what type of mauser is this?

Evanguy

Evanguy

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i received this rifle on a trade and I'm not really sure what it is, well other then a Mauser 98, not sure of the year or were it was made. or if its mill surplus or commercial.
any info would on it would be nice, its chambered in 8mm and has a set trigger as well

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Looks like a 98 sporter. Commercial proofs, may have started life as a military rifle owing to the military clip cut out. Probably built in Germany though. Nice gun.
 
This rifle has a small ring action, so it likely started out as a Kar 98a from WWI and was sporterized post war. This was very commonly done, and this action was very popular for conversion because of the small ring and it didn't have the typical military stepped barrel.
 
Thanks for the replys, i didnt realize it was a small ring mauser. It has the third safety lug and also the bolt from my zastava m70 fits it.

Are they strong actions? Or closer to the 96 mausers? Also what would the barrel threads be? I ordered a 458 winmag barrel for it, thinking it was a normal 98 mauser

If the barrel threads are correct i may just have to use starting loads for the 458wm. Lots of starting loads on hodgdon relaoding are 31,000-40,000cup
 
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So any one have any opinions on building this rifle into a magnum but using pressures within the range of the 8mm mauser round. 35,000 to 45,000 cup

Or should i sell/trade it for a large ring 98 to build a 458wm on?

I read that even though this is a small ring mauser its not really a " small ring mauser" in the sence of the earlier models. Its still a 98 with the third safety lug and still heat treated the same as the large rings and can be used for builds without issues.

Basically i know very little about mausers. Now lee enfields is a different story lol. So im looking or input and or opinions/stories of what other people have done/ would do.

Thanks
 
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The third lug on a Model 98 Mauser is not a "locking lug". When the bolt is closed in the action, that lug should NOT be touching its recess shoulder. It was designed as a "safety lug" - to stop / catch the bolt if both the front "locking" lugs ever let go during firing. I believe you would have to have had massive overpressure for such to occur, since Mauser design was for the lug seats in the receiver to yield in the event of over pressure event. Mauser receiver were not designed or built to be heat treated through and through like a Springfield; the Mausers were case hardened / surface hardened, leaving the inner core softer, in order to yield.
 
Yeah i should have worded it having the rear safety lug unlike the older models. I know it doesnt actually do anything unless the front 2 lugs fail.

I edited my postd

Although i have read about people honing the front lugs until the rear safety lug is also in contact eith the receiver. But id assume you could weaken the actuall locking lugs by doing that
 
I would imagine they would have removed the hard surfacing from the rear of their lugs to move the bolt back that far.

As far as your question about using Mauser 98 for a 458 Win Mag, see Jim Carmichael or maybe it was Roy Dunlap from 1960's who did exactly that; more recently Bruce Towsley has a 2010 book, "Gunsmithing Made Easy" where he does the same in Chapter 6, using stuff from Brownell's.
 
I would not consider the small ring 98 to be suitable for any magnum cartridge. As for thread diameter, it's hard to say. some small rings use standard 98 threads (1.1" while others use the more typical (for a small ring) 1" thread.
 
Husqvarna have been using their small ring mausers for years to make magnums, my gunsmith has told me the small ring Mausers and Huskies are every bit as strong an action as the std large ring.
 
Not the same thing at all. The Husqvarna is not a small ring 98 and is, especially, not a pre-wwI Mauser. The design is different, the metal is different. If one feels the small ring 98's are suitable for modern magnum cartridges, then he should go right ahead and use one for that purpose. I do not believe they are and would not recommend it.
 
Interesting thoughts Bill, what do you see is the problem with those husky 1600 series actions? They made them in 7mm rem mag and 358 norma mag, as you know.
 
I don't see any problem with them at all. As I said, they are a completely different animal than a pre-WWI Mauser 98. They are an alloy steel action and heat treating is excellent. The bolt has two solid lugs (no slot) so they area very strong and durable action. The older '98's, while they are not likely to "blow up", will generally start to show signs of set-back with normal use when chambered for modern magnum cartridges. Heat treating can improve them in this regard. The small-ring Mausers are somewhat less strong than the large ring with the weak polnt being along the top of the right-hand raceway. These are only my opinions of course but are based on some experience. Others may believe and do as they wish.
 
Thanks for the posts guys. I always see posts on both sides of the fence. But where its 60,000psi going off about 6" from my eye. I think ill go the tried and true method. Ill sell or trade this rifle for a large ring mauser 98. Or ill just sell it and buy another zastava mag m98 receiver and screw the 458win mag barrel onto it.

I have a zastava mag m98 receiver now but im saving it for my 460 weatherby barrel thats on the way.
 
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