I have 93 mauser action with a custom saftey and a timney trigger added. I still has the original military barrel on it which has a very sloppy chamber and will only shoot 3" groups at best. It also has a very nice custom stock.

Question:
I want to re-barrel with a Kreiger 1 in 8.6 twist medium sporter 24" barrel. But a gunsmith told me that I was stupid and to just trash the rifle and start over.

Question: Trash and start over or rebarrel?

Choices:
Rebarrel as stated. 93 action OK for a 7X57.
Rebarrel with a different barrel. Barrel described below.
Trash and start over. 93 action is POS!
Other option listed in message below.

 

regardless of how much $$$ yo spend, you'll still only have a '93.... i bought my first '93 in '72 for $25.... have an oviedo that i paid $75 for a couple yrs ago...i'd been advises to stay with something low pressure if i were to rebarrel.... i made wall-hangers..

I sure wouldn't go the expense of a Kreiger barrel on a M93.

7x57 is a relatively low-pressure cartridge isn't it???

Kreiger is the only 1 in 8.5 twist I can find.

Sounds like you like the rifle- rebarrel with a low-end 7-or-6.5mm, stay with milder pressure, and go shooting. You don't have to blow the thing up to get acceptable accuracy.

I like a 93-5 myself.

I would probably rebarrel to the 7x57 and keep right on going.. if you like the gun, then you like the gun.. if it looks nice, better still.. if your gunsmith doesn't like the job, FIND ANOTHER GUNNY WHO DOES .. why? the guy who likes it will probably do a better job, as he doesn't have a built in excuse of "i told you not to do it"

i had a 91 in 308, it shot hundreds of rounds of milsurp, busting rocks, stumps, clay birds on creek banks, and hogs .. until someone told me it was unsafe .. wish i still had it

Personally, I'd get an inexpensive barrel and go for it. A&B barrels for the 93-96 action are are less than a $100.

What are A&B barrels?

I think I will go ahead and rebarrel...but...I want a 1 in 8.5 twist.

Where can I get a economical 1 in 8.5 twist decent quality barrel.

1 more question:

Is a 93 oveida mauser action shooting 7X57 cartridges at very modest velocities with 160 -170 grain bullets dangerous???

quote:

think I will go ahead and rebarrel...but...I want a 1 in 8.5 twist

A 93 is an OK action. I wouldn't use one as a start of a high $$ custom. The AB barrel is Midway's house brand
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=641107
I guess I'm having trouble understanding the need for a 1 in 8.5. I've never had trouble with up to an including a 175gr in a 1 in 9. Matter of fact I think the wife's 9x57 is a MKX 1 in 9.5"

Douglas is another option but again only down to 1 in 9. http://itdcustomgun.com/_wsn/page6.html

Simply load to the pressure limits for the 7x57 not the 65,000 of the 6mm and your action should be fine.

If you will only consider a 1 in 8.5 you will find your options very limited and as you have found costly.

Mcgowan lists a 1 in 8" http://www.mcgowenbarrel.com/catalog1.htm

A 1 in 9 1/2 twist is pretty much standard for the 7x57. I built one on a 98 using an A&B barrel. It shot quite well with bullets from 140gr on up.

unless you are going to shoot monometal 170gr bullets, it is a matter of the mind

GO with the midway A&B barrel it will do all the action will handle.
Some folks have a hard time useing the 93-95 actions,don't know why,as long as you saty with in presure limits of the action I say go for it.They are fun to shoot.

I want to shoot traditional old time type loads of 160 and 170 grain bullets.

I have been told by some who shoot the 7 X 57 a lot that the 1 in 8.5 twist was the best for the heavy slower loadings. Is that not true???

Do all feel that a 1 in 9 will be fine???

I'd say get a less expensive barrel than a Krieger and enjoy your rifle. There is nothing wrong with Mauser 93 actions for the cartridges they were designed to use...like the 7x57. Who actually needs an action with a safety lug anyway? Only someone who will be loading to a level which may proove dangerous with or without the safety lug....as the brass is the weak part of the system, not the action.

