rebarreling or making a project out of a turk?

Lonegun1894 · 08-03-2005, 12:12 AM

Ok, Yall. Got a dumb question fer ya. I have a 8mm Turk dated 1944. Been thinking about making it a little project rifle. I've thought about having the barrel cut back to 16.5" and using it as a little carbine to keep in the truck at all times. Also thought about having it rechambered to something bigger with somewhat low pressures, loading with blackpowder if necessary. And paper-patching the bullets if blackpowder is used. Anyways. Lots of ideas but not enough knowledge on this particular rifle to really make use of them. I said lowpressure above cause i've been told the metal strenght on these doesnt exactly have any bragging rights. Any other suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated as it may well mean my hands staying attached and my face not getting any uglier than it already is. And i have had a couple weapons explode in my hands so it kinda left me a little impressionable about things detonating when they shouldnt. Thanks.

BattleRifleG3 · 08-03-2005, 01:34 AM

Yeek, weapons exploding in your hands is no small matter! Barrel shortening would require the least work and have the fewest changes that could affect safety. Regarding more serious conversions, the question shouldn't be "I have this gun, what can I make out of it" but rather "I have this idea, what gun should I use for it?" I say this from years of experience trying sooooo hard to use what I have that it ended up taking more time, work, funds, and ending up with lower quality than if I had juist gotten exactly what was best for what I needed.

That said, I'm all about custom projects, just have come to learn that you can only do so much with what you already have, and that trying too hard to use what you already have defeats most of its purpose.

I should fess up that I'm a fan of long rifles and a quasi-cruffler, meaning I place a high value on classic guns. That said, if you're going to convert anything, a 98 Turk Mauser (assuming yours is a '98) is the way to go. I'm not too familiar with the metallurgy of Turks to say what it's strong enough for, but folks use regular Mausers for belted magnums. I suspect it would take anything comparable in size and pressure to the 8x57mm. I could spit out a zillion calibers but what really matters is your ballistic preference.

rebel727 · 08-03-2005, 03:10 AM

What BRG3 said. The Turk should handle anything you want to turn it into. Customizing rifles is addictive and gets expensive tho. Seems like the more you do to one the more you want.

Big Dog · 08-03-2005, 04:44 AM

Yep, the Turk 98 variants are as strong as any Mausers. But the thing to keep in mind with Turks, is the barrel. Even though the receiver is the basic large-ring '98 type, the barrel may be large-ring or small-ring shank diameter.
Make sure what you have before ordering a barrel!

BattleRifleG3 · 08-03-2005, 12:13 PM

If the barrel is as strong as any, a neat project would be rechambering it to the new 325 WSM.

SPOCAHP ANAR · 08-03-2005, 06:51 PM

If your interested I know a guy that specializes in mauser reworks. Top notch and very professional. I have one of his swedes and a pistol that he reblued for me. I will send you his web adress if you PM me.

BattleRifleG3 · 08-03-2005, 07:27 PM

The idea of converting a Turk seems pretty darn impressive, considering the past thousand years or so of history with them. To think you may end up doing what the Holy Roman Empire never could.

rebel727 · 08-06-2005, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BattleRifleG3

If the barrel is as strong as any, a neat project would be rechambering it to the new 325 WSM.

The strength is in the reciever. Barrel steel is relatively soft.

allan1898 · 08-07-2005, 08:51 AM

Turk 38's are a mixture of different mfg's and dates. Some were Czeck, some were German, and some may have been home grown. They were updated starting in 1938, with 8mm chambering becoming standard. Some started life as 93 small ring, some as 98. I have one 93 and three 98's. Given the cost and effort of a custom project, I would not choose a Turk. I found it interesting that one Turk I have was rebarreled in 1968 (receiver date is 1944). The stock is only slightly beat to heck, but it shoots under 2" groups at 100 yds. It is kind of fun when someone laughs and shoots a six inch group with his scoped deer rifle and then looks at my target. I always answer-not bad for a $40 gun, huh? The looks I get are priceless.

myarmor · 08-11-2005, 09:17 AM

I too seem to be in the same predicament as our friend here. I too have a Turk mauser and have thought about a custom job. It shoots incredibly high and sparatic to say the least. I would like to cut the barrel back an few inches, but then I wouldn't have any open sights. And as for a truck gun/banger, I really don't need another truck gun, but what is it about them that I want more? You don't have to treat them to special privalages, they usually are short and manuverable, and ya don't care if they get scratched up.
????What to do???

