Mauser.45 acp Conversion

K

kevinh

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Location
Toronto, CANADA
Greetings everyone,
I hope you all are dong well!

I'm interested in the Mauser Model 1871 but would like to ask you smart people how feasible
it would be to convert it to .45 acp?

Do you think it's doable? (I can only find the Mauser 98K to .45 acp conversion through google)
Have any idea how much it would cost a gunsmith to do this?

And last question, if I may ask, would it be safe? (Not looking for legal/expertise advice - don't want to make you feel liable)

Thanks for reading this!
Be well everyone!

Cheers,
Kevin H.
 
That is a .43 m round ? I don't see why not , Cost wise I don't see why you would. Couple here can answer better as I have not done much with those.
 
kevinh said:
Greetings everyone,
I hope you all are dong well!

I'm interested in the Mauser Model 1871 but would like to ask you smart people how feasible
it would be to convert it to .45 acp?

Do you think it's doable? (I can only find the Mauser 98K to .45 acp conversion through google)
Have any idea how much it would cost a gunsmith to do this?

And last question, if I may ask, would it be safe? (Not looking for legal/expertise advice - don't want to make you feel liable)

Thanks for reading this!
Be well everyone!

Cheers,
Kevin H.
Click to expand...

Incredible waste of time and money. You would need a new barrel, new, or heavily modified bolt and extractor, and a custom magazine system. The only reason the 98K conversion is viable is that it can be sold as a kit and installed at home with minimal tools. If you were doing all the work yourself, then go for it, but if you have to pay someone to do it, you'll be out over $1000 (maybe over $2000) and have nothing worthwhile to show for it beyond a bizarre curiosity.
 
The action would be plenty strong. Single shot so wouldn't require mag alterations. May extract finicky. If you slugged enough bores you'd likely find one that was about perfect.

Would it be a waste of money? In the same sense that it's cheaper to buy chicken than hunt duck.
 
Well you would have to figure out if the barrel is threaded the same. Also those 45 conversion kits are only 16.5" barrel. So you would need to modify the stock.

The magazine adapter probably wouldn't work, and is the bolt face the same?

If they are not, and want to maintain the long look of the Mauser Model 1871, Then it would be all custom, and costly.
 
Thanks everyone for your awesome replies!

I know someone who knows a gunsmith, so now that I know it might be possible, I'll make an inquiry with them.


Thanks again!
Hope you all have a nice Sunday night!

Cheers!
 
If you want the easiest 45 ACP mauser...here is how to do it. Get an '89 or '91, the bolt face is perfect and it's a push feed design. That is important.
Screw on a 45 ACP bbl and install sights. Place a concave wooden block into the magazine well. Open the bolt, drop the 45 ACP onto the concave surface of the wooden block and close the bolt...Bob's your uncle.
As far as a donor for this project...an Argentine 91 is going to be a high quality, cheap platform.
Pretty much for the cost of the bbl and gunplumber to swap it and regulate the iron sights.
 
gaff said:
45 long colt , 45-70.
Click to expand...

Rimmed designs are not going to be an easy fit on the 91...serendipity let the 45 ACP to be a perfect fit.
45 LC won't allow anything to be classified as an Antique...doesn't matter what you put it in as a donor.
So the '91 in 45 ACP wouldn't be an antique...but would allow access to easy sourced ammo of a decent power rating. And it's stupid easy to do...winner, winner, chicken dinner!
A '71 in 45 LC makes no sense...you are taking an antique class firearm and putting in a no-good cartridge...it's now subject to CC classification as a firearm... would make much more sense to try to chamber it in 38 spl+...still antique then.
I'm sensing the OP wants an antique class firearm for the storage laws...Ranch life. It's complicated sometimes.
I've both guns; a 71 in 12 gauge and a bubba'd 91 in 7.65 x 53 ( the plan is to convert the '91 to 45 ACP at some point...beautiful carbine, excellent machining).
So I'll try to help out with measurements if I can.
Ciao
Tokguy
 
Last edited:
A '71 Mauser rifle in any centerfire caliber above the lower limit is going to retain its antique status.
A conversion to .45 ACP would require a lot of tinkering.
There are lots of bubba'd Lee Enfields that could be converted with far less trouble. The advantage of a Lee Enfield conversion over a Mauser based one is that the breech face of the barrel is right there - not set forward in the receiver ring.
A sported '71 Mauser rebarreled to .45-70 would certainly use ammunition that is far more available than 11mm Mauser.
 