As to the twist....how many folks have ever actually measured their barrel twists? Those who have done so on a lot of barrels may agree with what I have found...the designated (nominal) twist is an approximation of the true twist, not a dead-nuts guaranteed sure thing.

It's kind of like the figures given for a 3 to 9-X brand new scope. That may be what it is called, but it may turn out to actually be 2.7-X to 8.6-X, close but not dead on at either end of the adjustment.

And it is the length of a bullet, not its weight, which determines the ideal twist anyway. So, if a 175 grain BT bullet isn't fully stabilized in a 1-in-9" twist, use a flat-based bullet of the same weight or one with a less streamlined nose...shorter bullet, better stabilization in the same twist.

Me, I'd get a different gunsmith. Does he think he knows more than the Mauser brothers did about whether the M93 is adequate for the 7x57? If not, what IS his agenda?

I believe the M93 was "called" a 1-8.75. No telling was it really was. The norm for the 7x57 now days is 1-9.

Yes as the bullet gets longer the twist needs to increase to stabilize. Hirger velocity can offset some of this. Even at 7x57 speeds set by the lower pressure limits I can't see an issue with any 160 or 170 lead based bullet. Maybe the 175 boattail long hollow point target bullets at low speed but that defeats your purpose. As Canuck said if the real long 175 won't stabilize at your speed drop the BT or long hollow point.

Lothar-Walther 7x57 bbl has a 1-8.7 twist from their web site

Well...if you're gonna worry about "return on your investment" you'd never buy a new car..or a diamond ring, or a new TV, a nice pair of boots, good binoculars. a decent bottle of wine...hell...anyting that gives you pleasure.

I'd make this the best rifle I could afford ands never look back

I had a M93 - German made in 1896 - in the original 7 x 57mm calibre. I sporterized it with the barrel cut to 24', mounted a scope and was very satisfied with it. 140 gr Sierra GameKings, 47 gr of H4350. My hunting was in the NZ bush and it was ideal for that. I bought a second M93, also a German made one with the flat bottomed bolt. Very cheap - $50 - as the barrel was rusted out and overall condition looked poor. A beadblast and reblue and a surplus swedish M38 6.5 x 55mm barrel for $100 changed that. When scraped down and sanded, the original wood proved to be an outstanding piece of walnut. I was very happy with both rifles.

So...a 1 in 9 twist economical grade (Midway AB) barrel and give her a whirl????????????????

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
So...a 1 in 9 twist economical grade (Midway AB) barrel and give her a whirl????????????????

That would be my vote.

quote:

Originally posted by Rojelio:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
So...a 1 in 9 twist economical grade (Midway AB) barrel and give her a whirl????????????????

That would be my vote.

Mine too.

Do any of you guys want the job? If so, I'll send you the action.

I have one Original Sporting Rifle DWM in 7x57 made on a 1893 Mauser action. It was my first Big Game Hunting Rifle. I still own it (I am trying to find the pictures...).
Five generations used this rifle: Greatgrandfather,Grandfather,Uncle,me and my son...Still going strong. And I use the same loads in it and in my M98 (1935) 7x57. Still have the same headspace...If you like your M93 rifle, put a new, perhaps not too expensive, barrel and go on...

Regards

PH

I built an 1895 Chilean Mauser 280 and have been using it for over 20 years with no problems. Krieger bbl BTW, among other special items.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
So...a 1 in 9 twist economical grade (Midway AB) barrel and give her a whirl????????????????

That would probably work out fine. Because of your likely income as a DVM, I'd not go quite that inexpensive on the barrel.

The only reason I wouldn't necessarily use a Krieger as you originally considered is that they are top priced and still in strong demand, so delivery is not always as rapid as one might want.

There are many other very good quality barrels around for somewhat less money. Also, by shopping around, you may be able to get off-the-shelf immediate delivery. You might get that delivery with a Krieger too, but not infrequently there is a little bit of a wait.

There is nothing wrong with a typical Kreiger barrel, though, so if you're willing to pay top dollar and maybe wait a couple of months, go for it!

