Metamorphosis of a Mauser

[kombi1976]

Stocker, I would do that if I intended to keep the Teco stock but I don't.
It'll be probably fitted with a Butler Creek synthetic or perhaps a Geoff Slee walnut stock depending on what takes my fancy.
A thumbhole stock would be interesting but thumbholes don't make for an ideal hiking rifle and plastic stocks are a little hardier in changable weather conditions.
Plus the pillar bedded Butler Creek job is a bolt on affair with immediate accuracy whereas even a "drop-in" routed wooden stock needs glass bedding and finishing.
A European style stock with "hogs-back" butt and square cut cheek piece would be really lovely too but, well, everything costs money and some people recon they're a little nasty on the shoulder, although I don't load this hot and 8x57 is no magnum.

 

[kombi1976]

Here are a couple more pics in the daylight.
As you can see in the second shot the coating helps to tidy up the pitting.

 

[kombi1976]

Post re-crown range report!

Today, since I had to head up to see family, I took the 8x57 to the SSAA 50m indoor range at St.Marys in Sydney's west for a sight in and test.
I have to say that the scope was SHOCKINGLY out and due to my own incompetence I had the poor thing shooting all over the place.
I did notice that the lack of the bbl sleeve meant it didn't heat up as quickly.
But, after a lot of stuffing around there were some moments of pure gold.
When I FINALLY got the rifle centred and shooting a little high as I wished it showed it's colours.

Ignore the yellow stickers.
They mean nothing.
The target is about 5" across and the 3 shots(2 into the same hole) measure about a 0.7" group.

I was aiming at the bottom 10x circle on the following bear target:

This time a little to the left but still a 0.86" group.
Now, all of these groups are shot at 50m but it's a big start and I look forward to trying it at 100m.

 

[kombi1976]

It's been a while since I posted on this but the Mauser has reached the next phase.
I shot the thing for a little while with the powdercoating and lopped bbl but while I was shooting Big Game Rifle at Canberra last year I found that while it shot comfortably within 2" at 100yds it was on and off at 200yds and shooting minute-of-mastodon when it did hit paper!
I couldn't work it out.....until I pushed the floated bbl down into the bbl channel and floorplate protruded from the bottom of the stock at the front action screw........
Suspecting it was the result of the altered bbl dimensions after the sleeve had been removed I decided I'd better re-bed it so a friend and I did so one afternoon.
The next Sunday I headed to the range to bench rest it and trial some 150gn Hornady SP testloads.
The groups were atrocious, far from my expectations, and I was not impressed as the bedding, if anything had made it worse.
I happened to look at the action again after I'd finished and, surprise surprise, the action was again loose at the recoil lug.
It was at that point I decided a new stock was in order.
I just couldn't think exactly how I was going to work it out.
Last Saturday I headed up to Penrith in Sydney's west to the Antique & Modern Arms Fair and ended up buying a Choate sporting stock for the Mauser.
It has a blind mag, which sorted out all of the floorplate issues I had with the Tego stock and sling swivels and recoil pad.
It was AUD$220 but it cheaper than the Butler Creek stocks so I was quite pleased.
Better still, the missus didn't get mad with me despite the cost.
Here's a pic:

But I reckon it looks very boring in black.....wouldn't you guys agree?
So I'm going to have a guy in Melbourne do a Duracoat camo paint job for me.
His aren't as spectacular as Gatehouse's half-pissed efforts but he does a cool green/black/grey tiger stripe effect that I really like and should suit the rifle well, at least more than snow camo .
I'll post a pic of an example when I get home.
There's still some fitting that needs to be done as it's SUPER tight at the moment.
I also intend to add a wheel weight or 2 in the fore end and butt to cut down a tad on recoil and will be filling the butt with cavity foam to stop the hollow "bonk!" sound it makes when you bump it.
Anyhow, I'm pretty pleased and it should be ideal for dragging through the hills in any sort of weather after all types of game.

