8mm Surplus Ammo Chronograph Results

All ammo was tested in 29inch barrel Turkish Type 1938 rifles in good condition. These results apply ONLY to the ammo tested. Your ammo may have different performance levels due to powder lot differences, storage differences, etc. Subjective observations of apparent pressure levels are included, however, you must make your own observations and determine whether the ammo is safe in your rifle. These results are not a recommendation to use this ammo, just the results of testing a few batches of available ammo. Many thanks to MHB on the Turkish Mauser Forum for providing most of this data.

The Turkish ammo closely resembles the 1916 version, German S cartridge which (according to Olson) has a muzzle velocity of 2936 fps from 29" barrel and pressure of 44,082 lbs/sq in. The Yugo ammo would duplicate the German sS cartridge for which Olson gives 2575 fps in 29" barrel and 46,926 lbs/sq in.

1936 Turkish Ball, 2 Clips

Clip 1: Average: 2960.4, ES 26

Clip 2: Average: 2965.8, ES 8

The only sign of high pressure being increased extraction effort on some rounds. Tested, 20 December 2001 (72 F). Note this ammo won't pass the magnet test. No splits or cracks!

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1938 Turkish Ball, 2 Clips

2974 fps	3007 fps
2948	2945
2963	2980
2966	2972
2957	2949
26 fps extreme spread	62 fps extreme spread
2961 fps average velocity	2976 fps average velocity

No misfires, a few cracked necks, some body cracks. Pressure signs high-normal with primers showing little or no cratering and not flattened.

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1940 Turkish Ball, 4 Clips

Clip 1: high 3020 fps low 2954

Clip 2: high 3047 fps low 3011

Clip 3: high 3019 fps low 2993

Clip 4: high 3033 fps low 2984

No signs of excessive pressures, cracked necks, pierced primers or misfires.

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Turkish Ball, 1941, 155gr	Turkish Ball, 1942, 155gr
3135fps	2984fps
3150	2984
3161	2975
3132	2980
3180	2972
48 fps Extreme Spread	12 fps Extreme Spread
3156 fps Average Velocity	2978 fps Average Velocity

Fired cases exhibited signs of high pressures

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Turkish Ball, 1944, 155gr	Turkish Ball, 1945, 155gr
2826fps	3020fps
2805	3042
2802	2984
2849	3033
2814	2984
47 fps Extreme Spread	58 fps Extreme Spread
2825 fps Average Velocity	3003 fps Average Velocity
Fired cases exhibited signs of normal to high pressures	Fired cases exhibited signs of high pressures

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1946 Turkish Ball

Clip 1: high 3024 fps low 3010

Clip 2: high 3024 fps low 3002

4 cracked necks, primers quite flat and showed extrusion into the firing pin hole. Bolt lift was noticeably sticky. Case heads showed rub marks at the pressure ring due to case head expansion. Recommend avoiding this year of production.

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1950 Turkish Ball, 2 Clips

3019	3015
3037	3008
3010	3015
3002	3011
3011	3009
35 fps extreme spread	7 fps extreme spread
3020 fps average velocity	3012 fps average velocity

4 cracked necks. Pressure signs were notably higher than the 1938 with all primers showing considerable flattening and all more or less cratered.

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Turkish Ball, 1951  (1951 ammo will pass the magnet test - no steel).
3048 fps
3060
3046
3061
3070
24 fps Extreme Spread
3058 fps Average Velocity
Fired cases exhibited signs of high pressures.

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Yugo Ball, 1940, 199gr	Yugo Ball, 1954, 199gr
2388 fps	2491 fps
2386	2498
2366	2499
2357	2504
2369	2501
31 fps Extreme Spread	13 fps Extreme Spread
2373 fps Average Velocity	2498 fps Average Velocity
Fired cases exhibited signs of normal pressures	Fired cases exhibited signs of normal pressures...Some leaky primers
Bullets pulled from 1940 and 1954 Yugo 8mm Mauser ammo. The three on the left are 1940 and the two on the right are 1954.

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Romanian Ball, 1974, 154 gr
2678 fps
2621
2619
2618
2622
60 fps Extreme Spread (first shot was a major flyer)
2632 fps Average Velocity
Fired cases exhibited no high pressure indicators.

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Many shooters are using the Turkish ammo on a regular basis, and I am not aware of any reported "blow-ups" or damaged rifles. This doesn't mean that you will get the same results.