This week I purchased a beautiful M96/38 Carbine, my first Mauser. It is a Gustaf gun manufactured in 1900. All the numbers match except for the front swivel sling/barrel band, and the stock is dark with a good grain. It does have a number 3 barrel, but I didn't worry about it because the rifling looked good and I have read that a #3 Sweedish barrel can be as good as any other Mauser barrel. I took the rifle out shooting, and inspected the first couple of cases after firing. They seemed to have stretched a little compared to the unfired cases, but not enough to worry so I went ahead and finished off the box of ammo. As I was collecting my brass, I noticed that one of the case necks had split. It was a small split, about a 1/4 inch long originating at the case mouth. I was somewhat concerned by this, so I loaded up the rifle and took it to a local gunsmith. His verdict was that the split was due to throat erosion, and that the gun was safe to shoot, though the accuracy might leave a little to be desired. I haven't fired the rifle since then, because I have a little doubt about his "safe to shoot" prognosis.
Is this guy correct, or do I need have something done to the rifle? I know some of the importers have unused barrels to fit, and the rifle is worthless to me if it isn't a shooter, so I could sacrifice the matching numbers for a new barrel. Inicidently, I didn't do any real accuracy testing with it, but firing offhand, it seemed to shoot where I aimed, and the bore is excellent.
Is this guy correct, or do I need have something done to the rifle? I know some of the importers have unused barrels to fit, and the rifle is worthless to me if it isn't a shooter, so I could sacrifice the matching numbers for a new barrel. Inicidently, I didn't do any real accuracy testing with it, but firing offhand, it seemed to shoot where I aimed, and the bore is excellent.