A shooting buddy of mine acquired a quite nice schutzen martini in 8.15x46 a while back... sadly the bore is very dark and pitted.

He is in discussions with a 'smith on some relining options.
In consultation with the gunsmith, based on a number of things... they have come up with three possibilities;

1) Rebore and rifle to .38-55.  This MAY requrie some block modification, which my friend is not eager to do. Jury is still out on whether it would be necessary.

2) Reline and chamber to .32-40. 

Or3) The odd choice;  The 'smith does not have access to a liner for 8.15x46R, but they have been discussing the possibility of using a .32-40 (.323) liner, and chambering the barrel to 8.15x46R. This would take a bit of tweaking, but seems possible at this time.


I've been lending my support to my friend since I'm the one that "infected" him with the desire to shoot this "hind legs" kinda shooting in the first place (taking him from the more civilized sport of smallbore prone...).

I ask you learn'ed folks your opinion...
Go with .32-40? Or go with a mutant 8.15x46R/.323" ?   
Or if .38-55 proves possible, dump those .32 caliber cartridges, and go with the .38?

I've offered him my thoughts... what would YOU do?

Paul F.

PS offering to buy the rifle from him will not succeed... I've tried :-D

I've got a dark and pitted Krag that surprised the heck out of me!   

Between the two of us, we've been trying for months to get it to shoot....
We've officially declared the bore "hopeless".  3 foot groups at 100 yards are about as good as he's gotten.   


True enough about the 8.15 "specs"... but  you have to admit that the "average" is closer to .318 than .323!

And I may be slightly off on the .323 of the new liner... I'm working with second hand info.

Paul F.

The nominal "new" bore diameter was .316". I am told that it was common practice in Germany to "refresh" the bore every couple of years or so and that bores of .323" are not uncommon. RWS in Germany have recently produced a large batch of 8.15 x 46R cases and also offer bullets invarious sizes. It may be significant that several other German bullet makers only offer .323" dia bullets!
I use cases made form 30-30 brass and cast from a mould modified from an 8mm Mauser mould producing 150grn bullets which are then sized down to .317"-the throat dia of my Buchel Meister.
Try that worn barrel--you may be surprised.
Fred.

Like I said.... we HAVE tried the existing barrel/bore...
Repeatedly, and with several bullets and powders and loads, after scrubbing for weeks to get it CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. (We peeled enough lead and copper out of it to build a whole bullet).

The BEST groups were measured in FEET at 100 yards.


Trust me, it's had it. 


I'll pass along the recommendations!
Thanks again!
Paul F.

Since this is a Martini, you might try examining the last 1/2" of the bore at the muzzle for cleaning rod wear, with a view toward counterboring it for a re-crown. Actually if I were you I believe I'd counterbore it anyway, wouldn't cost much if anything and might just surprise you. I counterbored an 1895 Savage 303 that shot (and looks) like yours, now it shoots into less than 2 MOA with factory loads. I used a 30-06 reamer with no throat and didn't do anything else to the crown, just ran the reamer into the bore by hand for ~ 3/8", cleaned the chips and then shot it. The angle on the end of the reamer's neck section cut just fine and left a good protected crown. Not unsightly at all and very effective in this case and a lot cheaper than a reline! Just be sure to use something that will cut a rather sharp angle, like a chambering reamer with no throat or a specially-made piloted counterbore.
Good luck, Joe

If you are a serious shooter simply have a new top-grade .32-40 barrel
installed for about $600.00. Save the aggravation.

fred

Regarding counterboring;
Pushing a lead ball through the bore doesn't reveal any looseness at the muzzle end.
I've succuessfully done the same thing with a Martini 12/15 with cleaning rod wear, and it worked wonderfully well. 

Regarding rebarreling;
A rebarrel wouldn't keep the rear sight rib, the engraving, or the proof marks. Not important to making a "shooter", but important to the owner (and a reminder that this is not my rifle... ).
So rebarreling isn't a viable option for this rifle at this time.


The bore of this rifle isn't "a little frosty", or "has a little pitting"... it's a dark sewer pipe with indistinct rifling and lots of pitting.   
The suggestions to get THIS bore to shoot are appreciated, and may well apply to other rifles.  However, trust me... it's not gonna happen with this one. 
Fat lady sung, put a fork in this bore... it's DONE... 


I'll pass along all these posts to the owner!
Thanks again for the input!

Paul F.