7.92x57 / 8MM Mauser Loads

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kd5rjz

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I've been shooting a lot of Hornady 150gr SP over 45.5gr of Varget. It has worked great for silhouettes at 200-500yards. However, I am curious to hear if anyone has a load they are having good luck with, especially if it uses a cheaper powder than Varget lol.
 

LinearZero

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I second that motion. My last load worked up shot just under an inch and a quarter, running IMR3031 with 175 Sierra SP. But when I shot it again with a 50 degree swing, it was 3-5" groups. I've heard since that IMR3031 is very temperature sensitive, I would tend to agree (couldn't be my fault, right?).
 

LinearZero

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I've been shooting a lot of Hornady 150gr SP over 45.5gr of Varget. It has worked great for silhouettes at 200-500yards. However, I am curious to hear if anyone has a load they are having good luck with, especially if it uses a cheaper powder than Varget lol.
Curious if you've made any headway on this? I've tried 8208XBR and Varget across my 5 different bullets, and I'm not getting inside of 2" for the last couple months. Losing hope, and feeling in my shoulder.
 

swampratt

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I do not have that size but my .308 and 30-06 and .243 all shoot different when temps change using Varget.
If I use the old IMR 4064 I keep my group size no matter the temps 17 to 100 they stay the same.

4064 kicks about the same as varget and 8208 RL15 kicks less. but I had temp issues with 15 ..group sizes changed.

Something else that people do not realize is the bullet welding/fusing itself to the case.

If you loaded ammo that day of the shoot or say a few days before the shoot the fusing will not be an issue so much.

But let that ammo sit a month and you may notice the groups changed.

If this is the case the ammo has sat for some time then try this test.
Insert the ammo into the press and chuck up your seating die seat the bullet just a few thousandths deeper. notice if it is hard to seat it deeper..Sometimes you hear a POP as it breaks the fusing ..I can't think of a better word.

Very clean cases and clean bullets tend to do that.. carbon in the neck of the case or a moly bullet does not see these issues as much.

Of course crimped ammo may not change as much as non crimped..I do not crimp my rifle ammo.

LinearZero if you are having issues and using boat tail bullets try a flat base bullet.
If you are shooting flat base now I would look at all the brass prep.
Brass ID and OD need to be the same you change it .0005" and groups will suffer..yes 1/2 a thousandths.
VLD chamfer the case mouths if while seating bullets you are peeling the guilding metal from the bullet.

If you are peeling that bullet during seating you will copper foul the barrel quickly and accuracy will be terrible.
I have had guns that needed 20 rounds down the pipe to shoot really well. but after 45 rounds accuracy started dropping off.
That was a small sweet spot.
Finally broke it in well.
 

LinearZero

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I do not have that size but my .308 and 30-06 and .243 all shoot different when temps change using Varget.
If I use the old IMR 4064 I keep my group size no matter the temps 17 to 100 they stay the same.

4064 kicks about the same as varget and 8208 RL15 kicks less. but I had temp issues with 15 ..group sizes changed.

Something else that people do not realize is the bullet welding/fusing itself to the case.

If you loaded ammo that day of the shoot or say a few days before the shoot the fusing will not be an issue so much.

But let that ammo sit a month and you may notice the groups changed.

If this is the case the ammo has sat for some time then try this test.
Insert the ammo into the press and chuck up your seating die seat the bullet just a few thousandths deeper. notice if it is hard to seat it deeper..Sometimes you hear a POP as it breaks the fusing ..I can't think of a better word.

Very clean cases and clean bullets tend to do that.. carbon in the neck of the case or a moly bullet does not see these issues as much.

Of course crimped ammo may not change as much as non crimped..I do not crimp my rifle ammo.

LinearZero if you are having issues and using boat tail bullets try a flat base bullet.
If you are shooting flat base now I would look at all the brass prep.
Brass ID and OD need to be the same you change it .0005" and groups will suffer..yes 1/2 a thousandths.
VLD chamfer the case mouths if while seating bullets you are peeling the guilding metal from the bullet.

If you are peeling that bullet during seating you will copper foul the barrel quickly and accuracy will be terrible.
I have had guns that needed 20 rounds down the pipe to shoot really well. but after 45 rounds accuracy started dropping off.
That was a small sweet spot.
Finally broke it in well.
I never would have thought about the clean cases and surface weld, thank you. I'll check that next time I make a batch. I typically don't wait more than a few days before shooting, as I will often load the day before or morning of. A VLD chamfer has been on my list, as my current tool is a pretty steep angle for inside the case mouth, but I don't damage the jackets currently (well, maybe just a hair?)
My best work thus far was with the 150gr and 175 gr, both of which are flat base, perhaps corroborating your comment. A crimp may be in order as well, I typically never do but it could add that next level of consistency.
 

swampratt

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Some get better groups with a crimp.. very light one..I never did get better accuracy from a crimp.
Take a white tissue paper and clean the loaded bullet off pinching near the base where it is seated in the brass.
Any copper colored stuff on paper ? if yes that goes into the not gonna group well box.

I love my Lyman VLD tool.. cuts all my rifle case necks very quick and I use it to cut primer crimps from .223.
Best tool ever for that. Now all my primers seat evenly and the same.
 

kd5rjz

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Curious if you've made any headway on this? I've tried 8208XBR and Varget across my 5 different bullets, and I'm not getting inside of 2" for the last couple months. Losing hope, and feeling in my shoulder.

I don't shoot much during the hotter half of the year, I'll be back out soon though.

I also have noticed a big difference in the behavior of Varget as the temperature changes. Very odd, since it is specifically advertised as being temperature stabilized.
 

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