Spanish Mauser Model 1893- Is it safe to shoot?

Alfonso

Alfonso

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So I have been collecting Mausers for many years and some of my earliest purchases in the 1980's and 90's were the Spanish M93 Mauser in original 7X56MM. I currently have 4 left in my collection, all made at the Oviedo Arsenal and all receivers stamped post 1900. I think one is from 1923. Anyways, many years ago I took 2 of these beauties to my local gun store in Vernon BC and the owner quickly looked at it and probably checked something and said they were unsafe to shoot due to Head Space issues. I don't recall him ever using a head space gauge. This has really bummed me out after all these years as I'm in fact Spanish and my Grandfather used this rifle in the SCW on the Republican side. History aside I've been watching 2 or 3 YouTube channels of Milsurp content based in the US and they all go to town on this rifle. Not only is it a hugely overlooked gun in the Milsurp community but an amazing MAUSER design full stop. So, now Im scratching my head and wondering if all these years I could have been shooting one or all of my 93's. Is there a head space test I can do at home? Should I take them to a gun smith or other shop and get their advice or just shoot the damn thing?

Alfonso
 
If the gunsmith made the headspace determination without even using gauges perhaps the bolt had excessive rearward movement when the action was closed.
 
If the bolt number matches the receiver, it is very unlikely that the rifle has any problem.

American commercial ammo is not loaded hot in 7x57, so buy a box and try it. See if the bolt opens smoothly and inspect the primer.

I rebarreled mine to 308 and it works well.
 
There are many options for you.

Buy whatever headspace gauge you need to actually test the headspace.

Find a gunsmith to do the same.

Test fire a few rounds with the gun secured in a tire (if you have your doubts) and examine the brass. Go from there.

Trailer park headspace gauge with factory ammo and a piece or two of scotch tape on the back of the cartridge.

Send it to me because I don't own one of these yet. A sure fire way to score tons of karma.
 
I just shot a couple of my Pre 1900 Model 1893 Spanish Mausers yesterday. Never headspaced them… then again, they have matching bolts, and both were made by Ludwig Löewe in Berlin. Just put my shooting glasses on and hoped for the best! Lol
 
Was the gun shop guy a gunsmith or a salesman?

The only opinion I trust on firearm mechanical safety is my own or a gunsmith.

That said, I'm a mechanical engineer and machinist with a background in steels and materials science, and I own headspace gauges in many calibers. A gunsmith will as well.
 
Claven2 said:
Was the gun shop guy a gunsmith or a salesman?

The only opinion I trust on firearm mechanical safety is my own or a gunsmith.

That said, I'm a mechanical engineer and machinist with a background in steels and materials science, and I own headspace gauges in many calibers. A gunsmith will as well.
Click to expand...

I would go with this. Most chambers set up to a Minimum and Maximum safe length - so far as I know, about only way to check that is with steel ground headspace gauges - GO gauge is minimum amount - so you want the bolt to close on a GO gauge. FIELD gauge is the maximum amount - so you do NOT want the bolt to close on a FIELD gauge. I have not found in SAAMI where the "NOGO" gauge comes from - is usually a bit longer than a GO gauge, but is seldom at SAAMI maximum - so maybe for fitting a new barrel??

I am not sure that I would know how to comment about "headspace" without using a gauge to know. Is a possibility that some guns may have "set back" in the receiver recess where the bolt lugs fit - poor heat treat, overloads in the past - various causes for that "set back". So far as I have played with, is about no bolt action made that limits the forward movement of the lugs within the receiver - about all will allow the bolt to move slightly forward and back when the bolt is closed on an empty chamber - but a proper headspace check will verify the distance from the bolt face (with the lug or lugs seated against their recess) to whatever datum point is used for that cartridge.

I like the phrase above - "trailer park" - I do know some who rely on that - if you do intend to go with that - likely better to repeat with multiple cartridges - preferably from multiple lots or at least multiple boxes of ammo. But I do use a variation of that - I started with various SAAMI steel GO gauges - then I punched out various circles from feeler gauge leaves - a dab of grease on bolt face or rear end of the gauge to act as "glue" - lets me know that a particular chamber is 0.0xx" more than GO - up to me to decide if I want to do anything about that.

Headspace check is, I think, done with perhaps one finger tip pressure on the bolt handle - is not a "bull strength" contest to see if the bolt will close - is about trying to feel if the gauge will touch or not - getting "rammy" can ruin the gauge or the chamber. Is a time for "finesse", not for strength.
 
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This old post is somewhat on topic, this concerns Spanish Mausers chambered in 7.62 Nato that were tested to destruction. This testing was designed to address concerns about the strength of the small ring Mauser action.


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Potashminer said:
I like the phrase above - "trailer park" - I do know some who rely on that - if you do intend to go with that - likely better to repeat with multiple cartridges - preferably from multiple lots or at least multiple boxes of ammo. But I do use a variation of that - I started with various SAAMI steel GO gauges - then I punched out various circles from feeler gauge leaves - a dab of grease on bolt face or rear end of the gauge to act as "glue" - lets me know that a particular chamber is 0.0xx" more than GO - up to me to decide if I want to do anything about that.

Headspace check is, I think, done with perhaps one finger tip pressure on the bolt handle - is not a "bull strength" contest to see if the bolt will close - is about trying to feel if the gauge will touch or not - getting "rammy" can ruin the gauge or the chamber. Is a time for "finesse", not for strength.
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Trailer park/poor mans solutions lol, same difference. I was just throwing out some ideas for the guy as there are some ocd people around here that think only they know the way to accomplish things (not aimed at you btw). The truth is, you can't get where you're going without knowing where you've been, so the tape idea I mentioned above would be easy to show a rifle way out of spec, and "maybe" that it's alright. Food for thought.
 
I'd definately get a second opinion.

I had a sportered 1909 Oveido that was very accurate. IMO the Spanish Mausers are nicer than the Yugo Mausers.
 
Ganderite said:
If the bolt number matches the receiver, it is very unlikely that the rifle has any problem.

American commercial ammo is not loaded hot in 7x57, so buy a box and try it. See if the bolt opens smoothly and inspect the primer.

I rebarreled mine to 308 and it works well.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I had bought a Model 1895 cavalry carbine in the late 70's that was refitted to 7.62 NATO and it had no issues using my handloads and factory ammo.
Fun for twilight shoots using Win 760 ball powder outta that 17" tube.
 
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