doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com My First Drilling - Questions

Lagopus, I'll know more tomorrow after I plug it?

thanks
binko

Raimey,

I just plugged the chamber with paraffin as you suggested, and here are the measurements, as close as I can tell.

chamber measurements,

rim thickness - .058
case thickness at the rim - .425
case thickness at the shoulder - .380
case length till start of shoulder - 1.280
overall case length - 1.810
case thickness at mouth - .355
bore size - .315

Got any ideas as to what caliber it is, or do I need closer measurements?

thanks
binko

binko:

Just glancing and only checking a few values, it looks to be 8.15X46-1/2mmR. I guess it to have been altered to conform with the Treaty of Versille or the like. Did you happen to take a closer look at the 2 stamps closer to the chambers?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

What will I be looking for, and are you talking about the shotgun chambers, on the flats? There is an "85" closer to the left chamber shotgun barrel, and that is the last mark of any kind, going back towards the chambers, on the flats, behind the 16, about 3/8 of an inch.

"8.15X46-1/2mmR", was that a caliber that was popular around 1902, and can it be chambered to something else?

thanks
binko

With the 1.81" case I guess it technically should be 8.15X46Rmm which are still being manufactured today( http://www.buffaloarms.com with a parent headstamp of something like 30-40 Krag or probably 38-55) as well as a common metric target arm. 32-40 comes to mind as close but I believe it to be about 2.1" so it would have to be trimmed. But there were several variants of the 8.15X46R which started say around 1890. Some are:
8.15X46R Collath
8.15X46 Norm
8.15X461/2R Frohn & Frohn Normal
8.15X46R Stahl
8.2X46R

The 46 1/2 Frohn was normalized around the turn of the 20th century and the 46R was standarized circa 1905. Either are more a target round and usually in a single shot or stalker. Lechner seemed to be big into target arms and competitions; therefore, he may have sleeved the original chambering but it is odd that it wasn't reproved unless it was performed during wartime when the proofhouses were closed. I remember reading they were closed in 1945 but I'm not sure in WWI. I don't think I've seen the round in a drilling before, but I could easily be mistaken.

The mark I was asking about is the "AK" or whatever it is just below the "118/35".

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Oh, yes, "AK" is exactly what it is. I thought that was clearly visible and you were talking about some other marks that weren't in my pic.

When checking buffalo arms, what should I be looking for? I didn't see any loaded ammunition there, and I'm confused!

thanks
binko

Sorry for the confusion, I meant cases but at one time they had 8.15X46R load ammo: http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4103.htm . But now they have cases, http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,793.html , and cast bullets from an old German mold: http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,129.html .

One note though, on the Sauer Tell rifles in 8.15X46R that I've reloaded for the chambers were "tight" and be sure to totally full length resize the 38-55 parent head stamped 8.15X46R or you'll have loading issues. I've seen a similar problem on target arms. RWS loaded ammo should appear at some gunshows.


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Ahhhh, relief...thanks. The only problem now is where to get loading dies and a sizing/lube die,for my Star luber, for those bullets???

thanks again
binko

No problem for dies, brass and bullets for the 8,15x46R

Hornady Dies: Graf's

RCBS Dies: Huntington's Dies

Brass: Huntington's RWS Brass

Bullets: LTD Bullets 160 gr .318"

The good news is that the 8,15x46R was one of the most popular target cartridges in Europe for many years, and is still widely loaded and shot. The bad news is that it wasn't standardised for much of its history and chamber and bore dimensions varied all over the place. If your chamber happens to match the available dies it will simplify matters, but be aware it might not. Since your groove diameter appears to run near .318" and RWS brass (good stuff!) is available you ought to be at the range in no time!

Added - Quality Ctg brass available here: MidwayUSA

Thanks Steve, I'll check them out tomorrow.

binko