Saw a 95 Mauser chambered for 270 Winchester at the local Gander Mountain this evening. I found the manager and told him it was a bomb waiting to go off in someones hands. He promptly pulled it from the shelf.

I'm glad he listened to me but I just can't believe something that dangerous was actually on sale at a store like Gander Mountain.

Wonder how many times it's been fired? Regardless of the obvious safety issue it sure says something about the strength of the Mauser design, doesn't it?

it's no better, or worse, than all the 308 winnies on 91s...

and just as dumb, though there's been alot of them.

jefe

The 95 (and the93) Mausers are stronger than people think. Any of them will take loads that loosen primers. The problems occur when a case head lets go. The gas comes back into the shooters face. The receiver wall is thin over the locking lug recess and may let go.
It is not a "bomb", but it may develop headspace. The 1903 is a mix of 93 Mauser, and Krag. Back in the early 1900's there was a lot of problems with brass, that is why Mauser made the 98.
Good Luck!

The debate of the strength and suitability of pre-98 mausers to hold 60K pressures will continue forever. It's one of them "all sides are right" arguements.

As for me, I won't own a pre-98 mauser for anything as I have no interest or need.

There's no right (or wrong) answer here.

What Hawkins said about strength and gas.

I have hot rodded 1895s in 7x57 until the bolt is sticky with no set back, but that was with shooting glasses on.


Sarco had quite a few imported Husqvarna 1896 Muasers in 270 for sale that they imported from Sweden.

But it looks like all they have left is 8x57 and 9.3x57 rifles.

as long as the rifle looked in decent shape, I would shoot it. God only knows how many rounds of .270, .30-06, and especially now .308 rounds have been fired in pre-M98's in the past, present, and future. Are they as strong as a M98? No. Does it mean they are a bomb waiting to go off? No.

I am surprised the manager pulled it off the racks on the advice of one customer. WOnder what he will do with it now?

And for the record, I do not own any non-98 Mausers and have no desire to own one. But I also would not be afraid to shoot one in good condition any more than I would be afraid to shoot a M98 in comporable condition

The rifle was very strange. The reciever and bolt were definately 95 Mauser, but it had a 98 Mauser cocking piece and was conveted to cock on open. The overall workmanship of the rifle was poor and it did not appear to be the work of a skilled gunsmith but rather a cheap bubba job.

The manager pulled it and was going to have the store gunsmith look at it.

The rifle may or not be safe but it is well known that the early mauser actions including some of the various 98 actions are not suitable for high pressure rounds.

Just like the handloader who likes to add a few extra grains to make his pet superduper load, shooting a round like the 270 in the 95 action is eating into the safety factor of the action. We will never know how much or how long the action will hold up but why chance it.

I wouldn't pay two cents for that rifle and no responsible gun retailer should put it on the shelf.

If someone gets hurt shooting that rifle it hurts all of us.