I have been reading everyone's posts on the rifle battery thread and thinking. Since I am an historian and have an affinity for "older" things, how about a battery of rifles based on Herr Mauser's designs. This would also give one an excuse to build some rifles( like we rifle nuts really need one) which is always much more fun than using straight factory guns

First, in keeping with a relatively low cost theme, how about using the KBI-Charles Daly Mauser action ($250-300.00) with a Lothar Walther barrel ($400.00 fitted? extremely accurate and very German to boot) set in a Boyd's Laminated or Walnut stock ($150.00) with a Timney or other appropriate replacement trigger ($75.00-100.00 pull at 2.5lbs please)= $900.00-1000.00 ( really not much more than MSRP on a Remington or Winchester and the gunsmithing needed to correct the factory miscues).

Rifle #1: 5.56x57 Mauser (aka 22-6mm) W/26 inch medium heavy and a 10 x 40 Bushnell Elite 3200 Scope for Targets, Ground Hogs, Coyotes etc.

Rifle#2: 6.5x57 Mauser w/ 26 in medium heavy barrel and a 4-12 Leupold Vari-X I for long range deer, antelope etc.

Rifle#3: 7x57 Mauser W/ 22 Inch Barrel and a 2x7 Leupold Vari-X I for general purpose Deer, Sheep etc.

Rifle#4: 9.3x62 Mauser w/22 inch Barrel and a 1.5-6 Sightron for Elk, Moose, Bear sized critters.

Rifle#5: 10.75x 68 Mauser(a neat wildcat if it doesn't exist as an "original Mauser" offering)w/24 inch barrel and a 2.5x Leupold backed up by good iron or express sights for great big ugly sorts of things (I.E. A naked, sexually aroused Hillary Clinton charging straight for you at close range )

What do U Think and Thanks for the Input,
HBB

[ 01-04-2003, 09:16: Message edited by: hillbillybear ]

I like all your choices but rather then the 9.3X63 why not upgrade to a 9.3X74

Chris

[ 01-05-2003, 08:30: Message edited by: ABHUNTER ]

I will take two of those, but after being translated to .338WM, and .270 (8.5, and 6.8).

Got the 7x57, working on the 9.3x62 (Lothar Walther barrel ordered), next is an 8x57 -- the latter two on Czech actions, the first on a Brazilian. 416 wasn't on your list, but that was my choice of 'heavy' for a Mauser (have that too).

Don't forget express sights and nice WALNUT stocks! I like your idea, are you planning on doing it?

Todd

Great idea not least as I have done the similar.

My points would be:-

5.6x57 is not a great chambering due to the excessively thick neck developed for the German market love of 22rf adaptors. The thick neck means only full pressure loads seal and cases formed from non 5.6x57 stock will likely split necks. It generally comes with a quick twist barrel to stabilise the factory 74gr sp. This will likely cause varmint weight bullets (with possible exception of 55gr BTs to break up in full velocity loads) but not be quick enough to have best accuracy VLD loads. The US version is called (I think) 22 Clarke and does not have the thick neck and may differ in spec to some extent. As a result of all this I went 6mm rem which is a much less painfull way of acheiving exactly the same result ie 55-80gr. Barrel wear is likely signicantly better with the 6mm.

6.5x55 gives same results as 6.5x57, has a greater choice by far of factory ammunition and brass, suffers less from stretching, has a better reputation for accuracy and again is an easier way of getting the same result.

7x57 peerless

9.3x62 likewise peerless

10.75x68 superfluous given 9.3x62

My rifles have identical stock shapes, wear fixed 6 power scopes except the 9.3 which has a 1.5-6. That way I get the same sight picture whichever I use.

The 6mm is a takedown and is set up for small deer. The 6.5 is set up for small deer. The 7x57 is set up for anything and the 9.3 is set up for moose.

If I had that budget I would buy one really nice 7x57.

These Brits... they have beaten us twice in the last century and you really can't help acknowledging their gun-related savvyness, even today as most parts of the UK strive to become a free-of-legal-firearms zone .

quote:

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Originally posted by 1894:
5.6x57 (...) generally comes with a quick twist barrel to stabilise the factory 74gr sp.

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Yep, the DEVA handbook indicates 250 mms twist length.

quote:

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As a result of all this I went 6mm rem which is a much less painfull way of acheiving exactly the same result ie 55-80gr. Barrel wear is likely signicantly better with the 6mm.

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There is a plethora of good bullets for the 6mm (.243"). However, the halfway recent German 6x62 Fr�res is superior to the old 6mm Rem in every respect, IMHO. If one is not fully satisfied with the venerable .243 Winchester, one should go the full way to the 6x62 Fr�res IMHO.

quote:

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10.75x68 superfluous given 9.3x62

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A very tenable stance. If one wants a German "true" DGR bigbore, about the only alternative would be one of the Schuler cartridges, with all the accompanying gunsmithing efforts and problems.

Respectfully yours,
Carcano

Todd,
I do plan on doing for sure the 7x57 and the 9.3 x62 as soon as the funding is available.

What are the dimensions of the Schuler Cartridges?
Will they work in a standard length action?

HBB

I just hate it when Brad reads my mind and posts it before I do 270 and 338 is just as good as it gets.

Back in his day, Parker Ackley called the 8mm "a much neglected number". Apparently it still is. I like to think of my 8X57 as a 308 with an attitude, as it is more accurate with a 200 grn bullet than my 30-06 will ever be (cant say that about 180s though) and velocities are similar. For me, that along with a 257 R will be the ones that get used this year.. Both Mausers of corse..

[QUOTE]Originally posted by carcano91:
[QB]There is a plethora of good bullets for the 6mm (.243"). However, the halfway recent German 6x62 Fr�res is superior to the old 6mm Rem in every respect, IMHO. If one is not fully satisfied with the venerable .243 Winchester, one should go the full way to the 6x62 Fr�res IMHO.[QB]

Hmmmm I'm not so sure. The trouble with a 243 is that it isn't a particularly happy feeder from a Mauser action whereas the 6mm rem is. Mauser and non magnum 6mm is therefore IMHO best served by the 6mm rem.

The Freres is some round! The only trouble is brass etc. Am I right in thinking the brass dimensions are in effect 9.3x62 necked to 6mm and that hence it's wildcat cousin would by 6mm-06improved? The trouble with the Freres in the UK is that the resale value is practicaly nil. We are very unadventurous over here but as you say look where adventure gets you!

I'd like to play along but to my knowledge, there ain't that many left handed Mauser actions so alas I will just sit back and watch.