Any experience reloading Bulgarian 8x56R?

[Paperpunchr]

Got a batch of 1941 Bulgarian 8x56R for my Steyr m95 Stutzen, and the cases look sturdy enough for reloading. Primers are very small (half centimeter or about 3/16 measured from the outside, they're Berdan, and there are only two small holes from primer into propellant chamber. Headstamp is divided into quadrants, Bulgarian lion at 12 o'clock, "19" at 9 o'clock, "41" at three, and letters "B Phi" which is cyrillic for military factory.

Anyone have any experience reloading these, and are the primers available anywhere? Who makes die sets in this old/obsolete size?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Paperpunchr.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"Anyone have any experience reloading these, and are the primers available anywhere?"

IMR 4895 and a homemade lead bullet from a Lee mold has worked well for me. Be sure to slut your bore and get the groove diameter before picking out a mold. Shoots a lot more comfortably and more accurately. if you down load the cartridge a good bit.

As far as the berdan primed brass I'd toss them and buy myself some brass from an outfit that sells reloadable brass for that caliber, such as Graf's.

"Who makes die sets in this old/obsolete size?"

Lee and depending on caliber, several other companies as well.

 

[Paperpunchr]

Graf's has Hornady bullets, they're out of PRVI brass

I did a little more research, and hornady is apparently making .330 bullets for this caliber. I'll slug it to see what I have, as the gun is 90 years old and already had the caliber changed at least once to 8x56r.

Graf's is out of the brass, at least for now. any other sources?

Hate to toss all that vintage brass, anybody know if the case could be turned/bored for Boxer primers? Would it be worth it?

The gun shoots great with the old ammo. I'll try some German '38 or '39, I see that's still available with clips for about a quarter a shot.

 

[Paperpunchr]

Thanks, Dave!

Forgot to say thanks for the info!

Doug