P.S.: I was married in the court house in Gainesville in late 1966. JP said the whole ceremony in one breath, then smiled a big grin and said "Wanna hear it again?" We did and he did. He was wearing cut-away tails, cummerbund, black Stetson, white frilly shirt, and had on a gun-belt and two Colts. Heck of a fun deal. Don't suppose he is still alive and around those parts?

I used to have an 1893 Oviedo mauser stapmed 1916 as I recall. Had the name of some British gunmaker, probably a small shop as I don't recall the name but the gun looked like an early Rigby without Rigby's name. It was a 7x57 and it's one rifle I really regret ever selling off. Even with a scope on it it weighed less than my current Winchester M70 Featherweight, also a 7x57 and I took several very nice Mule Deer with that little sporter. It worked very nicely with factory level handloads and a few that were a bit warmer than factory although I never did go balls to the wall with that rifle.
Would I buy another one like the one that got away? Absolutley. it's not all that hard to get used to the cocking on closing and frankly, that never did bother me anyway.
FWIW, a bunch of 93 Spanish Mausers were chambered to the 7.62 CETME round which has the same dimensions as the .308 Win./7.62 NATO but loaded to a lower pressure. They were sold here as .308's and were tested by the H.P. White laboratory and declared safe for the .308 round.
I guess that should dispell any doubts as to the actions potential.
Paul B.

Hello Paul,

Here are the pictures of my DWM Original Sporting Rifle with M93 Mauser Action. Still in use ...!

Fail to post 4. Here they are!

PH

Well, sorry they went all...

PH

This is one thing I actually know a little about. I have a 1:9.5 twist ruger, it is mid-80s. They were making them back then with the 140 grainers in mind. It will shoot a 175 grain round nose like no-body's business, but will not shoot a spitzer over 154 worth a darn.

I also have a 93 ovideo from 1924. I believe it has a 1:8 twist. The new rugers have a 1:8 3/4 twist if i remember right. At any rate, 1:9 is the cut-off for the round in SAAMI spec 175 grain spitzer type bullets to stabilize.

I don't think you are going to find an off the rack barrel with greater than 1:9.5 today. This means that you can shoot 175 round nose bullets, which I think are the best projectiles for the round. If you want to shoot spitzers, get a 1:9 or quicker.

The 93 is as strong as any other action. If
a case head fails the stuff comes back in your face. The 03 Springfield was a copy of the 93 Mauser.
Enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by hawkins:
The 03 Springfield was a copy of the 93 Mauser.

no, its not .. it copied the stripper clips, PERIOD .. its a hodgepodge of design concepts and us specs

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by hawkins:
The 03 Springfield was a copy of the 93 Mauser.

no, its not .. it copied the stripper clips, PERIOD .. its a hodgepodge of design concepts and us specs

Our government paid a couple million to Mauser for the stripper clip design?

Myself, I see a significant similarity between the 93 and 03- and that's my .02

quote:

Originally posted by craigster:
Personally, I'd get an inexpensive barrel and go for it. A&B barrels for the 93-96 action are are less than a $100.

For a hunting barrel this is good advice.The chambers are usually cut short so you or a smith may have to finish it off for you. Or if youare only going to shoot your reloads use it as you receive it. roger

If you look over a 93&98 Mauser, a Krag, and
an 03 Springfield. You will see that the 03
is a mix of Krag and 93 Mauser.
None of the differences between the 93 and
the 98 appear in the 03.
At the time they were developing the 03 they
had thousands of 93's from the Spanish American
War. Probly they never saw a 98 mauser at that time.
Good luck!

What similarities does the 03 have with the Krag other than the cocking piece and cock on opening (speaking of the action only)?

The differences I come up with between the 03 and 93 mauser is coned breech, cock on opening, 3rd safety lug, and that funky bolt stop.

What else?

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
1 more question:

Is a 93 oveida mauser action shooting 7X57 cartridges at very modest velocities with 160 -170 grain bullets dangerous???

That would depend on whether you are sending or receiving

A friend told me the 93 Mauser was designed to shoot black powder. True or False?