For the Mauser fans

cowboyky · 07-18-2008, 01:58 PM

Okay y'all, I just got a Swedish Mauser M38 for a hundred bucks! A fellow I know that knows mausers read the disc to me. This 6.5x55mm Swede has a 23" top grade barrell, and the rifling is set up for the 129 gr. Spitzer-style bullets. It came with half a box of Rem core-lokt ammo (kinda old, not the best quality ammo anyway) and a nice leather saddle scabbard that is probably worth about $150. Anyway, so I got this from a friend of mine, and took it to the range. My eyesight ain't so good, so I decided to shoot at 50 yards with the iron sights, just to get a feel for it. Despite the fact that I could hardly see the sights, I printed a 1.25 inch group with it. Not bad considering the old ammo? I'm gunna put a new Bell and Carlson stock on it, which I will glass bed, and put a Timney trigger in it. All of this topped off with a Nikon Prostaff scope (can't afford the Monarch). How does all of this sound?
Also, does anybody have any good re-load recipes for the Swede?
Thanks!
Cowboy

kycowboy · 07-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Okay, somebody smack me. Cowboyky and kycowboy are the same person. Me. I think I goobered something up while I was trying to sign-up a few months ago. But they're the same person! Just for the record book.
Cowboy

matt760 · 07-19-2008, 12:18 PM

i have an beat up turkish mauser in 8mm. i was shooting it the other day. about 65 yards, no bench, just my knee for a rest and i had a 3 shot group with all the holes touching. then shots number 4 and 5 went a little left (my fault) but both of them were touching too. just using standard surplus military ammo. paid 80 for the gun. bought a mosin nagant the other day in way better shape but it doesnt shoot nearly as good.

ArkansasHunter · 07-19-2008, 12:29 PM

I've got a 1909 Argentine 98 Mauser in 7.65 caliber. There's none other like it.
It's a calvery model carbine. Built for soldiers on horse back.

I paid $79.99 for it. I found it years ago in a Sears sales catolog. They were like new too.

When I got it the fireing pin was broke so I had a gun smith build up the fireing pin with tool steel.
When I got it back the 2 little ears the stick out of the front bolt face had been broken off by the gunsmith.
It wouldn't eject the fired case's.
So I odered another bolt that made it where I had one unmatching number !

I have never shoot it since I replaced the bolt with a new one because it could have head space problems.

I've seen these rare Mauser's selling now for over $1000.00 . NOW GET READY FOR THIS.

I Bubba'ed it up Sportorizing it !

samuel · 07-19-2008, 03:21 PM

Still,this is America,and you owned it. sam.

lefty o · 07-19-2008, 09:56 PM

stock disks are easily changed, you cant trust them. assuming your disk is original the only meaningful info on them is bore diameter, and condition the last time the rifle was rebuilt/inspected. orginal swede mauser barrels have a twist rate most suited to 140-160 gr bullets, though they will generally shoot lighter bullets fairly well. if your 38 is #'s matching, and in good condition i might opt to not cut it up ( note i said might). values for good M38's is steadily climbing. the average swede mauser will do under 1.5" at 100yds if you have good eye's. for my swede's , i load 140 gr hornady amax, and SST's over 37gr of IMR4064.

kycowboy · 07-19-2008, 11:10 PM

Cool! My dad's got an Argentine. Shoots like a dream. Hard to find more.

Mr. Leftyo, thanks for the tip on the disks. Never thought of that. Happily, the mauser-man in our area is pretty sure it's original (keeping my fingers crossed on that one!). The mauser-expert fellow has a Swede that he has set up, and he shoots a neat little sub-clover leaf at 100 yards. I was looking particularly at the SSTs lately! I don't have a chrono, any idea how fast that load is moving?
thanks for the feedback thus far guys!
Cowboy

lefty o · 07-19-2008, 11:19 PM

its fairly slow 2550-2600 fps. you dont want to hot rod a swede mauser.

