8 mm Lee Karbiner

[Ben]

The mold is 25 yrs. old and is a Lee single cavity mould.
This one cast at .327", and weighs 230 grs. with a nice wide meplat.
I size to .325" . This is a super accurate bullet out of my Scout rifle.

I'm thinking this one would make a real nice white-tailed deer bullet with my 98' Scout rifle.
I think the 8 X 57 mm is a very underrated cartridge.

Chambers smoothly with this OAL in my 98' Scout rifle :

Shoots great in my Scout Rifle :

 

[Josh]

That's a fine bullet and looks as good as your 323471, if it shoots half as good it will make a wonderful deer bullet.

I agree with you, the 8x57 is very under rated and is probably my favorite rifle cartridge.

 

[Ben]

If the 338 Federal is a good cartridge, so is the 8 X 57 mm.
There just isn't that much difference in them.
When the 8 mm is factory loaded ,at a lawyer's insistence, to 34,000 psi vs. the 338 Federal at 50,000 psi + there is no comparison. The 338 Fed. wins every time.

Load both to 50,000 - 52,000 psi and the 338 Fed. looses its edge quickly and the down range performance of the two rounds becomes very similar.

 

[9.3X62AL]

It is surprising how well my G98/40 Mountain Carbine shoots with 150 grain bullets at 2900 FPS. The bullet follows the range ticks on the barley-corn sights, too--a bit high, from 200 to 600 yards--since it is predicated for meters. I enjoy the 8 x 57 VERY MUCH.

 

[Ben]

They say the only people who fully respect the 8 X 57 mm were the American GI's that were on Utah and Omaha beaches.

 

[Josh]

If the 338 Federal is a good cartridge, so is the 8 X 57 mm.
There just isn't that much difference in them.
The 8 mm loaded ,at a lawyer's insistence, of 34,000 psi vs. the 338 Federal there is no comparison. The 338 Fed. shines.

Load both to 50,000 psi and the 338 Fed. looses its edge quickly.

Lawyers, who needs em, with jacketed bullets I use 30-06 start data and work up. My 8x57 jacketed data rides in the 55,000 to 60,000 psi range and quickly nips the heals of the 338-06.

I much prefer the 8x57 for cast over the 30-06 as well. If I could make my 8x57's with an 06 neck length it would be the perfect cartridge IMO.

 

[Ben]

WOW Josh you're right ,- - -

Or the neck length of the Krag and you'd have one more fine cast bullet cartridge.

Ben

 

[Josh]

WOW Josh your right ,- - -

Or the neck length of the Krag and you'd have one more fine cast bullet cartridge.

Ben

The Kraig neck would be good too, I wonder if I could find a neck reamer to pop my military rifles out to said neck length. My cases are made from 30-06 anyway so trim length would be irrelevant. Heck it could even still fire standard 8x57...

 

[Ben]

I'm tuned into this one.

Ben

 

[Brother_Love]

That is a handsome bullet! I don't have a 8mm but if I did I would get one of those.

 

[Ben]

Malcolm ,

The Lee 8 mm Karbiner bullet mould has had a tumultuous life throughout the years.
Many of the molds cast much heavier than the advertised weights.
Many wouldn't chamber well in a lot of 8 X 57 rifles.
Many alleged that the specs of the bullet were " off " by Lee.

I'm fortunate with this one, it doesn't seem to be affected by all these problems.
Mine is a good mould !
It chambers and shoots very well in my 8 mm Scout rifle.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

Strongly agree Ben that the 8x57 is a very much under rated ctg, as is the 7x57.
IMO anything that you would hunt with an 06 you could equal with an 8x57 with
appropriate loads. Karbiner shoot well in my Husky 8x57.

Paul

 

[Ben]

In full agreement with you Paul !

Ben

 

[9.3X62AL]

I have a Lee 8mm Heavy mould that Buckshot got from a group buy at the old site many years ago. I need to pull it out and look at it again, my recollection of its form isn't real clear. Seems like weight is in the 225 grain ballpark, and form is like that of their heavy-for-caliber rifle designs (e.g., the Lee 311-200). Bore-rider nose, 3 grooves and a gas check. I loaded 20 of them in front of 16.0 grains of 2400, and they darn sure kicked harder than the Lee 8mm x 175s that were such fun with 16.0 x 2400 behind them.

 

[Ben]

I have little doubt that the Karbiner would take care of any white-tailed deer I'm apt to cross paths with here in AL.

Ben

 

[JWFilips]

I know they shoot great in my GEW98 Ben let me try some of his last year
& I shot this target

 

[Ben]

Deer beware.

 

[KHornet]

With the advent of magnumitis, came the shortening of necks. I, early on when I started
reloading over 50 years ago, came to appreciate the long neck ctgs. At an advanced age
I more and more appreciate the long neck ctgs that I reload cast in which include 222,
30-30, 06, etc. They allow a bigger variance in the availability of cast blts without getting
into the powder chamber. On top of that, I happen to think the long neck ctgs just plain
look better.

Paul

 

[JWFilips]

Paul,
I agree with you! I would love to take the 8x57 and give it a 30-06 length neck! That would make a dandy cast bullet gun

 

[Ben]

I always thought the old Krag had a neck that was just about ideal in length for a wide variety of .30 cal. cast bullets.

Ben