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Mauser 03 Accuracy
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Picture of Mike_Dettorre
posted
Who has experience with Mauser 03's the ones with the switchable barrels.

Curious about the accuracy and repeatable of switching barrels back and forth?

What is your experience?

Also what is the "bedding system" that the barrel "lugs" go down into


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Mike, I don't personally own a Mauser 03, but the barrel system - switch mechnism, bedding mechanism, lock etc - is a close copy of that of the parent Blaser company. The barrels are fixed into the stocks exactly the same as on an R93. They sit in an aluminum bedding/system block while in the stock. Recoil is (surprisingly) controlled by a minimal cutout in the barrel, matching a minimal lug in the bedding block - plus naturally the two barrel screws. It is somewhat surprising they get away with this minimal recoil management system, but as proven by the R93's excellent accuracy, the system does its job.

The only thing which is different from R93 to M03 barrels is the bolt lock-up mechanism. They are even manufactured in the same plant - the last I heard the plant was located in Lichtenstein.

I like the manual cocking system of the Mauser M03 very much. It is elegant in use, and with sufficient training should become second nature. The safest system possible for carrying a loaded rifle in the field!

The only thing I'm not too crazy about on the M03, is that the stocks (on the ones I have handled) have been a bit too "clubby" for me. In particular if you have just handled a Sauer 202, and then switch to the M03, the difference is noticeable.

Another alternative for you might be the Sauer 202. Not inexpensive, but they sport switch barrels, and they sure are nice rifles - both in terms of quality and accuracy.

- mike


*********************
The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart
 
Posts: 6653 | Location: Switzerland | Registered: 11 March 2002Reply With Quote
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Finally managed to chronograph and shoot the mauser 03 on paper. Loaded 12 rounds and went to the range with Ghubert a few weeks ago and left after the firing 04 shots ............. dancing

 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Mike,

Like mho Mike; I don't own a Mauser '03. Seen plenty in gunshops, though.

I did have one in my hands in the field, had a good evaluation and even got to take a quick shot with it while we were confirming zero on our way to a hunt.

The rifle belonged to a German Forester; was brand new (he had only purchased it the weekend prior) and it was the synthetic stocked version in 7x64 Brenneke. He thought it was the greatest thing since Sliced Bread and I was duly immpressed as well.

Great shooter; I preferred the Mauser sythetic stock to the Blaser R93 OffRoad (which I do own); especially the pistol grip, forearm & checkering/stippeling.

Can't say much about the wooden version since I din't have one to compare but the synthetic stock didn't seem too "clubby" to me at all.

Since both Mauser & Blaser originate from the same parent company and share similar Modular systems I guess I could go out on a limb for the Mauser; if anything like the Blaser - their repeatability is phenominal. I've broken the component parts down and re-assembled countless times and never had a hitch when confirming zero - always the same spot, every time.

Benajmin,

With a target like you shouldn't have put any more than four rounds downrage - don't want to mess up a target like that, for sure. Since I'm challenged daily anyway; Ida taken a chance on the fifth and of course, pluncked it outa the group!

thumb


Cheers,

Number 10
 
Posts: 3433 | Location: Frankfurt, Germany | Registered: 23 December 2004Reply With Quote
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Yeh I was amazed as well. Some details for those who might be interested.

Shot on a bench at 100 yards

Wait for this

I used a 1.1-4 x 24 Schmidt Flashdot 0 scope at 04 power

The barrel was a solid 50 cm long !

Amir was next to me at the time.

I bought some cooper heads from nice Lutz Moller last year and have not been able to try them. So being off season I loaded 12 round to see the accuracy claim......

As instructed by lutz I loaded 4 grams (not grains) of Reloader 10x ( I know this is against all reference books for 9.3 x 62)

Seated to the second drive band.

2550 fps, 2570 fps and 2545 fps

9.3. x 62 lapua case with CCI Large rifle primers

The fourth shot I used it to zeroed the scope.

Now I am ready for boar season.

The range day finished with us plinking over 300 rounds of 17 HMR

What I call a nice off season day at Bisley

BTW where is Ghubert these days
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of Ghubert
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I remember that group!! thumb

Benjamin's 9,3 M03 is a very nice rifle indeed, the stock felt solid, perhaps an echo of Mike's "clubby" comment, but on the other hand felt recoil was less than my tikka 30.06 I was load developing for on the same visit. The tikka has one of those slim, Sauer-feeling stocks so I guess the stock design of the mauser handles recoil better.

