what to do with shot-out 7mm

[hillbilly]

fellas ive got an old 7x57 mauser in a model 96 ( i think thats right.) and regardless of what i try it doesn't group it patterns like three feet at 100yards, different powder/bullets O. A.L. nothing helps and as i paid about $75 for it i'm not to worried, but every time i go into my gunroom i see it there and it bugs me so any suggestion as to what i can do with this old gun, i mean as in re-barrelling, any suggestion is welcome.

[gunnut69]

It really depends a lot on the mauser you have.  I never reccomend rebarreling the small ring actions to higher pressure rounds as this seems to be the concensis..  That said I see little difference in the strength of these actions verus the M98's.  The pre-98 actions don't handle ruptured cases or pierced primers(released gas) very well.  If it's a small ring(M93-95) there are a couple of choices but the best may well be to buy a 7x57 military replacement barrel and simply return it to it's original configuration..  There's really nothing wrong with the 7X57 as is..  There are other calibers such as the 250 Savage recommended for these little rifles but for the M98 almost anything can be made to fit the action although the cost of some of the cartridge conversions is at times prohibitive.  Does the rifle cock on opening or closing stroke of the bolt?  What's the hole spacing of the action screws?  I am in the planning stage of converting a M91 to a 35 Remington.  I don't really know why other than the craftsmanship of the action is so amazing.  I am planning on trying to ameliarate some of the gas handling deficiencies of the action and will stock it in a classic mannlicher style stock.  Still a bit in the future as I have several paying customers who would like their rifles this fall and I really don't pay me that well!!!  Good luck!!

[Double D]

My first question is what weight bullet are you using?

Those old guns used long 172 bullets RN bullets.  If you use the more modern 140 gr. bullets they can't be seated long enough to fit the throat.  They to rattle around just enough on the long throat before reaching the rifling to not be very accurate.

[John Traveler]

Greetings to Hillbilly in Alberta!

What part of Alberta are you at?  I've traveled all over Canada, and Alberta is one of my favorite provinces!

As for your "shot out" 7mm Mauser, DD is right.  The old military barrels are something like 1-8" twist rate and are optimized for the long 173 grain RN FMJ bullets.  However, I've shot very accurate groups using anything from 120g spitzers to 139, 154 g, 173 g, both spitzers and RN and FMJ military stuff.

If your bore has rusted out a couple times (or more) from firing corrosive primed ammunition, and then bee  cleaned with wire brush, you can probably count on the rifling being worn to the point it won't stabilize jacketed bullets any more.

Have you tried cast lead bullets?  Sometimes you can restore the rifle to acceptable hunting accuracy by using gas checked oversize bullets.  Try .286 and .288 diameter lead bullets.  If the loaded round will chamber, you can fire it safely.

As for re-barreling, I did just as Gunnut69 suggested with my first M93 Spanish Mausers.  I re-barreled them and they gave 1 1/2" to 2" groups with military FMJ ball every time!  Hunting accuracy was just as good.  If you can find replacement barrels for the small-ring M93 Spanish Mauser, that is your best bet.

HTH
John

[Mikey]

hillbilly:  are you sure that is a Model 96 and not a model 98?  Whichever it is, it can be rebarrelled in the original caliber with some pretty decent surplus barrels and shoot really well for you.

If it is a Model 98, you can always have it just rebored to the 8mm.  But, if you prefer the 7mm, and that is a great round, consider a rebarrel.  If you feel it would require the same amount of work to rebarrel it with a mil-surp barrel as it would with a sporter bbl in the 7mm, go for a new sporter bbl and you will probably have to pass it on down to your grandchildren.  Mikey.

[TimW]

Hi Hillbilly....

 Here's another option.
  I picked up a real nice 1916 Spanish that was a 7x57 rechambered to 308.  After reading all the advice about not using factory loads in that action, I found a like new 6.5x55 off a Mod 38 Swede.  Turned the muzzle end to accept the Spanish sight and recrowned.  Still looks original and is a real shooter.

  Just my 02¢