Would you rebore/re-chamber an early (1906) Oberndorf deluxe sporter? I just don't care for it's 8x57J chambering. This is a perfecty good round, I know, but it doesn't excite me. All seems original except the single square bridge action has been re-blued and the octagon barrel is missing the claw mount base. Would the mauser gods curse me to mauser hell? Even worse: What if I permanently separated the action and barrel for use in a couple of projects?

Don't ever think of it!!

M

Need more info (markings and pics) to verify that the barrel is indeed a factory Oberndorf sporter and not just an Oberndorf action with an aftermarket barrel.

Good closeup photos would be very helpful & greatly appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
Would you rebore/re-chamber an early (1906) Oberndorf deluxe sporter? I just don't care for it's 8x57J chambering. This is a perfecty good round, I know, but it doesn't excite me. All seems original except the single square bridge action has been re-blued and the octagon barrel is missing the claw mount base. Would the mauser gods curse me to mauser hell? Even worse: What if I permanently separated the action and barrel for use in a couple of projects?

If it is your gun, it should suit you, regardless what that takes.

If it is not your gun and you are just operating a designated small unpaid museum holding it for some future "real" owner, then you shouldn't modify it without first obtaining every other possible future owner's permission.

if i was going to hunt with it, i'd modify it to suit me, regardless of the manufacture. if you want to admire it through the years, leave it as is and put it in the safe. not a tough decision imo. ymmv.

I would strongly consider the overall condition of the rifle, that will determine a lot about its value as an original oberndorf sporter. If the condition is so-so then I would consider re-woring it to something that suits you, but I would also try to keep it as close to original as possible. If it is in pristine condition I wouldnt even think about it.

quote:

Originally posted by KurtC:
Need more info (markings and pics) to verify that the barrel is indeed a factory Oberndorf sporter and not just an Oberndorf action with an aftermarket barrel.

I've already verified that it is original. The barrel is very nice and original, though it may have been re-blued at some date long ago. The action has been hot salt blued, and the provenance mark (Waffenfabrik Mauser etc.) on the left wall looks thin. The stock is in rough shape, but has no cracks and most of the dents could be ironed out. I intend to take some photo's when I get time. The serial number (144xx) is stamped on the action, the bottom of the barrel, and the inside of the stock in the barrel channel. The bolt handle, extractor, bolt shroud, magazine follower, and magazine, all have matching numbers. There are no cartridge chamber indicators, only a bore diameter mark of 7.85mm on the bottom of the barrel. I've not slugged the bore, nor cast the chamber, but, given the date of manufacture, I suspect mauser had not yet switched to .323 groove barrels in their sporters. If I discover that it has a .323" barrel, I will strongly consider leaving it alone, as bullets are plentiful. Thanks for all the advice.

Are the .318 bullets even available? If they are not too hard to get, I would leave the gun as is. If I could not get the smaller diameter bullets, I would think seriously about changing it to something else.
joe

No, would not. And you know better than to ask, Matt. Shame on you. (Seriously).

quote:

Originally posted by Joe R. Lock:
Are the .318 bullets even available? If they are not too hard to get, I would leave the gun as is. If I could not get the smaller diameter bullets, I would think seriously about changing it to something else.
joe

All I can find are 200grn woodleigh. Good bullet, but expensive. I probably should not worry about the price so much given that I wouldn't be shooting all that much anyway, just enough to be good in the field.

Those 200 grainers would be good bullets. Buffalo Arms also has a bag of 100 170 grain .318 bullets for $39.00.
joe

I would only rebore if the chamber/rifling was rusted very badly and the rifle did not shoot good in its original calibre.

Check with Hawk bullets. One of their .318 bullets with the .030 or .035 jacket would be perfect...

Funny how folks who venerate the common, boring, horribly stocked Pre 64 Model 70 would even think of doing anything to an original Oberndorf Mauser that is a far better rifle and far more rare.
NEGC makes claw mounts and .318 bullets are hardly rare. If you don't like it, sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

Slugging the barrel, checking the headspace and doing a chamber cast is a necessity before even considering shooting it.

quote:

Originally posted by 45-70 shooter:
Funny how folks who venerate the common, boring, horribly stocked Pre 64 Model 70 would even think of doing anything to an original Oberndorf Mauser that is a far better rifle and far more rare.
NEGC makes claw mounts and .318 bullets are hardly rare. If you don't like it, sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

Slugging the barrel, checking the headspace and doing a chamber cast is a necessity before even considering shooting it.

