As pointed out, the Europeans load the 8mm Mauser cartridge much hotter than American companies, making it close to the 30-06 in performance.
According to what I read years ago, Paul Mauser discovered that straight tapered barrels in a full stock military rifle had problems with heat expansion during sustained fire that caused the barrel to bind against the stock. The stepped barrels were his answer and if you look at a military stock with a stepped barrel, you'll see that there is a gap between the step and the stock channel. The gap won't be large but enough to allow the barrel to expand without being bound by the wood. i.e., the barrel remains free to move.
According to what I read years ago, Paul Mauser discovered that straight tapered barrels in a full stock military rifle had problems with heat expansion during sustained fire that caused the barrel to bind against the stock. The stepped barrels were his answer and if you look at a military stock with a stepped barrel, you'll see that there is a gap between the step and the stock channel. The gap won't be large but enough to allow the barrel to expand without being bound by the wood. i.e., the barrel remains free to move.
