Need HELP WITH 1916 SPANISH MAUSER CONVERTED TO 7.62...PiCTURES

[bros]

Well one more here.





It's a Spanish 1916 Mauser that has been converted to 7.62 Nato. Looks like the original serial number is on the right side of the receiver and the new conversion number is on the left......which also matches number on bolt.....trigger housing and magazine floor plate match as well!

Stock looks like the sandpaper and it had a bit of a relationship!!

Bore is pretty decent!

I 'know" I would not be pulling the trigger on this rifle with full power 7.62 Nato rounds.

All comments are greatly appreciated and more info on this conversion would be appreciated

Again trying to figure out fair market value on this one as well, I know the pictures are not the best but that's all I've got at the moment.

Thanks

 

[bearhunter]

Actually it was converted to use a cartridge with identical dimensional characteristics. The 7.62x51 CETME. Which generated slightly lower pressures and used a substantially lighter bullet weighing 112-113 grains.

That doesn't mean the action of your rifle isn't strong enough for the 7.62x51 Nato. Supposedly, they were OK for Nato ammo.

Your rifle started out as a 1893 or 1916 short rifle chambered in 7x57 Mauser.

The original 7x57 Mauser load generated very similar pressures as the 7.62x51 Nato load which is around 46,000 psi.

Many, including myself, feel the 7.62x51 CETME conversions are safe in rifles such as your's.

Your rifle looks like thousands of such that were imported by International Firearms pre C68 days. Most were arsenal refinished to military spec, as quickly as possible. Some say the conversions were a gap filler to familiarize the troops with the capabilities of the cartridge in their upcoming CETME semi auto/full auto rifles, which are very similar the H&K G93 rifles.

I've owned and shot several over the years. I built up handloads generating pressures around 43,0000 psi, which is the working pressure of the 7x57 Mauser as loaded by Spain. I've also shot a lot of surplus 7.62x51 Nato through those lovely little Mausers. No bolt set backs, no signs of stress visible by magnafluxing the actions and bolt lugs.


Your rifle. Your choice as to what you want to shoot through it. Good on you for being cautious.

One caveat to check out. Every single one of those rifles I've owned have had MAXIMUM SPEC NATO CHAMBERS. If you're going to handload for the rifle. set aside the cases for use in that rifle and fireform them to the chamber. If you can, use surplus milspec brass.

Some folks I know had case head separation issues because they insisted on full length resizing to 308 commercial specs.

This has been my experience with these rifles and the CETME round.

I was lucky enough to purchase a large shootable quantity of the original 113 grn CETME bullets. The first couple of thousand came from International back in the day and the last batch came out of SFRC a few years ago. If you can find them, they're well constructed and very accurate.

 

[bros]

Bearhunter...thanks for the very detailed response. I haven't bought this rifle as yet but if I do I will be sure to use your info as the "go to guide".

What's a fair price to pay for this rifle?

 

[bjmurata]

Bearhunter...thanks for the very detailed response. I haven't bought this rifle as yet but if I do I will be sure to use your info as the "go to guide".

What's a fair price to pay for this rifle?

A fair price for these rifles will no doubt vary from one person to another.That being said I bought a pair of them from Joe Salter a few years back for $295 and $325 each.The more expensive one was in somewhat cleaner condition than the other,I considered them to be a decent deal.
Both are ok shooters by my standards but do have generous chambers,so I don't size my fired brass anymore than necessary to prolong case life.I also use loading data for the 300 Savage for my handloads.This isn't because they won't handle standard 308 Win factory loads but rather to make them a little easier on my buggered up older shoulders.

 

[points]

I have had a couple converted to NATO and have never had a problem with either surplus ammo or 308. I think that a full wood piece would be in the $450 and up range these days and a nice sporter around $300.

 

[Ganderite]

"I've owned and shot several over the years. I built up handloads generating pressures around 43,0000 psi, which is the working pressure of the 7x57 Mauser as loaded by Spain. I've also shot a lot of surplus 7.62x51 Nato through those lovely little Mausers. No bolt set backs, no signs of stress visible by magnafluxing the actions and bolt lugs."

I have had two of these rifles and over the years shot a lot of military 7.62x51 and handloads. No problems.

That said, the M93/95 action does not handle gas as well as the M98, and there is no safety lug. I would rather shoot handloads, using the Start load data, in deference to the rifles age and unknown previous history.

308 and 7.62x51 have about the same pressure limits - just over 60,000 psi. I have tested IVI military and Winchester 308 Match that both averaged over 60,000 psi.

Most military and commercial is around 56,000 psi, but some lots are close to the limit. If you want to take it easy on these old rifles, the best option is mild handloads.

 

[BAAC]

I was going to flag the 7.62x51 CETME issue and the missing lug as well.

I think these rifles got a bad rap from people who ignored their history or didn't bother to learn anything about them.

If you do end up working a load for these, please share it. It's something I've been meaning to do... Too many projects and not enough time/money.

 

[Potashminer]

Curious, in this day and age, that there is still discussion about the "CETME" - it was an "assault rifle" who's design was not working out very well, and required milder cartridges to work, until the re-engineering occurred. Co-incidently, those milder cartridges were exactly the same size as 7.62 NATO. But, for the conversions done for the Spanish Guardia, should no longer be any doubt that the conversion was meant to be for the 7.62 x51 NATO cartridge. Here is a scan of the cover of the booklet produced about those rifles. Don't have to be able to read much Spanish to see these were indeed meant for the NATO cartridge, converted from the 7mm (we would call it the 7x57 today).

 

[bros]

So far........thanks for all your very informative posts guys.

 

[MiG25]

The issue with that is Spain was not a member of NATO in 1967 so had not agreed to the standardization. Meaning they could load it in any manner they liked. I recall reading that Japan uses a lower power loading as well.