8x57 Mauser Cartridge query

Leslie

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I have recently inherited an 8x57 NORM Obendorf Mauser serial no. 116837. Can someone help with the following:
1) When was this rifle manufactured?
2) Can I fire an 8x57 JS round with the rifle?
 
Leslie I am not sure what you mean by the term or acronym "NORM". Is that a marking on the rifle? Is it military, commercial, or conversion? Even if it turned out to be a WWII vintage military arm, I would have the barrell bore slugged to ensure which bullet it used. If it is an older commercial rifle, it could likely be the J with a .318 bore; a more modern arm or military conversion would likely be the S bullet or .323. However, at full power they are not interchangeable, and any competent gunsmith can slug the barrel and tell you with certainty what you have. Either make wonderful hunting rounds for a wide range of game.
 
I have no Idea whether it is military, commercial or a conversion rifle. I also dont know what the "NORM" stands for. It is part of the rifle marking and serial number. On the side of the barrel it reads as follows: "8x57 NORM 116837 MAUSERWERKE AG OBENDORF"?
 
try Wehrmacht-Awards.com and click on uniforms and firearms, then click on firearms and then click on the mauser k98 button, this takes you to a page that gives most of the military barrel markings over the years of military manufacture.
 
Red Leg is spot on. First step is to determine whether it is the J or JS model. You would be ill advised to fire 8x57JS ammo in the J (7.9) barrel.
 
According to Ludwig Olson..."Mauser Bolt Rifles"....I quote..."Restrictions imposed by the Versailles Treaty after WWI,prohibited the German manufacture of 8x57 arms and ammunition since this was the German military size. Consequently this caliber was discontinued in Oberndorf Mauser sporters but was resumed during the mid 1930's. Although an excellent caliber, the 8x57 is handicapped greatly by in that it exists in two different sizes: small-diameter bullet known as the Model 88, and a larger .323" size called the S type. If production of barrels for the .318" size had been dropped with the introduction of the S type much difficulty and confusion would have been avoided. However many German gunsmiths and hunters had the mistaken impression that the smaller Model 88 .318" diameter bullet (often called the "Normal" caliber) was more accurate, therefore the the Model 88 or "Normal" version was retained for sporting rifles long after the larger diameter S type had been standardized for military purposes." ....many 8x57 Sporters with the Model 88 rifling dimensions (.318"), especially those made by Mauser in Oberndorf, were marked "8x57 Normal".

So it would appear that you have an original Oberndorf Mauser sporter manufactured after 1930 made to shoot the small diameter .318" bullet.
The ammo is available but is a little more difficult to find.
Without seeing a picture, it appears that you have is a very high quality pre-WWII sporter that if in original unaltered condition is quite collectable.
 
View attachment 21534

Thanks for all the advice and help, much appreciated! Please find herewith attached a photo of the barrel markings. Can you confirm from this that the rifle is in fact a Model 88 with rifling dimensions .318" made to shoot the smaller diameter bullet?
 
I have an 8x57 NORM made in 1946, it's .321 diameter bore, and a fired round shows the neck expands to 0.323, which allows the usage of both 0.318 and 0.323 diameter bullets safely. NORM stands for 'Normalizeret' or similar, ie. 'normalised' to accept both diameter bullets.

I know this is an almost 10 year old post! LOL :)
 
Hi Leslie,

Congratulations! You have one of the best hunting rifles ever made. A true Original Sporting Mauser one!
Made in the 30's. And, by the way, in one of the best medium game cartridges, on par with the 30-06.
Your rifle is for .321"-.323" bulets. Best results will be with modern .323" bullets, like any of the Barnes TSX, TTSX, or Nosler Partition-Nosler Accubond.
Can you show some pictures of the rifle?

Best!

CF
 
Yeah pictures... if you're still around and so is the rifle....
1670372689412.png
 

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