Horneber brass

[yamoon]

Hello
I tried out my Austrian Alex. Henry over the weekend. I formed 8x50 Mannl. from 7.65x54 Russian brass, the neck is very thin so I would like to come up with an alternative. I was browsing the internet & came across Horneber brass, they still offer 8x50 Mannl. cases. Has anyone used their products? What is your opinion, good or bad? I am going to order from Custom Brass and Bullets once I get a price quote. Does any one know of another source for Horneber brass in the USA. I loaded up a cast 218 gr bullet, 21 gr SR4759. The round clocked about 1500 fps 6' from the muzzle. I hope to take a Kansas White Tail with it during the January season. I normally hunt deer with an 8x57 Brno Mauser model 22 built in 1948. It is a very light, full stock, double set trigger sporter, a delight to carry all day, but I want the St. Hurbertus award and the Austrian Alex. Henry is the only hunting rifle I own that qualifies.
Thanks Mike

[Diz]

Yamoon, my experiance with Horneber has been very good. The only other supplier that I have used is Huntington Die Specialties in California. I didn't see your caliber listed but a call to them could help as sometimes they have it on the shelf. I got 16 cases for my vom Hofe SE that way once. I don't know about Custom Brass & Bullets as someone told me they were out of business awhile ago. I could be very wrong about that and would be interested in how you make out with them. Good luck with your project. Diz

[mike ford]

yamoon,
Graf and Sons has PRVI Partizan cases for 8x56R Hungarian Mannlicher, priced $76.99/100. To make 8x50R Austrian cases from these is only a FL size/trim operation. Buffalo Arms has them for $74/100, or they will provide 8x50R cases they reform from other cases( likely 8x56R, but maybe 45-70) for $30/20 or $139/100. If it were me, I would reform the 8x56R myself. Before he passed away, I helped my friend and mentor, Gene, fill an order for 8x50R Austrian by reforming 8x56R Hungarian. It was a quick and problem free operation. Note that the 8x56R bullet is larger than the 8x50R Austrian, but if you start with new cases, this won't be a consideration.
Mike