I'm looking for good donor brass to make 8x52R Siamese cases from. I've read .45-70 and 8x56R can be used, but this seems like a lot of trouble. Can the 7.62x54 Russian case work or is it too small in the base? Does anyone have the case dimensions for the 8x52R cartridge? Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks, Bobster

here are the numbers 8x52R (7.62x54R) <45-70>
case length 2.02 (2.05) <2.105>
head dia .500 (.489) <.505>
rim dia .556 (.570) <.608>
rim thickness .065 (.065) <.07>
length to shoulder 1.63 (1.545) <NA>
shoulder angle 23.0 (21.5) <NA>
Looks like you would have to dust off the rim dia. a little both ways
Converted 7.62x54 might not last as long due to the body expansion at the base but would be a lot less work to form. I would blow out the shoulder with pistol powder and tissue paper before final size and trim.

Bobster: I just obtained a very nice Siamese Mauser in 8X52R myself. I will probably just get brass already formed from .45-70 from buffaloarms.com at about $43 per 50. A poster on another forum says he uses a cheap (i.e. about $20) Lee 8 mm Lebel die set to neck size his cases once fireformed in his chamber. This appeals to me, so I have ordered Lebel dies from Midway.

To Bill/Oregon and Tailgunner,

Thanks guys! I think I may try both the 7.62x54 and the .45-70 methods. That $20 price on the Lebel dies sounds a lot better than the $60 I've seen elsewhere for Siamese.

Good shooting,

Bobster