8mm Mauser

[Klaus]

Good Day,

i have just a question right outside the Black Smoke Area but with a Historic Background so far.
I`was be able to bought a Commission Rifle 1888 Manufactured at Amberg in 1891 in a relative good condition. The Rifle was Turked but with Barreldiamenter about .316/.318 .

After study some reloading infos at "Cast Boolits" and other Forums i decided to load Cast Bullits like Lee 324/175 and PP Bullits from a Custom Mould .I patched up to .325.
As Propellant first i try HP 38 and Bullseye with 7 grains. The Results are not too bad at 50m.And on 100 it looks promising. But here is the Mainquestion i have.
Ed Harris wrote about the "Load" of 13grs Red Dot!
If i check for relative Burning Characteristics that Bullseye are very similar to Red Dot, But i found no Loadingdata with Bullseye nearly to the same amount of grains like Red Dot.
I know that RD is much bulkier like BE. BUT what is the explanation for this difference?
Have you got some experiences ?

thx a lot for any info

kind regards
Klaus

[Ironramrod]

Klaus, I checked in a recent edition of the Lyman loading manual, and they don't list Bullseye or Red dot as recommended powders for the 8 mm Mauser. Bullseye is listed #4 in the burn rate chart, and Red dot is listed #6 out of 114 powders listed. A couple of powders they do recommend are IMR 4198 and IMR 4895 w/ both cast and copper jacketed bullets. The burn rate rating for the 4198 is 59, and for the 4895 is 73; looks like Bullseye and Red dot may be too fast burning for best shooting precision.

Hope this helps.

Regards

[Kurt]

Good Morning Klaus.

The old 88 Mauser is a weak action. I would not recommend using a fast pistol powder like bullseye or red dot. To much of a chance for rapid pressure spikes the old 88's cant take. There are better choices for a reduced load for the 88.
Leave pistol powder for pistol loads.

Kurt