Over the course of 42 years of rifle lunacy I only once messed with a re-contoured Mauser barrel. It was on a 1916 Spanish Mauser and was done for me by my grandfather. It was a beautiful straight taper and was the apple of my 15 year old eye, but it shot like crap- walking the shots steadily up the target as it warmed. That experience soured me on ever trying that stunt again.

Now, years later, I find myself on the horns of a dilemma. I fell into ownership of a K98 GI bringback that the first (actually second) owner did a typical '50s sporterization on, leaving the barrel in original configuration. The action is worthy, being of early Czech origin and the rifling is bright and crisp- like new. So, before stripping the action off and rebarreling, I decided to at least test fire it as-is. Never shoot the donor, right? Well, to make a long story short accuracy is phenomenal-- sub-MOA with several loads thrown together on the spur of the moment. So now I'm thinking since my intent was to re-barrel to 7 or 8x57 anyway, with a barrel that may or may not shoot any better than the original milsurp (and the stepped configuration of the original not being an option), maybe I should re-investigate the option of re-contouring it. Was my sole experience in such matters 40+ years ago indicative of what to expect today? What are the results that others experienced after doing this trick? Frankly, I never thought I would ever be contemplating doing this, so always ignored conversations dealing with it.

Leave it alone.

You might have a tough time removing the barrel, and, who knows what stresses recontouring might introduce?

George

A sub-moa military barrel is next to pure gold. Altering it in any way would destroy a truly rare gem. That is especially true for a German 98K. There are loads of German 98K actions out there. In fact, I have several stowed away for future builds. If the barrel is original in length, and contour. You could sell the barreled action for a premium, or trade it to someone for another action, plus cash. I wish I had been as lucky as you are with my 98's.

That's a tuff one. My general take is one of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it. however, I hate the milsurp rear sight on sported Mausers. I have recontoured a ton and never had an issue. Likewise, I have a ton of old German sporters that wear recontoured and often rebored military barrels. They also are great shooters.

If you've decided you can't live with the stepped barrel then before you replace it why not try recontouring. If results are unspectacular, ditch it and proceed with your original plan.

I recently rebarreled one rifle in .30-06 for a customer and while doing that work he mentioned he had an action that he wanted a barrel on for use as a truck gun. I mentioned that I had a pristine K98 takeoff except for some pitting right around the rear sight. The bore was spectacular. he decided he wanted me to mount it for him and eliminate the steps (and pits)in the process. I did. It is now his primary Deer rifle. The '06 went to his father.

I have installed band-type swivel bases at the step with good visual appeal, but only if the step is in the right spot in relation to the forend length. Some work, some don't. The visual impression of the band completely, or almost completely, obscures the unsightliness of the step. I also convert the convex curve at the chamber's front into a concave one with approximately the same radius. I wish I had a photo of the result, it's not the Mona Lisa but it's better than a sharp stick in the eye. One of the ones that DOES work is the Swede long rifle, one of the ones that doesn't work is the 1895 Mauser.
Regards, Joe

I too have used the band at the step approach and the results can be very noce. Very much like the 1940's Husky 96 based sporters used.

I think the key when recontouring is to swamp the barre;l opr at the least, use several intersecting radii. Trying to eliminate the steps using a straight taper will yield a barrel that may well be too thin and whippy.

Drawfile it, leave the chamber section as-is. This was the commonest beginners project in the late '50' early 60'. Every 12 year old was doing it.