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Moved from old YW site:
USNavyLT
I am currently loading 8mm Lebel in Graf's brass with large rifle magnum primers. I am using 170gr spitzer bullets (.323) diameter. I am loading 33.0 grains of H335. When I was working up this load, anything less than 33 grains would leave soot on the brass, and accuracy started decreasing going above 33 grains. But as I shoot the MLE-16 more, I discovered that only the first 4-5 rounds are accurate and then I have to clean the bore to retain accuracy.
Looking at the data in the sticky, it seems like I am very much under powered, that I would be up around 42-45 grains. I am speculating because I see data for 8x56R and 8x57 Mauser with H4895 and H335 and the charge weight is just about the same with H335 being only .5 grains below in some instances.
Am I correct that I am way under powered - right now my MLE-16 is the hardest kicking rifle I shoot, more so than the old 12GA side by side and .54 Cal muzzleloaders I have shot. I can't imagine another 10 grains of powder!
Opinions welcomed, Please!
HerrMesser
I don't really know anything about the Lebel but let me welcome you to the forum. Hopefully our french expert will see this and help you out.
yockey5
Welcome Navy! I will post a copy of this in the french rifles forum to be sure Lebel1886 sees it.
yockey5
I been thinking on this, and just remembered that Kaiserbill reloads for these as well.
Dutch Mosin
Don't know much about reloading ammo for French rifles, but I'm sure you will find an answer here or.....at least someone who can point you in the right direction.
For now let me just welcome you here on Yesterdays USNavyLT.
You just found yourself a fantastic board.
yockey5
Go here:
p205.ezboard.com/fsteyrmannlicherfrm25.showMessage?topicID=112.topic
gschwertley
I don't have experience with this particular cartridge, but some of the principles that apply in general to other cartridges apply to this one too.
H335, which is a powder that is normally used in small bore centerfire applications, is a ball powder. Ball powders do not like reduction from full loads, and in some cases this can be dangerous according to powder manufacturers. Beyond that, a less than full load of ball powder probably won't perform well. This includes incomplete ignition that results in fouling.
I know that 7.62x54R Russian has been loaded with ball powders from the factories in Europe. We don't really know what this powder is, so it's difficult to compare it to what we can get off the shelf here. I have been told that cannister grade ball powders that are available in the US often do not give top accuracy in "bell shaped" milsurp rifle cartridges, like 7.62x54R, the 8mm Mannlicher cartridges, and of course the 8mm Lebel falls into this category. My own experiences using ball propellants in 7.62x54R and 8x56R Austrian bear this out.
To get to the bottom line, if you are just starting out with loading the cartridge, I would recommend using a stick (extruded) powder. Save your H335 and use it in applications where it burns more efficiently. After you get this round to shoot well with stick powders, then you can double back and see if you can find a ball powder that it might like.
If you don't have a chronograph, borrow or buy one (like an inexpensive Chrony brand). Having one of these tells you a lot about the performance of your loads. With some obsolete milsurp rifle cartridges, you often have to do a bit of experimenting.
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