Mauser 95 action strength??

Lebel

Regular
Rating - 100%
139   0   1
Location
Saskatchewan
I'd like to put a 22-250 ackly improved on a spanish 95 mauser action. Pressures are very high on this round, about 60,000 PSI + Would this be a little warm for a 95, any thoughts?? I know of guys who've loaded some pritty warm 6.5 on 96 sweed actions.

Lebel
 
I'd be nervous... The 95 actions were not designed for that pressure. To boot, they dont have any gas relief holes in the bolt (In contrast, the 96 action does)
 
I think the 95 was built for the 7x57 ?? better say in that pressure range. Does yours have the thumb cut or no ?

Frank De Haas, in his book Bolt Action Rifles says; "The 93's and 95's including the Chilean Mauser, made by Loewe in Berlin and Mauser in Oberndorf, show the highest quality of workmanship. They are extremely well made and finished. All parts show careful machining and polishing and without question made of the finest and most suitable steels for the various parts. They were properly heat-treated and tempered for maximum strength and safety the action design allowed."

This being said the 96 was a better small ring and I still would not recommend building a 22-250 AI on it.
 
Last edited:
I'd take De Hasses comments with a grain of salt. The German 95 actions were well made for the times. Metallurgy was still in its developing stages, particularly in the area of heat treating and the beneficial effects of alloys. Non destructive examination had not been developed, so they had to rely upon proofing only.
Having said that, these rifles probably enjoy lower stresses, and a higher factor of safety than todays highly engineered actions (benefitting from mill-certified 4140 steel, finite element stress analysis and radiography) But that factor of safety is there for a reason, and running the action 20-30% higher than design pressures is taking it into unknown territory - particularly if a given rifle has a flaw or inclusion in some critical area.
 
Last edited:
the 22-250AI operates at very high pressures only if it is loaded that way. There is no law saying you have to. Having said that, I wouldn't build a 22-250 on a 95, anyway. Regards, Bill
 
I've got one of the ones that was converted to 7.62Nato. I keep the loads on the mild side just to be safe but I've never heard of one blowing up either.
 
Don't do it, for those types of chamberings I'd select a modern action using modern steels, such as the Savage or Rem. 700 sa, I mention those because of lower cost, availability,parts, etc. For interesting reading on action strengths, you should check out Ackley's old Handbooks, although I wouldn't put any reliance on his recommended loads in other sections of those books.
 
I have run a 95 hot.

They may be better in a lot of other ways, but the gas venting is just as bad as a Rem700.

What does it all mean?
The action will never give way, but if the case does, I hope you have on safety glasses. A friend of mine got a crack in a case in a new Rem700 .223. That ruined that hunting trip, as they had to find a doctor to treat his eye.

If the case splits in half, there is the danger of the extractor coming back.
I have done the three times with 98 Mausers, but it has not hit me yet.
 
Yes the gas venting is very poor in Mauser 95's .

I should mention that the chilean 95 did have a third safety lug behind the bolt handle should the forward lugs fail (but it didnt' help getting a faceful of gas if the case gave way).

And by the way I think a Model 700 will vent gas much better than any Mauser 95 or 96.
 
I have a Swede 96 action that I built a 6mm Rem on. I keep the loads in the 50,000psi range and it seems fine. I did drill an extra vent hole for it though.
There's no reason you can't drill a vent hole for safety purposes.
 
Back
Top Bottom