Gentlemen,

please find below some additional reloading information regarding John´s rifle.
Please bear also in mind that other lots of M.S. rifles can have other dimensions, so the advice for checking the barrel diameter before reloading is here strongly recommended!

My information is limited for the results of the rifle produced by österr. Waffenfabrik Steyr, Patent Mannlicher Schönauer M1908 with serial no. 28XX.

With the only available manufactured ammunition from Dorfner company in Wien, I measured a muzzle velocity of 655 m/s with a 13,1 gram bullet (soft point round nose).

Good precision was obtained in reloaded ammunition with the following bullets:

A) Degol 196grs soft point round nose bonded core (bullet length 27,2mm, BC ca. .270)
Bullet diameter (measuring device: micrometer): 8,247mm equals .3247”
Reloading information:
42.0grs Kemira N140 (measured velocity: 610 m/s)
OAL: 75,0mm
Primer: Winchester LR
Case: Horneber 8x56 M.Sch. (case volume 60.2grs water)
This is a conservative load which can be increased.

B) Reichenberg 160grs HDB, (dia .324”, bullet length 26,0mm), solid copper bullet with a large hollow point and black lubricant coating, very precise!
Bullet diameter (measuring device: micrometer): 8,292mm equals .3265” (with coating!)
Reloading information:
46.0grs Kemira N140 (measured velocity: 690 m/s)
OAL: 73,4mm
Primer: Winchester LR
Case: Horneber 8x56 M.Sch. (case volume 60.2grs water)
This is a conservative load which can be increased.

C) Delsing 205grs / dia . 325” soft point round nose (bullet length 27,8mm)
Reloading information:
45.0grs Kemira N140 (measured velocity: 644 m/s)
OAL: 76,1mm
Primer: Winchester LR
Case: Horneber 8x56 M.Sch. (case volume 60.2grs water)
This is regarded as a maximum load, as the velocity approaches the velocity of the Dorfner manufactured ammunition.

best regards
Rolf