @ .319 or .320, bore is .318.......32 Winchester Special sized @ .323, bore is .321.....old 8mm's sized @ .320, bore is .318 and so forth.....

Bottom line is you can easily produce some nice "tailored" accurate bullets and have some fun doing it, I've been doing it for about 55 years or so, since I was a kid, and enjoy casting quite a bit......

Bullet mould of choice for the 8mm would be Ideals old mould number 320378, gas checked the bullet weighs out at 235 grains, gas checked and lubed, if you want a heavier bullet....it's a long bullet and flies good at lower speeds........

Other moulds of various weights are also good....such as Ideal mould number 321317, gas checked/lubed the bullet weighs 175 grains......RCBS has available a new mould 32-170 number 55000, gas checked/lubed the bullet weighs 177 grains and is very accurate as well......

All the weights above are as sized and gas checked/lubed, poured with pure linotype and are hard bullets....most of the bullet numbers mentioned are available in a hollow point version for hunting.....the mould would have the same number followed by HP......

If you have an interest in casting your own bullets, pick up a copy of Lyman's Bullet Casting Handbook, available everywhere or online......Just thought maybe you might have an interest.....?......



Here's a few of my .32/8mm bullets....


The bullets on the left are cast from the RCBS mould 32-170.....

Buffalo arms makes .318 bullets in 150, 170, 175, and 200 grains. I have some on hand but have yet to load or shoot any.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/300_329_Diameter_jacketed_bullets_pr-4178.aspx?CAT=4178

Wow!

I am overwhelmed by all the extremely detailed and excellent advice !

I will be digesting it over the next few days.

Thank you one and all.

PA I envy you. I would love to have the time and not live in CA Condor Country so I could produce my own bullets. You work looks very nice.


Maybe when I retire... or my kids become self sufficient....(and I leave CA)
would love to see some load in my cabinet for my 35 whelen and my .375 H & H and... well I could go on forever a bit....

Jerry

PA24,
Good show.
Mike

bghntr416 – Thank you for the tip on Woodleigh .318 Bullets I found them at Miday I had no idea that Woodleigh made anything other than Large Calibers.

Jani – thank you for your report on the 8x57 Remington Bullets. RWS doesn’t seem to have much of a Distributer network in the US – I have not found a source for the .318 bullets.
Der Ami – What do you use to swage the bullets with? In the past I have swaged or resized Cast bullets but never Jacketed Bullets.
Kutter – Very good information, thanks for the tip on the dies and the lower velocities. If I could get 2200 FPS that will be A-OK for my purposes – with the open sights this will be a 150 yard or under shooter. And I think that would be in the 32 Winchester Special Envelope?
PA24 – Thank you for the valuable information about the Bullet Molds, following someone else’s experiences with what Mould/Bullets worked for them helps tremendously! I am set up for bullet casting and did a little of it 30 years ago mostly for handguns, but I did fool around with .30 Carbine and 30-06 Cast Bullets with mixed results. I will hold off on the Cast Bullets for now. My next Rifle to load for is a 9x57 Mauser Sporter and that will definitely be with Cast Bullets.
NTaxiarchis – thanks for the tip on the Buffalo Bore Bullets – I am going to give them a try also.

I have ordered some Redding 8x57 dies.

RWTF - I could use some of the Stripper Clips.

Hang on to the Bayonet for finishing off the Pigs or as use as a Boar Spear !

Ok- will save you a bunch--your only cost will be the postage from here to the Lone Star State- Your suggestion about the bayonet is a good one- reminds me of a story by the late Robert C. Ruark-- the Old man's Boy grows Older- about a "pig-sticking "safari" in NC- back in the day--

To size .321" bullets to .318", I use a "ring sizing die",which I have had for many years.This type sizing die was(still may be)avaliable from bullet swaging die manufacturers,such as Corbin.The die body accepts replacable sizing "rings",avaliable in various sizes, and easy to make in whatever diameter you want.The die is threaded 7/8-14 to fit normal reloading presses, and comes with a punch that fits the "ram" to force the bullets through the die.It's easy enough to make a solid die for one diameter,threaded to fit the press.Now,LEE Precision makes a similar system for sizing cast bullets to be "tumble lubed", but can be used for jacketed bullets(limit sizing to .005" and use appropriate lube).I'm not sure what diameters the LEE dies are avaliable in.To size .003",takes so little force, it is possible the common Lyman or RCBS cast bullet sizing equipment could be used.I have never tried it, but would guess you would need a well fitting top punch and would need to lube the bullets with an appropriate lube before sizing.It shouldn't be necessary to empty the lube reservoir,just don't use it.
RWTF
Keep the ammo and brass. If you don't need it now, you may later, or maybe your great grandchildren will.
Mike

Thanks- I will. Few retailers stock the Rem 8mm Mauser (.323) Core-Lokt, Cabela's has it in the Master Catalog but you have to call customer service to get the ordering codes- but it seems to be around here priced about the same as the Rem Core-Lokt 180 in 30-06. I am looking forward to shooting it- will use up the 154 ball military stuff( looks like Greek ammo) and leave it 'as is"-- Did some research on the various Mauser websites- this is a 1944 (by serial number) Turkish Ankara M98- with the 29" barrel, and the earlier "Lange Visier" (long range) roller elevator rear sight just ahead of the receiver ring on the barrel- starting "zero" is aprox 400 meters- and these were accurate out to 800 plus meters- before CQC and the bloody trench warfare of WW1- troops would fire in volleys on command from an officer, against approaching mounted calvary troops- the concept of that form of warfare was to take out the enemies' horses at long range, and be reloaded in rank and file to finish off the oncoming foot troops (de-horsed I guess)--before they got too close. Those soldiers must have had eagle eyes, that front sight blade is like a mosquito's backbone-- but I am not going to 'sporterize' it at all- and at 9.35 lbs. unloaded and w/o the bayonet, then adding the bayonet to that plus the almost 50" OAL- indeed, a "pig-sticker" supreme---

PA24...nice bullets, very nice. I'm pretty much a "cast bullet only" shooter. And, they're even better over black powder.

Thank you Jerry, Mike and sharps4590.....

Me too, 45-70 on down with a few exceptions where I alternate cast and jacketed, except for my 22-250 which is jacketed only because of velocity near 3700 FPS, but I do shoot some cast with the .338 Win Mag, .348 Win and .270, alternating with jacketed ......... I cast for the other 15 or so, most of them all pre-1910 loadings and calibers.......

45-70 SAECO mould, 405 grain lino gas checked, launched at 1700 to 1850 FPS out of a Pedersoli Sharps Billy Dixon 32" and a Browning 1886 rifle.........




Two .45 Colt castings, one Lyman round nose 239 grains with lino, the other 220 grains with lino out of a Lee mould.....rifle and revolver.......


Best,