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K98 barrel removal: How to for non gunsmith

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30 August 2001, 09:34
DRB
K98 barrel removal: How to for non gunsmith
Can anyone help to to explain the procedure and tools that I may require to remove the worn out barrel on a K98 Mauser.

I live about 150 miles from the nearest Gunsmith and would like to do it myself. (In RSA we license each firearm (the barrel), and I want to have the license cancelled by removing the barrel and having it destroyed. I obviously want to keep the action for a future project.

Would appreciate any information, bearing in mind that I only have 'domestic' type tools available for the job.

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Regards
Dave

30 August 2001, 09:40
ready_on_the_right
A Kuhnhausen manual. A barrel vise, action wrench, and proper bushing for the vise for the large ring Mauser, maybe some rosin. I reccomend www.brownells.com.

Mike

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Victory through superior firepower!

31 August 2001, 00:37
Bubba John
If all you are interested in is salvaging the action, and not the barrel, you can make a simple action wrench youself and use a large pipe wrench to remove the barrel. Take a piece of flat steel approx. 3" wide and 10" long and 1/2" thick (two 1/4" placed together will work) and cut a hole the shape of the reciever (where the barrel attaches) in the flat steel. Use a cutting torch to do this, and make the hole slightly oversize. Place the flat steel in a vise, place the reciever in the hole you cut and use the pipe wrench to unscrew the barrel. You may have to use an extension on the end of the wrench to free the barrel, as it will be very tight.The barrel needs to be on the right as you are looking at it, and you will push down with the wrench. It is a right hand thread. I have done this many times and it works. Any problems, let me know. What country are you in? I don't recognize the initals.

[This message has been edited by Bubba John (edited 08-30-2001).]

31 August 2001, 02:58
CGB
I can tell you how not to do it. Put the barrel in a pipe vise and slip a piece of flat stock through the magazine slot and apply torque with a large lever. I did this as a kid to an '03 action and got away with it but there is a real risk of springing the action. You could just chop the barrel off with a hack saw in front of the receiver and let your smith remove the stub with a lathe when he goes to rebarrel.
C.G.B.

01 September 2001, 06:56
Atkinson
I've been doing like Bubba John for years, but I toss the barrel or use it for tent stakes....I put them on the shop floor and give it a stomp and it pops loose....I have a good barrel vise but I don't use it for that...I've done as many as 100 a day...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

01 September 2001, 07:28
DRB
Gent's

Thanks for the info...Sounds easy enough!

Bubba John, I work in the US (three weeks out of every month), and live in South Africa. I do the Cape Town-LA route every month.

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Regards
Dave