 

[Gibbs505]

I am sure it looks great however all I see is a red "X"

 

[kevin.303]

not bad, but now that the sights are gone, you should ditch the super high rings, if the bend of the bolt handle will allow, and drop the scope as low to the bore as you can.

 

[kombi1976]

not bad, but now that the sights are gone, you should ditch the super high rings, if the bend of the bolt handle will allow, and drop the scope as low to the bore as you can.

Unfortunately the bolt just clears the scope presently.
Next time I do this I'll remove the standard open sights before the scope is fitted and bolt handle bent.

 

[BigUglyMan]

From the looks of the photo, you have one cranky bear on your hands!

 

[kombi1976]

From the looks of the photo, you have one cranky bear on your hands!

It's actually a deer skin.
Wish I could say I'd shot it but instead it was a very thoughtful and cool house warming pressie from a good mate whose also into hunting.
My wife hates it.......can't get better than that!!

 

[kombi1976]

Well, it's been a long time between posts for this thread but the other day I finally decided to do something about this rifle.
I've been quietly dissatisfied with it for a while now.
It shot ok with the Choate stock but not being bedded I was concerned both about damaging the stock and long term accuracy.
The powder coating never filled the pitting.
It showed up just as badly and I'm not even sure it sealed the metal.
I tried bedding it myself with help of a friend but it still wasn't right and I didn't want to risk ruining the stock so I left it for a bit.
Finally, I decided to swap the Tasco MagIV 3-12x40AO on it to my Martini 22 Hornet and fit a Bushnell 3-9x40......only to find the damn bolt handle wouldn't clear the bell!
So it got put to back of the locker until my temper improved and I decided what to do with it.
I usually get a bit of money around Christmas and as a rule it usually makes it toward a new rifle or some shooting gear.
Last year it helped buy the T3 9.3x62 and it has bought other rifles before.
This time I decided that since the 8x57 had a decent stock and was a good action that it deserved to be finished properly so I would consolidate and finish a rifle instead of buying another one that I would have to feed.
But it needed a few things......a new bbl, a better trigger, being bedded properly and the bolt handle needed shaving to clear the Bushnell.
So I compiled a list of stuff:

- a 26" stainless bbl chambered to 8x57JS of as heavy a contour as the bbl channel could fit (I like long bbls and my sweat is really acidic so stainless is better)
- a Timney trigger (a friend had given me one for nicks)
- the action beadblasted and heavily blued dull
- the bolt handle shaved/modified
- a proper glass bedding job

And after chatting with a good mate who used to shoot roos for a living I decided to give Keith Bridgeman at Sprinter Arms in South Australia a call and get a costing.
When everything was worked out the price was right.
The only thing now was to convince the missus to let me send it in early so it would be back JUST before Chrissie and I'd have time to load and dial it up for the hunting trip I'm doing in early January '09.
In the end she couldn't really stop me as she'd done a pre-emptive spend on a couch last year.
I have to give it to my missus though.
She doesn't like guns and would be overjoyed if I sold all of mine but she stayed up until 2:30am last night fabricating a box I could send the rilfe in.
I sent it off registered post this afternoon so it should arrive there by Wednesday next week.
It should be a cracker of a rifle and I'll be getting Keith to put a medium length throat on the chamber so it will accurately shoot 150gr pills.
A firm load of ADI AR2206H (H4895) will push a 150gr to about 2950fps and that is good hog or goat medecine.
In fact, it's a good all round load for anything short of sambar deer, camels, scrub bull or buffs and it's has a max PBR of about 280yds.
I'm also getting the stainless bbl bead blasted to make it dull......better for stalking.
I admit 26" is long but I can always have it cut back to 24" or 22".
You can't lengthen it if you want it longer though.
I'll post some pics when it returns.

 

[jimmyjazz]

Looks good, I am looking at doing the same with a 1908 Brazilian I was given. Can't find a better action.

JMHO

 

[Northman999]

Nice job. I've got an old bnz K98 that I'm trying to trade away, but may end up refinishing in a similar manner. The 8x57JS is really an under-respected cartridge, most likely due to the wimpy factory loads currently available. Nothing that some reloading can't quickly cure however.

