8x58R Danish rolling Block

[mech481]

Finally starting to get some results with my Danish 8x58R rolling block I have tried several different 8mm cast bullets and also jacketed 8mm bullets and have never been able to get any satifactory groups until today I used the NOE 325-216gr SP (GC) sized to 324 hard cast and coated, 22grs of AR2207 (H4198) with just a small tuft of Kapoc over the powder only shot it at 50yds but had four bullets touching with one a bit lower that opened the group up I blame my 67year old eyes and open sights for that one. will loads up some more cases over the coming week and try it at 100yds. I would really like to be able to shoot this rifle in one of our Military rifle Club shoots out to 300yds

[sharps4590]

Well done mech!!! I get groups very similar to yours with Unique and 200 gr. cast bullet....and every bit as low on the target. I'm still considering a Marbles or Lyman type of tang sight as the front sight cannot be made any lower. Good shooters and great fun!!!!

[Reverend Al]

I've been shooting the old Ideal 323471 (215 grain nominal) with SR4759 in my 8x58R Danish Krag rolling block with good results, but even that big long and heavy bullet is well off the throat loaded as long as I can make it and still have it in the case mouth!

[17nut]

Have you slugged the barrel?
Most (all) 8x58RD rifles slugs around .328" as they were designed for long round nosed bullets.

Please read this:

The 8x58R Danish (and Swedish) cartridge was developed in the era of BP, with the change over to Smokeless (or semi-smokeless) Powder. Bullets were cylindrical and long, whilst Grooves were deep (BP Practice). Excess Friction from a Long bearing surface on the Lands was reduced by making the Bullet of a diameter intermediate between Bore (8mm-.315" ) and Groove depth (.329-.330"). This Principle was used on all the 1886-1890s Long cylindrical bullets with Metal Jackets. The Flat or concave Base of the Bullet "Upset" to fill the grooves and give Obturation ("Base Upset Obturation") and created a driving Band effect, whilst the rest of the cylinder was lightly engraved with the rifling.
This Method of combining Bullet and rifling is usually called "the Austrian Technique" as Steyr was the first to manufacture rifles to this system in 1888. It will be found in all "8mm" Rifles, mm 7,62 (Russian), and in the Commission 88 (Germany). In effect, all rifles with long, RN, heavy Ball cartridges.

So to fit a bullet for the 8x58R Danish/Swede, one needs a RN, Flat Based .324" Bullet; if one wants to use a Spitzer Boattail, then one must use a .329" Bullet ( Boat Tails don't "Base upset obturate", so a BT .323 or .324 would suffer "Windage" and subsequent inaccuracy.) This was found in 1930 ( Austria) with the improvement of the .324" 8x50R to the Spitzer .329" 8x56R ( with Boat tail...the reduced contact area and the boat tail both required the "Upsize" to prevent windage.
Now: to get Bullets for .324 in the 8x58R...use RN Jacketed Flat based "8mm" bullets, or make your own Spitzer BT by sizing down Hornady .338" in a Lee .329" Sizing die and use a strong (Cast iron/steel) O-frame Press; or cast and size Lead to .329"
Or buy .329" 8mm M30 S bullets from AV Ballistics Technical Services (Australia)...CNC turned Brass to M30 (8x56R Profile, but 172 grains only...60/40 Brass vs. 205gn Lead core steel jacket Milsurp.) Or even Pull down 8x56R ammo for the .329" FMJs.
Best for the M1895 Swede RB in 8x58R is the RN FB .324 diameter Jacketed, or the Cast Lead at .329"; although later used with the improved Spitzer 8x58R later in its life, the RB prefers the (milder) Loads of the RN Bullet....and the rifles are too nice to use with spitzer bullets..."out of Character" and "out of Era".
Doc AV
AV Ballistics Technical Services
Brisbane Australia.

[mech481]

yes I slugged the barrel and it is .323 hence my bullets sized to .324, I was suprised at the bore size as I have also read all of the posts on all of the different forums suggesting a much larger bore size.

[smlekid]

Hey I saw that Group!!

[303Guy]

Hey I saw that Group!!

Yeah - pretty tiny - and with open sights! I had to look hard to see it.

I've been considering that powder for my Brits but heaps of AR2205/H4227. Probably comparable in the smaller Brit case.

Any chance of photo's of the rifle?

[smlekid]

Yeah - pretty tiny - and with open sights! I had to look hard to see it.

I've been considering that powder for my Brits but heaps of AR2205/H4227. Probably comparable in the smaller Brit case.

Any chance of photo's of the rifle?

I meant I was There
and it is a really good looking rifle to

[mech481]

[LWSTARKS]

I'm ging to have to see if that big ol boolit will work in my krag bolt action, as in if it will fit in the magazine