8mm Lebel Rifle Reloading

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  • Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    OK,
    Just picked up an 8mm Lebel Rifle (Edit its a Berthier rifle 1907/15 )

    I have had 8mm Lebel dies (2 die set) but never a gun for it.

    I have a 180gr .323 cast bullets from 8mm mauser I used for my Gew88 (did not get good results but I was a novice cast bullet reloader back then).

    I have read on the internets people getting satisfactory but not high accuracy results with .323.

    I do plan to slug the bore.

    I can bump the size up by putting a coat of powder coat on then possibly getting another sizing die. I do need to order something else from NOE.

    What powders have people used with Cast bullets and Lebel.
    All I want is to hit a 12" gong at 100 yards offhand. 4" groups at 100 yards from the bench should get me hitting with most shots.
     
    Last edited:

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    Bullet diameter on mine are all over 0.323”

    I’m not going to look it up, but closer to 0.327”-0.328”

    Powder coating should work to bump size up

    Edit…. Most of the reloading stuff is packed because of me moving. The laptop had the Lebel data. I haven’t shot these in almost 20 years. I made a bumping die, and was shooting cast bullets that were bumped up to 0.330”. Accuracy was 3” at 100m. The Berthier and Lebels all had frosty bores. Don’t know what the powder charge was, but probably IMR3031 if my memory serves right.
     
    Last edited:

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Slugged at .327"

    I still need reloading data and will punch in "the load" for red dot into GRT.
    I also found some load data with 2400 and can always just use Trail Boss
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    I just found that I had a 200gr .329 Mold. I guess I had that for my M95 Steyr before I found some cheap FMJ that I used for it.
    I'll plan to use that. I'm doing a molding session later today so I'll mold up 20-30 for testing.
     

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    In moving boxes around, I found one of the old loading notebooks. 198 gr gas checked wheel weights that had been bumped up to 0.330” over 25.5 gr of IMR3031. The source for the load data was “Cartridges of the World” which showed 26 gr of 3031 giving 2380 fps. No chrono data on my loads. I should dust these off and try them with powder coated bullets. Same with the M95’s. I bet that 200 gr .329 mold works well.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    I don't have any 3031 so I built up 4 each of 15.0, 15.5, 16.0 16.5, 17.0 of 2400 under a 205gr lee .329 mold powder coated and gas checked. Sized to .329"
     

    Rocinante

    Active Member
    Jul 19, 2018
    182
    Eastern Shore
    Beware spitzers in the mag tube! If the case heads don't have the safety ring, don't load them in the mag- recoil may cause chain-detonation.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    I don't have any 3031 so I built up 4 each of 15.0, 15.5, 16.0 16.5, 17.0 of 2400 under a 205gr lee .329 mold powder coated and gas checked. Sized to .329"

    Took the reloads out and ran thru the Chrono onto a 50yd target
    Accuracy was Meh, but would have been good enough to hit 12" steel from a front rest @ 100 yards.

    Velocity ranged from 1350-1475fps.
    I feel that's a bit low for this bullet and its gas checked.

    Soft shooting and i"m way down on the pressure curve based on Gordons Reloading Tool
    No signs of pressure at all.
     

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    If you have 4895, it is another option that should give similar loads to the original French ammo. GRT should be able to give some safe loads.

    4227 might be better than 2400 for lower velocity stuff. I’ve had better luck with it over anything with 2400.
     

    topguntin

    Member
    Aug 11, 2017
    11
    Took the reloads out and ran thru the Chrono onto a 50yd target
    Accuracy was Meh, but would have been good enough to hit 12" steel from a front rest @ 100 yards.

    Velocity ranged from 1350-1475fps.
    I feel that's a bit low for this bullet and its gas checked.

    Soft shooting and i"m way down on the pressure curve based on Gordons Reloading Tool
    No signs of pressure at all.

    Let me know of you're willing to sell some 0.329 cast bullets. I'm looking for projectiles to size down to 0.326"
     

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