For the Mauser gurus....

[Tyroma]

Hey gang...

I have what has been described as a "Cigarette Mauser" ie. sporterized military, no markings, double set triggers, ramp sights, etc.

What I want to know is what these Franken-Mausers are worth, and secondly what may be wrong with this one. By that, I mean that it seems to split the brass shell case when fired. I assume that it is chambered in 8mm Mauser, and that's what has been put through it.

Any info would be great...don't really want the thing blowing up in my face.

Thanks

Ty

 

[North of 58]

Ty, I'm certainly not an expert but this may be an explanation. After WW1 Germans were not allowed to own rifles chambered in 8x57. To get around that many rifles in 8x57 had their chambers slightly lengthened to 8x60. From what I understand that was the reason the 8x60 cartridge was developed. Does the shoulder on the split cases seem to be a bit further forward than the unfired brass?

 

[Baribal]

The Versailles Treaty stipulated that Germany could no more use their military calibers, so like it's quite common in Old-World countries, they either lengthened or shortened the original military caliber to be accepted by authorities (Germany, Italy, France are using such calibers)
If the caliber was 8X60, the cartridge would have "blow", like growing bigger, instead of breaking (or splitting). You can easily see it by comparing a fired round with a new one.

Many of what you call "Franken-Mausers" are masterpieces or gunsmithing art, but it's impossible to tell you what it worth without having at least pictures of it. Also, for positive identification, you need to post the stamps, mainly those under the receiver (if not present over the wood). Very often, these gunsmiths used military barreled action as a base for their work (reboring, rechambering, re-stocking). You should see those the same as the BSA / Parker-Hale M1917, P-14 and SMLE professional conversions.
Assunming the caliber is a very dangerous way to proceed.... no-one should fire an older rifle without properly knowing the caliber. A chamber cast and bore slugging seems in order for you, buddy...

 

[Tyroma]

Thanks for the replies, guys...I'll get some pics posed, and you can have a look. It is a very nice rifle...looks more like a custom hunter than a bubba'd milsurp.

Ty

 

[Talquin]

this I would like to see. you will also find mauser two shot shotguns. they rebarreled guns for 12 16 20 guage shells. would love to find one of those and see how fun it is to shoot.

 

[Ganderite]

A fired case expands to match the chamber. Does it change shape? Is the shoulder of the case farther forward?

Stick a bullet into the muzzle. This will give you an idea of bore diameter vs bore diamter.

I urge you not to shoot the rifle until a gunsmith examines it and pronounces the caliber. It shoudl ebstamped on it somewhere. It might be a .318 8mm. Sporter made after the first war were often made that way.

I have a double barrel 8mm made in teh 20's. It is a .318 (as opposed to a 323)

 

[bearhunter]

I have a mauser rechambered to 8x60, I fireform 8x57 brass to use in it. Short neck, but enough to hold the bullet squarely and tightly.

Check your fired brass against an unfired round and look for any difference in shoulder height or short necks.

The bore being .318, "might make a difference and might cause this problem". Personaly, I doubt it. Especially if you're useing commercially loaded ammunition.

I've seen several mausers with .318 bores, that have had literally thousands of rounds fired through them. Most of it WWII milsurp stuff, that was loaded far hotter than any commercial North American stuff.
It didn't cause any lugway setback or even any headspce problems. We're only talking .005 in. Not enough to really worry about, unless the rifle is of questionable quality or strength in the first place.

I once associated with a fellow that shot surplus 8mm fmj through a pattern 17 that he had picked up for $5 at marshal wells along with a huge quantity of 8x57. He and the store clerk assumed that because it fit in the chamber, it must be correct for the rifle. He did complain about the heavy recoil and poor accuracy beyond 50 yds, 6in at 50 yds was acceptable to him.

The P17 didn't suffer any ill effects from the 8mm onslaught and beating, no headspace issues, hardly any fouling issues and because he knew about corrosive primers was very careful to clean the rifle properly. His biggest complaint was the 8mm cartridges didn't have a rim to fit in his No I MkIII enfield. Very penny concious fellow by the way.

I gave him a box of M2 fmj to use in the P17, but he saved them for long range use (100yds) and what the he--, the 8mm worked just fine for his needs and there wasn't any reason to waste it. He ran out of the last of the 8mm 2 years ago, after shooting hundreds of deer with the P17 and guess what, the headspace in the rifle is still bang on and the bore is still shiney and bright. To bad he hacked the bbl off with a hacksaw and filed the muzzle flat and square. It still is acceptabley accurate out to 50 yds, even with the filed screw that is the front sight.

I tried to get a pic of the rifle but for various reasons, I was declined the opportunity.

bearhunter