8mm Mauser (8x57 IS)
German service round for both world wars.
Good for: WWI era, WWII era, Deer today, Elk today
A typical factory load is a 196 gr sS heavy ball bullet at about 2,500 ft/s, with roughly 2,720 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.
Typical load
196 grsS heavy ballMuzzle speed
2,500 ft/sMuzzle energy
2,720 ft-lbsTypical BC (G1)
≈ 0.56typical, varies by brandTwist rate
1:9.45Point-blank range
245 yd6" vital zoneHunting today
Yes: deer, hogs, elk and moose; comparable to .30-06.On the Military Surplus chart
Service history
German service round for both world wars.
Service rifles
Mauser Gew 98, K98k, MG34/MG42
Military load
196 grsS heavy ball
Typical muzzle fps
2,500ft/s
Typical muzzle energy
2,720ft-lbs
Typical BC (G1)
≈ 0.56typical, varies by brand
Twist rate for typical load
1:9.45
MPBR (iron sights)
245 yd6" vital zone · Near zero 15 yd · Far zero 207 yd · Min PBR 0 yd · Max PBR 245 yd · Sight-in @100 2.95" high
Hunting today
Yes: deer, hogs, elk and moose; comparable to .30-06.
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Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed load; real numbers vary by brand, lot and barrel length. Always check the ammo maker's data for your exact load.