balistic comparison question

calamitywood

I've been working on a turkish mauser model 38 that someone never finished sporterizing. I'm trying to decide wether I should rebarrel it in another caliber. I have no experience or knowledge of the 8mm round that this rifle is chambered for. I'm buying a boyd's stock and a new turned down bolt, then mounting a good scope so I want to know more about this round. Any suggestions would be welcome.

jonk

Well balistically, it even has a slight edge over the 30-06 in military loadings. US commercial loads are a bit on the weaker side in case someone uses them in the old 88 Commission rifle. In other words, the 8mm will do all the 06 will do.

Bore condition is a concern though; if not pitted, and if it doesn't have a worn muzzle, and if you slug it and and it measures the proper .323, then with quality handloads it should shoot really well; MOA or slightly better on a bedded action with scope. On the other hand, if the bore is ratty, it could shoot anything from acceptably to really poorly.

I'd advise shooting it as is, if possible, with some good ammo, and see how it does. Use that as your basis on whether or not to keep the stock barrel.

calamitywood

Thanks. That is the info i needed. I'll have the barrel checked for pitting. I plan to have the barrel cut down to a more balanced length and have it recrowned.

1KYDSTR

If recrowning etc, keep in mind you are losing about 100 fps (on average) for every inch you chop. If the barrel is gone and you want to go with something a little different, think about this. Here in the US, we sporterized out '03's to death. The main idea was, if you were changing caliber, to go with something that would require reaming a chamber and sticking with the 30 caliber barrel, or the original case and a different barrel diamerter. The most popular way seems (excepting AI stuff)to have been to go to 338-06, 35 Whelen etc. Why not think about something like a European wildcat that approximates what we did with the 30-06? I'm thinking a 9.3 x 57, or 8.15 x 57 etc? Then all you are really doing is swapping out a barrel and won't have feed problems as such. I assume of course through all this that you are a handloader?

sandwarrior

calamitywood,

The 8mm Mauser can be loaded up to be one tough round. I load 200 gr. grand slams at 2600 fps...that was the measurement taken at 30 deg. and they went up to 2690 at 80 deg. With no real pressure signs. I use IMR4064 almost exclusively for this round But many others in that burn speed and a little slower will do just fine. It's really versatile and a great round. Your M38 Turk is a good action and if the barrel is good and shoots straight hang on to it and sporterize it in the caliber it is in.

If you do rebarrel it look at a case that is based off the 8mm Mauser for feed issues. As 1kydster noted 9.3x57 is a good one. 9x57(.358 dia. bullets)is another good one. Anyone, do correct me on that one if it isn't right. I like the lower calibers and higher speed. The 6mm Rem and .257 Roberts. 6.5x55 Swede or better yet 6.5x57. All these are based on the original Mauser case.

I think you posted before about a Boyds stock and the general consensus on that is pretty good. -good luck

ern98

One of my favorite 8mm cartridges is the 8-06 wildcat. But, hand loading is a must. I'm looking forward to, next year, trying a 180g Barnes triple shok on a big pig or black bear. I figure it should get like 2900fps out of my classic sporter M98's 22" barrel.

mongrel1776

Calamitywood, you probably know this, but it bears mentioning anyhow.... Fit a new bolt to the original barrel, or to a new barrel for that matter, you will have to have headspace checked. Also, you said a new bolt with turned-down handle -- does it have a scope-compatible safety also? The military three-position doesn't allow the use of anything but either a high-mounted scope or a scout type, mounted pretty far forward of the receiver.

I agree with the suggestions as to calibers suitable for your action. The first question you need to ask yourself is, what will be the rifle's primary use? The 8mm military (8x57) cartridge is about the most you need for deer hunting, and the 6mm, 6.5, and 7mm cartridges are fine if whitetail deer, rather than mulies, are on your agenda. Not ruling out bigger calibers, though -- too much gun is always preferable to the alternative.

I personally really, really like the 7x57 Mauser, a preference I seem to have inherited from my dad, who had a number of Ruger bolt guns in that chambering. The 6.5x55 Swede is superb, also.

If big mulies and maybe elk are a possibility, then the 8mm may be the minimum chambering, power-wise, you want to go with. Though the 6.5 Swede has killed many, many Swedish moose since 1894....

Bottom line is, the Mauser is a great rifle, and any of the original Mauser chamberings or the rounds based on them (6mm Remington, .257 Roberts, etc) are likewise great. The 6mm, .257, 6.5 Swede, 7x57, and 8x57 have the advantage of being more readily available than many of the European rounds, if this is a consideration for you. If you're a handloader, it isn't nearly as much a big deal.