 

[kombi1976]

Oh, absolutely.
So many people forget that the 8x57JS 150gr loads used by the Germans in WW1 and perhaps even in WWII were more powerful than the 30-06 150gr loads of the same era!
Just goes to show how far ahead of its time the 8x57 was.
In fact as far as I'm aware it was the first rimless cartridge used as a regular military cartridge on a large scale.
In most situations it should be an exchange for 30-06.
It's certainly a better hot climate cartridge as it isn't loaded to the pressures 308 Win is but then that's a concern for me rather than you!

 

[Eagleye]

I have a Remington 700 "Classic" chambered in 8x57JS. It has the original Remington 24" barrel on it and has a gorgeous piece of wood on it. I drive the 180 grain bullets in it to over 2800 fps without any pressure issues, and the 200 grain Partition to 2650 and pennies. It is a very effective round. I have shot a couple of moose with it and a couple of Black Bear. All have been "dead right there" I have a lot of respect for this chambering. I also can easily see why Europeans regard it the way we regard the 30-06. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[kombi1976]

Mmmm, vair pretty, Eagleye.
8mm has never really gelled with the US shooting public as a whole but then 30-06 is really THE cartridge.
They believe the '06 won 2 wars for them (which it did if you believe small arms alone wins wars....and I don't) and it has been a popular hunting cartridge since its conception.
Plus, 8mm isn't 30 cal - the other big American fave - and it also isn't different enough to seem important.
And if you want to be xenophobic it was the cartridge evil Krauts used.
And THEN there's the 8x57J and 8x57JS issue.
Since subtlety in firearm specific factory ammo also is something the US often lacks (look at the problems over 45-70 factory loads) and litigation is something they do well 8x57JS was always going to be up against it.
But with enough money to afford European loads or the persistence to "roll your own" the 8x57 is a cracker.
But hey, I'm preaching to the converted here.

 

[Eagleye]

Mmmm, vair pretty, Eagleye.
8mm has never really gelled with the US shooting public as a whole but then 30-06 is really THE cartridge.
They believe the '06 won 2 wars for them (which it did if you believe small arms alone wins wars....and I don't) and it has been a popular hunting cartridge since its conception.
Plus, 8mm isn't 30 cal - the other big American fave - and it also isn't different enough to seem important.
And if you want to be xenophobic it was the cartridge evil Krauts used.
And THEN there's the 8x57J and 8x57JS issue.
Since subtlety in firearm specific factory ammo also is something the US often lacks (look at the problems over 45-70 factory loads) and litigation is something they do well 8x57JS was always going to be up against it.
But with enough money to afford European loads or the persistence to "roll your own" the 8x57 is a cracker.
But hey, I'm preaching to the converted here.

Everything you say is true, Andy. North American has never been inclined to "Bite the bullet" with anything related to European firearms that is even the slightest bit complex. [8x57J vs 8x57JS, 8x57JR vs 8x57JRS] They just sidestep the issue by loading super wimpy stuff that won't even obturate a case properly at times. I have some old Norma Factory ammo for the 8x57JS, it's a 196 grain soft point with that mild steel jacket. It is great ammo! accurate and fast. Another one that surprised me was the Igman 198 grain PSP. It is also right up there. Conversely, the 170 grainer loaded by Winchester is positively lethargic. I believe in loading to it's potential, and that means it is a damn fine round! You are indeed preaching to the converted. Regards, Eagleye

 

[kombi1976]

Y'know, it just struck me what is particularly odd about the relative unpopularity of 8x57JS and the poor US-made factory loads....all of the big projectile companies make a number of bullets in this cal providing the handloader with lots of possibilities.
Why is it that a cal with relatively few factory rounds has readily available bullet weights ranging from Hornady's 125gr SP (although apparently this isn't being made anymore) all the way out to the Sierra 220gr GameKing?
And these are just US made pills.
Sure, there have been more come on the market since the 325 WSM got up but for a "inferior" cartridge it seems only the ammo manufacturers are the ones with their heads up their bottoms.
There are some seriously fun bullets made outside the USA though.
Woodleigh here in Oz even make a 250gr RN SN (I have a box or 2 of these) and the Europeans and Sth Africans also make a wide array.
The one sad thing is that Prvi Partizan which is made in Serbia or nearby has allowed themselves to be dragged down to SAAMI specs for its 8x57JS ammo.
In their haste to try and smooth export to the USA they've done all of a disservice which it a real pity.
The brass is great, I use it for my Mauser, but the ammo is rubbish.

