1938 Turkish Mauser

[JRR]

I just made an impulse purchase at Big 5. 1938 Turkish Mauser stamped 1939 on the receiver and chambered in 8mm. It has new wood, no rust and cost $49.95. I have been told that these receivers are not strong enough for modern high pressure rounds like the 308 or 7mm-08 but are OK for 7mm Mauser level cartridges.

I am considering rebarreling in 7mm Mauser, 257 Roberts, 250 Savage or even 35 Remington. If I go 35 Rem., than it will be used as a cast bullet shooter. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.
Jeff

 

[Herodotus]

As long as it is a Model 98 type Mauser, it can handle any pressured modern cartridge (50-55,000 psi). The magazine length and basic feeding operation limit these standard length Mausers to cartridges no bigger than the 300 and 338 Win. Magnum type "short magnums" (Remington is now in the process of introducing even "shorter magnums"), but these fatter magnum type rounds require some good basic gunsmithing to recoinfigure the magazine, rails and feeding system to accomodate them in a satisfactory manner.
Model 98 type Turk Mausers would have no problem at all with the 308 or 7mm-08 rounds. If you do rebarrel for these rounds, be sure to tell the gunsmith that you expect perfect functioning (feed, extraction and ejection) even though there may be little or no work involved in converting to these rounds. My own gunsmith says that 308 Win. does not always function flawlessly in these rifles and sometimes does need some work.
The Turks also had Model 93 Mausers which are also being sold at this time. Those are the only ones that oine would wisely hold to a lower pressure level, say around 40-45,000 psi, even though the Turks themselves chambered them to full power 8mm Mauser rounds (50,000 psi??).

 

[RON in PA]

Why spend all that money on converting a $50.00 rifle, by the time you are done you could have bought a new sporter.

The Turks are strong, the surplus Turkish 8mm ammo shoots a 154 grain bullet at 2900-3000 fps. Thats preety hot and right up there with a 30-06.