again, with the mauser in .308
A while back (a couple of weeks ago) I posted a ? about mausers regarding .308 caliber. I got some very good info from some members. Well, I was at a gunshow this weekend looking for an Israeli or FN and I saw a lot of nice looking M48 yugos so it got me thinking.
Since I want a gun I can bang around in the woods, would it make more sense to convert the existing mauser I have and then get a nice looking M48 to keep in 7.92x57? Ideally I wanted to find a crappy looking (yet structurally sound) mauser for rebarreling, something around $100 or less, if that's even possible at that price.
The existing mauser I have is a German small ring. Made in 1915 but I don't remember what the stamp is that indicates which factor it was made at. I can check when I get home. It's been rebarrelled in it's original caliber. My feeling is that it's not really worth much as a collectable since it's not orignal and such. Should I consider modifying this one?
Since I want a gun I can bang around in the woods, would it make more sense to convert the existing mauser I have and then get a nice looking M48 to keep in 7.92x57? Ideally I wanted to find a crappy looking (yet structurally sound) mauser for rebarreling, something around $100 or less, if that's even possible at that price.
The existing mauser I have is a German small ring. Made in 1915 but I don't remember what the stamp is that indicates which factor it was made at. I can check when I get home. It's been rebarrelled in it's original caliber. My feeling is that it's not really worth much as a collectable since it's not orignal and such. Should I consider modifying this one?
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GL, The way you describe it, the rifle you already have would make a nice project gun. Pick up another one, collector grade, to put up.
My $.02 -Ralph
It was never supposed to be like this.0 -
My experience is that you will NEVER profit from conversion or any serious smithing. I'm certain that you will find (at any decent show)a 308 Mauser for less than the cost of your "cheap" action plus the cost of rebbl. By the way, I can't think of much that the 308 will do that the 8mm won't!
Have fun, be careful.
Morty0 -
keep the 8mm and load or buy some softpoints,it will take care of bambi. 0 -
OK, I'm home now and I checked the receiver. It's stamped
ERFURT 1915
I think you guys are missing my point. I want an 8mm! But I also want one in .308 (yes, I know, I'm not quite normal [:D]). So I can shoot both calibers of surplus when not hunting.0 -
Well, you sound quite normal to me--but then, having more than one gun myself........[}:)] Anyway, your 1915 Erfurt is basically a very fine rifle, an 1898 Mauser, which is the standard all other bolt actions are judged by. The list of cartridges that it can be converted to is as long as your arm; pretty much limited only by what can be made to feed through the magazine. If it is beat up and no longer collectable it is a good candidate for conversion. What the other forum contributors have stated about the 8x57mm cartridge is very true, and the rifle (or another) is well worth having in that caliber. There is a little bit of truth also in the assertion that the gunsmithing involved is not worth the expenditure (and I am a gunsmith), and it would be more cost effective to find a rifle already in .308. But, recognizing that we don't always do the prudent or logical thing, failing that, your present rifle can be converted. It will involve a new barrel, and perhaps the magazine will have to be shorted by means of an insert (block) to make it feed the shorter cartridge properly. You will probably find that the work involved will closely approximate in cost the price of a newly made commercial rifle in that caliber, and that the commercial rifle would be the better choice if your not just hung up on a Mauser action. BUT--if you can find one of the Israeli Mausers in good condition it would probably suit both your wallet and purpose. 0
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