 

[kombi1976]

Well folks, the big day has arrived.
My Mauser is HOME!! ;D

Here's a pic:

Barrel long enough for ya?
It came fully disassembled and I put it back together in the veriest of minutes.
The trigger is delightfully crisp and light, the bluing nice and dull......which is kinda ironic considering how shiny the bbl is.
I may in the future paint the bbl with a ceramic paint to make it nice and dull too but I haven't decided.
What it does need doing now is some sort of better finish on the stock.
It had to be modded for the bolt handle and it also has some other marks I put in it when we tried to bed it last time.
For the moment though I'll be running some rounds through it.
A friend has to have some roos culled in Feb and March and this seems to be the ideal rifle for the job, albeit a much bigger cal than most people use for that work.
Then off for a paint job perhaps.
I post a range report when I get out there next.

Here's a couple more pics I took afterward:

Here's the bolt handle.
Previously it had just been bent further over which caused the clearance problem.
Keith actually cut it off and attached it at a 90 degree angle and bent it out.

And here's a really bad shot of the crown.
Sorry about the quality but I took about 10 pics and this was the best.
I really should buy a new camera.

 

[Brno8x57]

Well done Kombi.
I am really impressed that you retained the original caliber when you re-barelled. So many would have been tempted to make it an 8mm-06 AI.

I have been hunting and shooting the 8x57 for a long time and you can guess by the alias my preference in manufacturers. For ammo, I like all of the offerings by Norma. Pricey and not always readily available where I live, but the Norma stuff is my preference. It reloads nicely and one of my pet 8mm's has an appetite for the 180gr Nosler Ballistic tip with Norma brass and 4064 powder.

Cheers

 

[kombi1976]

Many of you would've read this thread and be waiting with baited breath for a performance report on this rifle.
After burning the midnight oil last night loading up some rounds for it I finally took it out to the range for a test run.
The initial shots at 50m were very encouraging and most grouped around the same spots.
I then took it out to 100m and tried the loads I'd made for it.
Due to the fact it will be used for medium game and predators much of the time I stuck with a lighter bullet, Sierra's ProHunter 150gr SP.
Even it is a tad big for foxes and hares but with the demise of the Hornady 125gr SP there's nothing else lighter on the market.
My choice of powder was ADI's AR2206H (H4895) as the figures for this were faster than any of the other powders and the powder volume was pretty good.
I started at 49gr and worked my way up to the 51gr maximum load in the hope that the hotter loads would be good.
As it turned out the hotter they got the wider they spread.
I shot a 4 shot group for each load and the differences left me in some dismay.
The 50gr load was 2 shots together on target, 2 shots together 2" high and others were quite a lot worse.
The 51gr load ended up putting all four within 2" but that was not really good enough for a new heavy sporter bbl that was properly bedded.
But there was a silver lining.
The coolest load I took.....49gr of 2206H.....delivered this:

Shot No2 was the flyer to the left and as soon as I pulled the trigger I knew it would be bad.
The rifle pulled badly and I wasn't suprised.
But the rest grouped around 0.9" which is Sub MOA in my book.
The rifles bears some more testing and I could probably chase an even more accurate load but it won't be hotter.
It will be in gentle increments cooler.
Doing some rough calculations considering the reloading data and the bbl length and other factors it should still clock between 2900fps and 2930fps.
Zeroed 2.6" high at 100 will give it a 280yd max PBR.
So, I'm pretty satisfied.