Hey folks, This isn't a bullet question, what do I have? Parker-Hale experts needed!

[Balkandom]

Hello all,


I think it's an M87. It's in about 99% condition, and has an "Ultralux" scope on it. The glass is identical to that of the Kahles that I have on my SSG, both are 6x42, but this one is not a BDC scope. I't's chambered in 7x64 Brenneke, of all things. My questions are these, and I would appreciate any input:

First, has anyone ever heard of one being chambered in 7x64 and why, and second, what would such a thing be worth?

Thanks,

Mike

Now for the gun porn:

http://i46.tinypic.com/x7i9v.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/33u8r4x.jpg

[Multigunner]

From Wikipedia


Contemporary use

The 7x64mm is one of the favorite rifle cartridges in central Europe and is offered as a chambering option in every major European hunting rifle manufacturers products palette. The versatility of the 7x64mm for hunting all kinds of European game and the availability of numerous factory loads[2] all attribute to the 7x64mm chambering popularity. Loaded with short light bullets it can be used on small European game like fox and geese or medium game such as roe deer and chamois. Loaded with long heavy bullets it can be used on big European game like boar, red deer, moose and brown bear. The 7x64mm offers very good penetrating ability due to a fast twist rate that enables it to fire long, heavy bullets with a high sectional density. The 7x64mm rimmed sister cartridge, the 7x65mm R, is also very popular in central Europe for the same reasons as the 7x64mm. The (former) legal banning of (ex) military service cartridges like the .308 Winchester, 7x57mm, 8x57mm I, 8x57mm IS and the .30-06 Springfield in countries like France and Belgium also promoted acceptance and use of the 7x64mm and the 7x65mm R.

Besides the cartridge's long history and excellent performance it would be easier to sell a rifle chambered for the 7X64 in Europe than it would be if chambered for a cartridge that was also a current or former military cartridge.

The Germans considered adopting the 7X64 cartridge for sniper rifles before WW2 but chose to retain the 8X57 in this role.

[x101airborne]

Nice bench gun. My dad picked up 3 pre 64 Winchester bench guns (None were all original Winchesters) for the actions. They sold CHEAP on Gunbroker.
Any idea on how she shoots? I have never heard of the cartridge, so I don't know the availability of ammo.

[BruceB]

The 7x64 is an excellent cartridge.... our closest approximation would be the .280 Remington or 7mm-06.

Making cases for it is dead-easy.

From Ken Howell's "Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges": "...fireform .25-06 Remington or .270 Winchester brass with inert filler. Or resize .35 Whelen brass full-length in 7x64 Brenneke sizer die."

Seems to me that .280 brass would also be a candidate. .30'06 would take a bit more work, but still shouldn't need neck-turning or reaming.

In this rifle's configuration, it would be a fair "beanfield rifle", or a windy-day varminter. It would likely be too heavy for a walk-around hunting rifle.... could it have been built as a steel-silhouette combo? The stock design would seem to rule that out, but????

[Ed in North Texas]

Since at least 2009, possibly long before then, Ultralux has been a Chinese brand. I found someone back in 2009 selling new Ultralux 4x25 scopes for $36.00. Found one listing of an Ultralux 6x42 for sale by a Goodwill place, went for $10.01 (didn't spend a couple of hours searching though), and found someone in 2010 posting a question as to whether the 6x42 Ultralux was a good scope or a piece of junk. No answers were posted. I don't think I'd bet the farm on that glass being the same as Kahles uses. But, it wouldn't be the first time someone put a cheap scope on what may be a really good rifle. Caliber is certainly interesting.

I know you didn't ask about the scope, but I hope the info is useful to you anyway.

[Balkandom]

I own 3 other Kahles scopes from the early 80's, 2 of which were paired to my SSG's at the factory. the glass is the same. This rifle is from the same time period.