Rob Helms · 09-05-2005, 12:49 PM

If you are interested in rebarrelling turks, you should visit Steve Wagners page at

http://www.gswagner.com/

Steve has a section titled; Things to do with a Turkish Mauser. This sight has a wealth of info on how to gunsmith Mausers.

Full MeTal Jack · 09-05-2005, 08:22 PM

Beater rifle. My #1 son inspired me to do this. :nod: He wanted to make a short beater rifle from all the turk parts I have. He couldnt understand it wasnt possible "right now". So bought him a C&R Mosin Nagant 44 for $32.00. Listed as Broken stock. Repaired 4 cracks. Very good bore. He has his beater gun now but he's heading for Iraq.
(the big boy lower left)
Here is the inspiration part:
Took $10 Turk 29" barreled reciever and using various parts and misc bolt, $5 Turk K98 41" length stock. Tightened barrel to adjust headspace. Re-soldered rear sight. Cut barrel in wood jig with hack saw. Manually ground and polished new muzzle crown. Moved the military step back about 2" using files, bench grinder and lions tounge sand paper measuring constantly with calipers (cresent wrench). Did the same with the muzzle end for recessed front sight. Opps! A bit out of round. That's where the project rest for now.
:cheer: Now that's a real bubba job!!! :smash: :smash:

brokin8ball26 · 09-06-2005, 03:09 PM

for info check out www.mausercentral.com
for the parts to build you dream mauser visit www.midwayusa.com

08-03-2005, 01:34 AM	#2
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,400	Yeek, weapons exploding in your hands is no small matter! Barrel shortening would require the least work and have the fewest changes that could affect safety. Regarding more serious conversions, the question shouldn't be "I have this gun, what can I make out of it" but rather "I have this idea, what gun should I use for it?" I say this from years of experience trying sooooo hard to use what I have that it ended up taking more time, work, funds, and ending up with lower quality than if I had juist gotten exactly what was best for what I needed. That said, I'm all about custom projects, just have come to learn that you can only do so much with what you already have, and that trying too hard to use what you already have defeats most of its purpose. I should fess up that I'm a fan of long rifles and a quasi-cruffler, meaning I place a high value on classic guns. That said, if you're going to convert anything, a 98 Turk Mauser (assuming yours is a '98) is the way to go. I'm not too familiar with the metallurgy of Turks to say what it's strong enough for, but folks use regular Mausers for belted magnums. I suspect it would take anything comparable in size and pressure to the 8x57mm. I could spit out a zillion calibers but what really matters is your ballistic preference. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf Last edited by BattleRifleG3; 08-03-2005 at 01:39 AM.

08-03-2005, 03:10 AM	#3
rebel727 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Heidelberg, Mississippi Posts: 1,336	What BRG3 said. The Turk should handle anything you want to turn it into. Customizing rifles is addictive and gets expensive tho. Seems like the more you do to one the more you want. __________________ North-1 South-0 HALFTIME!

