cast bullets for 8mm Mauser?

[Doc Holloman]

I thought about posting this in the reloading subforum but decided it was specialized enough to get better response here.

Does anyone have a favorite cast bullet for the 8mm Kar 98 series Mauser. I have pulled out my G33/40 Mountain Carbine to try in the doughboy and have been having trouble finding a cast bullet that feeds smoothly. The bullets available all seem to be truncated cone profiles, and it seems like I am trying to force them into the rifling when they chamber, if I can close the bolt at all.  I have tried loading the bullets to a very short OAL, so short that the often hang up coming out of the magazine before the extractor engages, particularly those loading from the right. I Have tried the bullets in other rifles (Kar98K, Kar98AZ, Gew98) and all have the same issues on one degree or another.  Is this just an inherent problem with trying to chamber blunt bullets in a rifle that was specifically designed around spitzers. I have not had these issues shooting .30-06, .30-40, or .303, al of which I have loaded with more tapered, spitzer-like, bullets.   

[Cap'n Redneck]

I have read that the G33/40 Mountain Carbine barrels were made tighter than the regular infantry short-rifle barrels of WW2 (Kar98k), so the two rifles would achieve the same muzzle velocity with the same ammo.  That might explain why "bore rider"-type lead bullets get stuck in the G33/40...

[Doc Holloman]

I have read that the G33/40 Mountain Carbine barrels were made tighter than the regular infantry short-rifle barrels of WW2 (Kar98k), so the two rifles would achieve the same muzzle velocity with the same ammo.  That might explain why "bore rider"-type lead bullets get stuck in the G33/40...

So  that makes me wonder if bullets for .303 Enfield (.312) might work, perhaps paper patched.  Or maybe I just need to give up on the idea of using the G33/40 (and 8mm in general) for Doughboy.

[Silver Creek Slim]

If you cast bullets, Lee has this mould. https://leeprecision.com/8mm-molds
If you don't cast look for a round nose in .323"-.324" range.

Slim

[Boggus Deal]

https://quality-cast.com/8mm-180gr-gcfp/

[Crow Choker]

See this thread was started back in Sept of '24 but if ya haven't decided yet Doc or anyone else is wondering, I have been using the Lee double cavity 8mm mold mentioned by Silver Creek Slim for my two WW2 era K98k Mausers for approx 9-10 years. Cast them to approx wheel weight hardness, size .324", gas check, and use a variety of powders for reduced 8mm velocity loads. All are very comfortable to shoot and accurate.

 Use Red Dot, IMR and Hodgeon 4227, and Acc 5744 powders for the most part. None of the loads are 'barn burners' but provide cheaper shooting than using jacketed bullets and just as enjoyable. Have never had any problems when firing, ie inserting (feeding) rounds into chamber, ejecting. Keep brass to recommended specs also careful not to have excessive crimp which can sometimes cause a hang-up as the OP mentioned.