Found a “pawnshop special” recently: an M1916 in .308 (pretty rusty and rough looking) priced to sell. Because it functioned smoothly and had a nice looking bore (and because the owner made me an even more attractive out-the-door offer), I bought it. Do I have rocks in my head?
I have cleaned it up; it appears that the damage is cosmetic and/or repairable (cracked stock)—but I haven't had it checked out by a gunsmith yet.
Meanwhile, I've been reading—a lot—about Spanish Mausers (here and elsewhere) and I think I am finally up to speed on the .308 rechamber controversy.
From what I’ve gathered, it seems clear that the M1916 in .308 should be safe to shoot—given that it (along with its owner) meets or exceeds a set of firm-and-fast conditions:
1) The rifle must pass a gunsmith's thorough inspection that includes checking headspace with a go/no-go gauge, indicating that the chamber has not already been compromised by someone feeding it a steady diet of overpressure ammunition (like .308 hunting loads).
2) The rifle (passing the gunsmith's inspection) must be used with sensible ammunition, preferably handloaded, that stays well within the pressure limits of the 7x57 ammo it was originally designed for.
3) Brass fired from the rifle must be monitored for signs of overpressure, and these signs taken seriously.
Absent these conditions, the rifle is not safe to shoot. Period.
I am a careful and sensible guy. I reload for (and hunt with) four other rifles already (an SKS, a Swede, a Czech Mauser, and a K31), and I don’t object to the idea of adding a fifth. I could manage the above conditions (assuming the rifle gets past my gunsmith). However, I’m thinking of dumping this one—not even testing it—and looking for something less steeped in drama (maybe an M1916 in the original 7x57?).
What do you think? I appreciate your input.
ProfessrH
PS: I should also mention that the rifle is electropencilled with a case number from the Alabama Forensic Sciences Department, and spent much of the last 23 years locked in a vault in the basement of a county jail. I have requested a copy of the lab report ($10) and hope to know at least some of the particulars soon.
I have cleaned it up; it appears that the damage is cosmetic and/or repairable (cracked stock)—but I haven't had it checked out by a gunsmith yet.
Meanwhile, I've been reading—a lot—about Spanish Mausers (here and elsewhere) and I think I am finally up to speed on the .308 rechamber controversy.
From what I’ve gathered, it seems clear that the M1916 in .308 should be safe to shoot—given that it (along with its owner) meets or exceeds a set of firm-and-fast conditions:
1) The rifle must pass a gunsmith's thorough inspection that includes checking headspace with a go/no-go gauge, indicating that the chamber has not already been compromised by someone feeding it a steady diet of overpressure ammunition (like .308 hunting loads).
2) The rifle (passing the gunsmith's inspection) must be used with sensible ammunition, preferably handloaded, that stays well within the pressure limits of the 7x57 ammo it was originally designed for.
3) Brass fired from the rifle must be monitored for signs of overpressure, and these signs taken seriously.
Absent these conditions, the rifle is not safe to shoot. Period.
I am a careful and sensible guy. I reload for (and hunt with) four other rifles already (an SKS, a Swede, a Czech Mauser, and a K31), and I don’t object to the idea of adding a fifth. I could manage the above conditions (assuming the rifle gets past my gunsmith). However, I’m thinking of dumping this one—not even testing it—and looking for something less steeped in drama (maybe an M1916 in the original 7x57?).
What do you think? I appreciate your input.
ProfessrH
PS: I should also mention that the rifle is electropencilled with a case number from the Alabama Forensic Sciences Department, and spent much of the last 23 years locked in a vault in the basement of a county jail. I have requested a copy of the lab report ($10) and hope to know at least some of the particulars soon.