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Mauser ammo

Ruckin69
Can you guys tell me what ammo a K98, German Mountain carbine and a Persian mauser take? Are they the same? I've done some homework and I see 7mm Mauser, 792x57 loads but also see 8mm? Are they one on the same? Also, what do you guys recommend for some cheaper Target loads?
Thanks
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • Ruckin69
    Anyone ever use the 7x57mm Mauser, Sellier & Bellot, 140 Grain Full Metal Jacket, 8mm Mauser BVAC PSP 175 Grain or Prvi Partizan PPU 8mm Mauser FMJ 198grn 20rd Box ? Trying to find some cheap plinking ammo.
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  • llama
    There is still surplus out there - that will be cheapest. Might be corrosive, which is no big deal if you clean right after and the right way. Lots of threads on how to do that.


    That said, if you want new fresh ammo, the Privi stuff is really good in other calibers.
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  • tsr1965
    The S&B is good stuff, and the PPU-Privi, is awesome stuff. I have had great results with the Privi.

    Best
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  • Ruckin69
    Can someone tell me what the difference is with these? My head is spinning trying to determine what to get.
    This was from some online homework:

    One of the other confusing aspects of this cartridge is the variety of names that are used or it. Among them: 8mm Mauser, 7.8X57, 7.9X57, 7.92X57, 8X57 all with or without the "J" and/or "S" as well as "Ss", depending on the particular loading. There is also a rimmed version to add to the confusion that uses similar designations but with the letter "R" appended to the name. Below are some of the designations in common use. This is by no means a comprehensive or complete list.

    7.8X57JR Commercial rimmed .318" bullet
    7.9X57mm Other Militaries-Turkey, South America
    7.91, 7.92X57 German Military
    7.92X57J German Military .318" bullet
    7.92X57JS German Military .323" Spitzer bullet
    7.92X57JsS German Military .323" Heavy Spitzer bullet
    8X57 Mauser Commercial rimless .323" bullet
    8X57R Mauser Commercial rimmed J/JS .318/.323" bullet
    8mm Mauser Commercial rimless J/JS .318/.323" bullet
    8mm Special Early Commercial Remington
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  • jonk
    That's actually a pretty good treatise. Again, they are all the same cartridge (excluding the rimmed varieties). To give a brief overview, the round started out as the 7.9X57I (I for Infanterie). This was a fairly mild loading introduced in 1888 with a .318" diameter round nose bullet. In 1905 the Germans decided a pointed bullet of .323" would be more efficient; this became the 7.92X57IS, or Infanterie, Spitzgeschoss (pointed bullet for infantry). In WW1, experience showed that the heavy bullets then used in machine guns gave better downrange performance than the lighter infantry bullets, leading to the 7.92X57IsS, or schweres Spitzgeschoss (heavy pointed bullet for infantry).

    Americans, ignorant that the "I" in the nomenclature, when written in the fractal script then favored by the Germans looked like a "J" started calling the load by that letter- J. Additionally, with a combination of different standards of measurement (lands vs. grooves) and a desire to shorten the name to something more manageable, 8mm Mauser or 8X57 became commonplace.

    I have not used the ammos you mention. If you get surplus I'd recommend either 70s Yugo or 80s Yugo as the best, 50's Yugo second, and third either Turk or Romanian. It is berdan primed and corrosive but can be had in the 20 to 25 cent per round range. If you do get new production stuff, make sure to save your brass for reloading or sale.
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  • rufe-snow
    99% of the 8mm Mauser/7.92 X 57 sold nowadays is for the .323 bore rifles. If you just want to do some casual shooting the full metal jacket commercial stuff imported from Europe is as good as any. Unless the ammo boxes are specifically marked differently it's going to be for the 8mm Military Mausers. I would stay away from the 8mm FMJ military ball as there is still some corrosive and to hotly loaded stuff floating around.

    I haven't run across any of the .318 diameter ammo in years, last was some NOS RWS from the 50's, it's strictly collectors stuff nowadays. The guys who have the older rifles with .318 bores have to use high-dollar custom loaded ammo.
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  • Juggernaut
    The Prvi Partizan and Sellier & Bellot is great ammunition, imho stay away from the corrosive surplus ammo available as there is plenty of modern factory made non-corrosive ammunition that really isn't that expensive if you know where to look for good deals.
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  • Ruckin69
    Finally, now get it. Basically if you gun is 8mm you can use 8mm,7.92x57 or 8x57 or 8mm mauser, all the same stuff. In doing some homework, 7mm was for Mausers built in the 1890's to early 1900 and possibly Spanish but it you have a WW2 era or newer the 8mm is the ammo to use. I also heard the the 1950 Yugo is just too old and misfires quite often and to find, (like you meantioned), 1970 or newer Yugo ammo.
    Thanks guys!
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  • Tflogger
    Before the price went through the roof, I would buy Turkish and other cheap 8mm surplus and either shoot it up, or pull the bullets depending on condition.
    Now I buy S&B or Privi and save the brass for reloading. I still have a bunch of pulled Turk bullets.
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  • Ruckin69
    Last question. On {elsewhere} they have some ammo with (JS) and (JS S&B) on it under 8mm. From some homework it means (infantry pointed bullet)S&M is a manufacturer which still should work. Just confirming that it will work with with a 8mm mauser? I was told yes but wanted to make sure.
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  • jonk
    quote:Originally posted by Ruckin69
    Finally, now get it. Basically if you gun is 8mm you can use 8mm,7.92x57 or 8x57 or 8mm mauser, all the same stuff. In doing some homework, 7mm was for Mausers built in the 1890's to early 1900 and possibly Spanish but it you have a WW2 era or newer the 8mm is the ammo to use. I also heard the the 1950 Yugo is just too old and misfires quite often and to find, (like you meantioned), 1970 or newer Yugo ammo.
    Thanks guys!
    One correction, there were 7mm Mausers built throughout the years up through world war two- but not a GERMAN Mauser. For instance, the Spanish, Mexicans, Brazilians, etc., used the 7mm for a awhile. So if you have a German Mauser, yes, you are right on.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by Ruckin69
    Last question. On {elsewhere} they have some ammo with (JS) and (JS S&B) on it under 8mm. From some homework it means (infantry pointed bullet)S&M is a manufacturer which still should work. Just confirming that it will work with with a 8mm mauser? I was told yes but wanted to make sure.


    If you have any misgivings about the ammo buy it from a commercial source. We have no way of ascertaining the quality of the ammo purchased off a private party on the auctions. It might be some guys reloads for all we know? The European made S & B and Priv P ammo sold by many on-line sources, is descent stuff that you won't have to worry about as long as your rifles are in fireable condition. If your not familiar with firearms, take the rifles to a gunsmith for headspacing, inspection and test firing.
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