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Freightman
02-17-2007, 11:37 PM
I got a French Gras at the gunshow today with a box of ammo, for the life of me it looks just like a 43 Spanish or a 71/84 Mauser round. I pulled one of the rounds down and the slug is .446 and weighs 425 g here is a picture of the round. the brass I have is made from 348 Winchester brass.
Mk42gunner
02-18-2007, 12:17 AM
I'm not sure what round the Gras was supposed to chamber. The 43 Spanish takes a .439 projectile the 11mm Mauser takes a .446. They can both be formed from 348 brass.
I would suggest slugging the bore and maybe making a chamber cast especially since it looks like the foreend has been cut. Who knows what has happened to it in the last 120+ years.

Robert
jhalcott
02-18-2007, 12:44 AM
The 11mm gras took a 385 grain ,.445 dia slug.velocity should be 1490 fps or so. 78 grains of black was a decent equivalent to factory ammo.Neck dia is.468" shoulder dia=.531, base dia=.544, rim=.667, case length=2.34,COL=3.00 AND RIFLING TWIST IS 22"
Freightman
02-18-2007, 10:31 AM
I plan on slugging the brl this afternoon when we come back from church as a 45 .452 boolit fits in the end of the brl to the lube grove. I found an artical on the reloading of this round he used a Lyman 457124 385g sized to .454 that was the most accurate. We will see when I make a cast of the chamber and slug the brl.
Thanks for the information.
The forend has been cut but looks to be a factory job as the bands fit and the shortning was done long ago from the looks of it.
Just got a answer off the French Arms board on Gunboards, seems a co named Kynoch Ammunition Factory cut the forend and re-did the barrels to 11.15x60 a while back , but went out of bussiness before they got started good. Seems to be quite collectable in this configuration as the man on GB put the price at 4 1/2 times what I paid for it. Hope he is correct.
Ricochet
02-18-2007, 11:28 AM
A friend on another gun board recently got a gorgeous original long rifle for $125. I'm intensely envious.
Ricochet
02-18-2007, 11:30 AM
BTW, the old Gras cartridge was revived for aircraft machine gun use during WWI. The big bullets held enough incendiary mix to do a good job of lighting up German balloons and airships.
Freightman
02-18-2007, 06:46 PM
I am back and a little confused the top of the bore is .438 (slugged twice) the bottom is .460 (slugged twice) what is the deal? I drove one through from muzzel to breech and when it got to the chamber it shaved the land grooves off to .440.
I am now officially confused!
TAWILDCATT
02-20-2007, 06:55 PM
Centerfire Systems Just Sold A Bunch Of Mod 88 And Mod 71/84s Which I Bought One Of Each. Get A Copy Of "the Handloaders Manual Of Cartridge Conversions".page 969 Has The 11 X 59 Gras.make From 348 Anneal Case Neck Expand To 450. Ect Bullet 385 Gr Powder 4198 At 33 Grs At 1400fts.looks Like A Lot Of That Period Was About 348 Or 45/70 Diam.the 8mmlebel Uses 348 And The Lebel Was A Necked Down Gras.
Buckshot
02-21-2007, 04:15 AM
I am back and a little confused the top of the bore is .438 (slugged twice) the bottom is .460 (slugged twice) what is the deal? I drove one through from muzzel to breech and when it got to the chamber it shaved the land grooves off to .440.
I am now officially confused!

.................Sounds like it's time to do a chamber cast to me.

..................Buckshot
JonB_in_Glencoe
12-09-2012, 03:52 PM
Freightman,
I realize this is nearly 6 years old...BUT, did you ever resolve this ?


I am back and a little confused the top of the bore is .438 (slugged twice) the bottom is .460 (slugged twice) what is the deal? I drove one through from muzzel to breech and when it got to the chamber it shaved the land grooves off to .440.
I am now officially confused!