Otto, I also am ignorant of much detail on these fine little rifles, but will contribute what little I know.
Sorry no photos of 88 sporters, with or without the swinging peep. The sight that I showed is my own, an orphan that I've saved and considered adding to an 88 project I picked up several years ago. But so many projects, so little time.....
I've seen 4 different magazine treatments on 88s: 1)original German miltary requiring the en-bloc clip; 2)sporter and later military alteration retaining the protruding magazine but no longer requiring the en-bloc clip; 3)flush magazine with single-row feeding using a later-design narrow floorplate; and 4)flush magazine with double-row feeding using a wider 98-type magazine. I own examples of the first 2 types but not the last 2.
Major drawback of the first type for a sporter is the inability to mount an over-bore scope without interfering with the en-bloc clip loading from the top. Major overall drawback of the first 2 types is the protruding magazine that makes the rifle awkward to carry in one hand.
I've seen Haenel sporters using the type 2 and 3 magazine treatments mentioned above but not the type 1 or 4.
Military rifles are occasionally somewhat hard in their bolt lift but 20 minutes with lapping compounds will make them as smooth as any Mann-Scho.
The few 88 barrels I've checked have run ~0.327"-0.328" in the grooves; I also found this to be true of the 2 8x56 Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1908s I've owned. No problem, normal 0.323" bullets have proven quite accurate in my rifles.
Wish I had a nice Haenel 88 sporter, I'd put that little Lyman peep on it in a heartbeat!
Regards, Joe
