MAUSER BATTERY FOR NORTH AMERICA

05 January 2003, 09:57

I have been reading everyone's posts on my 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 [Big Grin]

)

What do U Think and Thanks for the Input,
HBB

05 January 2003, 10:04

carcano91

*Shakes head*
Why in all the world would you choose a Serbian Zastava action for a Mauser 98 custom rifle, instead of a good classic action ?
*shakes head in dumbfounded amazement*

Carcano

05 January 2003, 10:24

carcano91

quote:
Originally posted by hillbillybear:
Rifle #1: 5.56x57 Mauser

The 5,6x57 has nothing do at all with Mauser. It is an RWS development from about 1964. It is a problematic cartridge design due to its extremely thick case neck, which also severely curtails reloading options. Don't let yourself be misled by the paper ballistics. If you want a classic European .22 hi-power cartridge, use the 5,6x61 SE vom Hofe (designed in the 1930s), if you are not afraid of SEE problems.

quote:
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.

The cartridge has lost favour nowadays (replaced by the 6,5x55 and the 6,5 x 65 RWS), which is not altogether fair. A classic, certainly.

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

Nothing to add. But the barrel is definitely too short !

quote:
Rifle#5: 10.75x68 Mauser

A classic and renowned factory cartridge. Not the best DGR cartridge, but popular as a "meat getter" for non-dangerous game.

Carcano

06 January 2003, 03:49

D Humbarger

Hillbillybear I just ordered two Lothar Walter barrels for customers pre chambered in 9.3x62 & 9.3x64 threaded for the Mauser 98 for $149.00 plus shipping. In fact LW offers all the calibers that are on your list with the exception of the 10.75x68 threaded & chambered for M98s. All that is needed is to headspace the barrel to the action. This is the most economical way to get the calibers on your list & in a top quality barrel.

[ 01-05-2003, 19:45: Message edited by: Bear Claw ]

06 January 2003, 05:22

Fred Bouwman

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

I am working on something similar to #4, VZ24 action, 9.3x62 Lothar Walther barrel, NEGC sights, an economy stock from Richards Microfit because I don't know what I want to do about stocking it yet, Leupold 2.5 compact scope. Barrel length, probably 24".

What is a sightron?

07 January 2003, 02:10

hillbillybear

Thanks for the input.

The reason I picked the the Zastava action rather than some of the others is a cost cutting measure. If $$$ were not a primary consideration I would probably choose either a 1909 Argentine, one of the other fine pre-WWI 98 derivatives, or a M70 Win. CRF action.

Is there any more info available on the vom Hofe 5.56 round? It looks very interesting.

Why is the barrel too short on the 9.3x62?
22 inches would make an awfully handy piece.

Sightrons are, relatively speaking, a new line of scopes that are well made and reasonably priced. go to the Bear Basin Optics sight and they have all the details.

I am surprised at the low cost of the Lothar Walther barrels. Pre-chambered and everything. This should reduce the cost of the project considerably, maybe even enough to allow an action upgrade.

On the heavy rifle is there a better large caliber round that is a Mauser derivative used in Europe?

Thanks Again,
HBB

[ 01-06-2003, 17:12: Message edited by: hillbillybear ]

09 January 2003, 12:05

500grains

All you need is the 9.3 x 62.

09 January 2003, 23:19

Flip

I am with 500 on this, the 9.3x62 is all you need

11 January 2003, 09:14

carcano91

quote:
Originally posted by hillbillybear:
The reason I picked the the Zastava action rather than some of the others is a cost cutting measure. If $$$ were not a primary consideration I would probably choose either a 1909 Argentine, one of the other fine pre-WWI 98 derivatives, or a M70 Win. CRF action.

There still are *more* than enough cheap military rifles with excellent actions around, e.g. the Czech Vz 24. I would suggest to use one that already had been semi-sporterized before. And non-matching Brazilian 1908 or Argentine 1909 with bad barrels are not difficult to find.

quote:
Is there any more info available on the vom Hofe 5.56 round? It looks very interesting.

One might think of it as the larger and more muscled brother of the .22 Newton (not the best of comparisons, because the 5,6x57 really is closer to the Newton wildcat). The 5,6x61(R) vom Hofe and its several sisters were the original idea which Roy Weatherby copied fairly uninspiredly and brazenly marketed as his own a decade later: [i]"velocity kills"[i]. The cartridge, however, is definitely overbore, and some SEE-related damages have happened in the 1970s or 1980s.
The RWS reloading handbook offers velocities of about 1060 m/s for the 4,6 grams bullet. IMHO, the negligible increase in velocities does not warrant the extra expense of powder, case life, etc.

quote:
Why is the barrel too short on the 9.3x62 ? 22 inches would make an awfully handy piece.

I am handing this question over to Mr. Atkinson [Big Grin]

. I you want a primarily "handy" piece, rather use a 9 x 57 or 9,3 x 57 instead.

quote:
On the heavy rifle is there a better large caliber round that is a Mauser derivative used in Europe?

11,2 x 60 Schuler; and the bigbores 11,2 x 72 Schuler and 12,5 x 70 Schuler. The second and third need Magnum actions, of course.

Best regards,
Carcano

[ 01-11-2003, 00:18: Message edited by: carcano91 ]

06 February 2003, 01:00

Pawel

A 8x68S is also a nice cliber developed by Manlicher!

06 February 2003, 01:37

dantec

accuracy of 5.6x57 is generally poor and the factory data vey optimisticthe new 6x62 FRERES is far better bu that stay costly european cartridge

6.5x57 is very good cartridge BUT CIP chambering a very deep throat new 6.5x65 is better in performane and can do all the things of the 6x62

my personnal choice will be 6.5 x65 and 9.3x62

good shooting

DANTEC

06 February 2003, 09:11

<JOHAN>

hillbillybear

I would say three calibers are what might be needed. All with 24 inch barrels. I would say it better to get Argentine acions, Commerical FN, Husky mod 640 or VZ 24 actions
7x64 brenneke. 9,3X62 and a 404 Jeffery

with these three rifles you would be well dressed for most hunting regardless of continent [Wink]

Cheers
/ JOHAN

[ 02-08-2003, 01:23: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

08 February 2003, 09:57

<Harry>

I have two Husqvarna's..one in 9.3 x 62 and one in 30/06. I am happy as a clam. [Smile]

08 February 2003, 10:59

<JOHAN>

Harry

Just curious, how much did they cost you?

Do you have the 640 modell or ?

Tell us [Big Grin]

/ JOHAN

10 February 2003, 11:48

<Harry>

I don't know the model numbers but they are Mauser 98 actions with the Husky name on the bbls.
The 9.3 had been beautifully restocked when I got it with addition of rear island sight, bbl band and banded front sight. It now wears a Leupold 1.75 to 6 with heavy duplex and went with me to RSA last May. Love it!
The 30/06 is the same but missing the added goodies on the 9.3 and it has the birchwood stock. It is in super condition and I paid $350 for it. I hope to get it restocked with a beautiful pc. of wood I have and have it "gussied" up to be a twin to the 9.3.
I gave $600 plus for the 9.3.