Mauser Help?

[Cato the Younger]

Dear All-
I have the opportunity to buy a sporterized and scoped Mauser in 7x57 Mauser. It does have the familiar disassembly of the Turkish Mausers and German 98Ks that I have shot, however, it also has a stepped barrel on it. I am wondering if there were any model 1898 mausers chambered in this caliber- we were shooting Prvi Partizan ammo out of it, and it shot fine, but I want to make sure it is a German and not a Spanish mauser- the stock on it covered up all the markings, so all I saw was an eagle type device on the cocking piece, and a "434" code on it. Anyway, it shot well and looked clean and safe, but I just wanted to figure out what kind of mauser it was so that I know if I can fire modern ammunition in it (i.e. Hornady light magnum 7mm mauser or handloads).

Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

[rcmodel]

If it's a 7x57, it is most likely a 93 or 95 action regardless of who made it.

I wouldn't recommend either for hot handloads, or Light Magnums.

If it cocks on closing, it's not a 98.
If it's not a 98, it isn't strong enough for hot-rodding.

rcmodel

 

[dirtyjim]

early czech vz-24's were also made in 7mm along with some of the fn columbian contract rifles.

 

[Cato the Younger]

I believe that it does cock on closing...

Dear All-
Like my brother's Lee-Enfield, I believe that this Mauser "cocks on closing" (it takes a significant amount of force to close it), and I believe I hear it cocking, so therefore it is a model 93 or 95. It will be ok to shoot with plain 7x57 mauser privi partizan (standard pressure) ammo, correct? It has been recently (2 weeks ago) built and checked by 2 well-regarded gunsmiths in my community- indeed I was shooting it with one of them.

Thanks for all of your help, and keep the advice coming.

 

[Vaarok]

Which bolt do you have?

Top one is a '98, with three lugs, the asymmetrical shroud behind the bolt handle and is cock-on-opening, the bottom is the '93 with two big lugs, a symmetrical shroud, and cocks on closing.

A '93 action is very safe with standard 7mm. You shouldn't try handloads full of pistol powder, of course, but standard loadings are all fine. The issue with "weakness" is that the '93 and '95 don't vent gas from a ruptured casing all that well. If you split a casing, spray can leak through the cracks back at you. That's why the '98 has that big flanged shroud- to shield you from spray in the event of a case busting. Don't overreload stretched brass and you should be fine.

Germany made lots of Mausers for other countries, so being German made doesn't mean it's a '98.

 

[Cato the Younger]

It is a Model 93- it does not have the rear lugs.

Varrok- thanks for the pictures! It has confirmed what I thought about the rilfle- it is nice, but I think I will wait on a model 98 action to sporterize- or just buy a modern ruger.

Thanks for all of your help ladies and gentlemen!

 

[Ignition Override]

Barnes & Noble Books had an entire book which featured only the many versions of Mausers.

Saw it less than a week ago here.

Two Spanish Mausers in area pawnshops (Fabrica Armas Oviedo) are 7x57. This was/is(?) a popular European round for decades in various guns.