So i traded a cement mixer

[fraserdw]

Gewehr 88, the rifle designed by a committee which seemed to want everything on it like some AR owners. Reasonably serviceable rifle that was obsolete by the time it came out. Danke Gott for 1898s! Have fun!

 

[nowarningshot]

Cement mixer, honest liberal, and a unicorn walk into a bar.

Phhhh.....had you for a bit.
Cement mixers can't walk( except in rural Saskatchewan)...The others are obvious, don't exist.

 

[dakotamar]

anyone got leads on where to obtain enblocs for the 88?

 

[Claven2]

It was obviously re-barreled at some point so you should probably get the headspacing checked.

That's not the barrel, it's the barrel jacket.

 

[altaberg]

Gewehr 88, the rifle designed by a committee which seemed to want everything on it like some AR owners. Reasonably serviceable rifle that was obsolete by the time it came out. Danke Gott for 1898s! Have fun!

Exactly,

and unlike what was said earlier, not a Mauser. Mauser had nothing to do with this.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

I'm cautious firing truly unknown rifles. Something made in 1888 is 130 years old. I know enough about those particular old Mausers to be concerned for their mechanical lockup after GOK how many 'I read somewhere' researchers slash experimenters fired unknown strengths and numbers of prewar, WW1, interwar period, WW2 and postwar commercial ammo. They were already modified in the service to accommodate two available types of ammunition. IMHO, there is just no way to know what may or may not have been done to this rifle in its lifetime.

Would I fire WW2 8mm in a G43? Nope. Those rifles are a weak design that was put into production about a year too quickly. Those rifles get the light Privi 130-gr ball. But I would fire that same 8mm in just about any M98.

Would I fire WW2 .303 ball in a No.4? Absolutely. Do it all the time. Because I have a better sense of the manufacturing quality control on the rifles and the ammo.

The original poster asked what he's got. So I answered.

 

[Claven2]

Exactly,

and unlike what was said earlier, not a Mauser. Mauser had nothing to do with this.

Technically it's a mannlicher-style action.

 

[Tinman204]

I'm cautious firing truly unknown rifles. Something made in 1888 is 130 years old. I know enough about those particular old Mausers to be concerned for their mechanical lockup after GOK how many 'I read somewhere' researchers slash experimenters fired unknown strengths and numbers of prewar, WW1, interwar period, WW2 and postwar commercial ammo. They were already modified in the service to accommodate two available types of ammunition. IMHO, there is just no way to know what may or may not have been done to this rifle in its lifetime.

Would I fire WW2 8mm in a G43? Nope. Those rifles are a weak design that was put into production about a year too quickly. Those rifles get the light Privi 130-gr ball. But I would fire that same 8mm in just about any M98.

Would I fire WW2 .303 ball in a No.4? Absolutely. Do it all the time. Because I have a better sense of the manufacturing quality control on the rifles and the ammo.

The original poster asked what he's got. So I answered.

Nothing wrong with being overly safe when dealing with a new to you rifle of any age..

Personally when I get a new gun I test fire it from the hip many times and only once I feel it's safe I'll start working up a load for it.

I never shoot factory ammo and I tend to load on the light side unless I'm shoot long range..

I would have ZERO concern shooting that or any 88 commission rifle once I've slugged the bore and it has passed an inspection and test firing.

To each their own though..

 

[Dosing]

anyone got leads on where to obtain enblocs for the 88?

https://www.libertytreecollectors.c...ts.asp?pageStyle=H&resultCnt=400&keyword=1888

There was a place in Germany as well, but damned if I can find them now. I bought a few from Liberty Tree, they were pretty good.