Looking for 8X58RDK............

45-90 can make brass identical to "correct" 8X58RD, but is a lot of work. You can also use 7.62X54R, but 8X56R is better. Both a bit short but the 8X58 has lots of neck so can afford to lose a bit.

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. Not much for the extractor to grab, but workable.

I've done all of the above and 8X56R is all I use now. Just size in 8X58 dies and use.

8X58RD_from_4590_338WM_8X56R.JPG

From 45/90, 338 WM and 8X56R
 

Attachments

  • 338WM_to_Sized_to_8X58RD.JPG
    338WM_to_Sized_to_8X58RD.JPG
    386.1 KB · Views: 5
I'm going thru this exercise for a shooting buddy as I lost my enthusiasm for this cartridge several years ago. I formed 10 rds of brass, 5 from 45-70 and 5 from 45-90 These will be fired in a Danish Rolling Block. I also ordered 40 rds from Beaks&brass.
Question for Andy: Using cast bullets of 200 grs, what's a good load for fire forming? I have data from COTW.
 
oldrodder said:
I'm going thru this exercise for a shooting buddy as I lost my enthusiasm for this cartridge several years ago. I formed 10 rds of brass, 5 from 45-70 and 5 from 45-90 These will be fired in a Danish Rolling Block. I also ordered 40 rds from Beaks&brass.
Question for Andy: Using cast bullets of 200 grs, what's a good load for fire forming? I have data from COTW.
Click to expand...
I don't know what powders you have, but I used 15.0 grs of Unique under Cream of Wheat, under a toilet paper wad. I often fireform with a bullet, but these guns tend to have a long sloping chamber and I like to fireform to at least close to the chamber shape before firing bullets, then I neck-size after that. It still takes a few firings at the low pressures you're held to to get the cartidge shape close to the chamber's shape (in my gun anyways).

In case that sounds like a lot of powder for fireforming, I use the same 15.0 grs of Unique under a 230 gr cast bullet for 1350 fps. I consider that a Max Load for me.
 
I have a good supply of powders, mostly IMR, Win, Hogdon, and some VV. Do you still use fillers after fireforming?
Andy said:
I don't know what powders you have, but I used 15.0 grs of Unique under Cream of Wheat, under a toilet paper wad. I often fireform with a bullet, but these guns tend to have a long sloping chamber and I like to fireform to at least close to the chamber shape before firing bullets, then I neck-size after that. It still takes a few firings at the low pressures you're held to to get the cartidge shape close to the chamber's shape (in my gun anyways).

In case that sounds like a lot of powder for fireforming, I use the same 15.0 grs of Unique under a 230 gr cast bullet for 1350 fps. I consider that a Max Load for me.
Click to expand...
I have a good selection of powders. Mostly, IMR, Win, Hogdon, and some VV. Do you still use fillers after fireforming?
Thanks for your help.
 
oldrodder said:
I have a good supply of powders, mostly IMR, Win, Hogdon, and some VV. Do you still use fillers after fireforming?

I have a good selection of powders. Mostly, IMR, Win, Hogdon, and some VV. Do you still use fillers after fireforming?
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Never - even when I have just a few grains of Red Dot (another great fireforming powder) sitting at the bottom of the cartridge. I find that powders in the Bullseye/Red Dot to Unique powder burn rate range are quite positon independent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom