Ladies and Gentlemen:

Where can I find out what the original Mauser factory proof pressure loads were when they proof tested the 1898 Mauser rifles and the various contract actions like the 1908 Brazilian, 1909 Argentine, VZ-24, etc.?

What publications do you recommend.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Chris,

Here's the link to the DEVA - the German Testing & Proof Institue.

It's in German but I bet a nice friendly e-mail to them would work wonders.

I would bet that our resident ALF will know.

Dear Gerry:

Thanks for the information, but the link to DEVA did not materialize on your posting.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Chris.....

Whoops! Sorry.

Let me give it a try one more time.......

http://www.deva-institut.de/

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Got the answer for 1898 Mauser proof loads from Mr. Jon Speed:

Based upon a 1934 report on Standard Models, five (5) out of 1000 barrels were pulled from production, and tested with two rounds at 5600 atmospheres, using the copper crusher method usually until 1945 and the Piezo electric method sometimes after 1938.

Two proof load rounds of 4200-4600 atmospheres were test fired in each completed rifle, depending upon contracting party overseas and for the German army.

Lastly, some sub-standard barrel steel tests were done using 6000 atmosphere proof loads to check for expanded chambers which occurred versus proper analysis steel barrels where the barrel chambers did not expand with the 6000 atmosphere loading.

Pretty impressive!

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Interesting 4200 atu or bar is about 60K CUP
4600 atu or bar is about 66K CUP
5600 atu or bar is about 81K CUP
6000 atu or bar is about 87K CUP
It is/was my understanding that piezo testing was limited to about 70,000psi(about 60K CUP). Can anyone enlighten me?