doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com updated with proof marks.....

Went to a local gun show today and was getting ready to leave when I spotted someone carrying what looked like a German Sporting Rifle. After chasing the owner down and coming to terms it followed me home..

Owner didn't know anything about the rifle except he thought it was 8mm x something.

Rifle has double set triggers, raised solid rib, weaver 1.5 to 4.5 steel body scope with vertical post and thing horizontal crosshair.

Has some engraving on the bridge and also the mag cover and trigger guard.

Any information or input would be greatly appreciated. I need to slug the bore and do a chamber cast but it appears to be an 8x57 (.323).

Without markings, I can't say much except it seems to be a handsome Mauser sporter done in a plain,classic Germanic style on a 98 action.

"Made for hunting, not just for pretty." Do make a chamber cast, some of these turn out to be for the 8x60S or J, not the 8x57. Not a disaster if you fire an 8x57 in it, but not a good idea, either.

You could KILL something with that!

At the Coliseum Don? Good thing I didn't see him first! Nice piece, for certain.

Hoot4570, Yup that's where it was. Not a lot of old stuff there but Dave (of H&H) had a few as he usually does...

Mike, I certainly will slug the barrel and take a chamber cast as I have become kinda fond of my fingers and sight and try not to do anything to jeopardize them.

Don

Don, I have to admit I HAVE fired an 8x57S in an 8x60S-rechambered rifle and still have all my extremities (however much atrophied by age).

But "fire-forming with full-power loads" isn't to be recommended and you certainly wouldn't get the accuracy that neat little rifle is probably capable of....

Did you ever fire a 308 in a 30-06 and wonder why the case had no neck when it came out?

If you post photos of the proofmarks, we might be able to tell you more.
Mike

Mike,

I have to tear it down later this week for a good cleaning and will post some pics of any proof marks I can find...

Don

OK there are not much for proof marks under the action. On the barrel just ahead of the recoil lug is the letter V
On the action flat right behind the recoil ring is the letter N or could be a Z in a circle.
Also in this area is what appears to be the letter L the verticle leg of the L has a half circle on it to make what appears to be a D and then off the end of the horizontal line is what appears to be an upside down number 8 which is at about a 20 degree title off verticle.

I tried to get pics but was unable to get clear ones. I had to use a magnifying glass to actually see the markings.

So have at it folks and let me know your thoughts or questions...

Thanks,
Don