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Why wont my Gew 88 chamber ammunition?

F

forssmann

Junior Member
I recently picked up this gew 88 and have tried to chamber 2 different types of ammo. First is the original gew 88 round nose ammo, then some surplus yugo 8mm. I didnt expect it to chamber the surplus ammo, but when it wouldnt take the round nose I was stumped and tried it just in case. The barrel is marked 7,92

Both types of ammo seem to get stopped as soon as the neck of the cartridge starts to widen.

I know there were variations and upgrades to the gew 88, it was my understanding this example is an un-altered rifle, so I assumed it would chamber the round nose ammo. So what do you guys think?
 

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chambering problems

assuming it's still in 7,92, consider a case that has broken in the chamber. Regards, JH
 
Something is either in the chamber or your chamber is messed up. Take a flashlight and look down the bore from both ends.
 
JimF said:
It does to me.
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I agree that it looks like theres something there in the picture, but in the hand it's actually the barrel. It's as if the barrel at the chamber is narrower than it should be, even with the "S" and "7,92" stamp
 
witness marks?

what marks do you see on those cartridges when you extract them? “Often” one can deduce a probable cause to a problem by reading those marks. With older arms, made before electrical gages, one may find odd things. I have my grandfather’s sporterized M1903, which won’t chamber a snap cap, but chambers modern 30-06 cartridges just fine. Same snap cap chambers normally in my mod 700........
 
Here are pictures of a single surplus yugo 8mm round before attempting to chamber it into the rifle.
 

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And the same cartridge after attempting to chamber. Bolt was pushed forward, met resistance, and a few firm taps were applied. Note the denting near the shoulder of the brass.
 

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Last edited:
GEM said:
My guess is the front of a separated cartridge case is stuck in the chamber.
Click to expand...

Your cases are getting indented near the neck. There is either something in there or the chamber is corroded or damaged. We need a better photo of the chamber. Doesnt matter if the barrel was updated to 7.92, the indentations barely bigger than the neck. Do you have a skinny pick? You could run that into the chamber and see it it catches anything. UNtil we have a better understanding of what is going wrong in that chamber, you will be going in circles.
 
forssmann said:
. . . .Note the denting near the shoulder of the brass.
Click to expand...

I’m still thinking you have a broken shell in there . . . .

I suggest you remove the bolt, insert a brush wrapped in steel wool, and turn it with an electric drill.

I bet, after a short while, you will see BRASS, not STEEL, in the chamber area. (Unless, of course, someone fired steel-cased ammo.)

Then you will know what’s in there.
 
JimF said:
I’m still thinking you have a broken shell in there . . . .

I suggest you remove the bolt, insert a brush wrapped in steel wool, and turn it with an electric drill.

I bet, after a short while, you will see BRASS, not STEEL, in the chamber area. (Unless, of course, someone fired steel-cased ammo.)

Then you will know what’s in there.
Click to expand...

I'll give this a try. I took a wire, bent the tip, and ran it along the inside of the barrel from the chamber end. I feel a lip just beyond the opening of the chamber.

Any advice on how to get that sucker out of there? It looks like it's been there for a while, there is rust.
 
Saturate the chamber with penetrating oil like Kroil. Let it soak at least overnight. Use a broken shell extractor.

Alternate may be to use a chamber reamer. Use by hand and turn gently. Don't use a drill or other power.
 
forssmann said:
. . . . .Any advice on how to get that sucker out of there? It looks like it's been there for a while, there is rust.
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As stated:
Kroil soaking should help.

I’d try a U.S. GI broken shell extractor (30-06 size). . . . .I believe it is “close enough” to 8mm.

How ‘bout a pic when you get it out?
 
JimF said:
As stated:
Kroil soaking should help.

I’d try a U.S. GI broken shell extractor (30-06 size). . . . .I believe it is “close enough” to 8mm.

How ‘bout a pic when you get it out?
Click to expand...
I'll definitely do so. I took some penetrating oil, soaked it since 5am this morning. Not budging. The oil dod clean some rust away, revealing the brass. LGS doesnt carry shell extractors, so I left the barrel with the gunsmith.
 
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