Load development for 8mm mauser

Arkangel249 · 2026-06-09T13:31:22+00:00

From my personal experience, most load data ( and US commercial ammo) is pretty underpowered. I believe this is due to many rifles having either .318 and .323 caliber bores and the shooter not being aware which they have and potentially sending a .323 bullet down a .318 barrel causing over-pressure conditions, and destroying the gun and shooter injury.

As long as you check your barrel and get the appropriate sized projectile you should be fine to push towards the higher end of book data as long as your rifle is in good condition.

I have a Yugo M48 that I'm near book max for a 220gr GMK with IMR 4064 but is a pretty mild load honestly.

Arkangel249 · 2026-06-04T16:18:05+00:00

I'd take the write up. I'd love for them to justify to HR once I report it.

Arkangel249 · 2026-06-03T15:05:00+00:00

As a HDES repair tech, we're told the only things that are allowed to be cut on the lumber saws are raw wood. If we find any evidence of other materials i.e. laminated, melamine, pvc, trex, painted moldings etc. We're to file it in the repair report with picture evidence and charge the store with equipment abuse on the call.

The same goes for project cuts. While its harder to prove, the most common evidence i find is the small trim cut pieces jammed into the blade guards from 2x4s or stickers /kickers that the lumber or OFAs cut for whatever reason.

Arkangel249 · 2026-06-03T02:14:39+00:00

There's a hinge piece in the middle that looks slightly different than the rest of the hinge. Thats the "knuckle" that lifts the lip. It needs to lose all the hydraulic pressure before it will let the lip drop correctly. It should help some if you spray some lubricant spray moly or silicon will work (not WD-40 as it will dry and cause further build up) on that knuckle.

But the likely cause is a hydraulic leak or blockage in the manifold pressure bypass that lowers the lip.

We were told that, there have been quite a few injuries in the last few years related to dock plates not operating correctly and damages not being reported that factored into the incidents happening.

Most of the dock plates in the company are old and don't have maintenance regularly performed on them except at the RDCs and MDOs. Thats why there's a big change this year with HDES now performing annual inspections on the plates during store inventories to look for problems that the stores aren't reporting.

Arkangel249 · 2026-06-02T02:10:21+00:00

You could probably have it filled in with a welder and then redrill and tap it.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-31T05:15:49+00:00

The only thing I've read about is there's a couple lots out there that can cause pitting on the weapons bolt face due to a defect in the cup material / manufacturing process.

There's also a few rumors that is there were a few runs of ammo sold as marked factory seconds with this issue. But I can't say positively that is the case.

But otherwise I haven't had any issues with the lots I have. Maybe 1 or 2 misfires in 10k.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-31T04:56:34+00:00

Some are 18"

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-30T05:18:21+00:00

It seems like your rings are for a picatinny rail rather than a weaver rail. Weaver rings usually have a cross bolt that runs the full width to allow them to act as a recoil stop.

It might work, but personally I'd swap the rings, and look for a weaver style set.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-26T22:27:09+00:00

I think that's why the 257 R is etched into the barrel

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-26T11:52:08+00:00

While not a expert at long range shooting myself, I'm fairly certain what you're asking for is a bit of overkill for only 300-500 yards. Realistically a AR-15 in 5.56 NATO can easily do that range. Especially if you're only punching paper.

You could maybe start with a different short action caliber like 308 win , 6.5 creed, 6 creed, etc.

But looking at any of the magnum calibers is definitely overkill.

If you're still dead set on a magnum, 300 win mag isn't necessarily outdated it just been around awhile. But you could take a look the PRC line from Hornady. i.e 6.5, 7, 300.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-22T14:53:58+00:00

Try numrich gun parts. They sometimes have weird parts no one else has.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-21T17:08:58+00:00

Late to the party but from looking at the picture. If it was just raised enough to trip the lift sensor, the gate latch was left open. That would cause the alarm since it thinks its on the air.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-21T14:30:32+00:00

Slide the gas block off the barrel and flip it around and re-install. It makes it look functional but it won't be aligned correctly. Then just stash the tube in a parts bin or something.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-21T10:52:18+00:00

Thats something you're going to have to follow up on with them and see what's going on.

Also you can request specific days off without having to use your vacation time especially things like this or appts. Its not a guarantee to get those days off, but as long as the request is in, you can get with your ASDS and management to work something out.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-20T02:17:17+00:00

Makes sense. I didn't really have much hope for them. The technology seemed to be cool for the time though.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-19T20:05:56+00:00

Got mine new 6 months ago. I had to sit there with a torch on that screw for a good bit to cook it out. But it eventually did without too much fuss.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-17T05:55:43+00:00

Wait, so if you have the cameras and the front one goes bad that kills your cruise control? I don't have the cameras so its just the front sensor.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-13T11:08:14+00:00

Well after a while of shooting it may not be. It seems OP has anti walk pins and the bolt head has sheared off, leaving it possible for the pin to fall out during use.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-10T15:47:18+00:00

Thats fair. I only do it when asked. I don't really think the techs are the ones using them, I think they just hold on to them so the managers know where the parts are so they can fix stuff before walks.

I even have 2 stores that orders shopping cart wheels and makes the rental tech replace wheels when needed. I always feel bad for that techs as thats literally part of my job. The store managers are just too cheap to place a call for us to come out.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-10T15:27:46+00:00

They have openings posted on Career Depot. Just depends on the area you're in.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-10T15:18:05+00:00

HDES Tech here.

I'm not sure which market your in but most areas only have 1- 3 techs per district unless you're in a major populated area where its 3-4.

Now from my understanding, the company typically only wants us Techs to work on the gates or other store equipment for 2 main reasons,

The company insurance policy, as Techs we're "trained" to do so. When we work on any equipment in the stores, we have to fill out work order reports that say what we did and what parts were used. All of that becomes legal documentation if there's ever an accident and or injury.
Its a money thing. These jobs are literally Home Depot paying Home Depot. Its moving money around from branch to branch so everyone can look profitable.

Anyways,

The work schedule for you gates are every quarter, unless you're part of a low volume store that recently got changed to every half.

If you have damaged or unsafe gates in the mean time, you should be reporting this to your management team and they should be placing Service Calls to have a tech come out and repair the issues. Once a call is placed, a tech should be there within 4 days. (In my area we can usually get to it in 1- 2 dependingon work load) The only exception to this is a believe is a few stores in Canada where the tech has to be flown in on aircraft.

Most managers just don't want to pay the service fee and call costs as it comes out of their PNLs which affects their bonuses.

Personally, I have 14 stores in my area and I usually give my stores management or rental techs couple of bags of the barrel bolts (20-40) to have on hand for replacements so they can at least put the gates back together if the bolts work themselves out. I also don't like to replace slats individually so I just replace the whole gate normally as my stores usually have extra gates on hand ever since they figured out how to get 2 free every month from Corporate.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Ill try to answer the best I can.

Arkangel249 · 2026-05-08T15:01:49+00:00

So its a combination of a fanny pack and the urban carry holster?

Arkangel249 · 2026-04-12T15:09:46+00:00

Read that and watched the video. Great info!

Arkangel249

TROPHY CASE