1895 Spanish or Chilean Mauser

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I bought this on a whim for 250 bucks at the lgs, the tag was marked 7.62 NATO and I didn't know much more about Mausers from this period I knew that alot of older military rifles were sporterized and converted to more available calibers so I figured this would be just the same. Then I dug up some history, I'm not sure whether it's chilean or Spanish there are no identifying marks other than some numbers. My main question is what main factory load can I use in this thing and be safe? I only have aguila 7.62 on hand and american eagle .308 I am NOT using .308 in this thing. I wanted to use this as a beater hunting gun or truck gun but if its not even serviceable I may try selling at a loss and go find a Remington 770

 

[Scooter22]

Looks like a Spanish 1916 short rifle they converted to 7.62 NATO. It,s not recomended to shoot .308 pressure loads in it. It was original 7mm Mauser. If you reload you can use .300 Savage data for safe loads. I hope that curved barrel is your camera. Otherwise it,s a parts rifle.

 

[Speedo66]

I believe some of the South American Mausers were converted by the military itself.

Is there a national crest on top of the receiver?

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

For those interested in the numbers to see what it might be.

I believe some of the South American Mausers were converted by the military itself.

Is there a national crest on top of the receiver?

No, I tried looking all over for a crest or proof Marks the following is what I have

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Looks like a Spanish 1916 short rifle they converted to 7.62 NATO. It,s not recomended to shoot .308 pressure loads in it. It was original 7mm Mauser. If you reload you can use .300 Savage data for safe loads. I hope that curved barrel is your camera. Otherwise it,s a parts rifle.

I dont reload that's why I was asking about which factory 7.62 loads are safe in it. If I cant even shoot that I'll just sell it, I dont care about it being a parts rifle as long as its usable

 

[theotherwaldo]

-Looks like my '16 Spanish Mauser in 7.62 CETME.
Most have a scrubbed crest, like yours.
Keep to low-pressure rounds

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

-Looks like my '16 Spanish Mauser in 7.62 CETME.
Most have a scrubbed crest, like yours.
Keep to low-pressure rounds

Got any ideas on any factory loads that are safe?

 

[theotherwaldo]

Nope.
Hand load only, AFAIK.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Yup, no factory stuff.

The 7.62 CETME was a low powered precursor to the 7.62 NATO, but I doubt youll be able to find any now.

Remington used to make something called MR or "Managed Recoil" reduced power ammo, but it didn't sell well and is now discontinued.

 

[792mauser]

Its Spanish. The rear sight and gas escape in the receiver give it away.

 

[LoonWulf]

what about the reduced recoil ammo? Im not aware of any pressure data on them, but it would take some work to get a 125 at 2600/2800 to the same pressure as a 150-165 at the same speed.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Well since I cant shoot it safely then I guess I'll take a hacksaw to it.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

what about the reduced recoil ammo? Im not aware of any pressure data on them, but it would take some work to get a 125 at 2600/2800 to the same pressure as a 150-165 at the same speed.

I tried to look for that old Remington load but cant find it anymore

 

[Kp321]

Parts gun! Both pictures show a rainbow barrel plus the questionable action strength make it a loser. If you want to salvage something, you can rebarrel it back to the original 7mm Mauser.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Parts gun! Both pictures show a rainbow barrel plus the questionable action strength make it a loser. If you want to salvage something, you can rebarrel it back to the original 7mm Mauser.

Is it an 1895 parts gun or 1916? The tag from the LGS said 1895 but some here are saying 1916.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

So, what's up with that barrel?

 

[kBob]

The type of Action is Mauser 1895 The Spanish year of Adoption was 1916.

Is that some sort of long eye relief scope? If not take it off that rifle and us it somewhere it might work.

You know with iron sights and a Lee "Hammer Time" loader and some .30 150 grain flat point 150 grain bullets designed for .30-30 use that would make someone a great "Truck Gun"

Maybe some sort of stock cuff to hold a spare stripper clip and a place to hold two or three rounds of lead squib loads.

That would be nice.

-kBob

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

So, what's up with that barrel?

Camera is in panoramic mode, it is not bent

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

The type of Action is Mauser 1895 The Spanish year of Adoption was 1916.

Is that some sort of long eye relief scope? If not take it off that rifle and us it somewhere it might work.

You know with iron sights and a Lee "Hammer Time" loader and some .30 150 grain flat point 150 grain bullets designed for .30-30 use that would make someone a great "Truck Gun"

Maybe some sort of stock cuff to hold a spare stripper clip and a place to hold two or three rounds of lead squib loads.

That would be nice.

