Another....

should have mentioned - it's marked "Buchel" - sorry!

one more!

I forgot to mention that the calibre is 8.15 x 46R.
The correct "stop-ring" mould is available from NEL and the dies from CH. Brass is easily formed from 30-30.
Fred

It's not necessary but most of the serious competitors do.  See if someone anywhere near you has a copy of Alte Scheinwaffen, especially Vol I.  You might be able to get it on inter-library loan.  The book is gun porn and the history of German target shooting is really interesting.

Thanks for all the input and welcome, folks!  As I mentioned, I'm a bit of a .45 freak/nut - just added 2 more to the collection today, in fact - so the jury is out as to whether I'll keep it, but I at LEAST want to shoot it before making any decision.  There's a Schuetzen club here, so I'm gonna be talking to them as soon as I get the time!  They focus primarily on .22's, but I'm betting there'll be folks there that'll be able to tell me about shooting/handling it properly!

The Germans never really went in for muzzle loading over a blank case or breach seating the bullet into the rifling and then using a blank. if still in 8.15 x 46R, it will have a long tapered throat. The bullet has a raised lead "stop-ring" around it about half way along its length. After fire forming the cases to the chamber, you reload without dies, pushing the bullet into the case by hand until the stop-ring hits the case neck. I have a breech seater for mine and have tried it out, but accuracy is better with the correct bullet loaded as Buchel intended. It will easily group into less than an inch at 100 yds.
Fred

TexasRedneck:

It appears to be an AYDT swinging block according to Frank  de Haas - Single Shot Rifles and Actions- Gun Digest 1969

If you are interested, I could copy the info  and send it.

It's a Buchel Meister not a an Aydt if you go to Biggi's web page she has a lot of German rifles pictured and if you can read German or if there is translation app there is a bunch of info on this site. Maybe someone can put up a link to Biggi's web page I don't know how.

It's a rolling block. They shot buffalo's with those.  No, it's a flying squirrel gun from Austria. That's what it is.

          Joe.

For accurate shooting a good chamber cast is mandatory.  There  were a lot of minor variations on the basic 8.15x46 rimmed case since many of the guns were bought as action or barreled action and then  assembled and stocked to the customer's personal dimensions.  The Germans mostly purchased bullets from supply houses that cast/swedged and lubed them.  Catalogues that I have seen from those companies show hundreds of variations.  If you can get a case and bullet design that will fit your specific chamber/bore/throat properly (and if the bore is good) it should be capable of good accuracy.

Those style rifles are stocked for offhand shooting. With accurate loads and good sights, in the hands of a good offhand rifleman who fits the stock properly it should be capable of 3 or4 MOA or better.

Since your barrel has the dovetail rib on the top flat you won't have to D/T a nice antique rifle for modern mounts. One of our "supporting" machinist/artist/magicians, Steve Earle has designed a clamp-on base that allows one to use target scopes.   There are a few specialized sources for the "correct" (and not inexpensive) rear sights for a rifle of that type.

That kind of unique germanic sporting rifle is relatively uncommon though not truly "rare". They were were formal target rifles and probably already several generations old when they were "confiscated" by the GIs  and brought back as souvenirs.
   Unless they are completely intact with their original sights (rear sights are most commonly missing and the very very fine pinhead front sights are often broken off) rifles in good condition can  be had for 1000 +/- a few hundred. Condition of course is key.
With complete original sights, that price might double. Fancy elegantly carved wood, quality engraving etc can add even more.
The key in most oddball gun deals is the willing buyer willing seller thing.  Another especially for a shooter is how well the stock "fits".