Wehrmannsgewehr - German Shooting Competition After WW1

Published on November 19, 2018
Duration: 8:29

This guide details the operation and features of the Wehrmannsgewehr, a German sporting rifle converted from military Mauser 98 actions after WWI. It highlights the rifle's single-shot nature, the 8x46R caliber, and modified sights, all developed to comply with post-war German firearms regulations. The information is presented with the authority of Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons, a recognized expert in historical firearms.

Quick Summary

The Wehrmannsgewehr is a German sporting rifle, often a conversion of the Mauser 98 action, created after WWI to comply with firearm restrictions. Chambered in calibers like 8x46R and typically made single-shot, it allowed civilians to legally practice marksmanship. These rifles featured modified sights and were distinct from their military counterparts.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Wehrmannsgewehr
  2. 00:28History of the Shooting Sport
  3. 01:25The 8x46R Cartridge
  4. 02:12Treaty of Versailles and Legal Loopholes
  5. 02:57Manufacturing and Conversions
  6. 03:41Single-Shot Design
  7. 04:21Sight Modifications
  8. 06:09Shift to Rimfire and Later History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Wehrmannsgewehr?

A Wehrmannsgewehr is a German sporting rifle, often a conversion of the military Mauser 98 action, developed after WWI. It was chambered in civilian calibers like 8x46R to comply with post-war regulations restricting military firearms.

Why were Wehrmannsgewehr rifles made in civilian calibers?

Following WWI, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited German civilians from owning military-type weapons in military calibers. Manufacturers converted Mauser 98 actions to sporting calibers like 8x46R to allow civilians to legally maintain marksmanship skills.

How was the Wehrmannsgewehr modified from a military rifle?

Conversions typically involved chambering the rifle in a civilian caliber (e.g., 8x46R), blocking the magazine well to make it single-shot, and modifying the Lange Visier rear sight with specific range markings for the sporting cartridge.

What was the purpose of the 8x46R cartridge?

The 8x46R was a rimmed sporting cartridge used in the Wehrmannsgewehr. It fired a 150-grain bullet at around 1,800 feet per second, serving as a legal alternative to the military 8x57mm Mauser for civilian shooting competitions and marksmanship practice.

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