kycowboy · 07-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Compared to the stuff I'm seeing in reloading guides, that load seems to shoot on the higher side of safe loads ( I mean that in a positive way ). When you say not to hot rod a swede, do you mean not customize it, or not crank up hot handloads?
thanks,
Cowboy

lefty o · 07-20-2008, 05:44 PM

dont crank up the hand loads.

kycowboy · 07-21-2008, 01:13 PM

Thanks! Sounds good, I'll try it!
Cowboy

SwedeSteve · 07-21-2008, 01:23 PM

I shoot Sierra 140's. My M38 really loves them.

shikari · 07-25-2008, 04:59 AM

My Colombian carbine in 30/06 shoots about nine inches low and five inches to the right of where the barrel is looking. I mean I boresight the gun at 100m but the bullets don't land where it points although groups run to one inch to one and three quarters at fifty metres. I use the supplied military sights. Another mauser in 06 with the same ammo does just fine. Shoots where it points. I checked the bedding on the Colombian and it seems okay. Does anyone know if a poor crown can effect point of impact?

samuel · 07-25-2008, 05:29 AM

A poor crown not only can affect poi,it definitly will.Usually they make for large groups tho.The crown is the last thing to touch/control the bullet.You should have a qualified gunsmith look at it.But to me this sounds like a sight problem.Of course if it is,a qualified gunsmith can cure that also. sam.

shikari · 07-25-2008, 06:02 AM

Thanks Sam. The sights can be adjusted fairly easily to where the rifle is shooting. I was just curious as to whether POI could change through a poor crown job. The rifle is old and battered externally, but the rifling is good and headspace is fine. Will take it to a retired gunsmith friend as you suggest.

kycowboy · 07-25-2008, 11:12 AM

Hey Mr. samuel, you seem to know crowns, maybe you can help me out. My Swede has the threaded barrel. I was looking at muzzle caps that thread onto the end of the barrel, but do you have any suggestions as to what I can do with the threaded barrel? It's awful ugly but I'd rather not cut and re-crown the barrel. Would the muzzle cap be okay, or do you have a better idea?
Thanks!
Cowboy

lefty o · 07-25-2008, 09:45 PM

buy one of the threaded caps made to fit the threaded swede's. the metal one's everyone sells for them look nice. nylon ones are correct though.

samuel · 07-26-2008, 03:33 AM

I agree with LeftyO.I wouldn't cut or recrown unless absolutely necessary.They can be screwed up that way too.Simpler just to screw a cap on. sam.

kycowboy · 07-30-2008, 01:39 PM

Thanks yall! Will do.
Cowboy

07-18-2008, 01:58 PM	#1
cowboyky Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	For the Mauser fans Okay y'all, I just got a Swedish Mauser M38 for a hundred bucks! A fellow I know that knows mausers read the disc to me. This 6.5x55mm Swede has a 23" top grade barrell, and the rifling is set up for the 129 gr. Spitzer-style bullets. It came with half a box of Rem core-lokt ammo (kinda old, not the best quality ammo anyway) and a nice leather saddle scabbard that is probably worth about $150. Anyway, so I got this from a friend of mine, and took it to the range. My eyesight ain't so good, so I decided to shoot at 50 yards with the iron sights, just to get a feel for it. Despite the fact that I could hardly see the sights, I printed a 1.25 inch group with it. Not bad considering the old ammo? I'm gunna put a new Bell and Carlson stock on it, which I will glass bed, and put a Timney trigger in it. All of this topped off with a Nikon Prostaff scope (can't afford the Monarch). How does all of this sound? Also, does anybody have any good re-load recipes for the Swede? Thanks! Cowboy

07-21-2008, 01:23 PM	#12
SwedeSteve Bullet Maintenance !! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The anchor point, Alaska Posts: 10,281 Images: 1	I shoot Sierra 140's. My M38 really loves them. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

07-25-2008, 04:59 AM	#13
shikari Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 12	Point of Impact on Colombian Mauser 98 My Colombian carbine in 30/06 shoots about nine inches low and five inches to the right of where the barrel is looking. I mean I boresight the gun at 100m but the bullets don't land where it points although groups run to one inch to one and three quarters at fifty metres. I use the supplied military sights. Another mauser in 06 with the same ammo does just fine. Shoots where it points. I checked the bedding on the Colombian and it seems okay. Does anyone know if a poor crown can effect point of impact?

