Quote Originally Posted by gunboat57 View Post
I just came upon this thread and wanted to warn those who load the 8X58R Danishicon cartridge that the information listed in "Cartridges of the World" (8th edition) for that round is grossly in error.

Factory loaded cartridges are loaded to a maximum pressure of 28,000 psi and give a mv of around 2200 fps with a 198 gr bullet.

It was originally a black powder cartridge which launched a 237 gr bullet at around 1600 fps.

Beware of loaded ammo purchased from places like "Ammo Depot". The 8X58R Danish I bought from them years ago was waaaay too hot. I ended up pulling all the bullets and loading my own powder to safe levels.
Tom,

So what was the "Ammo Depot" stuff doing to your Danish Kragicon...?

The 303 Britishicon and others were black powder rounds in the beginning as well, yet they operate nicely today at much higher pressure...even in their original rifles like the Lee Medford... as well as the Lee Enfield...

the Norwegianicon and Danish Krags both have dual locking lugs fitted. Both the front lug and the bearing bolt rib are timed to lock together... Both rifles are of superior metallurgy to the US Springfield Krag which has only a front locking lug, with the bolt rib left a tad loose as a safety lug...

The Norge and Dane if in good mechanical shape are both 42,000 to 45,000 PSI actions... The US Krag in good shape is rated at 38,000 to 40,000 CUP... a bit higher if you are using the ANSI PSI scale, but in the same ballpark. Loading manuals state around 40,000 PSI is the top end for the single lug US Krag. I load 38 gr. of IMR-3031 behind a 168 gr Hornady BTHP which gives an accurate 2400fps or so, hovering in the 36,500 CUP range and works real well in my 30-40. 42gr of IMR-4831 pushes a 140 gr. Hornady HPBT at about 2470 with around 40,000 CUP in my 6.5 Norwegian, again, accurately and without signs of over pressure or strain...

Now there isn't more than a couple of drops of water difference in the carrying capacity of the 30-40 and the 6.5x55 cases. The 8x58 Dane however is a whole different dog... by comparison its case is huge with 20% more powder holding capacity, so it takes a bit more propellant to fill the case to the same pressures as it's little brothers when you light 'er off.

I agree, that the COTW#8 loads seem a bit warm, a bit hotter than I would load in any case... yet Norma loaded these loads for this rifle for decades with no outbreaks of blown up Danish Krags as a result. The Dane is quite robust with it's dual lug action... yet I would check it over well to start with, flux the bolt and lugs and check the lug timing... once satisfied that it a-okay, begin with 42 grains of IMR-3031 behind a 196-198 grain bullet... this is a good starter load in this cartridge and will yield around 2200 fps... if the rifle is in good shape,it will handle a lot more though.

JT
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