My newest acquisition - A Spanish Mauser

[A Historian]

I hope the pictures are good enough. I had to shrink them down a lot.

The third picture, of the receiver stamping, says, "Fabrique de Armas, Oviedo, 1906." Which I take to mean it was produced in armory of Oviedo, Spain, in 1906. I do believe its a 1893 action, and I know its chambered in 7mm Mauser.

I haven't slugged the barrel yet, but off-hand micrometer measurements look really promising on bore dimensions, and the rifling actually looks crisp. Sadly, some of the metal seems to have suffered some superficial rust spotting, but there is not actual pitting. It looks like it sat in someone's basement far too long, unused. Probably also wasn't cleaned up the best after firing, because cleaning out the barrel took more time that what I'm used to. I'm pretty confident I found Mordor, because there was a lot of blackness.

 

[A Historian]

Part two

I know the rifling pictures are not the best. I'll take the blame for that, but I'm glad I was able to catch some segments of near the receiver, and further down the barrel. (Kind of looks like some weird galaxy forming out of an abyss.) Perhaps I'll try again later, in better lighting, and experiment with some different settings.

The best part was the price - 125 dollars.

 

[jobu07]

What is this one chambered in?

 

[RaspberrySurprise]

What is this one chambered in?

I do believe its a 1893 action, and I know its chambered in 7mm Mauser.

*cough cough*

 

[jobu07]

Ahem... Gotta read them closer next time.

Great looking rifle in a great caliber.

 

[GCBurner]

They're nice rifles, mine looked almost exactly like that one, except my receiver is dated 1937. I paid $23 for mine at Montgomery Ward back in the early 1960s, when military surplus rifles were cheap and available everywhere, and made it my one and only foray into "sporterizing" a pristine military gun. I wouldn't do that today, but I've still got the old Mauser as an object lesson in what NOT to do with a collectible antique gun.

 

[Slamfire]

Just be nice to your rifle. As it is a pre WW1 specimen, the metallurgy on the thing is highly variable. While these rifles were proofed, the operating pressures of the era were in fact mild compared to modern commercial loads. Many of which are loaded to magnum levels as that is what the market wants.

The Spanish Mausers rebarreled to 308 Winchester are particularly well known for having problems. The 308 is a high intensity round and many of these rifles have developed headspace issues as the bolt peened into the soft receiver.

This action type does not have the gas handling safety features that Paul Mauser incorporated into the M98 Mauser. Blown case heads will funnel gas straight back into your face. Therefore I will recommend that you only use modern, high quality brass in this rifle. Decades old military brass, where it has been stored since 40’s, 50’s, who knows. I would not shoot the stuff in this rifle.

Excessive Headspace in M1916 Mauser

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6707989&postcount=10

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oceans
Thats funny Maj. Dad, I knew a correctional officer in the late '80s, who had one of them in what was supposed to be .308. This guy loved that rifle like it was a 1930s model 70. He talked about it constantly, shot it every time he went to the range and even bought an expensive case to haul it around in. I was always leery of a 1893 action chambered in .308. I was told that the Guardia Mauser was chambered for a very similar Spanish round, and not the NATO 7.62x51, and that this Spanish round was loaded to lower pressures. I do not know if this is true, maybe someone on the board does? I will say, that the rifle is handy, and nice looking.

Oceans - It is true, as I found out today, sadly.

I've had my 1916 Spanish Guardia Mauser from Samco for about 20 years now. Took it deer hunting every year until last year, when I heard about the same thing you did. I shot .308 rounds out of it.

Finally got the headspace checked by a gunsmith, and - well, the bolt locked EASILY on "no-go". And we're talking like butter. I snapped the firing pin and will have it hanging on the wall of my office soon.

 

[A Historian]

That's why the first thing I did, even before purchasing the rifle, was confirm that it was, indeed, chambered for 7mm Mauser. I plan on taking good care of it, and certainly don't want to attempt hot-rodding any of my loaded ammunition through it.

 

[TheGewehrGuy]

Nice.

I have one of those re-chambered by the Spanish Military in .308 in the 1950's when they didn't have enough (G3's?) to go around. Its a beautiful rifle. Although it was not made for .308, I have problems feeding multiple rounds reliably from the magazine.

Its very accurate with iron sights.

 

[WardenWolf]

Not bad. I'll take my Turk, but all well-kept Mausers have a certain charm.

 

[Fullboar1]

Including the German 98K, Swedish M96 & M38 the Spanish Mauser is one of the best Mausers you can buy and you got it for a steal. The 7mm Mauser (7x57) is also a great round, factory loaded ammo is usually loaded down (for use in older guns) so ballisticly it is close to the 7mm08.

 

[A Historian]

If the Turks I (finally) found at the gunshow were of the quality of yours, I think I would have swayed that way as well. On the flip side, as fun as it would be to be able to time-travel my bullets, I don't need really need that kind of speed.