Looked at a Mauser M-03 a while back and thought it was a neat set up with the switch barrel design. Anyone have any experience with one and possibly after swithching out the barrels?

I really like the M03. It feels like a substantial rifle. I'm getting a barrel in a 8x68S to start. I have been shooting a Blaser R93 for quite awhile and like the system--the M03 just feels like a trad. rifle.

My friend and dealer Tip Burns shot this group:

Mauser M03 308 winchester standard barrel with sights. Optics- Docter optic 2.5x10 48mm. Hornady factory-- 150grn I think. Distance 100 yards

I think he told me he shot 2 five shot groups removing the barrel and scope between the groups. Looks like the shooting system is very repeatable.

By coachsells, shot with KODAK Z885 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA at 2010-03-08

Rae59, I don't have a M03, but it does have two things going for it in terms of accuracy:

1) the barrels come from the production line also making Blaser R93 barrels. Being high volume, hammer forged barrels, they are not the smoothest barrels around (tend to foul a fair bit, like most other factory barrels) but they normally shoot well.

2) the bedding system in the M03 is also taken from the Blaser R93, and although simplicity itself, it seems to work really well in that gun.

There are quite a few people shooting M03s frequenting the German forum http://www.wildundhund.de/forum/index.php. Although this is a German forum, you can pose questions in English and people will answer. I have never heard anybody on that forum complain about the accuracy of an M03.

- mike

Have tried a few and had a client last year with one in .375 H&H and .300 Win. Very neat. Very accurate. Good setup for a hunter who travels. Packed gun in a loacable suitcase that was a square box on wheels. Didn't look like a gun case (which was important for him being from the UK and all the BS they seem to have )

I liked the action, the quick change scope set up. getting used to the safety/cocking system would take some getting used to- but that goes for any 'new' system

I am not really clumsy at all, but I have bumped my rifles while afield a few times. I have actually fallen and bumped my rifle on the ground

For that reason, my experience with the M-03 I owned was limited, but here is a thread with my comments from then.....
M-03 Cracked stock thread

I hope to buy one with a 404 Jeffery barrel. I think the Mauser '03 is a great system!

Having "fondled" a few, I think they are really well made and smooth as glass. The safety setup is really inovative in that it actually de-cocks the rifle right at the rear of the bolt sleeve. Good triggers and the magazine boxes cover a multitude of cartridges. As stated, they look much more like a convential rifle with all the advantages of the Blaser with out being Butt-Ugly (IMO) like the Blaser.

I was a bit surprised to see they don't have a 7X57mm cal. in their M-O3.