Spanish Mauser bolt spring

[Garandman3]

I recently bought a 1916 Spanish Mauser in 308Win all the serial numbers match and it has a very nice trigger. This is the first Spanish Mauser that I have fired but have fired other Mauser actions recently. I estimate the effort to close the bolt on this Spanish Mauser is at least 3 times greater. The effort is the same whether chambering a round or not. I have disassembled the bolt with the spring compressed and there is space between each coil so it may be a matter of the spring being too strong and not too long. The bolt moves freely and easily until the spring begins to compress.

Also the sights begin at 300 meters so any suggestions on after market rear sights or taller front sights.

 

[Merle1]

I recently bought a 1916 Spanish Mauser in 308Win all the serial numbers match and it has a very nice trigger. This is the first Spanish Mauser that I have fired but have fired other Mauser actions recently. I estimate the effort to close the bolt on this Spanish Mauser is at least 3 times greater. The effort is the same whether chambering a round or not. I have disassembled the bolt with the spring compressed and there is space between each coil so it may be a matter of the spring being too strong and not too long. The bolt moves freely and easily until the spring begins to compress.

Also the sights begin at 300 meters so any suggestions on after market rear sights or taller front sights.

I believe this model cocks when closing the bolt, so you will get a lot of resistance at the very end of the bolt travel.

 

[HankC]

cocks when closing the bolt, so you will get a lot of resistance at the very end of the bolt travel

+1. It is small ring mauser and is cock on closing. By the way, don't shoot commercial 308 out of small ring mauser 1916s.

 

[kBob]

Yep, cocks on closing. On your M98 type ( what I am guesing you have experience with) the cocking occurs as you raise the bolt handle and NOTHING is to be actually compressed on closing. (Nope not even the extractor as the new cartridge feed up under it and it does not have to snap over the rim) On the Spanish 93s and such the gun only has to break the cartridge case free of the chamber on raising the handle but to push the bolt closed you are compressing that firing pin spring.

-kBob

 

[Maj Dad]

15-20 years ago, H.P. White labs gave the M1916s a green light on commercial ammo - Century or Sarco or whoever was selling them included a copy of the report with each rifle shipped. I bought one, but was underwhelmed after having had a 7mm version in the late 60's that was a downright tack driver. Plus, I am a pushover for 7x57...

 

[boom boom]

Check the length of the firing pin spring. A long one can bind in a s curve. Should be .455 to .460 outside diameter and around 28 turns. Also check the firing pin for burrs and straightness which can cause binding of the spring and firing pin. Make sure that the extractor is not binding in the receiver channel as well when going into lockup. Scrub the bolt body thoroughly inside.

Regarding other issues..I would suggest reading older forum posts as this has been thoroughly debated on the thr forum in the past.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I have never heard of a failure of an 1895 .308 Chilean but remember those were re-heat treated in the '50s and are not in the same 19th Century state. They were also intended to run 7.62x51 and not commercial .308. Personally I rebarreled mine (.257 Rob Ackley Improved and 7x57) as they did not have a huge safety margin in my opinion. I believe the '93s are weaker than '95s and I don't recall if they have the "third lug" behind the bolt handle.

I am not trying to call you out but personally I would not shoot a .308 '93.

Mike

 

[fireman 9731]

15-20 years ago, H.P. White labs gave the M1916s a green light on commercial ammo - Century or Sarco or whoever was selling them included a copy of the report with each rifle shipped.

They may have. But I personally have a Spanish 1916 converted to 308 that has multiple cracks in the receiver. I would thoroughly inspect it before shooting anymore, and stick to lower pressure loads.

 

[HankC]

They may have. But I personally have a Spanish 1916 converted to 308 that has multiple cracks in the receiver. I would thoroughly inspect it before shooting anymore, and stick to lower pressure loads.

I had 1916 308s and 1893s as well, I shot 7.62 NATOs thru 1916 and noticed the bolt was stiff to open afterwards. I would not fire commercial 308s thru it. 7.62 NATO probably OK. I converted 3 or 4 small ring1893s into 7.62x39s and happy!

 

[fireman 9731]

This is mine. I have never shot it. I bought it just to do a 45acp conversion but I didn't know it was this way when I bought it. Luckily I noticed the cracks when I was cleaning it.

Cracked Mauser 1

• fireman 9731
• Mar 7, 2017

Cracked Mauser 2

• fireman 9731
• Mar 7, 2017

 

[Group Therapy]

This is mine. I have never shot it. I bought it just to do a 45acp conversion but I didn't know it was this way when I bought it. Luckily I noticed the cracks when I was cleaning it....

Thanks for the pics of your SpanMau with cracks. That is a lesson on what to look for. I was happy to find no such problems when I stripped and re-blued mine last year. But I will keep on the lookout each range session. Had it gauged and inspected too. Only shoot sensible loads for it.
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I noticed yours does not have the gardia civil crest. Maybe I got lucky and bought an earlier import from the better part of the lot. Of the ones I have seen lately on the market they seem pretty much pure junk. Cruddy. Rusty. Beat up. Maybe good for poking a campfire late at night.:

Before all the work last year

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Project Finished:
View attachment 231165

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Range Results:
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[fireman 9731]

The general consensus from the experts here on THR was that it likely cracked during the conversion process due to an improperly heat treated receiver along with over torquing or poor threading. The other theory is that it cracked during proofing. I bought it used, so it was likely fired with the cracked receiver and whoever did it still has their all their fingers and both eyes.

 

[Group Therapy]

The general consensus from the experts here on THR was that it likely cracked during the conversion process due to an improperly heat treated receiver along with over torquing or poor threading. The other theory is that it cracked during proofing. I bought it used, so it was likely fired with the cracked receiver and whoever did it still has their all their fingers and both eyes.

Good to know the story. There are plenty of kabooom pics out there with no story, which only leads to speculation, which is not the best learning.

 

[Garandman3]

Hodgdon gives a max load for IMR 4064 with a 150 Nosler ballistic tip of 47.7 grains producing 57100 psi. I load 45 grains of 4064 with a 147 or 150 grain FMJ bullet. There is little room left in the case before seating the bullet so another 2.7 grains must be a compressed load. The cracked receivers could be due to poor quality control during manufacturing. Another explanation could be that they are the results of poor reloading, using a much faster burning powder and too much of it.

The number 31119 is stamped into the right side of the receiver. I have read that is the serial number for the 308Win conversion. On the left side 7.62 is stamped in very small font. On the underside of the barrel near the muzzle it is stamped Oveido Spain M1916 and under that is Samco Mia Fl 308W. Any thoughts?

 

[Merle1]

Hodgdon gives a max load for IMR 4064 with a 150 Nosler ballistic tip of 47.7 grains producing 57100 psi. I load 45 grains of 4064 with a 147 or 150 grain FMJ bullet. There is little room left in the case before seating the bullet so another 2.7 grains must be a compressed load. The cracked receivers could be due to poor quality control during manufacturing. Another explanation could be that they are the results of poor reloading, using a much faster burning powder and too much of it.

The number 31119 is stamped into the right side of the receiver. I have read that is the serial number for the 308Win conversion. On the left side 7.62 is stamped in very small font. On the underside of the barrel near the muzzle it is stamped Oveido Spain M1916 and under that is Samco Mia Fl 308W. Any thoughts?

Oveido is the arsenal that made it & M1916 is the model.
Samco is the importer.
Personally I suspect they over tightened the new barrel, thus cracking the action.