M88 8x57I (.318) reloading

mapsjanhere · February 21, 2013, 10:43 AM

I want to try a Gew 88, unmodified at .318. Now of course I can spend $150+ for the fitting RCBS custom dies, but I keep finding hints on people modifying a standard .323 set to seat the .318 bullets. Any help on how to do that?

chiefr · February 21, 2013, 12:29 PM

I would slug your bore first. I have a gew 88 that slugs .323

mapsjanhere · February 21, 2013, 12:39 PM

Usually they got marked with an S if they got modified, this one is unmarked. But I will check nevertheless.

Slamfire · February 21, 2013, 02:14 PM

That rifle of yours was made before WW1 and as such the metal in it is not of high quality.

I would be very cautious about shooting any oversized bullets in the thing and whatever you load, keep the pressures low.

oldpapps · February 21, 2013, 02:42 PM

I've got a Gew 88, it is marked with the 'S'.
I never got around to loading for it (too many more appealing loadings to work with). I figured that nice soft lead loading would be best for it. I would council you think strongly of lead loads.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...1&d=1361475449

Mine is marked with the date of 1890 and armory dated 1914 and Turkish marking to boot. As good a Mauser's steel may have been, I'm chicken. Black powder weapon that is over a hundred years old, light/nice lead loadings and then with slower (more push than pop) powder.

Load with care,

OSOK

mapsjanhere · February 21, 2013, 03:32 PM

Actually, the 88 was never a black powder gun, being developed specifically for the newfangled smokeless powder the French came up with. So I agree on the problems with the 88 - the metal being the least of it, which is why I want to reload low pressure rounds if I can solve the die issue.

oldpapps · February 21, 2013, 04:21 PM

mapsjanhere,

I will defer to your wisdom. A counter to the Lebel, makes sense.

Enjoy,

OSOK

February 21, 2013, 10:43 AM	#1
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	M88 8x57I (.318) reloading I want to try a Gew 88, unmodified at .318. Now of course I can spend $150+ for the fitting RCBS custom dies, but I keep finding hints on people modifying a standard .323 set to seat the .318 bullets. Any help on how to do that? __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

February 21, 2013, 12:39 PM	#3
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Usually they got marked with an S if they got modified, this one is unmarked. But I will check nevertheless. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

February 21, 2013, 02:14 PM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	That rifle of yours was made before WW1 and as such the metal in it is not of high quality. I would be very cautious about shooting any oversized bullets in the thing and whatever you load, keep the pressures low. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

February 21, 2013, 03:32 PM	#6
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Actually, the 88 was never a black powder gun, being developed specifically for the newfangled smokeless powder the French came up with. So I agree on the problems with the 88 - the metal being the least of it, which is why I want to reload low pressure rounds if I can solve the die issue. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

February 21, 2013, 12:29 PM	#2
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I would slug your bore first. I have a gew 88 that slugs .323

February 21, 2013, 04:21 PM	#7
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	mapsjanhere, I will defer to your wisdom. A counter to the Lebel, makes sense. Enjoy, OSOK