I understand your sentiment and mostly agree. However, this rifle has been altered from original, and is not in the best of shape. I'm still on the fence, and won't be doing anything with it for a long while. Thanks for the input.

The 7,85 bore does not necessarily mean that you are confined to .318 J bullets. I believe several US companies make ammo suitable for both J and JS rifles. (As I recall they use .321 bullets, but don't hold me to it).

The issue is with the neck portion of the chamber. As long as it is compatible with S cartridges, you are fine. Many J rifles were converted to use S ammunition simply by reaming out the chamber for the larger neck. Your rifle may have already had that done, or may even have left the factory with it. The only .323 bullet you can't use is heavy, monomental solids like the old Barnes 220gr.

If the neck is too tight, it won't release the .323 bullet, which causes the kaboom.

You can do the chamber cast, but I have heard of folks that just fire a J cartridge in it and measure the neck on the fired case.

Necks always have springback so measuring it is of no value.

The American 8X57 ammo has soft .321 bullets (same as used in 32 Special).

All you really (think) you know is a metric bore diameter stamped on the barrel. You don't even know if it is an 8x57 whatever.

Slug it and chamber cast it.

That is the correct proceedure.

I guess nobody reads gunsmithing books anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:

I understand your sentiment and mostly agree. However, this rifle has been altered from original, and is not in the best of shape. .

How has it been altered? From your previous description it sounded to me like it might be worth keeping original other than a bit of re-finishing.

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:

I understand your sentiment and mostly agree. However, this rifle has been altered from original, and is not in the best of shape. .

How has it been altered? From your previous description it sounded to me like it might be worth keeping original other than a bit of re-finishing.

I believe the barrel may have been shortened a little. The front sight dovetailed into the rib, and is done well, but does not look right. There is a Spandau arsenal eagle stamped on the barrel. This may indicate use in WWI (Acording to a second hand Internet source.).

So Matt, did you happen to pick that up at a pawn shop? If it is the gun I am thinking about, I almost bought it a several weeks ago. By the way, did you ever get your Rigby done?

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Originally posted by congomike:
So Matt, did you happen to pick that up at a pawn shop? If it is the gun I am thinking about, I almost bought it a several weeks ago. By the way, did you ever get your Rigby done?

I bought it in a pawn shop in Longmont for pretty cheap. The Rigby is not yet done.

Yeah, I really sort of kick myself for not jumping on that one. I think you got a great deal. I was thinking about reboring to 9.5x57 as I have several thousand .375 bullets and that cartridge always intrigued me. Please let me know when the Rigby is done, I would really like to see it, if you wouldn't mind.

quote:

Originally posted by congomike:
Yeah, I really sort of kick myself for not jumping on that one. I think you got a great deal. I was thinking about reboring to 9.5x57 as I have several thousand .375 bullets and that cartridge always intrigued me. Please let me know when the Rigby is done, I would really like to see it, if you wouldn't mind.

You can shoot it, too!

Most I bore rifles are .320 to .321. They are NOT .318. The bullets might have been .318 but not the groove dia. The Hornady and Speer .320/.321 bullets will probably work fine and they are cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
Most I bore rifles are .320 to .321. They are NOT .318. The bullets might have been .318 but not the groove dia. The Hornady and Speer .320/.321 bullets will probably work fine and they are cheap.

Thanks for the tip!

I was recently given a beautiful 9x57 by a good client that actually had a very oversized bore..I semt it to HighPlains to rebore to a 9.3x62 as it was marked 9MM Mauser on top, but because the bore was so oversized we had to rebore it to 9.5 x 62, (375x62) a conversion that I am totally carried away with. I used 9.5 scovill for startintg loads and worked up..I am getting the same velocityh that I load my .375 H&H at, that is 2500 FPS with 500 gr. bullets..and my old rifle is now my favorite big bore and it's beautiful. I am restocking it using the old stock as a pattern as the wood was dry rotted a good deal..A new rust blue and it will be awesome.

If you intend to keep the rifle and enjoy it then do what you want to with it, that choice is always yours not somebody elses.

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
If you intend to keep the rifle and enjoy it then do what you want to with it, that choice is always yours not somebody elses.

Well said.

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.I am getting the same velocityh that I load my .375 H&H at, that is 2500 FPS with 500 gr. bullets..

That's one he'll of a 375H&H load! Wow, 500 grains @ 2500 fps (I hope that was a typo for 300 gr. bullets)