08-03-2005, 04:44 AM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 9,766	Yep, the Turk 98 variants are as strong as any Mausers. But the thing to keep in mind with Turks, is the barrel. Even though the receiver is the basic large-ring '98 type, the barrel may be large-ring or small-ring shank diameter. Make sure what you have before ordering a barrel! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

08-03-2005, 12:13 PM	#5
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,400	If the barrel is as strong as any, a neat project would be rechambering it to the new 325 WSM. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

08-03-2005, 06:51 PM	#6
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,008	If your interested I know a guy that specializes in mauser reworks. Top notch and very professional. I have one of his swedes and a pistol that he reblued for me. I will send you his web adress if you PM me. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

08-03-2005, 12:12 AM	#1
Lonegun1894 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 206	rebarreling or making a project out of a turk? Ok, Yall. Got a dumb question fer ya. I have a 8mm Turk dated 1944. Been thinking about making it a little project rifle. I've thought about having the barrel cut back to 16.5" and using it as a little carbine to keep in the truck at all times. Also thought about having it rechambered to something bigger with somewhat low pressures, loading with blackpowder if necessary. And paper-patching the bullets if blackpowder is used. Anyways. Lots of ideas but not enough knowledge on this particular rifle to really make use of them. I said lowpressure above cause i've been told the metal strenght on these doesnt exactly have any bragging rights. Any other suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated as it may well mean my hands staying attached and my face not getting any uglier than it already is. And i have had a couple weapons explode in my hands so it kinda left me a little impressionable about things detonating when they shouldnt. Thanks.

08-03-2005, 07:27 PM	#7
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,400	The idea of converting a Turk seems pretty darn impressive, considering the past thousand years or so of history with them. To think you may end up doing what the Holy Roman Empire never could. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

08-07-2005, 08:51 AM	#9
allan1898 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 108	Turk 38's are a mixture of different mfg's and dates. Some were Czeck, some were German, and some may have been home grown. They were updated starting in 1938, with 8mm chambering becoming standard. Some started life as 93 small ring, some as 98. I have one 93 and three 98's. Given the cost and effort of a custom project, I would not choose a Turk. I found it interesting that one Turk I have was rebarreled in 1968 (receiver date is 1944). The stock is only slightly beat to heck, but it shoots under 2" groups at 100 yds. It is kind of fun when someone laughs and shoots a six inch group with his scoped deer rifle and then looks at my target. I always answer-not bad for a $40 gun, huh? The looks I get are priceless.

08-11-2005, 09:17 AM	#10
myarmor Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southwest ,VA Posts: 1,147	I too seem to be in the same predicament as our friend here. I too have a Turk mauser and have thought about a custom job. It shoots incredibly high and sparatic to say the least. I would like to cut the barrel back an few inches, but then I wouldn't have any open sights. And as for a truck gun/banger, I really don't need another truck gun, but what is it about them that I want more? You don't have to treat them to special privalages, they usually are short and manuverable, and ya don't care if they get scratched up. ????What to do???

09-05-2005, 12:49 PM	#11
Rob Helms Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2	Turk Projects If you are interested in rebarrelling turks, you should visit Steve Wagners page at http://www.gswagner.com/ Steve has a section titled; Things to do with a Turkish Mauser. This sight has a wealth of info on how to gunsmith Mausers.

09-05-2005, 08:22 PM	#12
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,376	Beater rifle. My #1 son inspired me to do this. :nod: He wanted to make a short beater rifle from all the turk parts I have. He couldnt understand it wasnt possible "right now". So bought him a C&R Mosin Nagant 44 for $32.00. Listed as Broken stock. Repaired 4 cracks. Very good bore. He has his beater gun now but he's heading for Iraq. (the big boy lower left) Here is the inspiration part: Took $10 Turk 29" barreled reciever and using various parts and misc bolt, $5 Turk K98 41" length stock. Tightened barrel to adjust headspace. Re-soldered rear sight. Cut barrel in wood jig with hack saw. Manually ground and polished new muzzle crown. Moved the military step back about 2" using files, bench grinder and lions tounge sand paper measuring constantly with calipers (cresent wrench). Did the same with the muzzle end for recessed front sight. Opps! A bit out of round. That's where the project rest for now. :cheer: Now that's a real bubba job!!! :smash: :smash: __________________ [IMG]http://img287.echo.cx/img287/63/9130110x100a4vb.jpg

09-06-2005, 03:09 PM	#13
brokin8ball26 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2	for info check out www.mausercentral.com for the parts to build you dream mauser visit www.midwayusa.com

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