Mauser. Please help me identify

[PJ-Hunter]

OK, here goes. I recently got my hands on this in a trade. I was told that it was a Mauser 7mm.

I took some pics of the stamping and am hoping to get some guidance. I know it's a Mauser, there is the logo underneath the scope (yes, it has been sporturized)

The rest looks to be French stamping?

Is the ammo I need 7x57 mauser?

Here are the pics:

 

[PJ-Hunter]

 

[PJ-Hunter]

And a sketch of the stamping:

 

[WardenWolf]

Well, it's clearly marked Venezuela. All the Venezuelan-marked Mausers I was able to find information on are indeed 7x57mm, so you should be good there. The other localized markings are probably Spanish, given that is their national language. Others will be from country of origin, which varies somewhat. Some were originally German, and some were Turkish or Persian, along a few other sources.

The crown-circle-ELG is a Belgian marking, which means you have an FN Mauser. And a fine FN Mauser at that.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Fine? How so?

 

[303tom]

Yes looks like it is a FN, that`s a Spanish Mauser & yes it is probably 7x57, lets see a picture of the bolt face to be sure.........

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Bolt face? The right side?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

 

[PJ-Hunter]

 

[303tom]

Bolt Face...............1893 & 1895. Opps forgot the pictures.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

My bolt face:

Looks like the 1895, I think. I don't see that machined ring like on the 1893

Also I measured the bore. Right at 7mm

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That's an M95 -- a nice rifle, if you keep your handloads mild.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I'll just order them. I have WAY TOO MANY hobbies to start loading my own. Does anyone suggest a particular brand?

The local store here can get the Winchester 7mm Mauser (7x57) anytime. 145 grain.

 

[WardenWolf]

PRVI Partizan has 7mm Mauser ammo, and their ammo is always good quality. I believe their loadings are closer to the original military ones than most American ones, which tend to be down-loaded. Sellier & Bellot is also good ammo, though it's only available in FMJ.

I know you said your local store has it, but if you want a good selection, here you go:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/rifle-ammo-7mm-mauser

I'd choose PRVI Partizan any of the other brands. I've noticed Hornady often farms out their older military calibers to PRVI Partizan as well. I got some Hornady 7.7x58 JAP ammo with a PPU headstamp.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I see an M98 large ring....what are yall looking at?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Now you have me confused.

What I saw was that my bolt face matched the bolt face that 303Tom posted. The 1895.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The rifle in the picture is a large ring 98 Mauser as evidenced by the receiver ring diameter and the 3rd locking lug on the bolt. An M95(1895) is a small ring Mauser and only has 2 locking lugs. The caliber is the same 7x57 for either rifle but the M98 is a much stronger action and can withstand hotter loadings.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Jimmy,

If it isn't too much trouble, could I please ask you to copy the pic you see into MS PAINT and label the things you speak of? I am very new to this rifle game and would love to learn. So any help you can share be greatly appreciated.

 

[Float Pilot]

Yes, it is an M-98 Mauser made via contract by FN company in Belgium for Venezuela. It should be in 7x57mm Mauser.

It has an aftermarket scope safety, the original rear sight for some bizarre reason and was drilled and tapped for a scope. Plus somebody did a hatchet job on a military Mauser stock and put in on that barreled action.
If it were mine, I would toss the military barrel & stock, clean up the action, and rebarrel it with a new sporter weight barrel. Then add a nice new stock and you are in business.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

M98 attributes.

In this picture of the receiver note that the receiver ring(that part of the receiver that bears the country's crest)is wider,larger in diameter, than the rest of the receiver. An m95 and other small ring receivers are the same the full length. In the picture of the bolt,look in front of (to the right in the picture) the bolt handle. You will see a locking lug on the bolt body. The is the 3rd safety lug absent on small ring mausers i.e. 1891-1897.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

In reality,you have the makings of a very good hunting rifle. If the barrel is good,I would stick with the 7x57 as it is a great deer caliber,otherwise,I'd do as Float Pilot suggested and rebarrel it.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Awesome! Thanks for the knowledge. This forum rocks. I really think I can learn a lot from you all.

As for the overall condition, I think it's great. The barrel is in great condition. I'd like to get the discoloring taken care of but I don't want to use something too abrasive. Any suggestions?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Give it a good rub down with 0000 steel wool soaked in light oil for starters see if that won't smooth it out some.

 

[Maverick223]

That is a large ring action, no question about it (just look at the front of the receiver, note that it steps down to a smaller diameter behind the locking lug recesses, a small ring action will be straight all the way back). In particular it is a Venezuelan FN-24/30. The large ring action will withstand a fair bit greater pressure than a small ring, but if you don't plan to rechamber a larger round it doesn't matter much, both are good actions.

It was manufactured in 7x57mmMauser, but considering that it has already been sporterized you haven't any guarantees that that is still the case, although being a 7mm bore that's unlikely.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

After talking further to the guy that had it before, turns out all he did was have the scope mounted.