What have you killed with the 8x57?

Keep after it.

I have to export my 8x57 barrel to Merica in January, I was thinking about doing it earlier, but I am now convinced I need to shoot more animals with it.

Or buy another stand alone 8x57 to export when I move back home.

So I'll use it on driven hunts, wild boar, red, roe, fallow, mouflon and sika this year.

mooze said:

incorrect, anything S is the later bore size of .323, no S= .318
rimmed versions of either are 8 mm IR or IRS, non rimmed ( much more common) 8 mm I or IS

Click to expand...

Yes, cmk already went over that & someone else replied about the "S" = Spitzer ..... that is why my comment has * if * , because I was attempting to recall information I was told many years ago.

grand veneur said:

Mannlicher-Schoenauer Stutzen caliber 8x57IS with set triggers.

View attachment 706726

Click to expand...

Love your M-Sch, grand veneur! Seems to be a pre-WWII rifle, isn´t it?
Perfect set up with that great Zeiss ZA scope!!

A MS Model 1905 that was fitted with a barrel caliber 8x57IS in the 1930s, according to Belgian proof marks.

Thank you!

I am a 7x57 user since 1972. Know the cartridge and what can do very well. Love it.
But, I think the 8x57, a non Mauser designed cartridge, is a better one.
The case design is perfect evenby today standards.
With modern powders and bullets it is, at least, as versatile as the 30-06.
Some day I will get one.

I personally do not have this caliber and have never had it. But I have shot countless 8x57JS and been on game hunts with it 1000000 times. In Serbia, 8x57 is the most common caliber (German influence) and with .3006 they make up 9 out of 10 carbines in hunting. I have seen catches with it from 5kg to 300kg. It can catch everything on the EU and America cont without problems, only if it has the appropriate bullets.
For the last couple of years, I've been reload it only with SST 170gr and eventually with Brenneke TIG 196gr.
With the SST, it has a good trajectory for long shots, which is especially attractive to hunters who use this caliber in our country.

The 8x57 is a very accurate cartridge especially in a match chamber. The only problem is the limited bullet selection. I am very impressed with the 200 SMK in the 8x57 though. It pretty much gives the same performance as the 30-06.

Hi Striger,

I don´t see there is a limited bullet selection for any 8 mm rifle .323", specially for the 8x57/8x60 ones. From Sierra hunting bullets 150-175 and 220 grs, Hornady 150-170 (both SP and Mono) 195. Nosler both 180 E-Tip and the great 200 Partition. Barnes 160 grs Barnes TTSX, 180 and 200 TSX. Plus all NORMA and RWS by the way.

Clodo Ferreira said:

Hi Striger,

I don´t see there is a limited bullet selection for any 8 mm rifle .323", specially for the 8x57/8x60 ones. From Sierra hunting bullets 150-175 and 220 grs, Hornady 150-170 (both SP and Mono) 195. Nosler both 180 E-Tip and the great 200 Partition. Barnes 160 grs Barnes TTSX, 180 and 200 TSX. Plus all NORMA and RWS by the way.

Click to expand...

Agreed. At the current moment there are north of 50-60 bullet options from American, European, and Australian companies.

Here's but a sample of what I had on my bench over 10 years ago. About 21 options pictured below. Today I have even more.

Here is a list of 8mm bullets I have come across in the U.S., many of which I have. I am sure there are more in Europe, Africa and Australia.

Besides the 8x57, I also shoot the 325wsm, 8x68s and the 8mm Rem Mag. I have taken game with all calibers except for the 325wsm as it is new to me. My 8x57 has taken Pronghorn (180 Nosler BT), Deer and Plains Game (160TTSX) and one Leopard (180 Nosler BT).

Here in Germany I would say it depends on what you are looking for.

Non American brands there are a lot of options. American brands there are about twice as many options. Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, Swift and others are represented in most resellers websites. Most of them are in stock.

European brands there are all the mainstream ones like RWS, Norma, Lapua, Geco and Brenneke. Then of course there are all the esoteric small batch ones like Degol, Sax, and others.

Most European manfacturers are supporting the lead free bullet market, as that is getting to be the mandate across Europe. The UK has gone totally lead free, and some European nations are doing lead free on federal and state forestry lands.

There are 12 European ones in stock at Frankonia for reloading.

There are 36 at Johannson

There are 74 at Grauwolf.net

There are 34 at Wiederladen Alzey

The mainstream American companies are basically equal to the European offerings or pretty close.

8mm is the darling bullet diameter for Every country in Central Europe east of the French border.

The 308 and 30-06 are very strong rivals. The old 8mm was making a big gain, but the younger kids are switching to the 308.

Been playing around with Re17 and Quick load as of recently. This powder is sure showing lots of potential in the 8x57. Thus been safe in my rifle so far, work up your own with caution! Modern rifles only!

CZ with 24" barrel.

180gr NBT=2950+ fps
200gr NAB=2768 fps
220 SGK= 2678 fps

All of these loads run around 60-62k psi based off quick load and show no sign of pressure in my rifle. Testing done in warm weather too.









200gr NAB Load








220gr Sierra Game kings.

Man, you have that old war hoss smoking! Running a 220 grain to within 30 fps of what is normal for a 180 grain .30'06 will certainly reach out and touch!

mauser98 said:

Been playing around with Re17 and Quick load as of recently. This powder is sure showing lots of potential in the 8x57. Thus been safe in my rifle so far, work up your own with caution! Modern rifles only!

CZ with 24" barrel.

180gr NBT=2950+ fps
200gr NAB=2768 fps
220 SGK= 2678 fps

All of these loads run around 60-62k psi based off quick load and show no sign of pressure in my rifle. Testing done in warm weather too.

200gr NAB Load

220gr Sierra Game kings.

Click to expand...

Really high speeds for an 8x57. I've never seen it achieve anything like that.

7x57Joe said:

Man, you have that old war hoss smoking! Running a 220 grain to within 30 fps of what is normal for a 180 grain .30'06 will certainly reach out and touch!

Click to expand...

Throw in the B.C. of .521 as well. It'll retain good energy down range.

Miletic said:

Really high speeds for an 8x57. I've never seen it achieve anything like that.

Click to expand...

Welcome to the modern day of powder. In saying that the Germans did have a heavy load 198 gr armor pricing tungsten that did 2800 fps in k98k's. Several sources and velocity tests shown on other forums and YouTube.

This is fantastic information for my future hunt
Thank you

mauser98 said:

Welcome to the modern day of powder. In saying that the Germans did have a heavy load 198 gr armor pricing tungsten that did 2800 fps in k98k's. Several sources and velocity tests shown on other forums and YouTube.

Click to expand...

mauser98 said:

Welcome to the modern day of powder. In saying that the Germans did have a heavy load 198 gr armor pricing tungsten that did 2800 fps in k98k's. Several sources and velocity tests shown on other forums and YouTube.

Click to expand...

Thank you Mauser