Mystery Mauser

[TimboKhan]

So, my dad got me this rifle, claiming it was chambered in .308. Having no reason to disbelieve my dad on pretty much anything gun related, I shot a bunch of .308 through it with perfectly satisfactory results from an accuracy standpoint. Here are the problems: Will feed properly if I am fast and stout on the action. If I slow it up, the round will not feed, in that it seems to get hung up in the chamber mouth somehow. Dad says its a "Spanish" mauser, by which I think he means "Mexican", and they were re-chambered for .308. In researching this rifle, I can find nothing that immediatly indicates that there was ever a Mexican or Spanish Mauser officially rechambered as such, and more interesting is that there are no identifying marks on the gun that I can find. I have not taken off the stock to look inside, but outwardly, it is just plain, unmarked steel. So, my questions are thus: Does this sound even remotely familiar to anyone? If so, could you explain? Anyone have any ideas on the feed issue? I have to admit that I am sort of wondering if Dad is right on this one, and I fear that I am firing rounds that the gun is not chambered for. I am really hoping not, because this is an accurate, simple rifle that I enjoy shooting. My dad has never been wrong before on a gun, but there is a first time for everything, I guess....

 

[cracked butt]

Looks like a Spanish 1916 to me, and they were chambered in .308.

 

[Moonclip]

Post more on markings on gun, they may be faint but look closely with magnifiying glass with strong light.Is there a serial number? Also many Spanish Mausers, not Mexican were rechambered in 7.62x51. Yours kind of looks like one of these guns, but not the later FR7 and FR8's which actually have CETME features. The gun is old and rechambered so I'd keep pressures in the lower range if possible.

More people should chime in soon I'm sure. I'm actually on the lookout for an Israeli Mauser in 7.52x51 myself.

 

[mkh100]

Looks like Dad might be right,

http://www.surplusrifle.com/1916guardiacivil/index.asp

 

[TimboKhan]

Well, Dad has yet to ever be wrong about guns. He did help me with fractions when I was in the 6th grade, and that didn't go well at all...

I actually saw the rifle listed at Surplusrifle.com, but I just couldn't make out any markings to verify it. My best guess has always been that it is that particular gun though. I think I may have to break out the mag. glass and a bright light, because it does seem wierd to me that I cannot find any marking at all.... Anyone have any ideas about the feed issue?

 

[TimboKhan]

you know, it turns out that Dad was a little bit wrong now that I do some reading. Evidently, the .308 Winchester rounds I was firing in the rifle wasn't the best thing in the world to do...

 

[Koobuh]

Indeed. I'm surprised you're alright if you were firing overpressure .308 rounds inside a Spanish mauser chambered for 7.62x51. I really hope you didn't damage the rifle.

You can still get South African .308, so you might shoot that instead, or look into Federal's new low pressure loading, I think it's mentioned somewhere on the Surplusrifle.com site.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've never heard of one kabooming, but it's not a '98 and it wasn't designed to take high pressure mini mag .308 loads. Stick with 7.62 Nato and it will likely function better.

 

[Eightball]

It is a Samco 1916 Spanish Guardia Civil Mauser. Yes, they can take .308 fine; just so long as you aren't handloading, you're well within the pressure specs that are safe for ammo...i think it was 98,000psi (or whichever unit) that made one fail in testing; most ammo falls well under that. Mine is pretty accurate, but that front barrel band keeps skipping forward, which is annoying. Oh well.

HTH.