Old 8mm M-S ammunition

[dan4522]

Hopefully I can draw on some expertise here- I have several boxes of old 8mm MS cartridges. Brand is "Western", marked "8 m/m Mannlicher-Schoenauer Model 1908 Center Fire". Bullet is 200 grain soft point "lubaloy". I can find no indicators of how old this ammo is, the only distinctive mark is what I think is a lot number on the inside of one of the end flaps. The rounds look almost new. My questions are: Is there any way to tell how old the ammo is, and, would it be safe to shoot in my 1908, and, would it still have reasonable performance? Thanks for any input.

[Jim Cate]

The ammo is most likely from the 1960s when WESTERN ammo was 'everywhere.' I'm sure it is nitro-smokeless ammo and if it has been stored correctly it should perform quite well. You can also pull a bullet and look inside the case to see if it is still clean and dry with no residue present. I have shot ammo made in the 1930s for the 8mm Mauser rifles without any problems. Regards, Jim Cate

[dan4522]

Western 8mm M-S

001.jpgSuper, thanks! I've inserted a picture- does this look like a box of western cartridges from the 60s? Reason I ask is it just looks more "old fashioned" than that...

[mike ford]

Dan,
I second Jim Cate's vote, although I guess the ammo could be from the 50s. I have a hard time looking on ammo that is younger than I as being old.
Mike

[dan4522]

Thanks! I'll try some out at the range- I want to try this great old gun out on a Georgia hog...

[Mark Poley]

I have a wood shipping crate for Western 8 mm M-S ammo that I found in my wifes Grandfathers barn. When I reasearched the age of the box I read that Western stopped making 8mm M-S ammo in 1939. I can't remember where I found that info, I need to some digging. Mark Poley

[mike ford]

Mark,
Western 8mm M-S ammo was listed in the 1955 Edition of Gun Digest. I didn't check later editions.
Mike

[Mark Poley]

Thanks Mike for the correction. I still can't remember where I read that Western stopped making 8mm M-S ammo in 1939. I thought it was also in an older Gun Digest, but it was obviously incorrect info. Thanks again. Mark Poley