The de-cocker takes a bit of effort to re-cock should you use it and I think some practice would be needed to operate it silently in the field.

I have no experience of the switch barrel mechanism but by all accounts it works well and the option of a dedicated scope for each separate barrel makes a lot of sense.

The accuracy was, in a word, phenomenal for a large calibre. It shot 250, 286 and the picture LM 180grain bullets into tiny little groups ( ½ to ¾”) and I should point out that the ½” group Ben posted was the first rounds loaded with that bullet in that rifle!

It’s always nice when load development takes no more than one step!
 
Posts: 11731 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 02 September 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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One question for those with more relaoding experience than me

These copper head are technically 150 grains by weight.

I eas expecting higher velocity since I was averaging 2500 fps with 250 grains A-frame !

I suppose the drive band is lower friction and pressure than normal full contact loading.

Can you imagine 150 grain in a 9.3 mm rifle

Ghubert do you realise technically we are within the range limit for Bisley.

150 grain and 2550 fps !!!!

BTW We also met a guy who part owed Rigby in the 1970's and ended up drinking at a private club house in Bisley till 9pm !
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Benjamin,

I've been privy to LM's website and he certainly has a loyal following with his light for caliber monometal bullets.

Very good terminal results anylysis also; but this appears to be another facet of reloading & hunting that I have apparently not submerged myself into (unlike mho & Yours Truly who just give the Beast a nudge with our foot and move on to the next hapless victim).

hilbily

quote:
BTW We also met a guy who part owed Rigby in the 1970's and ended up drinking at a private club house in Bisley till 9pm !


As always when I'm not there - last time we were way-y-y too sensible.....

rotflmo


Cheers,

Number 10
 
Posts: 3433 | Location: Frankfurt, Germany | Registered: 23 December 2004Reply With Quote
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Picture of Ghubert
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quote:
Originally posted by londonhunter:
One question for those with more relaoding experience than me

These copper head are technically 150 grains by weight.

I eas expecting higher velocity since I was averaging 2500 fps with 250 grains A-frame !

I suppose the drive band is lower friction and pressure than normal full contact loading.

Can you imagine 150 grain in a 9.3 mm rifle

Ghubert do you realise technically we are within the range limit for Bisley.

150 grain and 2550 fps !!!!

BTW We also met a guy who part owed Rigby in the 1970's and ended up drinking at a private club house in Bisley till 9pm !


2550? With all that muzzle flash is that all we were getting Wink? I had a figure of 3024 in my head for some reason…..

That was indeed a good night, the thing I have always loved about Bisley is that it is a slice of Edwardian England seemingly preserved in history for our pleasure!

As a bit of background, we had just finished shooting in the morning session and were packing up when an established older gentleman wanders over the benches at the 100 yard firing point, with a retainer in tow, and rumbles on about “measure this” and “make sure you get that down” etc.

Naturally I wandered over and introduced myself and we found out that he was having a range built on the estate (!) and he wanted replicas of the benchrests built.

We then bumped into him again at the Artists clubhouse and got to know him.

Landed gentry, did a spot of hand modelling and wants to get into voice acting.

Classic.

A
 
Posts: 11731 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 02 September 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of 404WJJeffery
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Hi Mike

I have owned 3-4 of em. There come back to zero after breakdown and all of mine were above average in accuracy and consistency. I think they are great, BTW. Some pluses and minuses, PM if you want to hear more.

Take care


______________________________

"Are you gonna pull them pistols,...or whistle Dixie??"

Josie Wales 1866
 
Posts: 1489 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 19 July 2005Reply With Quote
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I have handled a couple of them, the problem is the lack of support by Mauser/Blaser/Sauer USA here.

Cabelas has a 300 WSM with a decent stick for $2500, but no extra barrels, scope mounts, etc. I don't like the caliber, but think that is a very fair price.

I am totally out of the R93 part of my life, but could be again for $2500 for a local NIB gun, that LL Beans can't seem to move. At least there are parts.

