8 mm Mauser

[rayderluvr]

My father recently said he was going to "hand down" a rifle to me...it is an 8mm Mauser that my Granfather Sporterized in the late 50's/early 60's. I do not have the ifle yet, or any cartridges, but my research leads me to beleive it is the 8x57 as that is the common military round.
Further research shows that the 8x57 is barely better ballistically (spelling?) than a 30-30.
Christmas day, I asked my father about this as I recall many stories in my youth of Granpa shooting Whitetail deer at 500-600 yards. My Dad says that gramps and his brother handloaded a bunch of really hot rounds that were supposedly good for near 1,000 yards. Now, I know that these long shots are not really shots that a responsible, humane hunter would take, i am just curious, what could you load in the 8x57 catridge (if anything) that would make the 8mm a "sniper rifle"?

[rayderluvr]

Thanks Dan! Your information has been very helpful. I live in Southern Missouri and know a very competent gunsmith that I will have check the gun over. Now I just have to get Dad to actually send me the rifle! :)

[Mark]

Mauser rifles were made at various plants, in various countries. There are normally no caliber markings on military rifles, so be careful in your assumption. After WWII there were a large number of mauser rifles sold as surplus in this country, not to mention vet bring-backs. Calibers 8X57, 7X57, 7.65 Argentine, 30-06, 6.5X55, among others, are not uncommon. Mauser rifles were also made in different qualities at different times during WWII. Generally speaking, mausers made at the beginning of the conflict show better workmanship than those made in 1944 or 1945, when slave labor was used in the arms plants.
Reading your original post makes me wonder if the shooting qualities of the rifle haven't been enhanced over time. I would recommend you go into this a little slower, starting with reasearch of the rifle. You will be surprised how interesting this is, and how much fun finding this stuff out is.
Mark

[chinook]

Yeh Buddy! The old Mauser "And the old timers that shot em" are extremely capable. Some of them stories are true. It gives you something to strive for. I've aimed 10 feet high on a grey squirrel with an underpowered pellet handgun in my youth and instantly knocked him down. Not even a lucky shot. A lot of practice and skill. The pellet hit him in the ear canal and traveled to an instant kill. I'm convinced my 8mm Mauser is a real winner mostly because the bullet speed is not extreme, So Federal and Remington both put very soft bullets in em. They are devastating when they connect. Naval guns shoot over 30 miles and hit their mark. Let's just say they hold over more than 10 feet. I don't like playing musical guns. Instead I stick to one or two and learn to shoot them well.

[rayderluvr]

You all have me excited to get ahold of this rifle and begin working with it! What is the best factory ammo for whitetail deer? How about hand loading?