Bubba'd Argentine mauser

[Mustang51]

I got a Bubba'd 09 Argentine Mauser last month at an on-line auction. Thought I might be able to "re-mil" it, based on the auction pics and description. I thought it might need just a stock and furniture (which I have) and a straight bolt handle. Alas, such is not the case...barrel cut about 4", rechambered to 30.06. I've got a full length 09 barrel from Numerich..but gunsmithing will add significantly to the cost.

 

[NCsmitty]

I see the barrel is a matching #, so being rechambered to '06, it still has the .311" bore from the original 7.65x53 Mauser round. The '06 is .308.
If you install the other barrel, it will likely need to be fitted due to the sights needing to be TDC.

'09 Argentines are very desirable as you know, and depending on what you paid for it, might be worth converting back seeing it's not D&T.


NCsmitty

 

[Otis is DaMan]

So his weapon is chambered in 7.65x64mm ??

How does that work out firing a .308 in .311 bore ? I'll bet his necks are smoky.

 

[Mustang51]

I've heard that you can get some improvement by seating .311 bullets in the 30.06 case.

Ironic thing is that the Argentines won the Pan American matches at Perry back in 1913 shooting 09 Mausers chambered in 7.65 x 61, which was derived from the 30.06 case.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

According to the serial #,your rifle was made in 1910. That was the only year that DWM made all 3 variants of the 1909(Long rifle,cavalry carbine and engineer's carbine).

 

[Numeric]

Since it hasn't been d&t'ed and the crest is still intact, I say go for restoration. Seems to me the rifle is useless unless you're willing to handload .311 in .30-06 cases. It will take some time and money, but you'll end up with a great addition to your collection, rather than a dust collector.

 

[Mustang51]

Got to the range today and shot some of my recent acquisitions, including the 31.06 Argy. I was shooting factory Federal 150 and 180 Power Shok's. Rifle seemed to like both of them. But it was printing them high. I shot these 4 shot groups at 50 yards (they look like about 3 MOA). The hits were very high..I had to take a 6 o'clock hold on the small bottom target and hit the upper target. At 100 yards the rounds were going right over the target backer..

150 grain Federal PS's @ 50 yards:



180 grain PS's @ 50 yards


Better than I expected, shooting .308 bullets thru a 7.65 barrel.

I've always had trouble with the Mauser inverted triangular sights, so not sure how much of the group dispersion I can blame on the sights.