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Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy wanted to go over the 7mm Mauser and 8mm Mauser. These two historic cartridges have persisted for over a century and continue to be enjoyed by shooters of all ages. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the cartridges and delve into some of their use traits and use cases. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
The 7x57mm, more commonly known as 7mm Mauser, is a military cartridge hailing from the late 19th century. The round is the brainchild of Paul Mauser, the inventor of the Mauser action and a variety of cartridges. The cartridge was notably adopted by Spain in the form of the Mauser Model 1893 rifle. American troops encountered these rifles and the 7mm Mauser during the Spanish American War. Reports touted the superiority of the rifles and cartridge over the American-issued Krag-Jorgensen rifles and the .30-40 Krag cartridge. The cartridge features a .284” projectile and produces a relatively tame recoil impulse.
The 7.92x57mm, often referred to as 8x57mm or 8mm Mauser, is a long-standing rifle cartridge. Like the 7mm Mauser, this cartridge was also devised by Paul Mauser. The cartridge was notably used by Germany in both World Wars in a variety of firearms such as the iconic Karabiner 98 kurz. The cartridge has also seen use in machine guns such as the iconic MG-34 and MG-42 general purpose machine guns. The 8mm Mauser features a projectile diameter of .323” and yields a stout and authoritative recoil impulse.
One will be able to find military surplus and modern production 7mm Mauser ammunition. Surplus ammunition will typically be corrosive in nature and can come from a variety of countries. One should know that corrosive ammunition may potentially be corrosive, meaning that one should prepare accordingly for more rigorous cleaning. Modern production loadings can be had from companies such as Sellier & Bellot and PPU just to name a few. Specialty loadings for uses such as hunting are available from companies such as Nosler and Remington. Projectiles for the cartridge will typically range from 120 to 180 grains as far as weight goes. The 7mm Mauser is a cartridge which is more popular and common in Europe than the United States. Because of this, one will find less ammunition options readily available in places one would purchase ammo. One will certainly be able to acquire 7mm Mauser if they want it, it will just require a bit more effort on their end to track down a loading.
As far as availability goes, one will encounter 8mm Mauser loadings in both military surplus and modern production form. Surplus loadings can be found from a variety of countries such as Germany, Yugoslavia, and Turkey. These loadings will typically be corrosive in nature due to the military ammunition manufacturing processes of the day. As far as modern production ammunition, one will find a variety of loadings from companies such as Federal, Winchester, and Sellier & Bellot to name a few. Companies such as Nosler and Hornady also make specialized loadings for the cartridge. When it comes to bullet weight, 8mm Mauser will typically feature 125 to 220 grain projectiles. It should be known that the cartridge is not as common in the United States and one may have a bit harder of a time finding ammunition. It is certainly not as common as .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield ammunition. At the end of the day, one will be able to find 8mm Mauser ammunition if they need it, they will just have to look a bit harder.
When it comes to acquiring firearms in 7mm Mauser, one will encounter military surplus rifles and modern production bolt action rifles. One will typically encounter Mauser rifles such as the Spanish Model 1893 and firearms such as Remington Rolling Block rifles. Modern production rifles can be found from companies such as Mauser, Sauer, and Tikka. One will find that some of these new rifles are harder to find in the United States and are much more common on the European market. This isn’t to suggest that modern rifles in this cartridge are unobtainable, but one will definitely have a harder time finding one as opposed to something in .30-06 Springfield. If one wants to find something chambered in 7mm Mauser, they can check out a surplus firearm rack or explore online offerings for a modern production rifle.
As far as getting firearms chambered in 8mm Mauser, one will find a variety of military surplus rifles and modern production rifles. An overwhelming majority of military surplus firearms on the market are going to be Mauser designs. These Mauser designs can come from countries such as Germany, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia just to name a few. Modern rifles in the caliber can be had from companies such as Mauser, Sauer, and Tikka. As stated above in the 7mm Mauser firearm section, one will find that these modern rifles are not commonly found in the United States. If an 8mm Mauser rifle is something you desire, check places where surplus arms are sold or browse online outlets for a modern rifle in the cartridge.
The 7mm Mauser cartridge is suitable for both hunting and general target shooting. The round has a well-established reputation as an effective hunting cartridge. Notable hunters throughout history such as Walter Dalrymple Maitland Bell have used the rifle to great effect to dispatch game. Bell notably used the cartridge to take multiple elephants with well-placed shots while utilizing a 7mm Mauser chambered rifle. Of course, one will also find that the 7mm Mauser excels in target shooting applications. The accuracy and soft-shooting nature of the round make it a joy to shoot.
One would generally use 8mm Mauser for hunting and general target shooting applications. The cartridge is capable of dispatching medium-sized game such as deer, wild boar, and even some types of bear. Specialty hunting loadings for the cartridge are available for the cartridge, making it more optimized for taking game. As far as target shooting and general plinking, one can utilize surplus and modern loadings for this cartridge. One should know that the supply of ammunition for this cartridge is also considerably smaller than other contemporary cartridges.
All in all, both of these cartridges are historic cartridges which have stood the test of time. Whether you want to shoot a Mauser of the 7mm or 8mm variety, you will be well served by either of these cartridges. Sportsmen and recreational shooters alike can enjoy either round. While these cartridges and corresponding modern rifles are more popular in Europe than the United States, they are still viable for American use. Whether you are after either of these cartridges or something else we carry, we here at True Shot have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
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One Response
7.92×57 (8mm Mauser) in a scoped rifle and the right ammo (I suggest Sellier&Bellot) works well on wapiti- American elk as well as all but the largest bears on the continent. It is somewhat handicapped in North America by the general lack of suitable hunting ammunition- US-made 8mm is downloaded severely due to fears that someone will use it in older pre-1905 .318 caliber rifles. Reloading or European ammo will get the best results from this under-valued cartridge, I have had excellent luck with Sellier&Bellot 198gr ammunition. The common 170gr US loadings from Winchester and Remington work fine on deer in the north country and midwest, being a bit more powerful than the .30-30.
Yeah, I like the caliber- been using it since my teen years, in one form or another, and currently have a modest collection of military and sporting rifles chambered in 7.92×57. Sometime I might mess around with the wildcat 8mm-06 just to get a little more pizzazz out of the old 8mm…