doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com 8x57 JR on the cheap

Just picked up 8x57 JR by Sellier & Bellot for $17.25 on ammo.net They had 82 boxes until I purchased 5 boxes. What a disappointment to later check ammotogo.com and their price of $16.95!! When have I ever seen it so cheap...or on the other hand so absent from stock over at Midway, Graf's, Cheaper Than Dirt, and a few others. Just a heads up, ya'll. Steve

That is old Infanterie M 88 carbine 7.80/8.07 cartridge for which rifles have not been made for very many years. I'm surprised it is still loaded as it has been replaced by 7.89/8.29 JS/JRS.
I would get good supply of ammo if I had such a rifle as it may not be loaded much longer.

8x57 IR (or JR) is the rimmed version and will not fit any M 88.

While the military made the change to the "S" bullet early in the 20th century, the majority of 8 mm hunting rifles remained to be offered with the "I" or 7.80/8.07 bore.
"S" barrels in hunting rifles were rather the exception than the rule.

The RWS Handbook from 1940 (!) describes in detail how this duality should be finally resolved.
One of the actions was introduction of the 8x57 IRS!
After WWII, the plan was retained (at least in Western Germany) and no new guns produced which used the old "I" or 7.80/8.07 bore.
fuhrmann

Steve,
For those that have an 8x57JR and don't handload, your "heads up" will be very helpful,and I'm sure appreciated.
Mike

I was told that 8x57 JR would be the correct ammunition for a C. K. Ansorg drilling I have that is marked 7.9x57 R for the rifle barrel. Is that true? I have not slugged the bore.

keith,
With the 7.9 mark your rifle is likely intended for 8x57IRS(.323"bullet),but it could be 8x57IR.Unlike shooting 8x57IRS ammo in some 8x57IR rifles,shooting 8x57IR ammo in 8x57IRS rifle is safe. At the worst, it won't be as accurate, and if you shoot a lot of it,there may be some "gas cutting.You can find out by "sluging" the barrel.IR barrels are usually .318-.320",sometimes a little more, in groove diameter.
Mike

Thanks for the reply Mike. I knew of the different bore sizes for the 8x57's but didn't know which my drilling was likely to be. It sounds like I'd be wise to slug it before shooting because the barrels walls near the chamber are not nearly as thick as the average bolt action. I've heard that people generally get away with shooting a .323" bullet in the smaller bore in a good bolt action, but I'd rather not try, especially with this. But that Sellier & Beloit might at least be a good buy just for reloading brass. I'm assuming regular rimless 8x57 dies would work if used with the correct rimmed shell holder.

Keith,
Since the S&B Ammo is the smaller of the two,it would be safe in your rifle. When you shoot it, check if a .323 bullet will enter the fired case. If so,it will be ok to load this size bullet, with appropriate powder charge.
Mike

Mike, thanks very much for the information. Actually, I was thinking that I might slug the bore first anyway, because if these bullets would be undersized, I could pull them and reload with .323" dia. after running the proper neck expanding plug through them. I have a friend who has an old Mauser M88 Commission rifle who could use the smaller bullets.

Keith,
Of course, it is always good to know the groove diameter of the barrel, but it is more important to know if there is enough room in the neck area of the chamber to release the bullet you intend to use.Trying a bullet in a fired case will tell you that.BTW if your friend checks his M88, he may find that ha can use bullets larger than .318,maybe .321, maybe .323".
Mike