Help identifying cartridge in Swedish in 8x??mm

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matthunt101

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As the title says, I'm trying to identify the chambering for a Swedish Mauser I've recently picked up that has a 8mm bore, but I can't figure out the cartridge size.
A little about the rifle, its number matching except the barrel as it has been rebarrelled and the new barrel in number 1. I had originally hoped it was in 8×63mm, but that is definitely not the case. I have "successfully" cast the chamber, and it has given me the following information.
NMvIm9x.jpg

Y1viLiw.jpg

1qXPaJZ.jpg

And I can provide any more information as needed.
I'd love some help figuring out exactly what cartridge this is so I might recreate some rounds for it and get it firing again.
Here are a few photos of the rifle.
xCXiWFQ.jpg

HTXAezq.jpg

3gPHtxk.jpg

Thanks in advance for your help.
:cheers:
 
TradeEx had some listed as 8x54. From the photos, this looks like one of them.
Bolt face will tell you if it is a rimless cartridge, and base diameter of the chamber cast will reveal if the case is based on the standard Mauser case.
 
What is the base diameter? In the drawing, the numerals look like 2.25mm, but that can't be right.
Is it about 11.9mm/.470"? If so, that is the standard Mauser case base diameter. 8x54 would be a shorter version of the 8x57.

Nice chamber casts, by the way.
 
polaris said:
isn't that the 8x58R Krag?
Click to expand...

No , the 8x54 is a shorter version of the 8x57 , you can use 8x57 brass to form it I think , or 6.5X55 . It was a fairly common chambering in Scandinavian countries before WW2 . As Tiriaq pointed out , Tradex has a few for sale right now . It's a useful little cartridge and it shouldn't be too difficult to get it shooting again .
 
Last edited:
tiriaq said:
What is the base diameter? In the drawing, the numerals look like 2.25mm, but that can't be right.
Is it about 11.9mm/.470"? If so, that is the standard Mauser case base diameter. 8x54 would be a shorter version of the 8x57.

Nice chamber casts, by the way.
Click to expand...

12.25 mm which would line up with 11.9mm within measuring error.
 
polaris said:
isn't that the 8x58R Krag?
Click to expand...

No , the 8x54 is a shorter version of the 8x57 , but I think it might be based on the 6.5X55 case , I may be wrong though , it's been about 40 years since I last had one in my hands . It was a fairly common chambering in Scandinavian countries before WW2 . As Tiriaq pointed out , Tradex has a few for sale right now . It's a useful little cartridge and it shouldn't be too difficult to get it shooting again . I am sure that either 8X57 or 6.5X55 brass can be used though , some research will be necessary .......... by the OP , not me lol .

Double post , weird
 
If the case was based on the 6.5x55, it would be best to form cases starting with those.
The other Mauser based cases are a bit smaller at the head, and this would result in noticeable expansion in front of the base. I've formed 6.5x55 from .270s, etc., and it is apparent.
 
I won't lie, but I'm embarrassed by how much time I've spent trying to figure this out unsuccessfully before giving up and aging here. And once again I wasn't disappointed by how quickly you all were able to help me out. No it's off to my little reloading lab to make some ammo to try it out.
 
The 8x54 was developed in Scandinavia as an elk hunting ctg. The law required a minimum 13 gram(198 gr) bullet for elk and the 6.5x55 only used a 156 gr. The simple solution was to neck up the 6.5 to 8mm which made converting Krags and Mausers easy.
 
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