I know where there are plenty of Sauer 202 rifles, and they are in the same problem as the M03. No parts and no service.

Merkel KR1s are available, cheaper, and have some parts, if I was back in Spain it wouldn't be a problem.

I am holding my breath just trying to figure out which way to go. I like the M03 the most, but unless I move back to Europe it's a moot point.
 
Posts: 4729 | Location: Australia | Registered: 06 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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Sorry my friend to hear that.

Well you have plenty of friends this side of the pond on this forum.

If you ever need to get parts or accessories for these marques we are here to help.

You only have to ask.
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of D99
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As always I appreciate it!
 
Posts: 4729 | Location: Australia | Registered: 06 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of Ingvar J. Kristjansson
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Nice shooting guy’s !

Accuracy of my Sauer S202 in 9.3x62 is also very good to say the least...shot some new loads with 250 gr. Accubond this weekend on a beautiful sunny day ! The Summer has finally arrived here in Iceland Cool



 
Posts: 510 | Location: Iceland | Registered: 15 May 2006Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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Very very nice target

You are the fourth person I come across in the last year with targets like this.

Would you agree there is some in build accuracy node with 9.3 x 62.

Or let me put it another way it is relatively easy to develop and shoot a good group with this caliber ?

In my case it was no effort at all and people I have met have also said the same.

I do not come across this with shall we say
375 H & H ???

This is only my amateur casual observation
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of Andre Mertens
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I'm inclined to believe there's intrinsic accuracy in the 9,3x62, though very few bother to explore beyond the standard loads level of killing power. I own two 9,3x62 and the most accurate of them, a Blaser R93, can be made to shoot every bullet I tried so far into < MOA with a 4x scope. Each time, the petload was reached during one single shooting session.



André
DRSS
---------

3 shots do not make a group, they show a point of aim or impact.
5 shots are a group.
 
Posts: 2420 | Location: Belgium | Registered: 25 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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I agree

I have now developed loads for

156 grains copper head from Germnay
250 grain A frame
286 grain Noslers

I look forward to 320 grain next month

Have ordered a box of Woodleighs from dealer

Have you tried them?

If so any suggestion on a starting load?

I am lucky, the POI of the 156 grain is exactly 3 inches higher at 100 yards in a vertical line over the 250 grain so I can use the same scope when mixing loads !

What are the chances of that happenning in another rifle ?
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of Ingvar J. Kristjansson
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From what I have seen I think that 9.3x62 is very accurate in general. It has been easy to develop a good accurate load in my rifle.... with different bullets and weights.
 
Posts: 510 | Location: Iceland | Registered: 15 May 2006Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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If I have to start all over again and if the law in England allows it

I will just have 02 rifles :

17 HMR FOR SMALLER THINGS THAT SMILES AT YOU
9.3 x 62 FOR LARGER THINGS THAT GROWLS AT YOU

AND THATS IT......

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ?
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Picture of Andre Mertens
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How nicely formulated Smiler. Personally, I've no use/liking for anything smaller than a 7x64 or .30-06. One of these coupled with a 9,3x62 would constitute quite a practical minimum outfit for a globe-trotter.

For the 9,3, I never went above the 286 bullets (presently, I've a good provision of 286 Norma plastic point and Lapua Mega). Woodleigh is not imported here. This being said, in the field I never found the 286 lacking but then, I don't hunt Cape Buffalo...


André
DRSS
---------

3 shots do not make a group, they show a point of aim or impact.
5 shots are a group.
 
Posts: 2420 | Location: Belgium | Registered: 25 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Picture of londonhunter
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Andre

I was introduce by chance to copper projectiles in 9.3mm and they weigh in at 156 grains net.

It is completely flat to 200 meters hence combining with 286 grains conventional projectiles this setup can literally cover a lot of game and ground.

Unfortunately the police in UK do not see it in the same light. I am one of the lucky ones who can use it for deer in the UK.

03 of my friends in UK shooting the same caliber can pocess it but cannot use it for deer.

Over the past year I have learned that larger bore and slower velocity drops game better than higher velocity and relatively smaller(bore) sectional density.

Nice to cross path with somebody from Belgium.
Do you know Philip Dupont who shoots for your country?
 
Posts: 1661 | Location: London | Registered: 14 February 2007Reply With Quote
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