1888 comision rifles?

[wonderwolf]

In the last issue of SGN I obtained from a friend who reads them and gives them to me, I found commision 1888 rifles for no paper work and a bargain at like $25-30. What caliber are these rifles? I like to try my hand at making one work again then hang it up over the fireplace or whatever. Somthing just to really beat the snot out of.

[kf4zra]

they are in 8mm, but not regular 8mm mauser.

its what they call 8x57js

to make it more confusing, 8mm mauser is 8x57 too, however the bullet size on 8mm mauser is .323, on the stuff for the commission rifles, it is .318.

if you try to fire 8mm mauser thru the commisssion rifle, metal and wood tend to go airborne in many directions at once. you can fire the 8x57js thru a 8mm mauser, but it is not very accurate since the smaller bullet doesnt grab the lands and grooves as tight.

[wonderwolf]

Is the case the same size? this sounds like a good canidate for lead gas cheked bullets at low velocites

[kf4zra]

i believe it is the same size, but dont hold me to it. if im not mistaken, they make .318 diameter bullets to load with.

i had a few boxes of the 8x57js, but sold them a while back on gunboards.com