-kBob

No idea about the scope, it's some junk of oriental manufacture came on the gun. If I reloaded this it wouldnt be so bad but I currently dont reload

 

[HankC]

1895 Chilean has a round bottom bolt, Spanish 1893/1916 bolt is square at the bottom. Not all Spanish have the gas escape hole. I had both at one time, 1893/1895 small ring mauser was my favorite platform to convert to 7.62x39 when barrels were available, I converted 3 small ring mausers. Two Spanish (one 1893 and one 1916) and one 1895 Chilean. I don't remember if the 1895 has a gas escape hole, likely has one. I remember I drilled an escape hole on the 1893 Spanish and it was the only one I drilled. Yours is likely a Spanish 1916 converted from 1893 into 7.62 and renamed 1916. 1895 Chilean would be made by Loewe and marked so on the receiver. The 1895 Chilean small ring mauser conversion used a insert, you will be glad yours is not a Chilean.
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html
Contrary to many believe that 1916 Spanish 7.62s are to shoot 7.62CETME, there was a 1916 Spanish military manual in Spanish shows 7.62NATO. Maybe so but not recommended if you intend to shoot plenty, definitely not commercial 308WIN. I shot 7.62NATO before and noticed slight binding to lift bolt after firing and decided to convert to 7.62x39. They were sweet 7.62x39 shooters, the only problem is extractor would not hold brass tight to a firm ejection due to smaller brass rim diameter. Not really a problem if swift pulling the bolt. I still have a Turkish large ring mauser, with small ring barrel, converted to 7.62x39.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

1895 Chilean has a round bottom bolt, Spanish 1893/1916 bolt is square at the bottom. Not all Spanish have the gas escape hole. I had both at one time, 1893/1895 small ring mauser was my favorite platform to convert to 7.62x39 when barrels were available, I converted 3 small ring mausers. Two Spanish (one 1893 and one 1916) and one 1895 Chilean. I don't remember if the 1895 has a gas escape hole, likely has one. I remember I drilled an escape hole on the 1893 Spanish and it was the only one I drilled. Yours is likely a Spanish 1916 converted from 1893 into 7.62 and renamed 1916. 1895 Chilean would be made by Loewe and marked so on the receiver. The 1895 Chilean small ring mauser conversion used a insert, you will be glad yours is not a Chilean.
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html
Contrary to many believe that 1916 Spanish 7.62s are to shoot 7.62CETME, there was a 1916 Spanish military manual in Spanish shows 7.62NATO. Maybe so but not recommended if you intend to shoot plenty, definitely not commercial 308WIN. I shot 7.62NATO before and noticed slight binding to lift bolt after firing and decided to convert to 7.62x39. They were sweet 7.62x39 shooters, the only problem is extractor would not hold brass tight to a firm ejection due to smaller brass rim diameter. Not really a problem if swift pulling the bolt. I still have a Turkish large ring mauser, with small ring barrel, converted to 7.62x39.

So your saying I can at least shoot 7.62x51?

 

[illinoisburt]

I would feel perfectly fine shooting any of the factory reduced recoil 308 hunting ammo. Ot not any more expensive than other hunting rounds.

 

[HankC]

So your saying I can at least shoot 7.62x51?

I would say at most. Minimize shooting if full power 7.62x51. I stopped when sensed bolt was stiff to lift. I also like to warn you that small ring muaser receivers are surface hardened and prone to crack. I bought a 1893 receiver, finished it up, tapped for scope mounts, ready to build and noticed a hair line crack at the barrel joint cracked through the threads. Glad I found it before I build it up and shoot. That is why I sold all my small ring mausers and built a 7.62x39 on a Turkish Large Ring. Small rings do not have strong receivers as large ring mausers and they are over 100 yrs old.

 

[Scooter22]

You have a lot of conflicting info. BUT you have a 1893/95 based action re chambered that can accept .308 commercial loads. Do you want to risk your face to a blow up? You choice. Load it low or don,t use it. JMHO.

 

[HankC]

I also remember when the importer, Samco I believe, brought the 7.62 Spanish 1916s in to US, they did a receiver strength test and marketed saying it is strong enough for 308WIN. There was a test report posted at one time. I would not fire anything more powerful than 7.62NATO. Now I reload, sort of miss the1916 that I had in original military stock. It was a beauty rifle in a clean stock. I sold the stock set a few years later after I converted it to 7.62x39 at a price almost as much as I paid the rifle. I bought it locally, was only a bit over $100. I remember I bought the 1895 and 1893 at $75 and $85 but the stocks were in pretty bad shape, I only wanted the actions to build into x39.

Edit-
Found an old thread with the Gum & Ammo article that talked about the SAMCO receiver strength test result.
https://milsurpafterhours.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8177