samco 1916 Spanish mauser in 308 win.

[beeenbag]

I just got myself into a 1916 spanish mauser. under the barrel it says 308W. I have read several threads that go back and forth, some saying shoot 308 in it, some saying dont shoot anything higher pressured than 7.62 CEMTE.

My question is, if the barrel clearly says 308 w, then how can it not be a 308 W? Some people say that the 7.62 nato is lower pressure and that if nothing else use this over 308, but again, the barrel says 308.

 

[MCgunner]

It was chambered after the fact when NATO adopted the 7.62x51 (.308) as its caliber of choice back in '53. The rifles were in 7x57 (I had one for a while) that were rebarreled. The action does not have the gas vents and safety lugs of a later model Mauser and it is for this reason that many articles I've read say to keep pressures down. I handload, so that wouldn't be a problem for ME. Proper chambering is .308 Winchester, though.

I have a rechambered (to 8x57S) 88 commission rifle with the same safety epithets. I handload that gun down a notch, but I have fired hot surplus ammo in it when I first got it, ammo was offered in the same advertizement in Shotgun News, and it is still in one piece and so am I. I didn't read about these safety concerns with the old Commission rifle until years after I'd bought it. It was bought in 1976 for the princely sum of $27.50. But shoot the hot stuff at your own risk, I guess, is the point. You have been warned.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Paging slamfire

 

[beeenbag]

I don't want to shoot "hot stuff" in it. I'm just wondering about factory 150g 308, for example.

 

[lefteyedom]

Get the rifle checked by a Gunsmith,
Some of the Spanish rifle had iffy heat treatment.
If the rifle is sound and the head spacing correct you "should" be fine.

 

[mookiie]

I shoot low powered 308 win hand loads in mine with good success. Over 400 rounds fired so far without an issue. I have factory 308 Win ammo and I would not recommend firing the factory ammo in it, the pressure is likely to high compared to the 7mm cartridge the actions were originally designed for in 1893, before they were re-arsenalled in 1916.