What have you killed with the 8x57?

[Troubleshooter]

The S indicates the larger .323" bullet that has been discussed above. Absence of the S means a .318" bullet. I don't know what the German word is that is represented by the S, but that's the indicator of bullet size. (and often additional powder/pressure/velocity for modern guns too)

I was told that the WW1 mausers that were retained by the Germans were often so badly worn, they sorted those that could be repaired, yet had eroded bores into the .323" pile. I'm unsure if they just shot worn out .318" rifles, or if they remanufactured the bores to .323", but the impetus was reuse of old guns in the build up to the WW2 era.

The "S" stands for "Spitzer" (pointed bullet vs. the original rounded nose). An "S" (8x57 JS or JRS) is always a .323" bullet. An 8x57JRS cartridge is unsafe to be fired in an 8x57 JR bore, although apparently that does not stop some people from trying it.

The 8x57J (rimless, .318" bore) was used in the old M1888 Commission Rifles (Gewehr 88). The older barrels were bored out to .323" grooves (but interestingly, with .318" lands) in 1905; well prior to WW I. Many civilian / hunting rifles continued to be chambered for the 8x57 JR (rimmed) cartridge after that time, but not all. As always, check to see for which cartridge your rifle or drilling is chambered.

 

[yamoon]

Just got a 12ga over 7x65R, looking foward to a trip to the range. Have 40 rnds of S&B 7x65R.
Mike

 

[RayAtkinson]

I've shot a number of deer, one or two elk? and Plains game with a 8x57. My present jewel is a deluxe JP SAuer and Sons Mauser, one of the finest and rarest Mausers as JP Sauer made a deal to produce the Mauser with their mark on it and Mauser allowed them to do that, I have one all original sporter in 8x57 and one in 30-06..worth an even trade for Fort Knox

 

[yamoon]

8x57 is my favorite deer cartridge, here is a last day of the season doe. The rifle is an 8x57i (.318 bore), it was proofed in 1933, never drilled for scope, near prefect bore. 175 gr bullet from Buffalo Arms, don't remember the powder, probably IMR 4320. Part oct barrel 23 1/2 long. The rifle weights 7 lb 4 oz

 

[C.W. Richter]

I know a guy that hit a robber in Trenton, NJ with an 8x57! (He didn't shoot the perp-he literally beat him silly with the unloaded, very banged up old military gun!) Old German guy vs. African American. Sounds remotely familiar...lol

 

[C.W. Richter]

Total trivia....there was a discount department store owned by boxer Larry Holmes called LANECO. Long ago, they'd sell surplus military rifles out of filled garbage cans for $19.99 or $29.99. Old guy bought one for home defense-and it paid dividends, unloaded! He's still kicking. I'll have to inquire about the rifle when i run into him at his vaca place.

 

[steve white]

I haven't taken any game with it but look forward to taking it on a cull hunt soon. 8x57R.

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I'm so envious I'll have to go to church and say a prayer!

 

[brummerb1]

DWM 8x57 JS - Barnes 180 TTSX hand loads. Shot multiple springbok and other plaines game. Sold there rifle when I moved to the US. it was a great shooter.

 

[steve white]

Nothing yet, as I just barely picked up my first rifle chambered in 8x57 a few months ago. It's been very accurate on range sessions thus far shooting factory loads with heavier bullets (196 and 198 gr SP). I'm very much looking forward to going after whitetail and maybe a black bear next fall with it:

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Lovely gun! What is the maker?

 

[Louis Toadvine]

Lovely gun! What is the maker?

This is a Sako 85 Deluxe from the Sako custom shop. Upgraded wood with oil-rubbed finish, dark gloss bluing on the metal, fixed internal magazine.

 

[mauser98]

I finally had the time to look for a bear. I was out over the weekend and saw two bears. One stood out but i had no shot opportunity, went back yesterday for an evening stroll hoping to see if I could find that bear and low and behold it was in the same spot I saw it on Saturday feeding on grass. A couple shots at 80 yards did the trick. Bear expired no more than 15 yards from the first shot. Turns out it's an ancient dry sow. Teeth are worn out. Squared just a tad over 6'. Shot with a Husqvarna FN98 in 8x57. 196gr S&B factory ammo.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Outstanding!! One of my favorite cartridges.

 

[grand veneur]

I finally had the time to look for a bear. I was out over the weekend and saw two bears. One stood out but i had no shot opportunity, went back yesterday for an evening stroll hoping to see if I could find that bear and low and behold it was in the same spot I saw it on Saturday feeding on grass. A couple shots at 80 yards did the trick. Bear expired no more than 15 yards from the first shot. Turns out its an ancient dry sow. Teeth are worn out. Squared just a tad over 6'. Shot with a Husqvarna FN98 in 8x57. 196gr S&B factory ammo.


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I am not a fan of bear hunting, nevertheless, congratulations for this shot with the cartridge 8x57IS, one of my favorite cartridges.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Congratulations, thanks for taking us on your hunt.
Those teeth are really worn.

 

[mauser98]

Got my other bear tag filled out. Not a big bear by any means but a good meat bear. 8x57 with 170gr Speer SP reloads at 2600 fps did the trick. Using a WWII Romanian contract VZ 24.

 

[7x57Joe]

Outstanding!

 

[Troubleshooter]

My freezer was already full of beef but I wanted to add some venison as well. I decided to harvest a young doe. We have an excess population of them here, so it also served a management purpose.

I have a pre-WWII J.P. Sauer & Sohn drilling which had not harvested a game animal since it came into my possession, and decided to use it for this hunt. The previous owner had added it to his collection but had never fired it, and it’s safe to state that it had not been hunted in at least a quarter-century. It sported an old Weaver K-3 scope in period claw mounts with a dot-on-crosshairs reticle which was nearly impossible to see except under the best lighting conditions. I replaced the Weaver with a modern Leupold.

This drilling is probably better suited to stand hunting, but the conditions on that day argued in favor of a still-hunt, which I prefer anyway. During my wanderings I encountered several does but was unable to get a clear shot. I also caught a fleeting glimpse at what appeared to be the larger-bodied of the several eight-point bucks that hang around that part of the property. Eventually spotting a couple of suitable does, I stalked closer and took a seat on a deadfall, watching them feed on acorns as they slowly approached. It was late afternoon as they exited cover on the opposite side of a ravine. A single shot fired from the drilling’s 8x57 JR barrel hit the lead animal, which ran perhaps 30 yards and fell ….. then slid about halfway down the ravine. Unfortunately there was little live vegetation where she came to rest, but I did the best possible to provide her with the “last bite.” Getting her to a point where she could be recovered took until well after dark but the end result was worth it.

J.P. Sauer & Sohn Model 30, 16ga x 16ga over 8x57 JR. For this hunt, it was loaded with a 1-oz. Brenneke slug in the left barrel, #5 shot in its right barrel, and a Sellier & Bellot 196gr soft point in the rifle barrel. I owe a special thanks to IdaRam for supplying sufficient ammunition to sight-in and conduct a bit of practice. It got me by until factory ammo became available again.