1900. China, Marines and the GEW 88

[Charles Isaac]

Thanks for the info Pony Express. I like to experience these old shooters as they were used by our ancestors. I would like to find one that is unmodified and uses the Mannlicher clips then make up some round nose 8x57 J for it.

I have various types of 8mm and the Turk stuff I have is some hot loaded cupronickle jacketed stuff and I fire it out of a Czech slave labor built Kar 98.

I sent that pic of the Marines with the M1888s to a friend of mine that was in the Marines and owns a very nice Turked M1888. He will be very surprised!

[Ol Gabe]

Just curious...
Is the picture above of Gen. Smuts leaning on his Krag a reverse/mirror image? It appears that the bolt/receiver are on the left side of the stock instead of the standard issue right side. I freely admit I'm not familiar with old Krags so may be completely wrong but am interested in verification from a historical pictorial aspect, as in did they make left side actions?
Best regards and keep on researching!
'Ol Gabe
GAF

[Niederlander]

No sir, that's the left side plate.  (It's basically the left side of the magazine.)  The depression behind it is probably to make using the magazine cut-off easier to get at.  (I'm assuming the Norwegian Krag HAD a cut-off.)

[sail32]

The Norwegian Krag has a magazine cut off, scroll down on this link to see a picture showing the cut off and the safety.

http://www.cruffler.com/historic-october01.html

also; http://norskevaapen.no/?p=595

The British forces issued two types of charger bandoleers, one for men and one for horses.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Note that South Africa used some rejected Steyr manufactured Krags.

[pony express]

Charles Isaac, I don't know of any source for the proper bullets to make 8X57 J, that would have to be a 318 round nose, I think close to 200gr, Closest thing is the .323 170RN, and the .320 softpoints made for 32 Winchester Special. A lot of people report good results with the .32 bullets. I haven't tried them yet, but I think they may have a feeding problem in the 88/05, since the shorter bullet lets the whole stack of cartridges shift to the front of the mag, then when they get too far forward, they all "nose dive" when you try to cycle the bolt. I had that with 165gr cast rn bullets. Of course, that couldn't happen with the original clip fed version.

[Charles Isaac]

That site you sent me to for the Lebel revolver bullets makes some 200s and 174s. Buffalo Arms

51 cents each + shipping-ouch!

https://www.buffaloarms.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=158306&CAT=4178

[pony express]

I think I'll stick with cast.....

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

SPEER makes a good 200grain .323 bullet, at a reasonable price as I recall.  NOTE: These Buffalo bullets look awfully like my Speers? Does he have SPEER bullets swaged?

I did a google search as follows;

https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=speer+bullets+.318

The bottom line - Slug the bore!

My initial reaction was if it has the "S" mark, and was an /'05 or/ '14 conversion it must have successfully fired German S bore service ammo at some point. However, to be safe I am not saying we should do it with Century-and-a-quarter old rifles. I would only use mine for GAF type use, and load cast, where bullet diameter is much less critical and just as much fun.

The search above disclosed experience with swaging .323 bullets to .318. I don't know if the HAWK .318 bullets are still available, or from NORMA?

Have fun, but be safe.

[sail32]

Two good reference books with a lot of technical and development information on the Gew-88 and the Gew-98 are;

German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871-1945 By Gotz, Hans-Dieter (Book - 1990 ) 355.82 Got

http://www.amazon.ca/German-Military-Machine-Pistols-1871-1945/dp/088740264X

The German Rifle By Walter, John (Book - 1979 ) 623.4425 Wal

http://www.amazon.com/The-German-Rifle-comprehensive-bolt-action/dp/0853683123

[Drydock]

A Lee bullet sizing die can be had in custom sizes for $34, and can be used to size down reasonably oversized jacketed bullets to the desired size.  I read about this and had one made, using it to size lead bullets for my Carcano, but also sizing down .277 jacketed bullets to the desired size.  Amazed at how well it works!

http://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/lube-and-sizing-kit/

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks Drydock. 

BTW; I have lost count of the thread hijacks and counter-jacks, but everything seemed to have a purpose and was educational and interesting.    And, as one of the hijackers, I am unanimous in that!