Allow me to retort.
We are Canadian and LE's can be had for 50$ at garage sales in Sask. Yep, common as dirt...but I am going to have to disagree on the LE's 'less trouble' when compared to an Mauser, except I'm talking 91 again, not 71.
Here is an unmodified 91 bolt with a 45 ACP hanging on by the extractor.
PkUCcJml.jpg

Now an unmodified LE bolt with a 45 ACP hanging on by the extractor. Yeah...it's not...it can if you are really careful
jKKKMKxl.jpg

Says it all IMO
1891 breech face is set forward, but requires no machining or orientation ( other than sights...but LE needs the same treatment )
VepyeyVl.jpg

LE No. 4...needs a relief for the extractor to be cut and oriented to 3 o'clock
n5qdyc3l.jpg

Which one is easier to members reading?
I picked up a shooting '91 ( pictured actually) for 175 $.
This is the Gunsmithing forum, but remember...all who visit and post are not 'smiths. I'm not.. I muck about on the fringes...but I am most definitely not a Gun Plumber.
Tip of the hat to those who can cut bbl threads, machine extractor grooves etc, etc, etc
But the '91 to 45 ACP seems dead simple. LE to 45 ACP seems more formidable IMO
 
tokguy said:
Allow me to retort.
We are Canadian and LE's can be had for 50$ at garage sales in Sask. Yep, common as dirt...but I am going to have to disagree on the LE's 'less trouble' when compared to an Mauser, except I'm talking 91 again, not 71.
Here is an unmodified 91 bolt with a 45 ACP hanging on by the extractor.

Now an unmodified LE bolt with a 45 ACP hanging on by the extractor. Yeah...it's not...it can if you are really careful

Says it all IMO
1891 breech face is set forward, but requires no machining or orientation ( other than sights...but LE needs the same treatment )

LE No. 4...needs a relief for the extractor to be cut and oriented to 3 o'clock

Which one is easier to members reading?
I picked up a shooting '91 ( pictured actually) for 175 $.
This is the Gunsmithing forum, but remember...all who visit and post are not 'smiths. I'm not.. I muck about on the fringes...but I am most definitely not a Gun Plumber.
Tip of the hat to those who can cut bbl threads, machine extractor grooves etc, etc, etc
But the '91 to 45 ACP seems dead simple. LE to 45 ACP seems more formidable IMO
Click to expand...

On the Lee 45 ACP kits, you are required to file the ejector, So it moves closer in to hold the 45 ACP case.

But in the end. It is going to require someone competent with a lathe, to make a barrel etc. So the small things like ejector and headspace is minute to them.

So may look like it easy, but is it? Just because a case holds onto a bolt.

Tiriaq is making me a 9mm Lee No4.
 
Last edited:
OP asked about the 71 Mauser, which is why I referred to the M71. Altering a Lee Enfield to .45ACP would be much easier than altering a M71 to that caliber.

From the '88 Commission rifle and on through the various Mausers, the bolt faces will do well with the ACP.

Pooched Mausers are common and cheap enough for experimentation. A ho-hum grade sported '93 Spanish Mauser is likely going to be as cheap a foundation for a project as one could find.
 
OkayShooter said:
On the Lee 45 ACP kits, you are required to file the ejector, So it moves closer in to hold the 45 ACP case.

But in the end. It is going to require someone competent with a lathe, to make a barrel etc. So the small things like ejector and headspace is minute to them.

So may look like it easy, but is it? Just because a case holds onto a bolt.

Tiriaq is making me a 9mm Lee No4.
Click to expand...

I agree that he did want to use the 71 initially. That is going down the antique road...but man that'd be an interesting project.
I am in awe of the LE conversions... and I'm sure it's a labour of love for Tiriaq. De Lisle knock-offs are neat.
Other than sourcing the rifle, how is a LE easier?
I acquired the 91 with this conversion in mind...because I've no plumbers in my circle to 'lean on' and the LE conversions are...? Help us out on cost, no 'Buddy discounts' applicable either, k?
But on a ' I want an affordable 45 ACP bolt action ' topic ..I cannot see how the LE is cheaper or easier than a 1891.
Could literally get a bbl cut with necessary threads ( and breechface) , screw it on and shoot it...sans sights of course. That is it...don't even have to insert the wood floor in the magazine...tip it muzzle down and drop in a 45 ACP.
An LE conversion isn't going to be as easy I'm guessing...
It's not ###y like a LE conversion...nope. In the article, it was built to allow young teens to get their first taste of a 'Big' CF rifle...it's not big to us. But a 13 year old...that's pretty cool to get to shoot a 45 ACP rifle...I've got a few grandkids and expect more, it would get used.
 
Threaded and chambered .45ACP barrels are commercially available for Mauser and Lee Enfield conversions. Both large and small ring Mauser threads are offered. These use Savage style locking collars, so lathe work is unlikely to be needed. Using one of these commercial barrels, the gunsmithing buddy might only be needed to remove the factory barrel.
 
tiriaq said:
Threaded and chambered .45ACP barrels are commercially available for Mauser and Lee Enfield conversions. Both large and small ring Mauser threads are offered. These use Savage style locking collars, so lathe work is unlikely to be needed. Using one of these commercial barrels, the gunsmithing buddy might only be needed to remove the factory barrel.
Click to expand...

Cool beans.
I'm leaning toward the 91 as the OP wanted it for a friend with a horse barn...that screams 'Working gun / Quad gun' to me.
Tiriaq...would you suggest throwing a De Lisle knockoff behind the seat of truck...they are pretty precious to treat that way I'm guessing?
Thanks for the input all.
OP, let me know if you still desire any measurements of my 71 bolt face.
 
Hey, thanks again ever one for your questions and comments!

Maybe this isn't a project that will start.

But thanks again for chiming in everyone!

Have a great new week :)
Cheers!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom