First Danish Range Outing

European Krags
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butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

First Danish Range Outing

Post by butlersrangers »

Back at the end of January, I picked up a Danish Krag artillery carbine that has some of its forearm cut-off.

Tom Butts has posted a number of times on the KCA Forum that it is possible to make shootable ammo for the 8X58mm R Danish by using 8X56mm RS (Austrian Mannlicher) brass.

Prior to my Florida trip, I ordered a bag of Prvi 8X56mm RS brass from Graf & Sons, along with a bag of .323" diameter Prvi 196 grain soft point jacketed bullets.

Yesterday, I got around to loading a handful of rounds for the Danish Krag. I do not have Dies for the 8X58mm Danish, so I used my 8mm Lebel Dies with a 7.62 Russian shell-holder.

I simply ran the case necks into the Lebel Sizing Die to partially 'Neck-Size' the brass. I used the Lebel Bullet-Seating Die to set the 196 grain 8mm projectiles for a 2.970" Overall cartridge length.

For loading data, I took the suggestion of a contributor on another gun forum and used the Hornady data for the .33 caliber Winchester C. F.
This old cartridge is somewhat close in size to the Danish Krag cartridge . It was used in a lever-gun that was not as strong as the Krag action. The data uses powders that I have on the shelf.

The reloads that I shot today used 38 grains of IMR-3031. The projectiles were probably moving at around 2,000 f.p.s. The load was very easy on the shoulder and the brass seemed to be forming to the chamber without splitting or undue stress.

At 50 yards, the first two shots printed 3 1/2 inches to the right of the point of aim. With a bit of 'Kentucky' windage, the next 3 shots made a 1 1/2" group on a dessert-plate target.
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Last edited by butlersrangers on Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: First Danish Range Outing

Post by butlersrangers »

For my next Range session, I will drift the Danish front-sight blade a 'skosh' to the right and quit using 'Kentucky' windage.

I will likely anneal the case-necks and up the charge of IMR-3031 by a grain or two, (working-up from 38 to 40 grains).
I might put a ring of monofilament in front of the cartridge rim to hold the case against the bolt-face and create cases that fully fill the chamber.
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