In Praise of the Gew 1888

[Cattus Borealis]

Hello Everyone,

I am always astounded how well some of these old guns shoot. One of my favorites to shoot is the Gew 1888. Mine was made in Danzig in 1895.

I developed a load using a 241 grain FP gas checked bullet that I casted from the Lee Maximum Mold. I used AA 5744 powder.

We shot the Gew 1888 at 300 yards (274 meters) steel plate. After adjusting the sight to 500 meters we were hitting the target with a great deal of consistency. It was cold outside so we only shot 25 times at the target using the issue clips. Luckily the load worked well at 100 yards and we were able to hit bowling pins by using the flip up sight.

I tracked down the unit that my rifle was last assigned to. It turned out to be Hessian issued rifle, 8th Company, 116 Infantry Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm"

Here is the Rifle Rack Number:
16 R 8 127
116 (Regiment) R (Infantry) 8 (Company) 127 (Rifle Rack Number)

Anyone else like to shoot Gew 1888s?

[Rapidrob]

The old Charcoal burners were well made and accurate rifle in their day. With today's powders, they should shoot very well. I have read than Trail Boss works very well and will not spike like 5744 can.
good shooting at 300 yards.

[Cattus Borealis]

Thank you Rob! I'll have to see about finding some Trail Boss.

[les1234]

Try about 11-12 grains of Trailboss, that's what I use in most of my 30 to 8mm surplus rifles.

[slowbob2]

The old Charcoal burners were well made and accurate rifle in their day. With today's powders, they should shoot very well. I have read than Trail Boss works very well and will not spike like 5744 can.
good shooting at 300 yards.

What is a charcoal burner ?

[Cattus Borealis]

Try about 11-12 grains of Trailboss, that's what I use in most of my 30 to 8mm surplus rifles.

Good to know!

[Cattus Borealis]

Here are the Lee Maximum mold dimensions. Great bullet for $19.

[slowbob2]

What type Gew-88 do you have ? A Gew-88 , 88-S or a 88/05 ? Do you have an original German barrel , a regular size Czech , a small size Czech or a .323 replacement ? A photo of the markings on the top of the receiver will help with id .

[Cattus Borealis]

Gew 1888. .322 barrel as slugged. German barrel.

[PennsylvaniaRifleman]

I enjoy shooting my 88/05 with some mild reloads producing about 2300 fps with 150 grain spire points. I agree they are really sweet-shooting old classics. Mine was reworked by the Turks, to include a nice new barrel. I'm jealous that you have a bayonet for yours--I'd love to find one.
Here's some pics of mine...

[Cattus Borealis]

Nice Gew 1888 PA Rifleman!

I lucked into a Ersatz Bayonet when I lived in LA. It fit both the Gew 88 and Gew 98. Neat design.

Some of my rifle team students show up on Saturdays to shoot the classics. Here is picture snapped by one of my students of me with my prized Gew 88. I let him shoot it along with my Remington 1917.

It was roughly 22 degrees outside. Lots of layers to keep warm.

[vandle]

Nice Gew 1888 PA Rifleman!

I lucked into a Ersatz Bayonet when I lived in LA. It fit both the Gew 88 and Gew 98. Neat design

Any chance of a couple of pics of the bayonet

[Cattus Borealis]

Maybe tomorrow my friend.

[vandle]

many thanks

[ffuries]

I've got a Turked, 1890 Danzig Gew 88/05, still has a German barrel. Also have an ersatz bayonet on it, the repop bayonet frog came on the bayonet when I got it. The rifle still has the Turkish script on the rear sight. Has a German bolt (Not a Czech replacement) with a Tuskish moon on it, and of course the Turkish moon on the receiver. So those 3 things are the only Turkish markings on it.

Shoots great for an old rifle, and people are amazed at the age when I've got her out at the range, and they really enjoy it when I let them shoot her.

The three old Prussian unit markings on it, and IF my research is correct they mean:

Front barrel band:

16.R4.142 (All X'ed out)

16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Company, Weapon Nr 142 
Or
16th Infanterie, 4th Kompanie, Waffe Nr 142 (Under the 27th Infantrie Brigade Baron Freiherr von Sparr, 3rd Westfalishes)

F.E.B.K.1.68 (Not X'ed out)

Fortress Replacement Battalion, 1st Company, Weapon Nr 68 
Or
Festungs Ersatz Battalion, 1st Kompanie, Waffe Nr 68

Rear barrel band:

11.R.R.9.149 (All X'ed out)

11th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 9th Company, Weapon Nr 149 
Or
11th Reserve Infanterie Regement, 9th Kompanie, Waffe Nr 149