Beginning collector on a budget - 308 Chilean Mauser & Mosin Nagat

I would stick to guns that are as factory orginal as possible and in the best possible condition you can find and afford. Also buy stuff you like personally rather than what somebody else likes. You never know about the market, so it is good to like what you buy.

The Mosin Nagants are plentiful now, but that will eventually end. All you have to do is look at AK's and SKS's when they were $150 and $100 each. They all appreciated pretty rapidly once the import supply dwindled.

The Mauser's original caliber was 8mm. That rifle has been rebarred. I'd say keep looking.

m1895 nagant

32acp cyl.

like 200 for both.
J&G sales

If you limit yourself to the local shop you're going to have troubles I suspect. For someone starting out I'd say look for these:

--Finnish Mosins, M27, M28, M39 and M30
--Swiss Schmidt-Rubin 1911's and 96/11's. Still amazingly cheap.
--Other WWI rifles such as the French Berthier. The 1886 Lebels are already skyrocketing in value with auction wars on the ones that come up on GB. I still haven't been able to get one. But the Berthiers are still quite cheap.

Also you should consider getting a C&R if you're starting a serious collection.

You also might consider getting some reference books so that you can educate yourself. I'm not a military buff, so I have no good suggestions in this collector area.

Chilean Mauser? Which one?

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html

Then there were the Chilean Mauser's that were chambered in 30/06 (.30 in 34), and the crowd that claims the receiver is suspect.

F. Guffey

I have a Chilean Mauser chambered in 308 stamped 7.62 Nato with a receiver made in Austria, by Steyr .

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v26/manowar/Steyr12a/

http://www.hungariae.com/Gunsale.htm

F. Guffey

" Beginning collector.".......... Condition and originality are the first order of business.

When starting out a collection like this the first step is to get a C&R license.

wink wink nudge nudge

Every collection needs a Mosin especially right now when they can be had for under $100. I would pass on the Chilean Mauser since they are not factory original. If you want a Mauser I would look at SAMCO since they have a few models at good prices. Don't forget your collectible handguns which are really affordable right now. This includes CZ-82's, P-64's, and I believe there is a CZ-52 for sale at a REALLY good price here on this very board. It would be mine right now if I wasn't moving right now.

But if you haven't already start HERE to get your license so they can ship all this historical goodness directly to you.

Collecting? There is your collection, there is my collection and then there are other collections, I want the most for my money, I purchases a last ditch Mauser complete with a shoe polish stained stock and a flat black paint job on all the metal parts including the tin, my intention was to turn it into a project, I thought I was well on my way when I took it to the range, I thought the rifle was tumbling bullets, without a scope I could not see the hole until I had at least 4 shots off, the one hole made by 4 shots looked like the bullets were tumbling, anyhow, there is nothing I can to to improve on that kind of accuracy, so, I put the rifle up and starting on another one.

I paid $120.00 for the ugliest military rifle ever 'sporterized', a Remington M1917 Enfield, I did not believe anyone could build a rifle that ugly without knowing what they were doing, sure enough I loaded 60 rounds of 12 different loads in groups of 5 and went to the range, the groups moved slightly but never spread larger than a quarter.

I purchased the rifle for parts if all else failed, again not easy to improve on a rifle that shoots different cases as in new commercial, new military, fired military, fired commercial and formed cases with different bullets and powder, again I put that one away, the 50mm scope cost more than the rifle.

Then there is the Santa Fe, Remington 1903 before the A3 1942 + or -, $140.00 with the original ammo purchased with the rifle (from Sears), no scope at 100 yards the hole from edge to edge measured .600 thousands, my plan for that rifle was to install an A4 barrel with 'air brakes' chambered to 308 Norma Mag, again, there is no way to improve on accuracy so I applied the 'leaver policy, I lefter the way I founder.

My collection is not like other collections, I am sure there is a book that identifies collecting methods and techniques, I had no part in writing the book.

F. Guffey

Some really good advice given so far.
A C&R is a good idea. It's cheap, easy, and then you can order older stuff directly. Sometimes it's better to see the weapon first-hand, but sometimes a deal is good enough to buy one just as a "project gun" sight-unseen.
Everyone's collection is different. Look around and find out what works for you. That said, Mosins are hard to beat for the price. It's hard to go wrong with the Swiss rifles too.

Weren't Chilean Mausers originally chambered in 7mm Mauser (7x57)?

Fullboar1... you are correct. The Chilean Mausers Model 1893 and 1895 were originally chambered in 7x57 Mauser and later on some were rebored and a chamber insert was inserted to make them in 7.62 NATO or as some say the 7.62 CMTE.

As far as I know, the SR 93-95 Chilean Mausers were never chambered in 30-06.

I had a Chilean Mauser, I traded it off, biggest mistake I ever made. I have only ever seen one, which was mine. My buddy found out about how uncommon they are and wishes he would have bought it from me instead of me trading it off. Mine was also chambered in .308. I would really consider getting that one.

"Then there were the Chilean Mauser's that were chambered in 30/06 (.30 in 34), and the crowd that claims the receiver is suspect"

and I have 4, paid $25.00 each, as to suspect, I use one barrel chambered in 30 Gibbs to test fire all 4, 5 bolts, one barrel, 4 receivers the + or - head space with any combination was .0015.

Missing parts? The floor plate on this one unique Mauser has a floor plate that is .200 + a little longer than a standard 98 floor plate, it took 2 years for Hoosier Gun Works to find 2.


http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/

F. Guffey

A Finn M 39 is a must for Mosin collector's. Its a little pricey nowadays but worth it.

One of the best places I know about for Swiss rifles (1889 and 1896/11) would be Empire Arms. Dave Kroh has had several listed here:

http://www.empirearms.com/antique.htm

and these can be shipped directly to you as they are pre-1899. If you are not a reloader I'd stay away from 1889s as their ammo (7.5x53) is not commercially available AFAIK. But 1896/11 rifles fire 7.5x55 Swiss which IS available.

While I think the constant Internet Search for headspace gauges to check surplus rifles to be shot with surplus ammunition is kind of a wild goose chase, that picture of a Chilean Mauser with chamber sleeve makes me nervous. I don't want one.

From what I have read the Chilean 1912-61 rifles were rechambered by taking surplus two grooved 1903a3 Springfield barrels and cutting back on the rear and rechambering to 7.62. Then modifying the the barrel threads and whatever else it took to fit it to a Mauser action.

I have one and it is a nice shooter. Its fugly like you couldn't imagine and has a two grooved barrel.

View attachment 567450

View attachment 567451
100 yds with some reloads. With Port surplus it opens up a bit.
My K31 is jealous.

Chilean Mauser .308 Model 1895 safe to shoot?

i just bought a Chilean Mauser .308 (7.62x51) Model 1895 29in barrel
its made in berlin germany by loewe
i think the original caliber was 7x57mm
Stamped on side of receiver
Mauser Chileno Modelo 1895
Deutsche Waffen Und Munitionsfabriken.

is it safe to shoot?
with what ammo?

i have fn 7.62x51 ammo on belt in cans
and some federal .308 ammo for my g3 clone

i might buy low recoil .308 ammo for it