Quote Originally Posted by bob q View Post
#1 about 95% have the gas shield , ones without are rare . #2 That problem was caused by bad ammo , it was not a chamber problem . It was changed early in production to the thicker barrel . Also the Germans keep the old barrels in service once the ammo problem was fixed and those barrels fired S ammo at 55,000 PSI for decades and through out WWI with no problems . #3 Was not a Germanicon military problem as the Gew-88 could fired any German ammo in service when the rifle was in service . It can be a problem today , but any rifle can have that problem if you fire the wrong ammo . #4 Was not a design problem as the round nose bullet it was designed to fire could not set off a round . Also setting off a round with a bullet is not easy . I have tried to set off primed cases with bullets and hammers and buy using another cartridge [ it just pushes the bullet back in the case . It may of happened now and then but no more than firing with a plugged bore [ again a user problem ] . #5 As I stated , I own over 100 Gew-88s and have looked at many more and have never seen a pitted barrel .
Did I ever say the ammo issue was a military issue? It is a problem for the civilian shooter as some commercial ammo regularly available in stores can destroy one of these rifles if fired in it. Just like how M1icon Garands need M2 pressure .30-06 or you can't shoot higher pressure .45-70 out of a trapdoor springfield.

I also wouldn't say it wasn't a design problem for the double feed as they did switch to using pointed ammo in the rifles in service and encountered the problem in service. Much like how the Lebel rifles suffered from a similar problem (resulting in the ring around the brass base to catch the tip). They were just willing to accept the risk a lot more than most would be today. There is a reason they designed out that issue from most service rifles.