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Sorry for previous post. Trying to post too fast.
Good Evening All,
Just off the phone with CH4D and got some bad news. Going into the call, I thought I was a few weeks from receiving die set for the T-Gewehr. Well, my dies will arrive 2/24!! Still love CH4D and they have allowed me to shoot many unique weapons.
As you can imagine, I would like not to have to wait that long. Any leads on securing a set of dies for the beast.
Thanks,
Randy
As in Feb 2024? A bit long...we used to be able to find a company that made everything including the really big stuff like 40mm Bofors and so on. Don't know where they are today.
Yes Sir!! I do see some custom die site online but will need to call tomorrow. Hoping to get some recommendations from colleagues first. Thanks, Randy
Good Evening,
Alan at Warner Tools agreed to take this project on. Looks like 3-4 months. Randy
Looking forward to seeing fresh ammo...How did you say you were going to make bullets? Turned copper solids?
Solid copper from Hammer bullets. I had to purchase 500! Randy
Attachment 127405
Good Morning All,
Diemaker is asking for dimensional specification for the T-Gewehr's chamber. Anyone have them handy?
Thanks,
Randy
Can you not measure a live cartridge or copy and past a line drawing of the cartridge?Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
I do not have cartridges but have sent a British dimensional drawing. Still would like same for the chamber. Randy
Will be doing a chamber cast on Saturday. Randy
Is that going to hold it's size enough to do a chamber ream? Does it shrink when cooling?
Die maker wrote me that Cerrosafe expands with age. So, I will ask him if I can take the measurements he wants right after making the casting.
Randy
Good Evening,
Guess who had the dimensions all along. Here they are:
They were in your mass already? Would make sense after all your searching.Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
I made a copy of Kern's book and found the diagram there. Yes, just 3 feet from my computer. Randy
Good Afternoon All,
With help from Scott (Georgia), Brian (Manitoba), Mathew (Florida), Matt (Baltimore), plus many online colleagues, the T-Gewher goes to the range, with reloaded ammunition, in two weeks. Thank you all! Randy
Attachment 128176
So...consider doing a vid of the firing process. We don't NEED to see targets but just watching one touch off would be nice...Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
Good Morning,
I will try to post a video and not make too much of a fool of myself. Randy
Good Afternoon All,
Finally!! I got the T-Gewehr to the range:
1918 T-Gewehr at the Range - YouTube
It was amazing and not as bad as I expected. Randy
That was a long trip. Well worth seeing. No, it wouldn't be so bad. I had the chance to shoot a Boys rifle back in the '80s and it was about the same. The heavy mass absorbs most of the recoil.
Good Morning,
Following the videoed first time out with the T-Gewehr, the next weekend was a total failure. Zero ignitions on the eight rounds I have. Long story short, I sent the old spring to Kyle at WB Jones Springs and he made some replacements. The length of the spring was seriously off. I got a measurement from Brian B. in Manitoba, who's T-Gewehr is running fine. Yes, my spring was almost one inch shorter with us both having same number of coils. I believe my spring is original.
Next week at the range with a full combat load of powder! Randy
The spring must have gone punk over the century...Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
Yep! I usually replace springs upon purchasing a weapon. As a seasoned (old) shooter, I should have done my preventive maintenance for the T-Gewehr. My apologies to all and promise to never let this happen again. Randy.
Fair enough but you don't just go get one. I would have to go to my local company that will wind a spring working from wire diameter, coil diameter and length of need. You have to take 18" minimum so...you'll have a spare or two.Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
I had 5 made with two heading out to MD and Manitoba. One spring now on the T-Gewehr and the other two are on anti-embarrassment standby mode.
The epic spring failure two weeks ago was in front of many of the Saturday morning shooters. Who have already begun to never let me forget this one!! Randy
What I meant was you can't just order a factory original.
For sure on this one. Randy
Good Evening,
Just when I thought we were rounding a corner with the T-Gewehr project, I received Court papers today informing me the RCC Brass has declared Chapter 7 Bankruptcy! Again back on the hunt for a shop to turn some brass rods into 13.2mm x 92mm cases.
Any recommendations would be greatly welcomed.
Thanks,
Randy
Good Morning All,
Without new cases, I will be centering my efforts on 50BMG. To get the T-Gewehr running on the BMGs, I have sent my bolt to John Taylor in Idaho for a new extractor and and insert for the bolthead. As the BMG is rimless, John will set up the bolthead and extractor to load and extract the BMG as if it was originally designed for the T-Gewehr.
I also sent a set of CH4D dies to Hornady to have them reproduced. Love CH4d but they are on a 2.5 year backlog.
Should have all this ready for the range in February. Stay warm all!
Randy
---------- Post added at 09:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 AM ----------
Have a buddy in Canada who will be having a stock made for this T-Gewehr. We are wondering what type of wood was used in 1918. Thanks Randy.
I'll bet it was European walnut at the time?Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
Thanks Jim. Looking like more folks are calling European Walnut.
Randy
I can't imagine what else they would have used then, considering their workmanship. I doubt it would be out of place at any rate.
Thanks Jim. Looking like more folks calling European Walnut.
Randy
As I get deeper into the world of the T-Gewher, my research finds inconsistencies. Like I tell my college students, that is the fun of history. The main finding is that my T-Gewehr (#265) seems to fall into the range of the Kurz models and mine is not.
As we work on the stock issues, I am sure there will be more. That's what makes the world of Milsurps so interesting.
Randy
Attachment 129362Attachment 129363
Always. The more books insist that things are "This or that", the more you find something off that line.Quote:
Originally Posted by rescuerandy2
Yes Sir. Happy New Years and looking forward to a great '23.
Randy
Happy New year...