doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Austrian? 50cal Target rifle

I picked up this and they said it was Austrian but no clue. has very few markings. S#254 Very fine target sights with the Focus peep sight adjustable R-L and up & down. Development of cart. so far ( as can not find this anywhere ) is to trim rim to .620 and case length to 1.54 (this may change as have not decided on Paper wrap or Bullet shape ) from 50-70 Sharps cases.
Would like any feed back I can get.[img][img]https://i.imgur.com/cmpZERT.png[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/YbGxx9d.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/xnodV6I.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/E3Iyq8b.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/g5gztAs.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/IdjIos3.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/KQOsOZf.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/94NC52n.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/WahZQJj.jpg[/img][/img][img][img]https://i.imgur.com/16vG1DG.jpg[/img][/img]

This is a very nice hunting rifle of probably Austro-Hungarian origin, circa 1880.

Kind regards,
Jani

About the possible cartridge.
Austro-Hungarian or Austrian .50 caliber hunting rifle cartridges of the late 19th century are mostly variations of the .500 Express. The shortest version I'm aware of is 12.7x60R. As the case of the present rifle is only about 40 mm long, we should probably look elsewhere.
An older group of cartridges was based on the gauge system. Common hunting rifle cartridges were 24 gauge or 28 gauge, with about 40 mm cases. If we look for a .50 cal. cartridge in the (Austro-Hungarian) gauge system, the nearest would be 38 gauge or 12.6 mm. So this rifle cartridge could be 38 gauge (40 mm case), or in modern metric gun language 12.6x40R.

Kind regards,
Jani

Jani,
Good show.
Mike

Much obliged, Mike.
Cheers,
Jani

Thank you for information. I may be long on the brass yet. Have not been able to fireform brass to try and measure to see if i can find a proper case length. Going to show the chamber cast with brass. As you should be able to see no true cutoff for Cart. unless this has a end taper. My case is already smaller at the neck then the base and have trimmed brass to where it is a good push to get rim inserted. bore has strong rifling and measures about 12.8MM[img]https://imgur.com/sCuRenl[/img]

Provide a few basic dimensions & let's see if we can't name that cartridge for you?

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

BGlass,
I don't believe there is a common (i.e. inexpensive) die that will do what you need, however a gunsmith, homeshop machinist friend, or machine shop should be able to make a simple "push in- drive out" die that will last long enough to make enough cases without hardening. It only needs to have a straight taper hole with the small diameter part smaller than the case neck. Then the cases will chamber for fireforming.
Mike

BGlass,
On second thought, you may be able modify a Morse taper socket (it would require measuring the chamber cast and compare with morse taper dimensions to determine if MT1 or MT2 will work) to use as a die to size the cut off cases so they will chamber. Then, fireforming will cause them to fit the chamber. Such sockets may be found at suppliers of Machining tools and supplies.
Mike

Yes looks like I might have make a Die to form as looks to be a tapered case. included photos. sure would like to know what this really is! My trimmed down rim to .620 is a really good fit. Factory shell would likely be a little smaller Diameter.[img]https://imgur.com/cKGBObv[/img][img]https://imgur.com/2zzpdNg[/img][img]https://imgur.com/oU2yVxi[/img][img]https://imgur.com/sly8lTE[/img][img]https://imgur.com/xpp3HZL[/img][img]https://imgur.com/1dEuUmC[/img]