Portuguese Kropatschek

[nrobertb]

Here are some photos of my Portuguese Kropatschek, model 1886, cal. 8x60R.

[apachedawg]

Nice rifle. Do you know of a parts source for these? I picked up one of these a few months back with a bayonet. Only thing wrong with it is the rear site spring is broken. I can't find one anywhere.

[Enfield Shooter]

Lovely! How does it shoot?

[les1234]

Nice rifle. Do you know of a parts source for these? I picked up one of these a few months back with a bayonet. Only thing wrong with it is the rear site spring is broken. I can't find one anywhere.

I have bought parts for mine on E-bay. But it may take a while, I needed the spring under the cartridge lifter, took more than a year before I saw one that they would sell without the whole barreled action. When searching, don't forget to enter the search terms both with and without the "s" in Kropatschek, people list it both ways.

[Greenmachine]

There is a nice example of one of these rifles in a local shop I have been looking at, but I know very little about them so maybe you guys can help me decide if I should pick it up. what caliber do you find them in normally, are they safe to shot with modern loads. Is there anything specific I should look for or be leery of. And they are asking $650 but I think I can get them down quiet a bit on the price so what would be fair. And what would be a steal ? I have already bought the bayonet to go with it

[nrobertb]

Fired 24 rounds with 175 gr. .323 bullets and 3031 powder. I was using new 8mm Lebel brass with a radius filed on the edge of the rim to fit the bolt head. The necks are a bit short but they work okay. .323 bullets are too small and one inserted in the muzzle is swallowed up,

Fired 27 rounds using the Western Bullet Co. .329 205 gr. round nose lead bullet, lubed and gaschecked, with 4227 powder. Got all shots on a 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper at 100 yards.

[les1234]

Greenmachine, that sounds kind of steep to me, but I haven't priced them lately. Check on Gunbroker and see what they're going for there. For what to look for, I guess just be sure all the parts are there, also be sure the spring on the cartridge lifter is good, the one I bought was broke. When you pull the bolt all the way back, it should snap up.
They only came chambered for 8mm Kropacheck, no modern commercial ammo is available. I reload using 348 Winchester brass with a bevel turned on the case rim, size it just enough in an 8mm Lebel die that it will chamber and then fire form. I use cast bullets from the Lee .329 205gr mold for the Austrian Steyr.

Nrobertb, I tried 8mm Lebel brass and when it fire formed, the neck was completely gone! I had to form a short neck just to hold the bullet for each firing, but then I got some .348 and it worked much better. They're a little longer than 56mm when formed, but there's no need to trim, since all the chambers are cut for the earlier 60mm length case.

[Greenmachine]

les1234, thanks for all the good info but it sounds like the ammo situation is a lot more than I want to get involved with. So ill probably just pass on this one.