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Reloading the 8x58RD.

I can put my hands on original milsurp as a source of brass and something to shoot however it is expensive at around GBP120/100 and I would expect it to be berdan primed, which is not something I normally reload due to the problems removing the primers. I did experiment with popping berdan primers using hydraulics (water) and it worked very well for .308 so I could always build a dedicated decapper for the new case. Not a real problem and just adds to the quirkyness. It does however mean sourcing berdan primers.

I will need some load data for the 8mmRD, I would prefer something quite lazy however this could also be a good 300-60 yard rifle. So what do I put inside the cases and what bullets are best? This must lend itself perfectly to cast boolits so I will need to slug the bore and source some of those cast thingies which means building a flaring tool for the case mouth however that is just 15 minutes in the shed.

Can anyone recommend a source of 8mm X58RD dies? I assume I will need either a full length sizer or a neck sizer, I also need a seater but I was thinking of modifying a 7,62x54R seater if all else fails as I have one and it is an easy enough job, it also means I can turn a pusher to suit the form of the cast boolit nose.

Finally I have read a couple of articles where people have used 7,62x54R brass expanded to 8mm, has anyne tried this? The idea of using cases 4mm shorter seems a tad odd to me.


Thoughts on this anyone?

I use the CH 4D dies.

Partial neck resize after fire forming the brass.

As stated before 45-70 brass converts easily enough if you have access to a lathe. Anneal before and after forming.

I have and do use VV N120 with 24 gns giving me around 1600 fps with a 255 gn boolit.

My current load of choice is 35.5 gns of Vihtavuori N135 under a 255 gn Swede Nelson Mauser boolit, sized .321", BHN 14, Carnauba Red lube in Buffalo arms cases, Murom KVB-7 large rifle primers for an average velocity of 1670 fps.

Its a big case and VV N160 has also been showing promise with 50 gns giving the 2000 fps but I consider it a maximum load for these old rifles and the boolit needs to fit the throat.

We have discussed this round at some length over on Cast Boolits here is one thread:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... ight=8x58R

The links to the Dutchmans articles in this post are worth following and reading.

Thank you chaps for the links.

Intrestingly we were in a shop yesterday that was selling Viht N120 and N135 for DKK350/Kg which equates to around GBP41/Kg. Worth calling in on he way home I think!

ovenpaa wrote:Intrestingly we were in a shop yesterday that was selling Viht N120 and N135 for DKK350/Kg which equates to around GBP41/Kg. Worth calling in on he way home I think!

Absolutely. Shame you can't bring back a truckload...

It was only the obscure types that were cheap, they even had 24N41 at that price.

As luck would have it my new version of QL lists the 8mmRD so I will have a look and see what it shows for loads around 1800fps. Yet again SP9 looks handy with lighter bullets

Dromia are you using 45-70 brass and if so are you using the RCBS forming die to neck it down? The die seems to be very expensive for what it is and I see not reason why I could not make one myself.

Also is there any reason why 8x57 JRS brass could not be used if sized acordingly? It would give a close to correct length with very little work other than setting the shoulder back 70ish thou. I should even have at least a couple of dozen 8x57 cases at home that I have been saving for a rainy day.

8 X 58R - its a rimmed case.

8 x 56R cases can be used at a pinch I suppose but the necks will be tad short.

dromia wrote:8 X 58R - its a rimmed case.

The 8x57JRS is also rimmed, I think it is the 8x57JS that is rimless