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GEW88 Discovery

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Rescuerandy2

Well-known member
Good Afternoon All,

Working on a ultra clean, mixmaster, GEW88. All works, fits, and is ready for the range. It is an 1889 with a 3.18/S bore that has seen much use. There is a Z on the bottom of the barrel but not sure if that is the Z marking for the Czech barrel.

When I turned the rifle over, look what I found:

GEW 88 Action Screws 2.jpegGew88 Action Screws 1.jpeg

They do not work at all and prevent the action screws from bottoming out. Have some correct ones on order.

Randy
 
Rifle has the "S" mark on the receiver and the bore is .318". Some folks get the "S" marking confused as thinking that this automatically means the bore is .323." Got to slug your Milsurps' bores.

Randy
 
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Rescuerandy2 said:
Good Afternoon All,

Working on a ultra clean, mixmaster, GEW88. All works, fits, and is ready for the range. It is an 1889 with a 3.18/S bore that has seen much use. There is a Z on the bottom of the barrel but not sure if that is the Z marking for the Czech barrel.

When I turned the rifle over, look what I found:

View attachment 423148View attachment 423149

They do not work at all and prevent the action screws from bottoming out. Have some correct ones on order.

Randy
Click to expand...
Those are the correct screws. When you install the screws the small set screw should be backed out. Once the action screw is tight, you tighten the small locking screw.

This was their “first” attempt at making a locking screw. I would definitely keep those, even if you choose to replace them. If you don’t want them, I’ll buy them from you.
 
I will keep them. The screws look very well made while the holes look a bit sketchy. Might be from much use.

Thanks,
Randy
 
The S in not a bore size , it just means the rifle was cleared to fire S ammo . If the barrel has been changed to a Czech barrel the S is meaningless . If it a true .318 or less than it is not a German barrel as the German military never used a .318 groove barrel . If it is a Czech barrel it was made to use a .3158 dia bullet . I agree on the lock screws , there appears to be nothing wrong with them other than being set up wrong .
 
So is it .323 or .318 ? Worn lands do not make the grooves larger . If you slug a barrel you need both the land and groove size . The difference will tell you how much wear your barrel has . Since your rifle is a 89 , if it has the original barrel the barrel was made as .314 - .3208 . The first year barrels had shallow rifling and did wear out quicker [ and do look worn anyway ] . That is why they went to .311 - .3208 by early 1890 . Do you have .0035 deep rifling ?
 
Will send pictures and measurements from the chamber casting. Unfortunately, all I have are some calipers. Micrometer coming after Christmas.

Randy
 
So your 1889 rifle has the original as made .314 - .321 barrel on it . Since the land and groove are the same size as made there is little wear showing . Since you are getting it ready for the range , the Hornady .321 dia Win special bullets of 170 or 165 are perfect for reloading for that rifle . Any med burn rate powder and a load with a velocity of 2200 to 2500 fps should do you good .
 
Thanks for setting me straight. I always try to find the early versions of my Milsurps and this one seems to be just that. Happy Holidays and thanks again.

Randy
 
1889 rifles are cool as first year and a different name on the side . Also it is hard to find one with the original barrel still on it as they did wear out quick , hence the change to the deeper rifling with the .311 - .321 barrels . A lot of 89's are found with those replacement barrels .
 
Usually I go to the range on Wednesdays but they will be closed for Christmas. I will have a range report next week.

Randy
 
ernie8 said:
The S in not a bore size , it just means the rifle was cleared to fire S ammo . If the barrel has been changed to a Czech barrel the S is meaningless . If it a true .318 or less than it is not a German barrel as the German military never used a .318 groove barrel . If it is a Czech barrel it was made to use a .3158 dia bullet . I agree on the lock screws , there appears to be nothing wrong with them other than being set up wrong .
Click to expand...
Do you by chance have a recommended bullet diameter too use in 1888 commission rifles with a S chamber? I'm gonna find one of these rifles eventually thats not updated to Gewehr 1888/05 specs.
 
There really is no difference on the chambers . I have many rifles with either S or not and there is no difference . Most Gew-88's will have the S stamp. All the S stamp means is that rifle was checked to make sure it would chamber the S ammo . It seems most did as made , if not they were supposed to ream out the neck dia . So there is not going to be any difference in bullet dia [ .321 ] for either a Gew-88 or 88/05 , UNLESS it is a Gew-88 with a Czech made barrel . Different barrel , different bore size , different chamber . So if you have a German barrel , you can not go wrong with the .321 dia bullet made for the Winchester special in handloads .
 
ernie8 said:
There really is no difference on the chambers . I have many rifles with either S or not and there is no difference . Most Gew-88's will have the S stamp. All the S stamp means is that rifle was checked to make sure it would chamber the S ammo . It seems most did as made , if not they were supposed to ream out the neck dia . So there is not going to be any difference in bullet dia [ .321 ] for either a Gew-88 or 88/05 , UNLESS it is a Gew-88 with a Czech made barrel . Different barrel , different bore size , different chamber . So if you have a German barrel , you can not go wrong with the .321 dia bullet made for the Winchester special in handloads .
Click to expand...
Thanks :) I appreciate it! I hope too find some correct bullet weights and make some clone service loads when I get one of these eventually.
 
image.jpg
They are correct and not common. I reload with 170gr 32winchester round nose. Needs a little titer crimp on the case neck or use the 318 mauser die set from CH4D. Lite charge of imr 4064. Around 40gr iir.
 
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