I picked up what I believe is a Spanish Mauser in 7.62x51 Nato. The receiver is marked Oviedo 1898 with a crest FabricaDearmas. Smith's book of military arms has a picture of a 1895 calvary carbine that looks identical. Tried .308 go-no-goes, headspace is good. Is the action capable of handling the pressures of modern ammo? Or should I load only "light loads". Rifle handles Canadian C21 stripper clips with ease. Rifle is only 37" long, making it ideal for the quad. Thanks in advance for any information.
Spanish Mauser
- Thread starter c1a1
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I have an M1916 Guardia Civil carbine in 7.62X51. I have fired some 7.62 NATO through it but I'm leary of shooting commercial .308 Winchester in it.
I load 44 grains of H4350 under a 150 grain bullet. Recoil is mild and it shoots about 3" at 100 yds.
Craig
I load 44 grains of H4350 under a 150 grain bullet. Recoil is mild and it shoots about 3" at 100 yds.
Craig
Short answer is "I don't think so".
Although the current SAAMI specs for the 7x57 Mauser provide for a maximum working pressure of 51,000 PSI (this was changed in the 1980's, as I recall, due to the proliferation of modern rifles in the 7x57 chambering), I'm quite sure that the original 7x57 Mauser was designed to operate at 40,000 PSI or less (the 8x57 is still set by SAAMI at 35,000 PSI).
The .308 Winchester, on the other hand, has a working pressure of 62,000 PSI. 7.62x51 NATO (what your rifle was re-chambered to) works at 50,000-52,000 PSI, IIRC. So, it would represent a pretty harsh load for such an old action (like a "blue pill" or proof load). Feed her a diet of that and lugs get set back, bad things happen.
I can't say that I'd recommend shooting .308 or 7.62x51 in the old '93 Mauser.
If you want to load light loads for it, be mindful of the pressures. Most of the manuals that provide "modern" loads for the 7x57 include a warning not to exceed starting loads in the old Mausers, for this very reason.
.308 Winchester ammo exceeds even "modern" 7x57 pressures, so be warned.
Your saying .308 exceeds 8mm mauser?
Interesting.
Makes me think twice about putting .308 into my 7.62 k98k...havent done it yet, though i dont think it would be a problem...
or would it? Some say yay, some say nay. I typically would have thought to lean towards yay on any mauser action.
Interesting.
Makes me think twice about putting .308 into my 7.62 k98k...havent done it yet, though i dont think it would be a problem...
or would it? Some say yay, some say nay. I typically would have thought to lean towards yay on any mauser action.
longbranch*
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Mauser
Chuck, your 8m/m 98 is another matter. It can easily handle 8m/m Mauser, .306,.30-06 etc. The Spanish Mauser theyre talking about is weaker.
Geoff
Chuck, your 8m/m 98 is another matter. It can easily handle 8m/m Mauser, .306,.30-06 etc. The Spanish Mauser theyre talking about is weaker.
Geoff
c1a1 said:
If the rifle is made in 1898 at Oviedo, it's a small-ring Mauser, probably an M1893 or M1895 type receiver. If it's in 7.62 NATO, then it's a converted FR-7.
Unlike the FR-8 which is built on the Spanish 98 action, the FR-7 was designed to use only the low-powered early CETME ammo in 7.62.
I would NOT shoot full-power 7.62 NATO in it, let along .308 winchester. The receiver was designed for early 7x57 ammo which is much lower pressure.
If you insist on shooting it, suggest you reload and keep the pressure in the 7x57 range.
A-zone said:
I'm not usre I agree about your assessment of 7x57 ammo. I would submit any 7x57 ammo is fine in a small-ring Mauser. But you ARE correct in saying NO! to using .308 Winchester in an FR-7, and in an FR-8 I'd still be wary and stick to only 7.62 NATO pressure loads. .308 Winchester commercial ammo is often loaded hotter.
longbranch* said:
Agreed. The Mauser 98 can handle 8mm, 7.62, .30-06 and any of the .30-06 derived calibers with ease.
On a Spanish M98 converted to FR-8 though, I'd stick to light .308 loads - no hotrodding. The Spanish were not known for their great heat treating consistency when it comes to pre-WW2 mauser rifles. The Mauser-98 actioned spanish rifles should be fine if you don't push the envelope though, and some of the Oviedo M98's are actually scrubbed and re-marked German Gew98's.
For those who don't know, .308 winchester is even higher pressure than .30-06 and is likely at the upper pressure limit of the 1940's (and earlier) Mauser's capabilities. They proofed them higher than that, but proof pressures aren;t meant to be a regular loading on the locking lugs
