I have a question for the mauser experts. Just bought from fleabay an integral rib mauser barrel in very good shape it has Suhl nitro proof marks, only marked 7.7mm which by my calc is .303". Any info would be great. If necessary will have it rebored, just wondering. Thanks, Lynn

Those marks indicate the bore, not groove, diameter, and one marked "7,7mm" will almost certainly be an 8x57J (.318" groove) Mauser. The only way to really know is to make a chamber cast, which is particularly easy with the barrel off the rifle. Cerrosafe is very easy to use.

Mauser built Model B rifles at the behest of Rigby, in fact they designed a action and mag box specifically for this caliber
The majority of these rifles went to England and as such wear British proofs
a few (less than 100) were kept back and found their way into the market as 7.7mm's

Their barrels are stamped a 7.7mms

So just received the barrel it has been rebored and rifled to .357 on a shortened 9.3x62 case, sort of a super 358 winchester. Have to mount on a FN action, cobble up a few cases to fireform then see where I am going with this. I have always admired the German stalking form so this may be an American/Germanic stalking rifle. Barrel is 23" or metric equivalent with integral rib/front sight base, octagon to round in form, very light and trim.

Sounds like 35 Whelen-ish performance should be possible.

Interested to see where this goes..

Poured a cast of chamber and it was only partially reamed leaving the base near 9.3x62 size. I have a 9.3x62 reamer that I will sacrifice for this barrel, set it up between centers, regrind from 9.3 to .358 with reset of neck/shoulder juncture. If it goes well will cut body with it then use 35 whelen reamer for neck and throat. It would be easier to go 358 Norma but don't need another magnum.

I'd maybe have a trawl through Cartridges of the World to see if there's some British chambering that this rifle has been altered to...including those "odd" .303 British based wildcats.

Or might it just be the plain old and good .35 Remington? Or the also once popular in some British territories 9x57 Mauser. Here's why:

quote:

So just received the barrel it has been rebored and rifled to .357 on a shortened 9.3x62 case, sort of a super 358 winchester.

I had a rifle in that 9x57 calibre once.

I'd welcome hearing back from the OP to see if my "mad idea" holds water! And if, again, it then still shoots to sight settings? Don't forget the Rigby .303 rifles were for the Kynoch 215 grain .303 bullet at 2,200fps.

Hope these links help...don't discredit the 9x56 MS also popular in British territories once.

Or see Ken Waters' Pet Loads articles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9757mm


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...%80%93Sch%C3%B6nauer

After looking at a lot of options I have decided to go with a minimal rework of a 9.3x62 reamer. The differences are very small indeed between 35 whelen and 9.3 the matter of very few thousands of an inch, very easy to accomplish. The chamber in the barrel was only partially reamed-no neck and partial shoulder. I have already modified reload dies, the best part is the barrel came up to index on the FN action, another nudge then out for setup and chambering. Thinking this will need a Teutonic style stock to bring out the look I want.