8mm Mauser Sniper Ammo

ninwnc · 12-03-2007, 08:31 AM

Graf & Sons has some 8mm sniper ammo for $6.99 per 15 rounds. Anyone here tried any of it?

I ordered 30 rounds just to try it and compare it with my handloads.

Nick

JSnover · 12-03-2007, 08:42 AM

Never tried it but you can't beat that price in my neighborhood(Massachusetts)! Even if it was standard ball it'd be a bargain.

rfc357 · 12-03-2007, 09:14 AM

What is "sniper ammo?"

JSnover · 12-03-2007, 09:58 AM

"Sniper" ammo is either loaded to a higher pressure and/or held to a closer tolerance than the standard milspec. It's interchangeable with the standard-issue but some select-fire weapons may not cycle it properly. If you're offerred "sniper" (especially if the seller wants more $$ for it) ammo, make sure there really was such a thing produced by the country of origin. There's a lot of snake oil salesmen out there.

rfc357 · 12-03-2007, 07:04 PM

Sounds like a BS term used to sell ammo at a higher price. Why would a sniper need ammo loaded to higher pressure?

JSnover · 12-03-2007, 08:02 PM

I don't know but it's not unheard of. The russians offered a high-pressure load for their bolt-action rifles. In a semiautoweapon it was known to cause hard extraction and pierced primers. It was deemed safe but not recommended because it added a lot of wear and tear to the action.
Another reason for "sniper" ammunition is to support military rifle teams in interservice competition.

.22guy · 12-03-2007, 09:54 PM

I'm sure it will work fine. I just wish it wasn't so darned expensive. I really missed the boat on cheap 8MM surplus.

ninwnc · 12-03-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSnover

"Sniper" ammo is either loaded to a higher pressure and/or held to a closer tolerance than the standard milspec. It's interchangeable with the standard-issue but some select-fire weapons may not cycle it properly. If you're offerred "sniper" (especially if the seller wants more $$ for it) ammo, make sure there really was such a thing produced by the country of origin. There's a lot of snake oil salesmen out there.

................
This is the .308 long range match ammo contracted for US Military snipers use. Whether other contries had designated "Sniper Ammo" or not, I really don't know.

I tried to go to the Lake City Arsenel site for their discription, but this thing shut down when I did. I tried a diferent approach abnd came up with this.

http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_s...51_308mil.html

Nick

JSnover · 12-04-2007, 07:59 PM

Thanks Nick. I was pretty sure Lake City turned out some kind of high-end ammunition. I think the Brits may have done the same thing for a while. Anyone looking for "sniper" ammo should learn a little about headstamps, lots and arsenal codes before paying for it.

Full MeTal Jack · 12-04-2007, 11:14 PM

JSnover, the other day I was looking for a site I thought I had put into my favorites, it was a site dedicated to headstamp identification. Do you know of it?
Thanks

JSnover · 12-05-2007, 05:36 AM

I know I've heard of it...... I'm on the way to work right now but I'll poke around for it when I get a chance.

ninwnc · 12-05-2007, 09:29 AM

Here is a page on headstamps. Maybe this is what you wanted.

International Ammunition Association

Nick

JSnover · 12-05-2007, 07:22 PM

I don't know how easy it will be to find "sniper" ammo by headstamps, I think you'd probably have to know something about where it was made before you started searching. Here's a page I found at work this morning:
http://www.australiancartridgecollectors.org/Links_files/Links_Content.htm

Full MeTal Jack · 12-05-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninwnc

Here is a page on headstamps. Maybe this is what you wanted.
International Ammunition Association
Nick

That's the one! Thanks Nick

ninwnc · 12-09-2007, 11:57 PM

I had the chance to go to the range today and try out the M75 8mm "Sniper" ammo. Here are my results. I put this page together pretty quick, so please disreguard the typos.

Some of my RIFLE RANGE STUFF

Nick

JSnover · 12-10-2007, 06:01 PM

Curious, Nick; Which rifles did you use? I don't know how the Germans did it but in the US a rifle wouldn't be issued as a "sniper" weapon until it passed a handful of quality checks (air-gage the barrel, etc.). Even so, I'd eaxpect "sniper" ammo to do a little better.
Thanks for posting your range report.

ninwnc · 12-10-2007, 09:05 PM

You're welcome. I just built the pafge in about 20 minutes to show the results. I hope it made sense.

I used an M98 Mauser I bought at Classic Arms. It was not sold as a sniper rifle, and I have no reason to think it was/is. It is a pretty fair shooter though.

I just figured the M75 ammo would do better than it did. A box of remington 8mm Mauser I bought and shot months ago, shot better than the M75 ammo.

Nick

JSnover · 12-10-2007, 10:41 PM

Yeah, that's a little disappointing but it's still great rifle. I keep telling myself to buy one before the prices get ridiculous.
I wonder if anyone here knows the German specs for that rifle. I once read the US ordinance spec for the 1903 Springfield only required 3 MOA for acceptance. '98 Mausers and '03 Springfields are military icons now but back in the day they were designed and built as basic tools for infantrymen.

