Author Topic: Unidentified mauser?  (Read 1636 times)

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Offline Chilachuck

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Unidentified mauser?
« on: July 16, 2008, 04:51:14 AM »
A guy showed me a medium size rifle, apparently a Mauser, I cannot identify.

Markings are mostly numbers, except a fascine and sword crossed, stamped on the front end of the receiver

5 shot magazine (gun will not load from the magazine suggesting a poorly done chambering switch)

Stamped "7.62", maybe. The "6" is not clear.

21" barrel, about 41" overall

Military style stock stopping 3.5" from muzzle, wood guard on top. Has bayonet lug.

Sling mounted on the side, with the butt loop just a couple inches from the metal butt plate.

The firing pin is held back when the bolt is pushed forward to close. Bolt will spring back out if released instead of turned.

Turned down bolt handle, looks factory.

Protective ears on the front sight are curved in, the body of the front sight looks like it wraps around the muzzle and the sight is a block that is moved back and forth. Bottom end of the front sight rests on the barrel.

Rear sight is open and looks a lot like a shorter version of the one on my Mosin. Odd numbers to 19 on the right, and even numbers to 20 on the left.

Offline STUMPJMPR

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2008, 06:58:10 AM »
I believe this is what your looking for.... Its a spanish mauser


http://www.surplusrifle.com/1916guardiacivil/index.asp

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2008, 04:41:43 PM »
That's it. Thanks.

Offline 1911crazy

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2008, 04:44:20 AM »
Nice find...Just becareful on the ammo you shoot out of it.  Some say it wasn't made for modern 308 ammo.  There's lots of info on the net about it.

Offline TribReady

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2008, 05:33:17 AM »
1911crazy is right on: There's a ton of info out there on this rifle and ammo.
From what I've read, you'd never get me to shoot modern ammo with high pressures in this rifle.
That being said, with the right loads, this can be a fun little rifle to shoot or even hog/deer hunt with
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson


...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  -2 Chronicles 7:14

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2008, 05:21:19 PM »
It's a sweet looking little rifle, all right, and I hand load some so ammo won't be a problem. (Have to see if I have any .308W dies around, I've been picking up odd reloading dies as I find them at garage sales and used junk stores. No telling what's squirreled away I've forgotten about.)

The thing does not load worth anything, though. The first three cartridges jammed when I checked it. More info on the net? I'll be looking into that now I know what I'm looking for. Thanks, everyone.

Offline STUMPJMPR

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2008, 01:07:52 AM »
 What kind of feeding problems are you having??? All of the mausers I have shot never gave the slightest bit of trouble feeding...Are the bullets jamming on the ramp or is the rim not sliding behind the extractor....These rifles have a fixed extractor and are control fed...

Offline Mikey

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2008, 03:19:40 AM »
Some converted Mausers had feeding problems.  The original Mauser rounds in 7mm  are 57mm long compared to the 308, which is a 51mm length cartridge.  If the load you use is to specs, the oal may be too short and may cause the bullet nose to jam on the feed ramp, in which case you would want to try to load it longer to see if it feeds better. 

For example - I have a Swedish Mauser in 8mm and I like to load the bullet out just far enough to touch the rifling; when I have done that I have stood a 8x57mm loaded round next to a factory 30-06 (7.62x63mm) and found the 8mm to be a hair longer than the 06 round.

Something else too that the Stumpjmpr just mentioned is the rim not getting behind the extractor.  If your bullet jams on the feed ramp the cartridge rim will not slide in underneath the extractor and she will jam. 

Good luck with this one, and let us know how it turns out.....  HTH.  Mikey.

Offline 1911crazy

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2008, 06:00:23 AM »
What ammo are you using new ammo or reloads?

Does it hang up when it leaves the magazine?  If so the feeder lips need to be adjusted. Check out the right and left feeder lips seperate and adjust correctly.

Is the chamber dirty?

Like Mikey says whats the length of the round thats important too.

I also have one but i never played with it yet. I have them in both 7mm mauser and in 308. A while back i started collecting the 7mm mausers when i saw them.  I did figure they are rare already.

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2008, 05:52:53 PM »
(Hmmm, missing a post, here. I answered some of these this morning, I must have missed the "new post" warning.)

Anyhow, I have not had a gunsmith look at it yet, and have not fired anything in it. I have some commercial ammo I've tried to cycle through it.

The bolt pushes the first three cartridges forward without picking up the cartridge. The bullet end springs free and crosses to the other side while the rim end stays in the magazine. The last two feed nicely.

The magazine spring feels weaker than what I thought the other rifles of this type had, and the mag follower wobbles all over the place, especially forward. The magazine spring also has some sharp bends in it like someone tried to increase the push by bending it with a pair of pliers.

The bottom plate seems stuck, pushing the button does nothing.

Offline canon6

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2008, 04:25:26 PM »
The magazine bottom, can be removed by pushing the "button" and sliding the base of the magazine forward,toward the muzzle.Try using some penetrating oil on the inside of the base.They are often full of crud. The M1916 Spanish Mauser  is a fine action. I have converted 3 of them to scout all three are still working.
If you contact SAMCOGLOBAL.com they can send you a copy of a Guns and Ammo article,ie; a HP White labortory  attempt to destroy tha action of a Spanish 1916.IIRC they exceeded 80,000 psi before destruction.??? my2c      Doug
a armed man is his own master

Offline S.S.

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2008, 05:28:30 PM »
I have fired both military an non military rounds from mine with no problems.
mine was rechambered in Israel instead of Spain, but it is the same rifle.
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
"A wise man does not pee against the wind".

Offline TNyoteboy

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2008, 08:02:42 AM »

mine was rechambered in Israel instead of Spain, but it is the same rifle.

1916 Guardia Civil Mausers were converted from Spanish 1895 Mausers and Israeli Mausers were converted from 98Ks. Spanish was a small ring action and 98s were large ring. That's why some people don't think it's safe to fire commercial 308, much less 7.62X51. I have read White Labortories research too. Small ring can still be a strong action, just not as many safety features in case ruptures.

Offline CzaRon

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2008, 09:38:49 AM »
If my memory serves me correctly these rifles were chambered to fire the 7.62 CETME a milder version of the NATO round. Dimensionally the same as the NATO.

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2008, 05:07:10 AM »
There's a rounded hollow in the butt under the metal butt plate. There's a large finishing nail stuck in it, probably in a pre drilled hole. The head is chewed up from pliers, but the point is still sharp.

Was this intended as a makeshift punch for disassembling part of the rifle?

Darn magazine plate on the bottom acts like it's welded in place. "Slides", eh? I straightened a paint can opener trying to slide the thing, and that's after soaking it in Kroil. (Fortunately, the important part, the beer bottle opener, was not damaged.)

Offline canon6

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #15 on: July 21, 2008, 05:23:15 AM »
The "nail" in the hollow of the but, was there to hold the side sling swivel.They are a bugger to get out,but then that is why  visegips were invented. ;D.As for the bottom of the mag, try a piece of hardwood/Plastic punch on the rear most part.The part closest to the trigger guard, and apply some judicious use of force may "slide" it forward.  hth   Doug
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Offline STUMPJMPR

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #16 on: July 21, 2008, 05:36:57 AM »
JFK was probably a kid the last time that floor plate has been offf.... ;D

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #17 on: July 21, 2008, 04:41:17 PM »
JFK was probably a kid the last time that floor plate has been offf.... ;D

Longer than that; Teddy was probably sober the last time the butt plate was off.

The loop is in there pretty good, and the nail is not a very good punch for the pin there at the back of the magazine well. Back it goes.

Offline TribReady

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #18 on: July 21, 2008, 04:48:00 PM »
Keep at 'er and let us know once you've fired her.  Post some pics also.  We all like to see an old war horse revived.
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson


...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  -2 Chronicles 7:14

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2008, 07:05:30 PM »
The magazine bottom, can be removed by pushing the "button" and sliding the base of the magazine forward,toward the muzzle.
I whacked it back, trying to unfreeze it, and off it popped. "Forward", eh?

Offline canon6

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #20 on: July 22, 2008, 05:16:42 AM »
I am glad that the bottom came off and I am afraid I had a gray moment, I do know the difference. Sorry about that    Doug
a armed man is his own master

Offline Chilachuck

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Re: Unidentified mauser?
« Reply #21 on: July 22, 2008, 05:30:27 AM »
Needed to brush up on my cussen, anyhow.