How to Shoot Your Gewehr 88 

So dry, to the point, and accurate information. Perfect.

Rakum, I gotta tell you that I love your content, man. You’ve inspired me to jump over the edge and do conservation work of my own. Thank you for what you do. I’ll always stay tuned.

This is the video that convinced me to get a reloading press, I was always told how you overly complicated it is but watching you do it it’s absolutely doable, so I thank you for that

Your correct from my point of view about the ammo, but it goes a bit deeper the entire process you so wonderfully showed is another reason there are many that just don't wanna deal with the process, years ago I could have had a m95 Hungarian in 8x56 r and I didn't wanna deal with resizing 338 cal bullets and the ammo shortage for both plays a large role in ownership of such rifles

I restored a M LE 1916 Berthier last summer. Was my 1st ever restoration. It's an awesome rifle but I would hate to have to lug it around in the trenches. I can't seem find the mag clip, so I single feed 8mm Lebel. It's very accurate even after 100+ years. Love your videos

NOE bullet molds also sells bullet sizing dies and expanders that are great for this application.

Excellent video! I don’t know if you’re a fan of Babylon Berlin, but these rifles feature a lot in the WW1 scenes where Gereon Rath has his flashback to the trenches. It is also the beloved rifle of Bruno Wolter, the veteran Berlin policeman - he has one on the wall in his home. They got this stuff right as these Gew 88 Commission rifle was still in limited use during the war to end all wars. It must have provided a bit of a logistical dilemma with the use of both the 8x57J and the later 8x57 JS. By some accounts, many 1988 rifles had the neck clearance altered and could fire the .323 ammunition safely due to relatively low pressures and bolt thrust. But I’m not sure I’d want to put that to the test and you’ve done the right thing. Really enjoyed your methodical approach to sorting the ammunition out. 👍🏻

I'm having trouble with the comments on this video, first they kept turning off and now my replies aren't showing up. Hopefully this is fixed soon

You're a straight G dude. Nice video.

I had a nice Gew 88. It had a .321 bore, since they dont make .321 bullets in the US only .323 I sold it off to a collector. It was a nice functional rifle but a gunsmith told me not to fire 323 bullets in it .That was 25 years ago.

again a great video

I noticed the "hi-neighbor" Narragansett beer bumpah stickah in the background... You from New England?

Nice gun. Got one at an auction a few years ago. 35 dollars. It was an 88 that was gifted to the Ottoman Empire during WWI and then redone by Turkish state in 1938. I shoot powder coated lead, at 80% starting powder charge. Not a speed demon but the groups are good at 100 yards.

At 0:50 you mentioned the bore diameter myth, and I think to myself, "hmm, is this guy one of the very few who knows about that?"... Then at 1:52 you mentioned the actual original bore diameter of .321" and I immediately gave the video a thumbs up, lol.

Greetings Rakim. This was a very informative video, thank you. I've never seen this slugging method before. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask your advice about an 88 that I was gifted. Mine is dated 1891, and is "S" marked. It appears to have been exported to Turkey at some point, judging from the rear sight and additional proof marks. The specimen I have is in excellent shape. The headspace is perfect. I slugged the barrel (the typical method), and it comes in at .324 on one pair of grooves, and .3245 on the other pair. I imagine the barrel, which is otherwise very bright, may be somewhat worn. My question is: Is it safe to fire .323 FMJ ammunition in this rifle? I'm not sure if I will get gas passing the bullet, or if the extra .001 or .0015 diameter of the bore over the bullet diameter will be closed as the bullet is obviously somewhat deformed, as the cartridge is fired, and takes the rifling, perhaps (?) creating a good gas seal. I was planning on firing the Greek 8mm x 57mm, 200 gr. ammunition that is now available on the market, as the pressures from this production ammunition seem to be somewhat lower than, say, Turkish ammunition. On the other hand, as you are apparently in the habit of doing, I was also considering handloading low pressure rounds, i.e. a 150 gr. .323 Sierra bullet, and 28 gr. of Hodgdon 4895. I thank you beforehand for your insights! -Paul Dieterich

Wow, I’ve never used Cerrosafe. Always just slugged a bore with lead. This is all good helpful info. I do want to shoot my Gewehr 88s and my Turkish Mauser. 👍

7:40 or maybe mount mandrel in a [tailstock mounted] drill chuck. You could also use one of those segmented/flexible/adaptable reamer holders that allow reamer (mandrel) to follow bore axis if any misalignment present instead of chuck axis.

Very nice video other than confusing the bore diameter with bullet / groove diameter.

There’s something odd about the way you melted that cerrosafe🤔🤔

Excellent video! I have a Turked 88 with a new made .323 barrel sans the barrel jacket, and shoot mostly cast bullets. Really enjoy the content.

It looks like you have the original style of cocking piece nut without the tab on it. Also some early production 88s are Stamped G.Mod 88 on the side of the receiver but I've noticed this changed around mid 1890 production as well as the number of proof marks as my 89 built only has 2 proofs on the receiver

Shoot Powder coat cast with a gas check, sized to .323. I do that with my three unaltered early build Gewehr 88's

How light is that charge??? It sounds like it’s a .22?

What about temp raise & bullet expand?

Spend the money and get the custom dies. Well worth the money. You will need a .320 sizing die for jacketed bullets. They will spring back .001 after sizing

I would not shoot any surplus in a GEW88 especially the 176 smk and 198gr . I have shot Turk pulled .323 152gr reduced load but they don't shoot as good as the long bearing surface 200gr Norma or Woodleigh .318. With 318 bullets just resize without expander.

I follow your channel because i like watching shooting videos. I dont agree with allot of your opinions, or advice including the exaggerated recoil from a 3006!! But dang thats funny!! Lol 😂

Idiotic question, but what if you shoot modern diameter 8mm Mauser through an old, slightly undersized bore? 0.002 inches difference won't exactly blackout kaboom a rifle. What's the consequences we could expect? Increased barrel wear? Increased chamber pressure leading to potential damage to the locking system?

👌👌👍👍

Gew88/05?

My gewehr 88 has 8x57js stamped on its side, so I guess I don't need to worry about shooting anything through it.

Why not have a gunsmith machine you a barrel. Seems like an easy enough job. Then you can tighten your groups and have many different bullet options. You can keep the original barrel for when you decide to sell it or store the rifle away for good.

Well with a .321 bore that would be forcing a .323 bullet down by about what 3-4 thousandths either the grooves being .319-.318, wouldn’t that be fine because 30-06/308 uses a .308 bullet but the lands come up to about .300 do that about 8 thousandths getting swaged down,

You kinda sound like Craig from South Park

Incorrect information on the original groove diameter. It was .318. Mine is S stamped Styer made 88/05. And it is still. .318 groove diameter. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QzoXST7_iFk.htmlsi=k7lX3LPcfIAJ-ndb en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrone_88

My mom used to cook on a spoon like that when I was young never understood why she wouldn’t just use a pan for cooking but I never got a chance to ask

dislike just cuz you dont know how to shoot...why do ya need that thung below the rifle, just use hands, and the bolt manipulating is horrible. use your hand not fingers