I was given a custom Mauser a few years back, I think it was brought after WWII. It's a pretty little gun, large ring, full length rib, folding leaf sights, double set triggers and butterknife bolt handle in a plain but checkered stock with inletted swivels and steel buttplate, schnable forend. Weighs less than 7# with a loaded magazine.

At the time it was given to me I was told it was chambered for 8mm Mauser. I knew enough to slug the bore amd the diameter of the grooves is 3.24. The barrel looks a bit worn near the muzzle so I pushed the slug back through from the muzzle end, upset it a bit and it dropped through at .323. Fine, no problem, I went out and got a box of 8x57JS.

Went out to the range the other day to try it out. The bolt will not close on the cartridge. Gave it a little push , but no luck it got stuck, had to tap it out from the muzzle end. I dropped one into the cahmber with the bolt removed and it stops about 1/8" short of chambering.

I realize the first order is to cast the chamber cast to find out what it's really chambered for. Any tips on that process? I have the Cerrosafe but have never used it.

Is there some esoteric 8mm cartridge that's a touch shorter, say an 8x54 or thereabouts that this could be chambered for?

If so I'll probably have it rechambered to 8x57 and see how it shots. Final resort would be to have it rebored. Is it feasible to rebore to 9.3x62? There's enough muzzle diameter, but will it feed correctly without further alteration? Is this too much cartridge for this light a gun?


Thanks, Rob

Is there

Rob. According to Barnes Cartridges of the World there is an 8x51 Mauser round. I'm thinking that's what you have.
Paul B.

The 8x51 was designed for use with the factory Kurz action and was seldom used in standard length actions, but anything is possible. The 8x56 Mannlicher cartridge is another possibility, assuming the rifle was built by a gunsmith.

What markings are on the barrel and receiver?

Your best / safest bet is to do a chamber cast to be 100% sure. You can pay a gunsmith or get some cerrosafe from Brownells http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=384
For more info: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?p=384&t=1&i=39 and http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?p=384&t=1&i=485

Once you do the chamber cast, you can then take the measurements and know for sure.

Pete

It may just be a tight chamber.

You'll definitely want to get a chamber cast. If you have 8 x 57 dies you can try bumping the shoulder back on a case until it chambers which could give you some idea of what's going on. If you don't have dies you can pick-up a set of Lee RGB for ~ $9 from Midway. Not a bad investment.

Might sound obvious, if so, don't pay any attention.

Are you loading from the magazine and not just dropping a round in and pushing the bolt closed?

I've seen Remington guys do this to Mausers and think it's jammed when the extractor won't snap over and the bolt won't close.

Sam B.
info@fireflyarms.com