07-18-2008, 02:10 PM	#2
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Okay, somebody smack me. Cowboyky and kycowboy are the same person. Me. I think I goobered something up while I was trying to sign-up a few months ago. But they're the same person! Just for the record book. Cowboy

07-19-2008, 12:29 PM	#4
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,678	I've got a 1909 Argentine 98 Mauser in 7.65 caliber. There's none other like it. It's a calvery model carbine. Built for soldiers on horse back. I paid $79.99 for it. I found it years ago in a Sears sales catolog. They were like new too. When I got it the fireing pin was broke so I had a gun smith build up the fireing pin with tool steel. When I got it back the 2 little ears the stick out of the front bolt face had been broken off by the gunsmith. It wouldn't eject the fired case's. So I odered another bolt that made it where I had one unmatching number ! I have never shoot it since I replaced the bolt with a new one because it could have head space problems. I've seen these rare Mauser's selling now for over $1000.00 . NOW GET READY FOR THIS. I Bubba'ed it up Sportorizing it !

07-19-2008, 03:21 PM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Still,this is America,and you owned it. sam.

07-19-2008, 11:10 PM	#7
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Cool! My dad's got an Argentine. Shoots like a dream. Hard to find more. Mr. Leftyo, thanks for the tip on the disks. Never thought of that. Happily, the mauser-man in our area is pretty sure it's original (keeping my fingers crossed on that one!). The mauser-expert fellow has a Swede that he has set up, and he shoots a neat little sub-clover leaf at 100 yards. I was looking particularly at the SSTs lately! I don't have a chrono, any idea how fast that load is moving? thanks for the feedback thus far guys! Cowboy

07-19-2008, 11:19 PM	#8
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,785	its fairly slow 2550-2600 fps. you dont want to hot rod a swede mauser.

07-20-2008, 05:40 PM	#9
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Compared to the stuff I'm seeing in reloading guides, that load seems to shoot on the higher side of safe loads ( I mean that in a positive way ). When you say not to hot rod a swede, do you mean not customize it, or not crank up hot handloads? thanks, Cowboy

07-20-2008, 05:44 PM	#10
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,785	dont crank up the hand loads.

07-21-2008, 01:13 PM	#11
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Thanks! Sounds good, I'll try it! Cowboy

07-25-2008, 05:29 AM	#14
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	A poor crown not only can affect poi,it definitly will.Usually they make for large groups tho.The crown is the last thing to touch/control the bullet.You should have a qualified gunsmith look at it.But to me this sounds like a sight problem.Of course if it is,a qualified gunsmith can cure that also. sam.

07-25-2008, 06:02 AM	#15
shikari Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 12	Thanks Sam. The sights can be adjusted fairly easily to where the rifle is shooting. I was just curious as to whether POI could change through a poor crown job. The rifle is old and battered externally, but the rifling is good and headspace is fine. Will take it to a retired gunsmith friend as you suggest.

07-25-2008, 11:12 AM	#16
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Hey Mr. samuel, you seem to know crowns, maybe you can help me out. My Swede has the threaded barrel. I was looking at muzzle caps that thread onto the end of the barrel, but do you have any suggestions as to what I can do with the threaded barrel? It's awful ugly but I'd rather not cut and re-crown the barrel. Would the muzzle cap be okay, or do you have a better idea? Thanks! Cowboy

07-25-2008, 09:45 PM	#17
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,785	buy one of the threaded caps made to fit the threaded swede's. the metal one's everyone sells for them look nice. nylon ones are correct though.

07-26-2008, 03:33 AM	#18
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I agree with LeftyO.I wouldn't cut or recrown unless absolutely necessary.They can be screwed up that way too.Simpler just to screw a cap on. sam.

07-30-2008, 01:39 PM	#19
kycowboy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Thanks yall! Will do. Cowboy