i like this!!!!!

adrians · March 5, 2011, 07:54 PM

hi, i guess i,m just lucky but i snagged this Kar88 a couple of weeks ago .
it;s an 1891 Erfurt,all matching right down to its fragile little extractor.
gonna take it out when the local range opens in a couple of weeks ,see how it does.
have a great saturday.adrians...

Microgunner · March 5, 2011, 07:57 PM

That is beautiful. What a score!

James K · March 5, 2011, 08:57 PM

Doesn't look like it has been converted, so unless you can load with .318 bullets, stick to 8x57J or underpowered American 8mm Mauser. The (often misunderstood) problem in firing 8x57JS in the M1888 is not so much that the .323 bullet is too big for the bore, but that the chamber throat is too small to allow case neck expansion and that raises pressures high enough to be possibly dangerous.

Jim

adrians · March 6, 2011, 02:12 PM

you are right on jim.
it slugged at .318.5 but the receiver is stamped the usual "s" this is the time alot of people would say "wait a minute" it's got the "s"stamp so i'll go and get some mil-surp 8x57 and go to town,WRONG!.
i offer this SLUG YOUR BORE first and load accordingly.
i cast and load(my sizer die is .319 i may hone it out a little,) so it's not a problem being safe with these old warriors.
i consider myself lucky to have this rifle it's all matching down to the fragile extractor .
have a great sunday,,,,adrians.

James K · March 6, 2011, 09:51 PM

Actually, that is not as bad as it is made out to be. Those "S" marked rifles were not actually re-bored or rebarrelled. The problem is not excess pressure from firing the larger diameter bullet but from the smaller chamber neck not allowing the larger case neck room to expand, which is what raises pressures. The "conversion" consisted of nothing more than running a new chambering reamer into the old chamber - same bore diameter, same groove diameter.

I have fired WWII GI 7.9 ammo in those rifles with no sign of pressure problems, but I can't advise that anyone else do so.

Jim

adrians · March 6, 2011, 11:37 PM

your'e absolutely right jim but i would be very wary about putting some of my turk 8mm through it even if it did chamber o.k,,way too hot for me even in my k 98's, my shoulder is already wore out and that 171/2"barrel in the kar would probably do me in

i'll leave that for my longer gew98's.
enjoy whats left of the weekend

March 5, 2011, 07:57 PM	#2
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	That is beautiful. What a score! __________________ *Proud NRA Benefactor Member*

March 5, 2011, 08:57 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Doesn't look like it has been converted, so unless you can load with .318 bullets, stick to 8x57J or underpowered American 8mm Mauser. The (often misunderstood) problem in firing 8x57JS in the M1888 is not so much that the .323 bullet is too big for the bore, but that the chamber throat is too small to allow case neck expansion and that raises pressures high enough to be possibly dangerous. Jim

March 6, 2011, 02:12 PM	#4
adrians Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: mountain view ,ar. Posts: 184	you are right on jim. it slugged at .318.5 but the receiver is stamped the usual "s" this is the time alot of people would say "wait a minute" it's got the "s"stamp so i'll go and get some mil-surp 8x57 and go to town,WRONG!. i offer this SLUG YOUR BORE first and load accordingly. i cast and load(my sizer die is .319 i may hone it out a little,) so it's not a problem being safe with these old warriors. i consider myself lucky to have this rifle it's all matching down to the fragile extractor . have a great sunday,,,,adrians.

March 6, 2011, 09:51 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Actually, that is not as bad as it is made out to be. Those "S" marked rifles were not actually re-bored or rebarrelled. The problem is not excess pressure from firing the larger diameter bullet but from the smaller chamber neck not allowing the larger case neck room to expand, which is what raises pressures. The "conversion" consisted of nothing more than running a new chambering reamer into the old chamber - same bore diameter, same groove diameter. I have fired WWII GI 7.9 ammo in those rifles with no sign of pressure problems, but I can't advise that anyone else do so. Jim

March 6, 2011, 11:37 PM	#6
adrians Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: mountain view ,ar. Posts: 184	your'e absolutely right jim but i would be very wary about putting some of my turk 8mm through it even if it did chamber o.k,,way too hot for me even in my k 98's, my shoulder is already wore out and that 171/2"barrel in the kar would probably do me in i'll leave that for my longer gew98's. enjoy whats left of the weekend