I just bought this on Gunbroker and I have a few question?
Is this most likely a 8x57J or S ? Sporting rifles continued to be manufactured with the J diameter bullet up until World War II
Isn't there a difference in the bullet diameter? Yes, J is .318" and S is .323".
Also what is the commercial American ammo? J or S ? American commercial ammunition is loaded with the .323" bullet, but pressures are deliberately kept low to reduce the danger of accidents caused by using the wrong size bullet. Also, late model J bullet rifles used chambers cut to S dimensions, so that there is enough room in the neck area to allow for normal neck expansion.
Are both loaded in Europe? Yes.
Are both available in America...Where? No, Graf & Son, Midway have the Sellier & Bellot J ammunition, but only in the rimmed (8X57JR) version
The hex head adjustment screw could easily be a recent replacement and does not necessarily indicate anything about the authenticity of the rifle generally.
.318" bullets are easy to create from .323" bullets using inexpensive Lee bullet sizing dies.
