III. Firearm Information by Type

D. Rifles

1. Ammunition

c. 8mm Mauser

1. Loadings
by A. R. Campbell

Names

8mm Mauser cartridges use .323 inch (7.92mm) diameter bullets. US-made commercial ammo in this caliber will usually be labelled either "8mm Mauser" or "8x57". Foreign-produced ammo and military ammo in this caliber is called by several other names depending on the manufacturer and/or country of origin. The most common names are:

What It's Called Source
7.92x57mm German military
7.92x57JS German military, European hunting ammo
7.90x57 Portugal, Spain, Middle East, South America
8x57JS European hunting/sporting ammo
8mm Mauser Common commercial designation
8x57mm Mauser Common commercial designation

There is also 8x57J, which is a low pressure loading with slightly smaller bullet diameter that will work fine in 8x57JS rifles, but the accuracy isn't that great because the slightly smaller bullet doesn't fully engage the rifling in the JS diameter barrels.

There is also 8x57R (or 8x57JR, or 8x57JSR), which is a *rimmed* cartridge for use in German single-shots and drillings. These should *not* be used in rifles designed for rimless cases (like the Mausers).

Typical Ballistics
Remington (USA)
8mm Mauser
"Soft Point" 		Norma (Sweden)
8mm Mauser
"Premium Soft Point" 		DWM (German)
8mm Mauser
"Brenneke Ideal"
Bullet 170 grains 196 grains 198 grains
Muzzle Velocity 2570 f.p.s. 2526 f.p.s. 2732 f.p.s.
100 yard Velocity 2300 f.p.s. 2195 f.p.s. 2415 f.p.s.
Muzzle Energy 2490 ft.lbs. 2778 ft.lbs 3276 ft.lbs.
Drop @ 100 yards 0.8 inches 0.3 inches 0.3 inches
(Lame) (Good) (Awesome)