sporter mauser

[kentucky_smith]

I have in my lap an 1895 Chilean Mauser, made in Loewe Berlin that someone has sporterized and put a .308 barrel into. There are no other markings except matching serial numbers on floorplate, bolt and reciever. SN A564x.

The work looks like it was done professionally, like in a factory. It's been drilled and tapped already for a scope mount and modern rear sights. It's a nice, balanced gun that I fell in love with. The gunshop mentioned that he thought someone put these out several years ago with a 03 springfield 30.06 barrel converted to .308. It has a real nice Monte Carlo stock that I'll try to get pics of.


Anybody have any ideas on who did the conversion?

 

[db_tanker]

not trying to sound sarcastic, but how many gunsmiths are there in the US?

You have a good rifle, but there are so many 'smiths set up to do that kind of work, unless he personally marked it, then your looking in vain, brother.

Nice choice, however...in caliber that is...I have a Brno 308 that is the dogs bark to shoot.


D

 

[kentucky_smith]

Mostly just wondering if there was a company that did these commercially? It looks like a factory re-work, like a 40-50 year old Winchester. Something like BSA did to Enfields in the early 50s.

But, I guess, if they did, they would have marked it with something.

 

[rbernie]

There were a few outfits known for sporterizing mil-surp rifles en masse, but yes - they all marked the rifles prominantly. If the rifle's not marked in a visible spot, chances are it was the effort of a single journeyman gunsmith.

 

[Gewehr98]

A .308 on a '95 Chilean Mauser action?

Do yourself a favor, have that rifle checked out on a regular basis. That's a small-ring Mauser action, designed for low-pressure cartridges like the 7.65x54 Belgian/Argentine, 7x57 Mauser, and 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. Running modern high-pressure .308 Winchester loads in that action is considered asking for trouble. That, or just run low-pressure reloads, for example, cast bullet loads.

 

[rbernie]

Running modern high-pressure .308 Winchester loads in that action is considered asking for trouble.

The advice to keep an eye on things is well founded, and good advice for any mil-surp rifle of that vintage. However, from where I sit the Obendorf, Loewe, and Gustaf small rings appear to have been made of sufficient material such that rechambering them to most modern cartridges isn't patently unsafe.

The small-ring Mauser has virtually the same receiver dimensions as the (cast) Ruger 77 action, and less than thirty thousands of an inch less ring diameter as a Win70 or Rem700. Given the steels used in Berlin or Sweden, it's actually a pretty stout package. It's bolt isn't as strong as the more modern rifles, but IMO it's still capable of handling most any chambering that uses a .473" head diameter and which doesn't add too much additional bolt thrust to the equation.

How many Kimber reworks have you seen blown up or suffering from bolt/lug issues?

just run low-pressure reloads, for example, cast bullet loads

I wouldn't shoot commercial 308 in a Oviedo small ring, but I'd not personally feel compelled to keep a Berlin-made '95 to cast bullets.

Just my opinion.

 

[Gewehr98]

Interesting.

How many Kimber reworks have you seen blown up or suffering from bolt/lug issues?

The better question to ask is why Kimber quit doing those conversions, considering they stuck with the good Swedish '96 Mausers and their high-grade steel. I'd wager real money it has something to do with lawyers and liability insurance.

Putting 60K PSI loads in an action designed for 40K PSI ammo just isn't something I'd approach lightly. You don't even have the third lug, just in case... My gut feeling is that there just isn't an adequate margin for safety in such a conversion. Maybe it's just the flight safety officer in me peeking through...

 

[kentucky_smith]

http://www.thenationofriflemen.com/nor/index.php/ggps/single/spanish_guardia_civil_mauser_m1916_308_win/

Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought this, because a bunch of Guardia Mausers were sent to H.P. White, a testing company, and tested to destruction. The SAAMI maximum of 55,000 psi (lbs/sq.in.) for the .308 Win was exceeded—and the rifles were finally destroyed at 98,000 psi!

In other words, I was talking total nonsense, and these rifles are perfectly capable of handling the .308 Win cartridge. My sincerest apologies to all, and to the Guardia Civil Mausers too.

The M1916 is based on the M1893, with a shorter barrel (21") than the older model. Possibly because of the rumors of their weakness, they are selling way below what they are really worth. The typical price is around $130 - $150, which is a steal. So if you see one and need a rifle in the wonderful .308 Win caliber, grab it.

I know the last owner of this rifle, he has all of his fingers and toes left. Everything checks out fine, per local gunsmith.

 

[kentucky_smith]

And it's a customization that ER Shaw will do. Should be fine. Hopefully.

 

[rbernie]

I'd wager real money it has something to do with lawyers and liability insurance.

Actually, my speculation would be that it probably had more to do with the fact that they could get new custom actions cast for less than they could buy and refurb mil-surp actions. But that's obviously something that neither of us will ever know. What we *can* analyze is the durability and lifespan of the conversions, and so far they seem to be doing fine.

You don't even have the third lug, just in case...

Actually, the 95's did have a minimal third lug, and what I've read concerning overloads of the design have indicated that the bolt integrity isn't as much as an issue as is the gas venting.

Putting 60K PSI loads in an action designed for 40K PSI ammo just isn't something I'd approach lightly.

But I don't think that this is the case. I seem to recall reading that the standard turn-of-the-century 7x57 load was estimated at around 50K PSI, not 40K PSI.

But your point is valid - don't take it lightly. I just wouldn't suggest that it's an unacceptable risk, either.

 

[Gewehr98]

Oh, heck, that ain't nothing.

Well, apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought this, because a bunch of Guardia Mausers were sent to H.P. White, a testing company, and tested to destruction. The SAAMI maximum of 55,000 psi (lbs/sq.in.) for the .308 Win was exceeded—and the rifles were finally destroyed at 98,000 psi!

I'm pretty sure our buddy Clark can whip up a blue pill .308 load that'll make a '95 Mauser scream uncle, then tell us it's his favorite elk load.

(Actually, I'm expecting it...)

And it's a customization that ER Shaw will do. Should be fine. Hopefully.

You pay me enough money, I'll screw a .308 or 7mm-08 or .260 Rem barrel into a small-ring Mauser too. I won't guarantee it'll hold up. Should be fine. Hopefully.