Thread: 8x58R Black powder jacketted bullets ?

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Obviously it's doable look at the Lee Metford, is all the advice I can offer.

Yeah when the subject came up I thought of the Lee Metford and immediately thought the 303 would be a little light on case capacity because you can't get the same amount of powder in as the original 303 BP loading.
They formed the cases around a pre pressed plug of BP which equaled around 70 grains.
BP powder capacity in an existing 303 case is around 55 grains

So I thought the 8x58R was a better candidate due to the larger case capacity.
Cases formed from 45-70 might come up a fraction short ( according to the internet, but what does it know ) but I often find my converted brass grown slightly in length anyway

And you could run a duplex load and get more shots in the field before BP fouling blows the group out
We're talking vintage BP hunting small bore here and I personally don't run BP in anything under 38 cal
But it might be time to give it a try