Question about Turkish Mauser

[Bruenor]

I picked up a Turkish Mauser on Friday, but know next to nothing about it. Will it shoot regular Mauser ammo, or did the Turks do something strange with the caliber on it? Does anyone have one of these?

 

[stolivar]

reg 8 mm

steve

 

[lionking]

8x57 JS ammo (regular 8mm mauser)


It may shoot high though.Different grain bullets might change that.

 

[Olympus]

You've got one of many varieties of Mausers...shooting the 8mm cartridge. If you have Turkish surplus ammo just a heads up, but my experience is that they're loaded pretty hot and have a nice kick to them.

 

[Bruenor]

Thanks for the responses eveyone.

I don't have ammo yet, but saw on aimsurplus that their Romanian 150grn FMJ Mauser ammo is $99.95 for a 380 round can. Plus, right now, that ammo ships for only $0.01, some kind of a special they have going on. I think I'll buy a case of that and try it out.

Thanks again.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Wait a sec. Did you get a Turkish Model 98 Mauser, Or a Commission Rifle 1888 "Mauser" with Turkish Markings? Just checking to be sure. Post a picture if you're not sure.....You shoot hot Turkish 8x57 in a Commission rifle and you can say bye-bye to your current face configuration and probably a couple of digits.

 

[Bruenor]

Well, I can't post pictures, but here's what's stamped on the gun.

TC
AS FA
ANK ARA
1938

It also has a half moon, facing up, with a little star at the top.

Is that enough information to tell if its a 98 Mauser or not?

 

[NCsmitty]

Does it have K. Kale stamped on the receiver? Or does it have a notch in the forward part of the receiver. If it's notched then it's a German made 1903 and is an intermediate length action. If it's a K. Kale it's a standard full length Mauser action made by the Turkish Govt. and for the most part, are good actions, I have made a few conversions to modern customs using K.Kale actions and Remington barrels. They are large ring 98's utilizing small ring threaded barrels.
Sounds like a 1903 converted to 8mm in 1938. Does it have an oversize bolt release that extends over to the clip slot?


NCsmitty

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yeah, I believe that's gonna be a Turkish Mauser, a "98" which is actually called a model 1903/1938 - Does it look like this:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/mauserturkish/index.asp

?

So NC Smitty, are ALL "1903/1938s" large ring/large barrel, or are some of them the K. Kale large ring/small barrel such as you describe? If the former, then what's the designation of the K. Kales?

 

[Bruenor]

PremiumSauces,

Yes, it looks like the picture that you posted, the one pictured here: http://www.surplusrifle.com/mauserturkish/index.asp

I looked up the 1888 "Mauser", and found this picture: http://www.texastradingpost.com/m88/gew1.jpg

It does not look like this one.

From this, it looks like it's a regular "98", so I should be good to go with the ammo that I've picked out: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_Romanian_8mm_Mauser_FMJ.html

Thanks everyone for the help. The last thing I want is a gun to blow up on me.

 

[NCsmitty]

The 1903/38, as most people call it, is small ring threaded as is an authentic K.Kale. There were a few standard 98's produced around '48-52 using a cut back receiver to allow fitting the stock and handguard into the cut, but only allowing around 4 threads to attach the LR barrel. Not a desirable shooter but people do it. Most K.kales were made1940-44. Check out this site that has more info than I can remember.

http://www.turkmauser.com/

NCsmitty

 

[NCsmitty]

Parts for the 1903/38 are hard to get and of course, expensive, but are good German made actions. I suggest having the headspace checked. They often have crappy barrels but not all.
I have one myself in original condition except for a Yugo 48 bolt which shares the same length action.

NCsmitty

 

[GD]

The model 1903 and the model 1938 Turkish mauser are different. The 1903 has a shorter action and the bolt will not work in a 1938 Mauser. The bolts look different as the 1903 has a tear drop shape. Both will fire 8mm ammo. I have 7 Turks of various types and all are fun shooters. The Romanian ammo you mentioned will work great in your rifle but is pretty dirty.

 

[highorder]

The spam can of ammo from AIM will be fine for you.

Please note that You DO NOT get a key to open the can unless you buy 2 cans!