Quote: Foster , the original Mauser catalogue lists bullet weight at 158 gr, and .315 did
The 196 gr bullet is for the 8x57????. It would be a bullet too long for the 8x51. Have you pulled and weighed an original bullett yet?/
Best Eric
Mauser Bolt Rifles by Ludwig Olson has original specifications for the 8x51 cartridge taken from the Mauser Co catalog circa 1910 showing a land diameter of .307" and a groove diameter of .319" so it was made for the .318" 8mm bullets.
The same book also lists DWM loads for the 8x51 with bullets weights of 157gr @ 2155fps (round soft point) and two styles of 196gr bullets @ 2099fps (round soft point) and 2066fps (round strong jacket).
When I loaded for this cartridge using resized 308Win cases I used Norma .318" bullets but cannot remember the weight, possibly lighter than 196grs, not sure what Norma was producing in the 70's.