Guys: Thanks for all the feedback, I did check the barrel twist and it is 1-10". I will slug the barrel and get my calipers out. Any clues as to the nationality of this piece? If the KMG marks are right then it must be german right? Any idea why they cut the breech with a extractor cut? Even with a rimmed round i don't think it would be necessary. Anybody ever see a mauser work with rimmed rounds? I will chamber cast this and see what it is but i was thinking that if i can't find or make ammo for it and it is not too collectable, It would make one hell of a 30-40 Krag or 303 British depending on bore dimensions. ALF, Thanks for that great info, Very informative, Where did you dig that up, I need to buy a good book on Mauser sporters. Savage99-- Thanks a bunch for posting those pictures for me! One day i'll learn how to do it. Thank You all for your help, Swede96.
OK, the obvious . . . will it chamber a 30-30 case . . . how about a 30-40? One should be able to gently chamber (NO bolt) the 30-30 case and get a feel how tight it fits.
IF IF IF it fits tightly a little Cream of Wheat and some fast pistol powder and you will ha . . . no never mind that track the Cerro-safe will reveal all "we" need to see".
Posts: 4299 | Location: TN USA | Registered: 17 March 2002
Well i slugged the barrel, Actually i poured some molten lead in the muzzle with a aluminum foil stop plug about 1" down the bore. I measured the casting and it came up .3075. So i guess this rifle has a .308 bore, Next i have to cerrosafe cast the chamber to find out what i have but Alfs suggestion that this might be a "Servicemans" Mauser sporter might be right. But a .308 bore with a rimmed cartridge? A 30-30 won't chamber nor a 30-40 Krag. What is this thing? Swede96.
Alf: Thanks again for your help, But i don't think this is an 8mm, Even a tight one. I poured lead into the barrel again and tapped it out gently and let it fully cool then measured. It is almost exactly .308 diameter groove to groove. The 8.15x46R works out to .321" which is roughly 32 caliber. I am ordering some cerrosafe from midway today and i should have a casting of my chamber within a week. I'll post my findings then. In the meantime if anyone has one of these or knows more, feel free to educate me. Thanks.