Ammo for Gew 88
- Thread starter cpbird91
- Start date
Original loading was with a 227-grain .322" RN bullet at 2100 ft/sec MV (figures from TBSA-1909). Troubles with unstable powders led to chambers lifting out, which gave rise to the "neues muster" or "nm" rifles, which had much heavier chamber sections.
Gew 88/05 should be reamed for the JS loading: 154-grain .323" pointed bullet at 2880 ft/sec MV.
Note carefully that this is NOT the JsS load: that was developed strictly for anti-Tank use. It had the 196 BT slug running at over 2600.
The SmE and SmK which were used so much in War Two had 178-grain BT slugs and were very hot loadings.
As already suggested, standard Amerfican 8mm Mauser ammo is loaded down far enough you should have no troubles.
Stay away from military ammo, also from those very-hot European loadings. An 88/05 is too nice to take silly chances with, ESPECIALLY if you don't have the "nm" rifle with the heavy chamber.
Gew 88/05 should be reamed for the JS loading: 154-grain .323" pointed bullet at 2880 ft/sec MV.
Note carefully that this is NOT the JsS load: that was developed strictly for anti-Tank use. It had the 196 BT slug running at over 2600.
The SmE and SmK which were used so much in War Two had 178-grain BT slugs and were very hot loadings.
As already suggested, standard Amerfican 8mm Mauser ammo is loaded down far enough you should have no troubles.
Stay away from military ammo, also from those very-hot European loadings. An 88/05 is too nice to take silly chances with, ESPECIALLY if you don't have the "nm" rifle with the heavy chamber.
sS German long range machine gun ammunition developed in 1918.
Ref= German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871-1945 By Gotz, Hans-Dieter
S.m.E. is a German abbreviation for "Spitzgeshoss mit Eisenkern", and means pointed bullet with an iron core, (semi AP).
S.m.K. stands for "Spitzgeshoss mit Kern" and means pointed bullet with hardened core (AP)
Both cartridges can be identified by the colour of the primer ring.
S.m.E. = blue
S.m.K. = red
SmE = http://www.mausershooters.org/k98k/8_ident.htm
SmE and Gew 88 cartridges = http://www.cruffler.com/Features/JUL-01/trivia-July01.html
The German had considerable trouble in the development and use of the Gew 88 and its ammunition.
7.92 cutaways = http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=657232
Ref= German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871-1945 By Gotz, Hans-Dieter
S.m.E. is a German abbreviation for "Spitzgeshoss mit Eisenkern", and means pointed bullet with an iron core, (semi AP).
S.m.K. stands for "Spitzgeshoss mit Kern" and means pointed bullet with hardened core (AP)
Both cartridges can be identified by the colour of the primer ring.
S.m.E. = blue
S.m.K. = red
SmE = http://www.mausershooters.org/k98k/8_ident.htm
SmE and Gew 88 cartridges = http://www.cruffler.com/Features/JUL-01/trivia-July01.html
The German had considerable trouble in the development and use of the Gew 88 and its ammunition.
7.92 cutaways = http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=657232
