Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Rolling block rebarreling caliber ques.

I started an earlier thread about relining, but looks like I'm going to rebarrel instead. It's Swedish Contract Remington Rolling Block chambered in 8x58R Danish Krag. I know it's an old action, so I'm trying to decide what cartidge I would like to chamber it for. I'd really like a .25 caliber. My ideas so far are .25-20, or .25-35, or my new idea is .256 Win. Mag. I guess my big question is, can the action handle any of these? I don't think .25-20 would be a problem at all, but I'd really like .25-35 or especially .the 256. Ideas?

Thanks

John <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

IIRC the failure mode of a RB is "catastrofic". There are a lot of stress risers in those receivers.
Personaly I wouldn't want to touch one off with a high pressure round in it.
The 25-20 runs 28000CUP, the 25-35 is 37000CUP and the 256WM is 45000CUP. As a referance, the 30-30 is 38000CUP and the 30-40 is 40000CUP (my chart dosn't show the Dannish Krag)
There are some "classic" 25cal wildcats that would be approperate also, such as one of the 25Krag's

I have heard of Remington Rolling Blocks being rebarreled
to 257 Roberts with no problem, but I have only owned one
Rolling Block so I cant say I have alot of experience with them. Alot of the ones I see for sale are well used, but then
again most of them are 100 years old or more, and were military issue. I think you could probably sell your 8MM as
is to a collector and buy a Rolling Block that has already been
rebarreled or sporterized and save some time and money,
just my 2 cents. There is a Remington action that has a 38
special barrel on it for sale on one of the auction sites, no
its not mine, but it might be worth a look. Regards, Jericho

When you fire a higher pressure cartridge in the rolling block the action gives enough to bend the case. It is not only visible the case will only go back in the chamber in one position.
If the breech lets go you get the case right between the eyes.
Good Luck!

Well, mine is in pretty good shape, but looks like the .256 Win. Mag may be too much. So it's back to the .25-20 or .25-35. I'm sure the .25-20 will be fine.

At 38,000 CUP would .25-35 be considered too much? Unfortunately, I can't find pressure specs on the 8x58R Krag either. So I really don't know where to begin.

I've never rebarreled a gun before, and this is my first "custom" project. I want to do right.

As for selling it, I just got it in trade, and I'd like to keep hold of it. Besides on the auction sites, there are several that no one seems interested in.

Thanks for the input