1888/05 Commission Rifle 8x57mm

JackinMt · Aug 28, 2020

Ok I have a Amburg 1890 mfg 1888/05 Commission Rifle here. Very nice bore. Good shooter, really likes the lee cast bullets. Ok headspace. Still in German configuration with the barrel jacket. No import stamps. The rear sight is in sandscript, so apparently the turks got it, but no other Turk marks. Stock was sanded at some point in it's life. Pre 1898 so it can ship to your doorstep. Free pick up in Missoula Mt or 65.00 shipping.

Phantom Man · Aug 28, 2020

Most sight conversations happened in Germany before the vast majority 88's went to Turkey. This may have stayed in Germany but hard to determine. Germany kept about 300,000 88's in Germany.

JackinMt · Sep 27, 2020

Phantom Man said:
Most sight conversations happened in Germany before the vast majority 88's went to Turkey. This may have stayed in Germany but hard to determine. Germany kept about 300,000 88's in Germany.

I was wondering about that. The sight still has imperial German stamps on it.

Goosebrown · Sep 27, 2020

Just beautiful

DLS · Oct 24, 2020

Does this rifle have the .318 bore or was it refitted with a .323?

JackinMt · Oct 24, 2020

DLS said:
Does this rifle have the .318 bore or was it refitted with a .323?

It was opened up to the S chamber, they never rebored them, they did rebarrel alot of them. But the S is stamped on the receiver bridge for all the rifles that were reworked for the .323.

Phantom Man · Oct 24, 2020

JackinMt said:
It was opened up to the S chamber, they never rebored them, they did rebarrel alot of them. But the S is stamped on the receiver bridge for all the rifles that were reworked for the .323.

Not true. The 'S' only means the the chamber is opened to take a spitzer. It may Still be .318...

JackinMt · Oct 24, 2020

It was a S chamber that was opened up to .323.

Phantom Man · Oct 24, 2020

JackinMt said:
It was a S chamber that was opened up to .323.

GEW88, 8mm w/.318 bore-324 cast?

I have recently acquired a GEW88 8mm rifle with a very nice bore made in 1890. It has the "S" on the receiver, but, much to my surprise and despite what I would have expected with the "S" marking, it has the old .318 bore. I have been told that I could shoot .323 condoms with reduced loads...

castboolits.gunloads.com

JackinMt · Oct 24, 2020

The chamber was opened up. S stamp. If the sn# matches then it's still a .318. One of my rifles is a mismatch barrel to the rest of the rifle. S stamp. Bore is .323. Feel free to ask a few other reloaders.

Phantom Man · Oct 24, 2020

JackinMt said:
The chamber was opened up. S stamp. If the sn# matches then it's still a .318. One of my rifles is a mismatch barrel to the rest of the rifle. S stamp. Bore is .323. Feel free to ask a few other reloaders.

If it's an 88/05 then you can be sure .323 is fine but on the S model only, the chamber length is increased but not width from what I understand from an expert on those models. You need to be careful and confirm sizing. He told me not to assume that .323 will work.