Looking for a favor on measured 8MM bullets, please

[Canuck Bob]

Could I ask folks to measure some 8MM bullets please. I've read reports that some 8MM bullets are actally made undersize of the reported standard .323. I'm really interested in the 200 gr Nosler Partition but any you might have on the shelf would be appreciated.

[Pop Watts]

I am sure the Noslers are .323

I have some downstairs and will measure them tomorrow.

Sorry, but it is near midnight in Sydney and I need my sleep.

Pop.

[KCSO]

You need to measure them when you get them as they can vary up to .005 per lot. Noslers I have average 323 and I have some Hornadys that go 324. I also have some old ones that go 322.

[preventec47]

A few years ago I bought several hundred 125gr 8mm Kurtz
bullets and it is fun to go varmenting with them at 3300 fps.
Pressure is not really that high but that Mauser 30 inch
( approx?) barrel sure helps a lot I bet.

Seriously, that is same velocity as my 7mm Rem shoots 125gr
bullets and that is with data extrapolated from some load charts. They shoot pretty accurately and since they were
designed to shoot pistol velocities, they absolutely explode
in a water jug. I have not actually killed anything with it.

How come the fascination with 200 gr diameters ?
What are you hunting ? What are your loads ?

[Canuck Bob]

..... How come the fascination with 200 gr diameters ?
What are you hunting ? What are your loads ?

I am considering options for my 32 Special. I've considered the Partition cllipped to around 185 gr for a FN. I can hear the exclamatins of horror all the way to Canada! Yes, I am considering shooting 8MM bullets in a Winchester 32 Special. I am waiting on some throat slugs to verify my barrels dimensions and asked this to get started.

I realize many of you will consider this foolhardy. I have researched it carefuly and have found much evidence of a couple thou not being a big concern if proper workup of loads is observed. I am still researching and still consider this a safety risk at this time.

Many 32 Specials were shipped with .318 barrels and you can bet hardly one in many thousands even know that while firing .321 bullets. The early Mini-30 was a .308 barrel and has digested lots of commie block stuff in the .311 range. P. O. Ackley did some testing and found that oversize isn't as dangerous as one would think. The SAMMI spec for the 32 Special actually lists the bullet at .322 and the grooves at .320.

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Dr ... pecial.pdf

[ollogger]

Bob
I thought if i ran across a box of 170gr.8mm Hornady round nose id try
them in my 32 WS, its 101 years old & shows its age, but shoots good
I wouldnt be afraid to try it, let us know if you try it
ollogger

[20cows]

My dad's load uses a 196 gr .318, but that is a different 8mm (8x57 JR).

[BigSky56]

Bob Norma makes some 8mm that are 323 they are 196 gr and round nose the alaskan wouldnt have to trim it just crimp it good with a lee FCD. Speer also makes a RN 170 in 8mm. Savage loaded .311 190 gr bullets in the 303 sav which was a .308 barrel so a 323 in a 321 barrel should work. danny

[Canuck Bob]

Thanks for not jumping on me.

I ran into a report that Paco wrote about clipping 8MM bullet noses for the 32. I can't find the article if it exists.

[Pop Watts]

Hi Bob,

I measured some Nosler Partition 8mm 200gn projectiles I have and they run at 322.5" - 323"

Some old Speer Hot Core 200gn measured the same.

The Speer box was marked as 323"

I am shooting them through an 8x57 JR.

Pop.

[preventec47]

You can buy bullet sizers from Lee for less than 25 or 30 dollars in any size you want.
So you could if you wanted to just resize the 8mms to any size you want.

The way I understand it, they will work with any single stage press

Just push the bullets through.

[SteveR]

..... How come the fascination with 200 gr diameters ?
What are you hunting ? What are your loads ?

I am considering options for my 32 Special. I've considered the Partition cllipped to around 185 gr for a FN. I can hear the exclamatins of horror all the way to Canada! Yes, I am considering shooting 8MM bullets in a Winchester 32 Special. I am waiting on some throat slugs to verify my barrels dimensions and asked this to get started.

I realize many of you will consider this foolhardy. I have researched it carefuly and have found much evidence of a couple thou not being a big concern if proper workup of loads is observed. I am still researching and still consider this a safety risk at this time.

Many 32 Specials were shipped with .318 barrels and you can bet hardly one in many thousands even know that while firing .321 bullets. The early Mini-30 was a .308 barrel and has digested lots of commie block stuff in the .311 range. P. O. Ackley did some testing and found that oversize isn't as dangerous as one would think. The SAMMI spec for the 32 Special actually lists the bullet at .322 and the grooves at .320.

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Dr ... pecial.pdf

From what I read for many years the US ammo companies down loaded the 8mm because of the fear of .318 barrels. So I would think you wouldn't have too many problems, because as you say, you will be working up slow.

You may be able to find some jacketed .318 as 8mm J, and the .321 as the 8mm JS, but as preventec47 says, you can resize them also.

Maybe cast would be a way to go also, I don't know what speed you are looking for, but hard cast with gaschecks, you could get 2000fps without leading.

Steve

[Canuck Bob]

This is about experimentation as much as anything else. I do plan to shoot a cast load as well. 32 Special shooters are very limited in bullet selection for jacketed. A guy could work up some interesting lighter weight loads for single loading.

I stomp around the Rockies for plinking. My plan is to carry a few stout loads in the tube of my 94 and single load the cast plinkers through the gate. That way a heavy load is only one shot or lever away from the chamber.

I am also using Ken Waters system of checking case expansion to track pressure. Anything I load is always reduced a bit for the sake of the gun and my shoulder and pocket.

[preventec47]

I think those 125 gr 8mm Kurtz bullets could work well for you as a loaded in the
chamber spritzer bullet. You could shoot em low power or resize them and load em
higher power

[earlmck]

You can buy bullet sizers from Lee for less than 25 or 30 dollars in any size you want.

Hmmm... that's interesting. I didn't know they would make them in sizes other than those cataloged. I might could go for one in about .269 to do a rework of 270 bullets for my old Arisakas. But for just a couple thousandths I think I'd let the barrel do the sizing.

Savage loaded .311 190 gr bullets in the 303 sav which was a .308 barrel so a 323 in a 321 barrel should work. danny

Arthur Savage figured he got better accuracy with the slightly oversized bullets and quite a lot of critters were shot with them. As long as the bullet isn't oversized enough to cause tight chambering I don't think you are going to detect any great increase in pressure. I say go for it and give us the report!

[Canuck Bob]

I am winding up our busy winter access season in the oilpatch here. My health has returned and break up is the season to play.

I'll reload for my 32 and give this a try. I am throating the rifle first as I want a gentle throat for cast and paper patch shooting. My chamber has a forcing cone like a curb!