Headspacing old Spanish FR-8 spanish mauser ?

Kondor

Kondor

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Barrie Area 705
Merry Christmas all!

I was fortunate to receive a 1952 FR-8 Spanish Mauser for christmas ! It is stamped 7.62x51, but i want to also see if i can shoot .308win in it, a video on it said they can but best to heave it headspaced to check, curious as I'm in southern ontario, How much roughly this costs an if there is anyway I can do this myself ? The label Cabela's had on it was .308win but that's hard to trust them unless the previous owner stated thats what they shot out of it. Thanks! Cheers
 
Unless the headspace is considerably excessive you can shoot .308 Winchester ammo in it. The military chamber marked 7.62x51 and the commercial .308 are almost identical, the military being a bit sloppier to accommodate bent ammo.

Check the headspace with a steel go and no go gauges. If the no go does not go - shoot away.
 
I had an FR8 for many years and safely shot commercial .308 ammo.

Having the headspace checked is always a good idea. It involves simply running a gauge into the chamber and closing the bolt. Any gunsmith can do it easily provided they have a gauge. Should only cost a small amount like 20 35 bucks. I have a friendly local smith who I buy from a lot and he has performed this check for me for free on many war surplus mausers. Your FR 8 is more modern manufacture, at least mine was (1949), so the likelihood of headspace issues is slim to none if your bolt matches the receiver. Assuming your rifle has matching numbers all around I think you would be just fine to go shoot some .308. Have a good look at the fired casings. They can tell you if you have any headspace issues. Google case stretching.
 
As said, if the bolt # marches the receiver, you are good to go.

My FR8 has 5 thou of headspace. More than I like in my target rifles, but just fine for a plinker rifle like the FR8.

If you really want the headspace checked, fire a few rounds and mail me 2 empty fired cases. I can measure headspace from them.

308 and 7.62 have the same pressures and are about the same size. Not enough difference to matter.
 
I sometimes regret selling my FR8, but there was no more room in the locker. Gotta love a backsight where it should be.
 
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