Coloumbian Mauser ?

unforgiven

Inactive
Found a coloumbian mouser in 30.06 it is aresenal refinished for 200 dollars is this a reasonable deal?
It has .30 stamped on top of reciever in the back, and a coloumbian crest on top front of reciever there were no other markings, any info appreicated.
Thank you
Unforgiven
 
*Maybe*
First off, a Mauser is always a good addition to any collection. I have a 1908 Brazilian Mauser in 7mm that is fun to shoot and has excellent fit and finish. The Mauser action is safe and reliable. You can expect to pay more for U.S. compatible chamberings like 30-06 and 7.62.
Which said, you'll probably get, on a good day, 3-inch groups at 100 yd because of the barleycorn sights, uncertain bedding, indifferent muzzle crowning, large chamber, etc etc etc. You can buy a Yugoslavian Mauser in 8mm for $89 in my neck of the woods, and plink with cheap imported ammo for 12 cents a round. It is not cost effective to build up a custom rifle unless you can do the gunsmithing yourself. If you do customize/sporterize, you will ruin whatever collector value the rifle has, which may not be present due to the abundance of used Mausers on the market.
For $200, I can put that toward a good used Remington 700 in 30-06, add another hundred bucks and have a more accurate rifle "as is" that can be easily scoped.
My final answer? It's worth 200 if the bore is excellent plus condition.

------------------
God and soldiers, we adore
In times of danger, not before
With the danger safely righted
God is forgotten, and soldiers slighted
 
You got an excellent deal on this Columbian Masuer.
From the information that you have supplied, it cannot be determined with certainty that the rifle is arsenal rebuilt. Columbia bought their FN Model 1950 Short Rifle from the Belgians in the '50's and it was chambered in 30/06 from the get go. If you got one of these and the barrel has not been ruined with corrosive ammo, you got a superb deal.
The only way to find out if it is still accurate after all these years is to go out and see what it can do.
Comparing any Mauser to a Remington is comparing apples to oranges: a cheap civilian sporter vs. an expensive military rifle. One thing is certain, the Remington can be had new for about $500, but if Remington tried to make your rifle today, they would have to charge no less than $2,000 for it. Apples and oranges. That's the only reason they don't make them anymore. Enjoy.
 
Forgot:
Since the rifle is in 30/06, a quick check of the rifle's accuracy is to shot a box of Federal Gold Match 30/06 through it. I can get 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds shooting off a bench rest with this stuff and the military sights if the rifle is especially good. I don't know what others can get.
However, if it shoots great big groups with this stuff, you pretty well know that it will not shoot anything well. It has had things go bad with age.
 
B24H to Herodotus:
You're right about the workmanship...my 1908 Brazilian will put most commercial guns to shame for fit and finish...and I paid $49.99 for it.

------------------
God and soldiers, we adore
In times of danger, not before
With the danger safely righted
God is forgotten, and soldiers slighted
 
I love these old warriors. It's difficult to tell beforehand if is going to be a shooter, but if the overall condition is very good (check the barrel carefully), probably is going to shoot pretty well. The quality of these post war belgian mausers is excellent, closely comparable to the best pre-WWI germans and pre-WWII belgians. The original colombian mausers were 7x57, but new models changed after WWII to 30-06 to use the cheap surplus US ammo flooding the world with the "pax americana", as was the case in many south american countries.
If you buy it, tell us how it shoots.

[This message has been edited by Ruben Nasser (edited September 17, 2000).]
 
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