8x58 R Danish Krag reloading with 7.62x54 brass. Can it be done?

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CL2000

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I just got my hands on a Danish Remington rolling block chambered in 8x58 Rd, and I'd love to shoot it.
I vaguely remember seeing a bit ago a page on using 7.62x54R brass to reload for it, but I can't seem to find the page at the moment. I have probably at least 40 reloadable brass casings (and can easily get more) that have already been fired through a mosin, so after firing I imagine the mouth diameter is already pretty close to what's right.

If anyone can offer me any advice, resources, sites with load data, that'll be fantastic. Thanks in advance.
 
A friend just got some 8x58R reloads from the states. They were reloaded in 45-70 cases. I will see him tomorrow and will get all the info about where he got this.
 
Google served up a page that confirms, 7.62x54R to 8x58R consists of pulling it's bullets, expand to 8mm,and then load them with a 8mm bullet. Reloadable brass cases are available, although steel milsurp cases are much more common.
 
The necks end up far too short using 7.62x54r or .45-70. I've used .45-90 which gets can be trimmed to exact chamber length after forming though you must remember to anneal and use good lube.
Using short parent brass is not great for accuracy as your bullet ends up seated quite far from the rifling.
 
I've used the Mosin brass and it works but I've never gotten serious about developing a load. The neck could stand to be longer but many military rifles have a very long throat anyway and the difference might not be enough to make or break the situation. Others who've done more might be able to give better advice.

Another important thing is bore diameter. Mine is about .329" and I've heard many are .327" which might not work very well with the standard 8mm bullets. Let me know if you want to try some cast in that diameter.
 
My buddy ordered 8x58R Danish through Prophet River. He got loaded ammo and a set of dies. (made by Buffalo Arms)
There is an old book called Cartridges of the world, I believe they have loading info for everything.
I confirmed that they were loaded in 45-70 cases
Good luck
 
sailor38 said:
My buddy ordered 8x58R Danish through Prophet River. He got loaded ammo and a set of dies. (made by Buffalo Arms)
There is an old book called Cartridges of the world, I believe they have loading info for everything.
I confirmed that they were loaded in 45-70 cases
Good luck
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Did you measure the cases??? Buffalo Arms will sometimes stretch 45-70 cases to 45-90 length for custom ammo. I have maybe 200 such cases, head stamped 45-70 but in fact, 45-90.
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CL2000 said:
I just got my hands on a Danish Remington rolling block chambered in 8x58 Rd, and I'd love to shoot it.
I vaguely remember seeing a bit ago a page on using 7.62x54R brass to reload for it, but I can't seem to find the page at the moment. I have probably at least 40 reloadable brass casings (and can easily get more) that have already been fired through a mosin, so after firing I imagine the mouth diameter is already pretty close to what's right.

If anyone can offer me any advice, resources, sites with load data, that'll be fantastic. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You can use 7.62X54R, but 8X56R is better.

If you have a lathe, you can make good brass from readily available belted magnum brass in the 300 Win Mag family, with 338 WM being my favourite. Remove the belt and a bit of additional diameter from the base and resize and trim.

45-90 can make brass identical to "correct" 8X58RD, but is a lot of work.

I've done all of the above and 8X56R is all I use now.

There are lots of threads on this along with load data here on CGN. Look here too:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?22807-Fun-with-the-8x58R-in-a-Swedish-RB

I'm Andy_P on Castboolits as some upstart had the temerity to use use the handle "Andy"!
 
Andy said:
You can use 7.62X54R, but 8X56R is better.

If you have a lathe, you can make good brass from readily available belted magnum brass in the 300 Win Mag family, with 338 WM being my favourite. Remove the belt and a bit of additional diameter from the base and resize and trim.

45-90 can make brass identical to "correct" 8X58RD, but is a lot of work.

I've done all of the above and 8X56R is all I use now.

There are lots of threads on this along with load data here on CGN. Look here too:

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?22807-Fun-with-the-8x58R-in-a-Swedish-RB

I'm Andy_P on Castboolits as some upstart had the temerity to use use the handle "Andy"!
Click to expand...

Belted magnums don't have much of a rim, will it be enough for the extractor to work?

And thanks for the link
 
I have used 8x56R brass for 8x58 rifles. I fireform new brass ( Red dot under cream of wheat), then use a cast bullet. I am not loading hot and brass holds up ok. I neck sized for a long time but did finally find a used set of CH brand 8x58R dies.
 
7.62x54R works but you barely get any neck in the end. Like others have suggested 8x56R works better.

Here’s my 2023 CFC run with my rolling block using 8x56R brass, swedish 8x63 FMJ bullets, and 5744 powder:

 
MiG25 said:
I gotta say, a 7x57 Rolling Block is one of the few rifles I regret selling.
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I bought an auction lot of Mexican 7x57 Rolling blocks back in the mid eighties.

90% of them had bores worn and pitted so bad they could have been smooth bores.

All of them had chambers cut oversize, to the point of being a ''different'' cartridge.

Out of the 80 rifles in that lot, 70 of them were wall hangers IMHO. They could have been restored of course but at the time, just weren't worth the time or effort. Brand new actions were being offered at the time by a few distributors which were I believe made in Italy???

There was "one'' that appeared to be in close to excellent condition. It also had a very large chamber.

This rifle was OK, if you fireformed the cases and partially neck sized for reloading. The rifles all had almost extreme ''free bore'' and no matter how far out the 175 grain round nose bullets were seated and still be held reliably, they couldn't get close enough to the leade to still be retained in the neck as they entered the leade.

Even with an Exc bore which was also a few thou oversize, accuracy wasn't good.

On the other hand, Danish Rolling blocks, made in Sweden, were always accurate as long as the bores and receivers were in VG or better condition.
 
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