I have looked all over for info on this Bolt gun and found some good and some not so much. I have an 1896 Oviedo smallring mauser. The reciever is stamped Fabrica De Ahmas, 1896, OVIEDO. The bolt bottom is flat which i believe makes it a M93 action. I am thinking of rebarreling it to 6.5x55 and composite stocking it for my sons first hunting rifle. The action is in very good condition (with the exception i havn't split the barrel from the action to check lugs yet). I know others have used smallrings for hotter cartridges like .308 and such but i will be handloading for this and can head the 46,000 cup warning of the 7x57 pressures. I was looking for people with any experience on this. I have rifles built on the 98 but this would be the first smallring. I see Brownells and midway have alot of the parts i need for the smallring which is a bonus. Little history, My wifes Grandfather was a very good gunmaker and we have i think 6 he built(5 on 98 actions and 1 on model 70). His wife knew he bought this Mauser for a project build and he stripped the wood off it and he passed away never finishing it. It sat in his cabinet for almost 40 yrs now untouched. How cool would that be to finish the job and give it to his great grandson as all the others he built were all presented to family members. That would be so great! I have chills. I believe he already turned the bolt handle down as it is obviously turned down, all blueing gone and it is polished, appears to have a brand new extractor and there were 2 others in a bag along with a new in box trigger set.

I just watched a video of a m93 smallring that was rebarreled with a REM 700 takeoff barrel in .243. That seems hot for that action and it was factory fusion ammo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vPcZGYP5gk

You'll get all kinds of opinions of what a pre-98 Mauser will hold or be chambered to.....

I'd personally avoid 65K pressures....hold to 50K pressures and still have a darn fine sporter.....

7 X 57, 6.5 X 55, .257 Roberts are three fine rounds for that action!

I had a German made 1893 Mauser and rebarrelled it with a Swedish M38 barrel. Shot very well and I was happy with it.

Well, thanks for the replys but upon further inspection after removing the barrel the reciever has a crack in the front right between the lugs. It's not all the way through but it is there. Damn it all i really wanted to use that one. If anyone knows or has a good M93 smallring I'm interested, even if it is just the reciever. Maybe i should just say it's the thought that counts and build one on a M98.

I was holding my tongue since you were employing an heirloom as the basis for the boy's first rifle. Now that it's a moot point, may I suggest a better action for that purpose , such as a M98, Springfield, M70, M700, etc.? Much better off in the long run. There was a reason that the world moved away from 1893/95 actions 100 years ago. Not as good safety margin, escaping gas handling, etc.as with the above mentioned actions. JMO

I was on Midway and they have brand new Zastava M98 actions for about 300.00. Are they any good? Are they better than finding an old M98 rifle and useing that? I'm guessing the steel is gonna be stronger on the new one.

quote:

Originally posted by icemanls2:
I was on Midway and they have brand new Zastava M98 actions for about 300.00. Are they any good? Are they better than finding an old M98 rifle and useing that? I'm guessing the steel is gonna be stronger on the new one.

Dont hold your breath.....they weren't available and likely won't be for some time.

When they become available they will be an excellent candidate for building almost anything you want!

I've saw the Zastava M98 actions available other places if you wanna spend 500.00-650.00 for one. For that much i might as well buy the kid a Rem 798.