Greifelt Drilling Addition

[Doug Kellermann]

This very good Greifelt Model 500 was broght home last week. Mr Ellenbeger was a wealth of information on the gun.

It turns out the original owner brought the drilling tot he USA in the 1930's and gave it as a gift in his later years to the grand father of the gentleman I purchased the drilling from.

[Doug Kellermann]

More pictures

[mike ford]

Doug,
It does look very nice, enjoy.
Mike

[sharps4590]

It is a nice drillng. It's remarkably similar to my Inman Meffert from the same time period.

[Doug Kellermann]

I went over the gun today it is very clean. Some of the old oil needs to be cleaned off but that is to be expected given its age (barrel was proofed in 1929).

Is this gun a find given it is a 8x57IRS from 1929?

I am seriously thinking about leaving it without a scope and keeping it as original as possible (the cones will be opened to support 2.75 inch shells)

Doug

[sharps4590]

Doug, please take this as one mans opinion regarding originality. I opened the chambers on my Inman Meffert and have regretted it ever since. Had I known then what I know now I wouldn't have done so. It's quite easy to shorten plastic hulls for the 2 1/2 chambers and a roll crimping tool is readily availbe and not terribly expensive, $30.00 or so. Wad column needs are readily available from several sources. If desired, 2 1/2 brass hulls are available from Buffalo Arms in Idaho. I went the brass hull route when I acquired my old Cape gun. They are easy to reload without owning any "proper" shotshell reloading equipment and should last a lifetime. With the brass hulls you will give up nothing in performance to 2 3/4 hulls. I like your idea about not scoping the firearm.

I can't answer your question regarding whether or not it is a find. My knowledge of these firarms is in its infancy.

[Norregard]

I went over the gun today it is very clean. Some of the old oil needs to be cleaned off but that is to be expected given its age (barrel was proofed in 1929).

Is this gun a find given it is a 8x57IRS from 1929?

I am seriously thinking about leaving it without a scope and keeping it as original as possible (the cones will be opened to support 2.75 inch shells)

Doug

Doug,
Very nice gun!
The rifle barrel is marked 7,8 and 57 mm, that makes it an 8x57IR and not an IRS. You can read lots on the difference in other places if you're not familiar with it. I also agree on the suggestion not to open the cones.
/ Hannes

[mike ford]

Hannes, Doug
The question of which ammunition to use in this drilling can get us into another long discussion. I too noticed the 7.8 and 57, but have learned that this is not always as clear as it seems. I didn't see any dimensions given as to groove diameter. Even this may not give the final answer. If a .323" dia. bullet won't easily enter the neck of a case fired in the drilling, but not sized, I wouldn't want to fire 8x57IRS. Being a handloader, I don't get all that "hung up"over this, I just use the bullet that fits ( may not be either .318 or .323).
Mike

[Doug Kellermann]

Doug,
Very nice gun!
The rifle barrel is marked 7,8 and 57 mm, that makes it an 8x57IR and not an IRS. You can read lots on the difference in other places if you're not familiar with it. I also agree on the suggestion not to open the cones.
/ Hannes

Hannes

to and another piece to this puzzle which Raimey pointed out to me is the bullet weight, 15 gr.

Doug

[mike ford]

Doug,
The 15 gram bullet also points to 8x57IR, but don't get "wrapped around the axel" trying to find this bullet. The common weights will be fine and, in my opinion will perform better anyway.
Mike

[Büchsemann]

Doug,

I will add to the opinion that you should leave the 2 1/2" chambers as is. There are 2 1/2" shot loads readily available from many sources with the two most popular (that I know of) being RST Classic Shotshell Co., Inc. (http://www.rstshells.com/) and Polywad, Inc. (http://www.polywad.com/spredr.html). You can also reload your own as Sharps4590 has said. Nice drilling!

Regards,

Büchsemann

[Doug Kellermann]

Doug,
The 15 gram bullet also points to 8x57IR, but don't get "wrapped around the axel" trying to find this bullet. The common weights will be fine and, in my opinion will perform better anyway.
Mike

Mile

the next part of the puzzle is that the 8x57IRS drops right into the chamber with no resistance.

Doug

[mike ford]

Doug,
An 8x57IRS dropping into the chamber may or may not mean much. What is the groove diameter of the barrel, and will a .323" bullet drop into a case fired in your chamber-but not sized. A bullet a little larger than the barrel doesn't make as much difference as the case not releasing it.
Mike

[richard adamson]

"Slug" the barrel; then, you will know. I did this and ordered a special sizing die from Lee Loading for a .001" interference fit and could not believe the change in accuracy, muzzel velocity,and recoil when I worked up new load data with cast bullets. This was for a 9.3x72r, but should work with any caliber. Adjusting C.O.L. for the particular bullet's "jump" to the rifling leade helped too.