1891 Argentine Mauser advice

[Clearmore]

I bought an 1891 Argentine Mauser years ago when I was a teen.  It’s been packed away for years, but I’ve recently got back into guns and decided to pull it out for a look.  It’s been sporterized and it looks like it was done very well.  The stock is in good shape.  The blueing on the top of the barrel near the receiver is worn.  The worst I can find is the bore.  I would say that is in very poor condition.  I understand that corrosive primers were used back in the day and it looks like they have taken a toll on the bore.  My question is:  “What do I do with it?”  It’s a great looking rifle and I would love to keep and shoot it.  Can it be rebarreled and would it be worth it?  Can it be modified to handle a more common cartridge, like the .308?  If I were to consider selling it, what is it worth?  What would you do in my position?

Thanks!

[PA-Joe]

There is plenty of surplus ammo available. Just buy the correct stuff and shoot that.

[Zcarp2]

I do reload for it though.

One thing that I've been taught, if the bore looks bad, but she still shoots into 1" at 100 yards, so what?  Shoot the gun and tell us how she groups.

Mine won't group with cast bullets.  6" with 180 grain 0.312" bullets at 100 yards.  Been told these are good shooters.

I was looking for plinking ammo and loaded up 50 with 123 gr "SKS" bullets and got the best group ever!  Wow.  I still am amazed.

I bought mine after a BAD custom job for $60.  I put a scope on mine and have been shooting it for 10 years.

There is a pawn shop with a customized one, so-so condition, crappy wood work for sale at $250.  I think they will sit on that one for a while.

Customed Argie - guessing around $100.

Have fun with that old gun  Zcarp2

[Clearmore]

The last time I shot it was years ago and I had some surplus military ammo.  I had a 4'x4' sheet of plywood at 100 yards with a target on it.  I couldn't hit the plywood.  I moved it to 50 yards and tried again.  I couldn't hit the plywood.  Granted, I might not be the best shot, but come on!  I moved the target to about 20 yards and touched off another one.  I hit the plywood this time and saw a great profile of the bullet upon inspection!  I think the bore is so bad that I'm not getting any spin on the bullet.  I've cleaned and cleaned and I can barely make out the remains of the riflings.

[PA-Joe]

In that case you can just get a new barrel. Based on the bolt face you may have several options from the new 243/260/7mm08/308 to the older 257/7mm mauser type. Go for a new barrel. You may even be able to find a new original surplus barrel.

[Slamfire]

I'd tack weld the firing pin and hang that puppy on the mantle. Think of all the fun you can have regaling your grand children of haw tough it was in the old days. The action really ain't worth a new barrel, and a high pressure cartridge would be dangerous.  

[Zcarp2]

It all boils down to how much you want to put into the gun.  I think the figure was $300 for a rebarrel and I can get a pawn shop deal on a shooting gun for that price.  I am using a mid 308 loading for my Argie.

1) sell it
2) slug the barrel and shoot cast or larger diameter jacketed - handload either way
3) put it back in the closet or over the mantle

If you do rebarrel, look at the lower pressure cartridges like Slamfire mentioned.  308 may be fine, but I wouldn't shoot commercial ammo in it.  Back to handloading and it is cheaper to buy dies than a new barrel.

[Clearmore]

Okay, all good advice.  I think I'm leaning toward hanging it on the wall.  Sure not worth $300 to me for a rebarrel.  When you guys are looking at doing a rebarrel like this, what is your source for parts?  I was surprised that a barrel for this rifle would be available in the whole .308 family.

I was browsing in the Gun Parts Corp. web site and saw that they offer (none in stock now) an original barrel for under $50.  If I could go that cheap and then cut/crown the barrel, it might be worth messing with.  I reload and would enjoy giving the 7.65 a try.

[Slamfire]

I don't actually know tha tenon size and threading, but wouldn't be very suprised to find it was close to other small rings. If Gun Parts gets any originals in, I'd bet they were take offs from rifles that shouldn't be sold.

[kombi1976]

This is a '91 Mauser, right?
I don't think I'd risk putting a 308 or 308-based cartridge in the action.
They may be stronger than they're given credit but they aren't up to 55,000cup, or at least so I've been lead to believe.
Lighter 6.5x55, 7x57, 257 Rob and 250 Savage loads would be fine IMO, unless you want to try sourcing another 7.65x53 which would be great.
Are you sure there isn't a cheaper way around this?
I hate to hang 'em on the wall.
It's like putting you fave huntin'/fishin' uncle in an old folks home.
Drains the life out of them.

[S.S.]

The 7.65 Argentine was a pretty stout cartridge in its own right.
It fired a 154 grain bullet @ 2750 Fps.... That is a 2 grain heavier
bullet that our M2 ball 30-06 at the same initial velocity...
That places it slightly ahead of the .308

[Castaway]

I'd make a lamp out of it, and buy one of Mitchell Arms' Yugo 98's.

[kombi1976]

I'd make a lamp out of it, and buy one of Mitchell Arms' Yugo 98's.

HERETIC!!!! :shock:    :-D

[jgalar]

As posted above slug the barrel. I have a mauser with a .329 barrel instead of .323 I cast bullets sized right at .329 and the gun is very accurate.

[totallycustom]

Just thought I would step in, I have a 1891 argentine that is my favorite rifle to hunt with, its all numbers matching the most beautiful blueing and stock, its slightly sporterized with williams rear peep site and the forend trimmed a little and no cleaning rod, still got the barrel band looks great. I shoot mine all the time, just took a 5x6 black tail on saturday with it, mine shoots amazingly well, my dad has been shooting it since he was in school 60-70s and my grandpa did before that, im thinking im going to start reloading for it though 35 bucks a box is a little steep.  

I do think that i would stay away from larger cartridges the receiver is not stong enough, i have heard of folks doing so and stretching the receiver.

Hope you figure it out they are a cool rifle.

TC

[1911crazy]

I have an 1891 argentine mauser that was sporterized by Ye Old Gun shop in La,Ca. back in the 50's or 60's it looks like an engineering carbine but its actually a cut down long barrel 1891 in 7,65x53.  It has a swept back bolt and it was very professionally done.  There's a few of these sporters out there, they seem to pop up every now and then. I see the swept back bolt in the pics of the ones they try to pawn off as orginals. The buyer has to be aware if your paying the price for an orginal keep in mind this fake is out there.

The round does look like a 308win/nato(similair) I'm going to keep mine in 7.65x53 arg. and reload for it when i get a chance too.

[Kragman71]

Hello,
I have A '91 Mauser.They are all well made,and look good.BUT,the '91 is not as strong as the other Mausers,so don't upgrade to something stronger.
The cartridge is just fine for deer hunting,as is.
I would scrub the boreand shoot for group.If still unsatisfacrory,firelap the bore.
If you can get a barrel from Gunparts.com cheap enough,consider doing it..They are good people to deal with.
Frank