Turkish Mauser barrel floating?

[Tinman204]

I've searched high an low but I'm having trouble finding the answer to this one. Here it goes, I have a Turk m38 that I've been playing with recently. The barrel is filthy but rifling good and accuracy is less then stellar. So I have the gun all apart doing another barrel cleaning session, before I put it all back together I'm wondering which portion of the fore end should make contact with the barrel?
The barrel is a stepped heavy 8mm unit and it is touching the stock from the stepped portion (rearband area) all the way to the nose cap. Is this correct? If it is all is well, if not could one of you Mauser gurus fill me in on if and where the barrel should be touching? I've got enfields figured out but this is my first Mauser.

Just want to cover all of the bases before I put it back together and do some more accuracy testing and load development, any help would be great!

Here's a pick of the rifle so there's an idea of which model it is.

 

[desporterizer]

The way you have it is correct.

 

[Nabs]

Barrels on these Mausers, along with others of the period to my understanding, had the barrel contacting the stock from the receiver up to where the fore end would stop.

I can't think of a Mauser that has a free floating barrel. The Kar98k has the barrel touching the wood though laminate stocks can weather changing environmental conditions better than a walnut or a beech stock.

(Edit: I think the Belgian 1889 has a free floating barrel in a barrel jacket, someone correct me if I am wrong)

When you take your Turk apart, have a look at the barrel channel in the stock and you will see the inletting process.

I think free floating barrels can tolerate differing environmental conditions better as the barrel is free to oscillate as the stock is responding to the temperture and environment. For instance, I have shot my Gewehr 88s on hot, humid days, and on very cold days but they shoot rather consist because the barrel is free floating within the barrel jacket. The barrel jacket, a hollow tube if you will, is the only part forward of the receiver that is in contact with the stock. The barrel only makes contact at the muzzle where about 1/2 " contacts the barrel jacket.

I have tried Gewehr 98s in the same conditions and I got some different results likely from the stock and barrel reacting to the environment. With that in mind, stock condition (cracks, shrinkage, damage...etc) can have an effect on accuracy for these rifles just as much as bore condition would.

I have noticed with my Gewehr 88s, ones with beaten up stocks can shoot with or out shoot my better condition Gewehr 98s in terms of consist placement of shots and MOA.

Hope this answers your question.

 

[Tinman204]

Yes it does, thank you both!!