Help with GEW98 caliber

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CBT40

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Hello Everyone,

I need some help identifying the caliber of my GEW 98 rifle. The standard 7.92x57mm case will only chamber half-way. The bore slugs at .318 of an inch. Is this one of the rifles that hasn't been converted from the original M/88 cartridge? There is no date of manufacture on the receiver. I thought that aside from the bullet diameter (.318 vs .323), case dimensions would be the same, but I'm not sure. Was there another 8mm cartridge in use at the time? Yes, a chamber cast would help, but I don't have the supplies to do one. Any help would be much appreciated. I'm attaching a couple of photos with markings. Thank you.







 
I have a very similar rifle. It is chambered for the 8.15x46R. These are rimmed cases available from RWS or if you have the proper swaging dies, can be formed from 30-30 Win cases. The RWS rims all have a little indent in the rim for locating the case in the same position when being inserted into the chamber so it is identical every time. That is an old trick from the days of rimmed cases being the norm in rifles. Whether it works or not is up to the individual. Make absolutely no difference in my rifle. These are fun rifles to shoot as long as the bores are decent and your eyes can still make out the sights. The recoil generated is not an issue in any manner. Very similar to the 223.

You don't show the muzzle of the rifle. It should have a sporting style front sight. Pictures and a description of the rifle can be found on Google or in any of the editions of the Book of Mausers.

One thing they don't mention though. The rifles were mostly used for shooting cast lead. I only found that out a couple of years ago myself. At least that is what I was told by an old gentleman that used one in many matches. It seems that he and his colleagues didn't resize the cases. They just replaced the primers, poured in the powder and pushed in the bullets by hand, leaving them purposely seated long so they would be pressed against the lands when pushed into the chamber by the bolt. Be careful feeding them in, the rims have to be under the extractor.

The bullets are cast oversize. The home made mold I have with my rifle throws bullets at .325 and like your rifle which has a .318 bore give very impressive accuracy as long as I do my part. It really seems to like faster powders and velocities of around 1300 fps. My rifle does not shoot well with jacketed bullets. It should but I can't seem to get good accuracy from it.

It also shoots well with or without a gas check. Either Rooster Red or Blue works well as a bullet lube.
 
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Take a good look at the stamping on the barrel behind the rear sight. Post a good picture. Looks like commercial proof marks on the rifle too.

That barrel marking looks like it ends in an "R" which would be the Rimmed cartridge --probably 8.15x46R.
 
If your rifle had actually been a German Army rifle, the Receiver would be dated, most definitely. That it is not indicates a commercial 98 rifle.

If you check the Adolf Frank catalogue, 1911 edition, you will find pages of these rifles, available in a number of calibres. The 8.15x46R was especially popular because it was relatively inexpensive, easy to load and very accurate, even if essentially a limited-range cartridge. That Adolf Frank catalogue has been published, most of it, in book form by DBI Books, as "Arms of the World -- 1911". Likely you can find a copy somewhere fairly easily. It is a treasure-chest of oddball stuff at what appear to be wonderful prices.... which are complicated only by the prevailing price of gold: $20 an ounce!

This kind of thing was common once upon a time, especially so in the years following the Great War in which it was illegal for a civilian to own a rifle chambered in the official military cartridge.

8.15x46R is a very old cartridge which had a reputation for wonderful accuracy.

Read BEARHUNTER's post very carefully; he must be one of only a handful of people in this country with hand-on and range experience with this legendary round.

What a beautiful old rifle!
 
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You mention being unable to cast the chamber - if you're just short of casting alloy I've got a trick for you :p

A ghetto chamber cast can be done with wax and string.
Clean the bejesus out of the chamber and lightly wipe the chamber down with oil. Stuff a patch up the bore to just before the chamber. lay several loops of string or yarn down into the chamber, pre-waxed can help get a good cast. Bigger diameter is better to avoid cutting through the cast when pulling the string out. Knots also help. Pour the wax into the chamber avoiding getting it all over the recesses in the receiver ring if possible - A fine pre-heated funnel can help. Once totally cool, remove cast. Gives quite tolerable casting dimensions, though obviously not as good as cerrosafe. Often very useful in quickly identifying chamber features. A hard wax works best, and if it won't come you can push it with a rod against the wadded patch as you pull.
 
MiG25 said:
I recall reading of fellows that used the same case hundreds! of times.
Click to expand...

With proper treatment and neck sizing only it really isn't difficult to get a hundred reloads on a brass case. I have several old Dominion Cases that have at least a hundred reloads on them. Loads in the 46,000 psi range and 150 grain flat base bullets.

On the 8.15x46 I have a box of RWS with 20 new cases and a box of well used cases. The well used cases, according to my notes on the box have 25 reloads each.

I completely anneal the whole case after every 8-10 shots. Not just the neck/shoulder area as it the popular way but the whole thing. I do the same with all of my brass and have never had an issue with any of them. The Dominion brass I mentioned has been treated this way for over 40 years.

If you want some information on the loads I use PM me.
 
Guys, thanks for the information and suggestions. I've taken some approximate measurements of the chamber and I'm pretty certain it's 8.15x46R. I've tried the wax thing before - the problem with it is that wax shrinks as it cools, but it does help to rule out other caliber options.

It's good to know that brass can be made from 30-30 as with relative ease. One of my handloading books states that brass can also be formed from 32-40 (simple size and trim). I have access to 32-40 so it might be interesting to compare the two.

This rifle is a bit of a dilemma for me. I bought it thinking it was in 8x57. I already load for about 20 different calibers so loading for 8.15x46R shouldn't be an issue. Actually, you've really peaked my interest in this cartridge. My problem is that I'm trying to reduce the number my reloading projects so I actually have time to do some shooting (I've had my Russian Berdan and a Baumont rifles for over a year and to my shame still haven't gotten around to reloading for them).

I think I'll try selling the rifle first. If not, I'll just take that as a sign from above to start loading for 8.15x46R ;)

By the way, does anyone know where a guy could buy some cast 8mm bullets? I haven't cast bullets in over two years and would rather buy them if the price is reasonable. Slightly oversized (a little over .323) would be great as I also need to start loading for the Kropatschek I've picked up a few month ago. I will not be pushing them fast so gas check is not essential.
 
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