doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com New (to me) drilling and some?

One of my gun buddies and I just did a little trading and I came out of it with this German drilling, 16x16x222 Rimmed. At first because of the Herold name on it, I thought it might be a Franz Jaeger but because the rifle barrel is 222 Rimmed I am skeptical as the few historic accounts I can find put the 222R as being developed in the early 60's and Jaeger passed in 1957, I believe. I am hoping some of you fine gentleman can help me sort this one out. It came with 100 rounds of 222R brass and the Hensolt Wetzlar scope. Thanks in advance.

It is either a Franz J�ger or Simson sourced sporting weapon as that is their patented lockup. Would fancy an image of the top rib extension and of the water-table. The original chambering looks to be 8x58 - maybe Sauer and possibly converted? Do a chamber cast. What is the jagged encircled stamp near the forend hanger? Made between 1912 & 1912. Is the name Meffert in Hamburg or does the name begin with a V?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

The rifle was proofed as an 8x58R as Raimey said, and relined to 222R.Due to the absence of reproof marks, I opine that it was relined in the US, or at least somewhere other than Germany.It was also chambered for 65mm( 2 1/5- 2 9/16 ")shells.While it was being relined, it may have had the shotshell chambers lengthened to 2 3/4" at the same time, also w/o marking.It looks to be a "fun" drilling ,if no longer especially collectable.In my unlearned opinion,it is a Franz Jaeger.

Mike

Forgive my ignorance, but where is the water table? The name does begin with a V, though many of the letters are hard to make out. My best guess is VANORIY or VAVOBIY? I looked at it with a 5x loupe and still couldn't say for sure what all the letters are.

Here's a few more pics.

It does appear to be relined.

Thanks for the good information. I did go to the range yesterday and it shoots about 1 inch high at 25 yards and about 6 inches high at 100 with the open sights and 55 grain Sierra Game Kings and a moderate load. I had a devil of a time trying to zero the old Hemsolt and finally opted to work on that at a later time. I did load some light, low pressure 2 5/8 inch loads for it yesterday. It seems to chamber 2 3/4 inch shells with no problem. It's going with me tomorrow to eastern Washington when I visit my mom. I'll try to get some coyote calling in with it while I'm there.

On another board I hadn't seen the barrel markings and had thought it was rechamberred from a 5.6x36R(Hornet). Again I'd be wary of using full power 222 Rem load data.

Nice looking rig and would make a great fox, coyote, and bobcat calling rig.

I just loaded up a big batch of 1 oz Nickel plated BB and #2 2.5" 16ga loads for coyote calling out of my unmarked 6.5x58R/16ga/16ga hammerless drilling.

Loaded 2.75" shells will chamber in a 2.5" chamber because the shells are measured in there fired/open state. The problem with the 2.75" shells in a 2.5" chamber is when they are fired the crimps open into the narrower barrel instead of the larger chamber and the pressure rises. There have been a few studies that say it doesn't matter as the rise is only 1,000 psi or so. Modern shotshells even low brass target loads run at a fairly high PSI as they have to operate gas and recoil operated semi-autos reliably. For ammunition companies it is more economical to load smaller quantities of faster burning powder at higher pressure(burns cleaner also). There is plenty of data available for low pressure loads, I like to keep mine under 8,000 psi.

Water-table is the top of the frame where the tubeset mates with the frame. Also, the rib extension I'm curious about is the top rib where it & the Greener crossbolt mates with the frame.

I see now it is F.W. Vandrey & Co. of Hamburg. That explains the jagged encircled GS(or is it GG??). Did you acquire this from Cabelas of Richland, Wisconsin? I called there to get an opinion on the calibre & really could not get the fella to explain or describe to me the liner or if there was a liner.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

It is a good looking drilling...but I'm a sucker for hammer guns. Good to see ya over here mart! (9.3 X 75R on the other site).

Curious what these marks might be. S in a shield & LL, SI, LLH??

F.W. Vandrey hung out his shingle in 1919 so the sporting weapon would date between 1919 & 1923.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse