Mauser converted shotgun, safe to shoot?

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sequoia4100

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Hi, looking for some advice about a Mauser converted shotgun and its shootability. Do people shoot these 100 year old artifacts? It's a bolt action 12 guage with a very cool double stack internal magazine. Converted after WW I from a Gewehr 98 to a nice safe sporting shot gun. This shot gun has some really cool history but should it stay as a conversation piece or should I get it inspected and shoot it? It seems solid except for the really thin barrel. Not much metal was invested in this barrel and I don't like the idea of it blowing up in my hands / face. Feel free to give me your two cents on this topic.
Thanks,
Greg





 
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sequoia4100 said:
Hi, looking for some advice about a Mauser converted shotgun and its shootability. Do people shoot these 100 year old artifacts? It's a bolt action 12 guage with a very cool double stack internal magazine. Converted after WW I from a Gewehr 98 to a nice safe sporting shot gun. This shot gun has some really cool history but should it stay as a conversation piece or should I get it inspected and shoot it? It seems solid except for the really thin barrel. Not much metal was invested in this barrel and I don't like the idea of it blowing up in my hands / face. Feel free to give me your two cents on this topic.
Thanks,
Greg





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I or no one else can tell you over the net if that gun is safe to shoot . A full investigation by a qualified gunsmith is needed.

BUT ,,,,,,,,, you have a Gia (spelling -?) . I have shot several of these over the years as have friends of mine , with target
or standard loads . Never saw or heard of any safety issues.
 
I have run across discussions about safety issues when I first heard of this gun and researched it online.

There are stories of safety issues and discussions about the guns being damaged through improper use, shell selection as well as wear and tear and age.

You may want to google Mauser Geha safety online as well I would definitely have the firearm checked out by a gunsmith.
 
A friend said it was explained to him that the 12 ga. had a lot of meat removed and lacked locking lug strength. He said that he understood the 16's were better in that area. Don't know for sure, though.
 
Locking is accomplished by what was the safety lug in the original design. The two locking lugs at the front of the bolt are no longer relevant.
I have not heard personally of one of these failing.
I have one, but have never fired it; the stock was badly broken at the wrist, and I doubt that it would survive recoil.
If I were to shoot it, I would stick with lighter loads.
 
kjohn said:
A friend said it was explained to him that the 12 ga. had a lot of meat removed and lacked locking lug strength. He said that he understood the 16's were better in that area. Don't know for sure, though.
Click to expand...

Bearing in mind the age difference of the steels, a Marlin Goose Gun holds Magnum 10's & 12's with '0' locking lugs. The handle holds the bolt closed; not unlike a Cooey 22. The single remaining lug should be sufficient for light loads I'd surmise.
The bbl would be the weak link IMO
 
I've got one in 16 g

I've shot it lots, my Dad's buddy used to borrow it form him to hunt rabbits, so it has been shot many times without incident. Mine is just gathering dust, I was just thinking about selling it the other day.
 
i used one in 16ga as a kid,when I didnt know much about shotguns,but had lots of ducks to shoot at on the Tantramar marshes. The first thing I learned about shotguns was that my Geha was a POS,a dud amongst shotguns. Even the guys with single shots were getting a second shot off quicker cause Id be there looking for the boltface among the marsh grass. It would fly out about every second shot. Also,since the stock was to short,it beat my shoulder black and blue. I think my brother has the old thing now,and it hasnt been fired in a very long time.
 
Shotguns operate at about 12K psi. Their mighty blast is a function of their large bore and much heavier than rifle payload.
 
I had two of these in the shop when dad passed a 16ga and a 12ga. I did try the 16ga once I think but honestly it was a POS and both ended up in the meld down for rebar pile
Looking back it was the right decision since they are not even a nice wall hanger. Me I would not fire it unless checked by a smith
Just my 2 cents
Cheers
 
I have one of these Mauser shotgun conversions, a Model 1871 11mm rifle, that was bored and converted to 12 ga. . This belonged to my Dad's brother who used it when they were kids in the 1930's. . It appears solid and has a nice bore but hasn't been shot in 50 to 60 years if not longer. . It rests in my safe along with other Family guns. . I wouldn't consider shooting it.
 
I had one of these blasted things a fort night or many ago.
Sold it at a gun show with the understanding it's a parts or
wall hanger type thing.
Never did feel comfortable with the idea of allowing the firing
pin to hit a primer.

Make a rather kewl tomatoe peg I suppose.
 
We took in a 71 converted to 12ga. Open the bolt and hold the gun barrel up, the bolt slides out onto the ground! :eek:

Wallhanger big time!
 
I have several of all the Mauser types in different gauges in my "Mauser" collection. Hunted with a 16 Geha for many years as I had nothing else. I used mostly Canuck ammo and never had a problem. Very little difference IMHO, in say a Mossburg? where only the bolt handle is the locking lug vs an integral locking lug on the bolt. The best advice is to stay in your comfort zone but if you decide to use one these things use some common sense - you don't need to use magnum loads just to push your luck. As far a the bolt hitting the floor I believe you a missing the retaining "washer" - not really the guns fault is it? These are good guns if used properly just like all the rest, one draw back is they will give you a good smacking since they are rather light. As far as a gunsmith check-up goes your biggest problem will be to find one who is familiar with this type of firearm.
FWIW --- John
 
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