Mauser Model 1895 action
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Small-ring Mauser actions aren't an optimal choice for high-pressure cartridges such as the .308 or 7mm-08. People do that conversion frequently, but it isn't advisable. The small ring action is strong, but it's an old action from back when cartridge pressures ran in the 30,000psi range. It'd be equivalent to supercharging the motor on a Model T Ford, it might take it, it might not, but the engine wasn't designed with a supercharger in mind 
Now take into consideration that you are dealing with a rifle action that is even older than the Model T
Now take into consideration that you are dealing with a rifle action that is even older than the Model T
rbernie
Contributing Member
Probably so, but technically it's not recommended.
The Loewe actions were well made, used good steel (for the era), and their actions are actually of acceptable dimension (ring diameter) for higher-pressure chamberings. However, the alloy content and heat treatments used were somewhat inconsistent, and as a result the action is probably right on the edge of what is considered acceptable for a modern high-pressure chambering.
There are those that will tell you flatly that it cannot be done safely. I would disagree with that; I think that it *can* be done with an acceptable margin of safety given the appropriate action.
I would not do it myself, however, because there's no telling if the action you have is too ductile or too brittle to be safe.
The Loewe actions were well made, used good steel (for the era), and their actions are actually of acceptable dimension (ring diameter) for higher-pressure chamberings. However, the alloy content and heat treatments used were somewhat inconsistent, and as a result the action is probably right on the edge of what is considered acceptable for a modern high-pressure chambering.
There are those that will tell you flatly that it cannot be done safely. I would disagree with that; I think that it *can* be done with an acceptable margin of safety given the appropriate action.
I would not do it myself, however, because there's no telling if the action you have is too ductile or too brittle to be safe.
cracked butt
Member
The pressures in a 7x57 run pretty darn close to a .308. The action can handle the pressure but is a fair weather friend. The action will not be your friend if you chamber it in .308 and try hotrodding the handloads.
The basic problem is how to non destructively determine a “good” M1895 from a “bad” M1895. I don’t know. Maybe someone with a background in non destructive testing could make a suggestion on how someone should evaluate the material and heat treatment of one of these.
A friend of mine was given a M1895 to shoot. I do not think it was sporterized. He claimed the rifle was visibly good condition. He examined the box of ammunition, determined that the load data was not “hot”, checked the barrel for obstructions, there were none, and fired the rifle. The upper receiver ring blew off the rifle.
I have a M1891 Argentine. I took it out and zeroed it. I have no intention of doing much more than that.
These pre 1900 actions were made of plain carbon steel. I have looked up the modern useage of these materials on MatWeb, basically these stuff is used as rebar today. Process controls were crude and primitive by today’s standards.
Just enjoy these old actions for their history and craftsmanship.
cracked butt
Member
SAAMI specs usually aren't even close to European specs. By European specs, the 7x57 is a 50-55K PSI cartridge.
Slamfire1-
You say your friend examined the box and determined the load data was not too "hot"? Someone else's handloads apparently, since he had to read the box for info to make sure?
I do not know for sure,, but your statement implies an ammunition problem.
I have made inquires from specialty sources on the web, and none have ever said a good condition 7x57 1895 mauser was unsafe to fire with modern factory ammunition.
You say your friend examined the box and determined the load data was not too "hot"? Someone else's handloads apparently, since he had to read the box for info to make sure?
I do not know for sure,, but your statement implies an ammunition problem.
I have made inquires from specialty sources on the web, and none have ever said a good condition 7x57 1895 mauser was unsafe to fire with modern factory ammunition.
rbernie
Contributing Member
That was the point I was trying to make. Essentially, you can't unless you're willing to subject it to a battery of tests whose cost is well in excess of that of a new Rem 700 action.
Excellent advice.
I took my first deer with a sporterized (by a previous owner) 1895 Chilean Mauser. They're neat, and they still do the job.
Just respect their age.
Mr_Pale_Horse
Member
That action will not feed cases based on the 308 very well. The taper of the the 7x57 to the shoulder is much greater.
The performance of handloaded 7x57 in that action is indistinguishable from the 7mm08 and with superior feeding and functioning.
The performance of handloaded 7x57 in that action is indistinguishable from the 7mm08 and with superior feeding and functioning.
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Could have been, I was not there. And while I heard it from the participant, like all eye witness accounts, his evaluation is based on what he thinks happened, not necessarily what actually happened.
It is a human tendency to try to make sense of things, create theories, predict the future. People will tell you what happened, which you can believe, and then tell you why it happened, which you should not necessarily believe.
But as to events, I do believe the receiver ring came off. I do not recall him telling me if the case head burst. If the lower lug kept the bolt from moving, it could have stayed intact in the barrel.
Without a metallurgical analysis of the receiver, we won’t know if the receiver ring was sound metal, or had a lot of inclusions and was poorly heat treated.
But these pre 1900 guns, metallurgy was a maturing technology, I consider metallurgy fully mature by the time you are in the 1930’s.
cracked butt
Member
Whether a reloader thinks he did a perfect job or not, almost all gun blowups can be attributed to reloads. I rifle may have been happily digesting military ball or commercial loads for over 100 years, but its often easier on one's ego to blame the old rifle for giving up the ghost than blaming a flaw in their reloading procedure.
The Germans were decades ahead of American military firearms development including heat treating and metalurgy and were making very strong actions long before hundreds of thousands of 03 springfields were produced with the wrong heat treating.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The thing to keep in mind is this.
Prior to the model 98 action:
There was no safety lug on the back end of the bolt to stop it, if it decided to come out and stick in your head-bone.
There is no stop-ring inside the reciever. to enclose the bolt face & breach like the 98 action.
They didn't handle leaking gas nearly as well, because the planned escape route was not nearly as good as the 98 action.
A just a leaky primer could shoot your eye out!
Those three things are good enough reasons for me never to re-barrel or re-chamber one for a modern high-pressure round.
Even if I did know the heat treatment was up to snuff.
Many were not.
rcmodel
Prior to the model 98 action:
There was no safety lug on the back end of the bolt to stop it, if it decided to come out and stick in your head-bone.
There is no stop-ring inside the reciever. to enclose the bolt face & breach like the 98 action.
They didn't handle leaking gas nearly as well, because the planned escape route was not nearly as good as the 98 action.
A just a leaky primer could shoot your eye out!
Those three things are good enough reasons for me never to re-barrel or re-chamber one for a modern high-pressure round.
Even if I did know the heat treatment was up to snuff.
Many were not.
rcmodel
cracked butt
Member
Just to play devil's advocate as I wouldn't rechamber an old rifle to a new cartridge, especially considering that new cartridges don't always offer any performance gains (example: 6.5x55 to 260 rem, 7x57 to 7mm08), but if one were to look closely at a remington 700, it fails on points 1 and 3 above.
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