RMTactical · 12-14-2007, 03:49 AM

Glad I stocked up on 8mm when I had the chance. I cannot believe those prices... I am sure there is plenty of 8mm stocked away in warehouses somewhere, hopefully we can get more shipped into the states (and at reasonable prices...).

12-03-2007, 08:31 AM	#1
ninwnc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 435	8mm Mauser Sniper Ammo Graf & Sons has some 8mm sniper ammo for $6.99 per 15 rounds. Anyone here tried any of it? I ordered 30 rounds just to try it and compare it with my handloads. Nick

12-03-2007, 09:54 PM	#7
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,242	I'm sure it will work fine. I just wish it wasn't so darned expensive. I really missed the boat on cheap 8MM surplus. __________________ My first priority will be to reinstate the assault weapons ban as soon as I take office.

12-04-2007, 11:14 PM	#10
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,466 Images: 5	JSnover, the other day I was looking for a site I thought I had put into my favorites, it was a site dedicated to headstamp identification. Do you know of it? Thanks __________________ [IMG]http://img287.echo.cx/img287/63/9130110x100a4vb.jpg

12-10-2007, 09:05 PM	#17
ninwnc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 435	You're welcome. I just built the pafge in about 20 minutes to show the results. I hope it made sense. I used an M98 Mauser I bought at Classic Arms. It was not sold as a sniper rifle, and I have no reason to think it was/is. It is a pretty fair shooter though. I just figured the M75 ammo would do better than it did. A box of remington 8mm Mauser I bought and shot months ago, shot better than the M75 ammo. Nick Last edited by ninwnc; 12-10-2007 at 09:10 PM.

12-03-2007, 08:42 AM	#2
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	Never tried it but you can't beat that price in my neighborhood(Massachusetts)! Even if it was standard ball it'd be a bargain.

12-03-2007, 09:14 AM	#3
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	What is "sniper ammo?"

12-03-2007, 09:58 AM	#4
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	"Sniper" ammo is either loaded to a higher pressure and/or held to a closer tolerance than the standard milspec. It's interchangeable with the standard-issue but some select-fire weapons may not cycle it properly. If you're offerred "sniper" (especially if the seller wants more $$ for it) ammo, make sure there really was such a thing produced by the country of origin. There's a lot of snake oil salesmen out there.

12-03-2007, 07:04 PM	#5
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Sounds like a BS term used to sell ammo at a higher price. Why would a sniper need ammo loaded to higher pressure?

12-03-2007, 08:02 PM	#6
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	I don't know but it's not unheard of. The russians offered a high-pressure load for their bolt-action rifles. In a semiautoweapon it was known to cause hard extraction and pierced primers. It was deemed safe but not recommended because it added a lot of wear and tear to the action. Another reason for "sniper" ammunition is to support military rifle teams in interservice competition.

12-04-2007, 07:59 PM	#9
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	Thanks Nick. I was pretty sure Lake City turned out some kind of high-end ammunition. I think the Brits may have done the same thing for a while. Anyone looking for "sniper" ammo should learn a little about headstamps, lots and arsenal codes before paying for it.

12-05-2007, 05:36 AM	#11
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	I know I've heard of it...... I'm on the way to work right now but I'll poke around for it when I get a chance.

12-05-2007, 09:29 AM	#12
ninwnc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 435	Here is a page on headstamps. Maybe this is what you wanted. International Ammunition Association Nick

12-05-2007, 07:22 PM	#13
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	I don't know how easy it will be to find "sniper" ammo by headstamps, I think you'd probably have to know something about where it was made before you started searching. Here's a page I found at work this morning: http://www.australiancartridgecollectors.org/Links_files/Links_Content.htm

12-09-2007, 11:57 PM	#15
ninwnc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 435	I had the chance to go to the range today and try out the M75 8mm "Sniper" ammo. Here are my results. I put this page together pretty quick, so please disreguard the typos. Some of my RIFLE RANGE STUFF Nick

12-10-2007, 06:01 PM	#16
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	Curious, Nick; Which rifles did you use? I don't know how the Germans did it but in the US a rifle wouldn't be issued as a "sniper" weapon until it passed a handful of quality checks (air-gage the barrel, etc.). Even so, I'd eaxpect "sniper" ammo to do a little better. Thanks for posting your range report.

12-10-2007, 10:41 PM	#18
JSnover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 186	Yeah, that's a little disappointing but it's still great rifle. I keep telling myself to buy one before the prices get ridiculous. I wonder if anyone here knows the German specs for that rifle. I once read the US ordinance spec for the 1903 Springfield only required 3 MOA for acceptance. '98 Mausers and '03 Springfields are military icons now but back in the day they were designed and built as basic tools for infantrymen.

12-14-2007, 03:49 AM	#19
RMTactical Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Rocky Mountains Posts: 176	Glad I stocked up on 8mm when I had the chance. I cannot believe those prices... I am sure there is plenty of 8mm stocked away in warehouses somewhere, hopefully we can get more shipped into the states (and at reasonable prices...).