Safe to shoot?
- Thread starter talonap
- Start date
I have a small collection of export mausers (i.e. 3x'09s, 1x08, '93, '95, '98), and would not hesitate to fire them, given their excellent condition--but I don't for the sake of wear and tear, and need to obsessively clean every part.
I own ammo and dies for every rifle that I have. As for the mausers, I would only buy them for shooting if the bolt matches the action. The DWM gunsmiths were the best in the history of the world and as long as the rifles are in original configuration, you'll never see a better fit in those rifles: not to mention the weight, strength, and quality of the steel put into the actions during that time period is unmatched to this day. You can tell from across the table if a bolt is mismatched, because it just will not have that "ahhh" slide, fit and lock that you want, and which is why I'm addicted to these rifles.
As for wartime rifles, I've been warned to avoid late war productions, as the quality control slipped as Germany began to lose the war.
I own ammo and dies for every rifle that I have. As for the mausers, I would only buy them for shooting if the bolt matches the action. The DWM gunsmiths were the best in the history of the world and as long as the rifles are in original configuration, you'll never see a better fit in those rifles: not to mention the weight, strength, and quality of the steel put into the actions during that time period is unmatched to this day. You can tell from across the table if a bolt is mismatched, because it just will not have that "ahhh" slide, fit and lock that you want, and which is why I'm addicted to these rifles.
As for wartime rifles, I've been warned to avoid late war productions, as the quality control slipped as Germany began to lose the war.
At a recent Gun Show I picked up a 6.5 Swiss bolt action made in 1902. Absolut Beut! Still ammo around in bulk packs and that rifle built like a Swiss watch still groups < 2" at 100 yards with the non standard peep site somebody put on it last century for competion shooting. Most of the older last century guns put modern ones to shame. 
Still on the down side most of the old original ammo is corrosive and cleaning them is a real problem. Add to this that most of the sellers of the old ammo don't know if its corrosive primed or not but tend to tell you its not...
Still on the down side most of the old original ammo is corrosive and cleaning them is a real problem. Add to this that most of the sellers of the old ammo don't know if its corrosive primed or not but tend to tell you its not...
If it's got a black primer its corrosive or so I've been told.
The orders for the old smellys (kiwi colloquillism for SMLE-Short Magazine, Lee-Enfield) were two quarts (or maybe pints? Whichever's bigger) of boiling water down the barrel after action. I know my mates old man works for DOC (Dept of Conservation) and was using an SMLE to euthanise beached whales after efforts to free them failed. Old ex-military corrosively primed AP or Ball in a saltwater environ. Great for the rifle.
Slightly off topic but are Lee Enfields regarded as collectables in the US?
The orders for the old smellys (kiwi colloquillism for SMLE-Short Magazine, Lee-Enfield) were two quarts (or maybe pints? Whichever's bigger) of boiling water down the barrel after action. I know my mates old man works for DOC (Dept of Conservation) and was using an SMLE to euthanise beached whales after efforts to free them failed. Old ex-military corrosively primed AP or Ball in a saltwater environ. Great for the rifle.
Slightly off topic but are Lee Enfields regarded as collectables in the US?
Falcon5NZ said:
Yes, to a greater or lesser extent.
Scarcity and value-wise, Ishapores and Lithgows and No.4 Mk.I's of the Long Branch persuasion are at the lower end of the totem pole here, rising up through other No.4's, then Mk.III* SMLE's, then pre-Great War rifles and No.1 Mk.V's, and reaching a pinnacle with the various sniper variants.
You could pick up a .308 Ishy for ~$150 USD, up to a few grand for a nice No.4 Mk.I (T).
I have a 1918 BSA "Smelly" and a '53 Faz No.4 Mk.II, myself.
Yea, you guys would hate NZ
SMLE's are a dime a dozen for a sporterised ones here. We had/have a real deer problem here so we employed people as "cullers" to shoot them. Parts of maps with "UNCHARTED" stamped on them were guaranteed to have .303 casings in them. Even a fully wooded one is only about NZ$550. They are regarded as good cheap first rifles. We even modified them to launch nets to live capture deer.
SMLE's are a dime a dozen for a sporterised ones here. We had/have a real deer problem here so we employed people as "cullers" to shoot them. Parts of maps with "UNCHARTED" stamped on them were guaranteed to have .303 casings in them. Even a fully wooded one is only about NZ$550. They are regarded as good cheap first rifles. We even modified them to launch nets to live capture deer.
simonkenton
New member
I have a Swedish Mauser made in 1898. I fire it all the time.
Probably the best-built and most accurate military rifle ever made.
Probably the best-built and most accurate military rifle ever made.