By request I am reposting the photos of my model 88 sporting carbine sold by the firm of J. Nowotny in Prague and probably made by the CG Haenel company.
The carbine started as an 8x57MM but is now in .35 Whelen. I believe, but cannot prove, that the carbine was bored out toa 9x57MM and then in this country rechambered to .35 Whelen. The bore has a land diameter of .351" and a groove diameter of .354". Though the land diameter is larger than my 1902 New Model Haenel the groove diamter is the same which leads me to believe that the barrel was rebored in Germany. I think that if the barrel was rebored in this country that it would have been cut to a .358" groove diameter.
Another possibility for this chamber is 9x63MM. I have made a chamber cast and fire formed .30-'06 brass in the chamber and found the shoulder position matches that of the .35 Whelen dimensions. My 1989 copy of "Wiederladen" by Dynamit Nobel lists cartridge and chamber dimensions for the 9x63 and shows the shoulder placement to be slighty higher than the .35 Whelen.
For loading I use .35 Whelen dies and Korean PS arsenal .30-'06 brass. I have a Corbin draw die that I use to reduce Hornady .358" diameter RNSP bullets down to .354". I have been using 250 grain bullets so far and even with mild loads the recoil is brutal as the carbine weighs in around 6.25 to 6.5 pounds. I plan to try some 200 grain bullets to help tame the recoil.
Vlad
The carbine started as an 8x57MM but is now in .35 Whelen. I believe, but cannot prove, that the carbine was bored out toa 9x57MM and then in this country rechambered to .35 Whelen. The bore has a land diameter of .351" and a groove diameter of .354". Though the land diameter is larger than my 1902 New Model Haenel the groove diamter is the same which leads me to believe that the barrel was rebored in Germany. I think that if the barrel was rebored in this country that it would have been cut to a .358" groove diameter.
Another possibility for this chamber is 9x63MM. I have made a chamber cast and fire formed .30-'06 brass in the chamber and found the shoulder position matches that of the .35 Whelen dimensions. My 1989 copy of "Wiederladen" by Dynamit Nobel lists cartridge and chamber dimensions for the 9x63 and shows the shoulder placement to be slighty higher than the .35 Whelen.
For loading I use .35 Whelen dies and Korean PS arsenal .30-'06 brass. I have a Corbin draw die that I use to reduce Hornady .358" diameter RNSP bullets down to .354". I have been using 250 grain bullets so far and even with mild loads the recoil is brutal as the carbine weighs in around 6.25 to 6.5 pounds. I plan to try some 200 grain bullets to help tame the recoil.
Vlad