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Building an 8.15x46R (Read 277 times)

Otony Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Location: Bandon, Oregon Joined: Jun 5^th, 2021	Building an 8.15x46R Oct 27^th, 2026 at 12:22am	Print Post
	A few years back I acquired a Douglas air gauged blank, 8mm with a 1-14 twist. At the time I thought it would be a reasonable compromise for building a rifle in 8.15x46R, but now I’m having second thoughts. Is there a more suitable option available? I see that Lothar Walther USA sells blanks meant to build such a rifle. Would I be better off with something like that? Or is there something else I might consider? For that matter, if someone wanted a barrel lined to 8.15, is there anything from TJ that would work correctly?

	Otony
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12639 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #1 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 1:25am	Print Post
	Why are you having second thoughts? 14 twist is good. Douglas is good. You have the barrel. What? TJs liner is in my Stahl barrel. It is excellent.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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Otony Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Location: Bandon, Oregon Joined: Jun 5^th, 2021	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #2 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 1:52am	Print Post
	westerner wrote on Oct 27^th, 2026 at 1:25am: Why are you having second thoughts? 14 twist is good. Douglas is good. You have the barrel. What? TJs liner is in my Stahl barrel. It is excellent. I suppose I am having second thoughts because I see such a wild array of bore and groove sizes reported in original German rifles, so that made me wonder if the Douglas was optimal. However, I see that folks who have original rifles simply determine their bore size and proceed accordingly from there, so I guess I should use what I have and do likewise….. Which TJ liner did you use, btw? The 32-40 or the 32 Special?

	Otony
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12639 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #3 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 2:09am	Print Post
	Dave Casey installed the liner so I don't know for sure which one it is. Using F Zika stop ring bullets. Thinking they measure .321. Shoots accurate. Plenty accurate for OH.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7785 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #4 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 3:11am	Print Post
	The basic original twist rate was 360mm or 14,17 so, that works out. the 323 groove will be a little larger than most originals but, I don't it will be more than the largest ones there is. You just need a reamer for the chamber. The biggest problem will be the barrel contour, to make it look close to a original. What System or action will you be putting it on?

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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7785 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #5 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 3:14am	Print Post
	In the end, because of the barrel contour, relining would be the best bang for the buck.

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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 12639 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #6 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 12:02pm	Print Post
	My Stahl was .316 groove diameter originally. It was made in 1891. My Aydt made in 1921 is .321 diameter. I have a German Martini that is .314. Yes, they are all over the place.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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Otony Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 348 Location: Bandon, Oregon Joined: Jun 5^th, 2021	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #7 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 12:38pm	Print Post
	I can’t find it at the moment, but I have a photo of a rolling block that was rebuilt in Europe to be a schuetzen rifle. I’m assuming it may have started out as one of the Swedish/Norwegian/Danish military pieces. In any case, it is particularly attractive, at least to my eyes, and since I have several of the Swedish rolling blocks that were reworked to 8x58 Krag, I’ve had the idea to further remodel one into an 8.15x46R. I bought the Douglas barrel with that in mind, but a persistent thought keeps coming up that there might be a better solution. I am actually quite grateful for the suggestions and comments, as those serve to remind me that there was never a SAAMI sort of standard for this round, even when one takes into account the later “Normal” version. I have to admit that I find the existing barrel rather attractive, there is something about the octagonal breech and the long graceful round transition that is at once pleasing and somehow European in styling. That is why I inquired about having it lined. In looking at the offerings from TJ, it would appear that the liner meant for the 32 Special would be about the closest to working well. It has a .321 groove diameter, and a 1-14 twist. There are several other similar options, with varying groove sizes, but those all have a 1-16 or 1-10 twist. In all honesty, I’m really stuck a bit because I’m overthinking this project and thus reluctant to open my wallet.

	Otony
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curdog Full Member Offline Posts: 121 Joined: Feb 26^th, 2022	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #8 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 1:30pm	Print Post
	My 8.15 has a .3055" bore/.3180" groove. I shoot MBC 32-40 bullets right out of the box, and which come at .322" diameter. They are still a loose fit in the fired case, so depending on the reamer, with 8mm bullets you may have to use an 8mm neck reamer to open the neck a little to allow the case to release the larger bullet at firing.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18378 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #9 - Oct 27^th, 2026 at 2:08pm	Print Post
	The 14" twist would make a great .32 Win. Special or .32-40 for heavier bullets. I'd go with either, but lean towards the .32-40 myself.

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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7785 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Building an 8.15x46R Reply #10 - yesterday at 7:24pm	Print Post
	If you want a authentic 8.15 x 46R chamber, this is a drawing I made using the CIP dimensions. C.I.P. came into existence in 1914 so, this would be the "Normalized" chamber.
	« Last Edit: yesterday* at 7:46pm by frnkeore* »
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