I found a Thieme & Schlegelmilch Nimrod drilling and the rifle barrel is marked 8.7mm over 75. Can somebody tell me what caliber it is likely to be?

9.3X75R Nimrod by Nimrod Gewehrfabrik(Thieme & Schlegelmilch 1852) Suhl. A rare bird with the slightest neck similar to a 9.3x82R Nimrod. I've been searching for 9.3X82R cases stamped with DRGM/Gebrauchsmuster 103385.


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Thanks Raimey. That answers my ammo availability questions. I guess I could run a 9.3x74R reamer in it and hope for the best.:-)

Um, I wouldn't want to hear than until I hear Curtis M. Ford's ideas for brass. I wonder how the pressures compare? Right off the cuff, I'd take some 9.3X82R, cut them back and fire form them. It was a proprietary round, probably a rare chambering, and would date from say 1905 till 1912. I believe it was based on the BPE 0.360" and was an attempt at an Express variant.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

The only reference I have found compares it to the 38-55 but not so powerful. 1850ft.lbs at 1620 with a 300 gr bullet
I think I'll pass- another "old drilling". I have enough of those.

drduc,
Don't rechamber to 9.3x74R.Make(or have made)a chambercast,to determine what you need.The 8.7 over 75 is not the nominal caliber, it is the bore diameter(not groove or bullet diameter) as measured at the proofhouse and the length of the intended case. T&S had proprietary cartridges, but they chambered for others also.If the chambercast shows a head diameter of around .473", use 9.3X74R cases. If it measures around .428",then use 9.3x72R cases( they will be a little short, but useable), or if you don't mind shortening pretty expensive cases to gain 3mm,you can buy 9.3x82R cases and use them.Check the groove diameter from the chamber cast( also slug the barrel) to determine what bullet you need.Don't just assume you can use the pretty avaliable .365-.366" bullets intended for the more modern 9.3s.There is a 3 part article in WAIDMANNSHEIL,one of the publications of the German Gun Collectors Assn. This should be avaliable from them.There is a discussion of appropriate bullets in this article.If you are not already a member of GGCA,it may benifit you to join.I will be happy to help you all I can in making ammo for your rifle.Don't be too disappointed, if you find out from all this checking, that you can use 9.3X72R Norm.factory ammo.Whatever you learn about your rifle would be worth it anyway.
Mike

I was being facetious when I said that. I don't think the old gun would take the pressure for long if at all. Interesting old drilling.