Spanish FR-8 (Mauser 98), questions.

8

8200 rpm

New member
After four trips to three different Big5 Sporting Goods stores in PRK, I bought a decent Spanish FR-8 (Mauser 98 action rebarrelled with a 17.75" CETME/HK-type barrel complete with birdcage flash suppressor). Few things worry me...

1) When the bolt is retracted open in its rearmost position, it swings freely a few degrees. Is this normal? Other Mausers (and even a Moisin-Nagant) in the store seem to do this.

2) When the bolt is retracted open in its rearmost position, the extractor swings slightly a few degrees along the bolt. Is this normal?

3) The bayonet seems to have slight play when mounted to the barrel. Is this normal?

4) The steel is completely caked with cosmoline. Even the slots in the flash suppressor are clogged with cosmoline. The steel appears almost dark brown (not rust). The FR-8's in the other Big5 stores were virtually bone dry (Why do they vary so much? They were all imported by Century.). What's the best way to get this stuff off without ruining the wood?

5) I don't think the rifle came with a manual, where can I find disassembly instructions for a Mauser 98 online?

Thanks!
 
rpm, where in CA did you visit the Big5 stores? After reading a rather favorable article of the FR8 by Gary Paul Johnston of G&W for LE magazine yrs. ago, I've searched halfheartedly for one. They were imported, as you wrote, by Century Intl. arms yrs ago and the supply dried up rather quickly. I'm surprised to hear that a Big5 had one.
EricO
 
Cosmoline

I'm not sure what you mean by #1 and #2. As for #3, that's normal.

You can remove cosmoline very effectively with either brake cleaner or hot water and soap, plus an old toothbrush. Hot water and soap definitely won't damage the wood, but it'll dry it out a bit, so you'll want to treat the wood with an oil finish like linseed or tung oil or Tru-Oil.

Disassemble first, according to the manual you'll find at http://www.mitchellsales.com/

Once the search feature is working again, do a search on this subject. You'll find lots.

Semper fi.

Bruegger out.
 
You can't go wrong with a FR-8. Get yourself some mauser strippers and your all set. Its amazing how many people dont know what that slot is for or how to even use it!
 
Delay99,

Any ideas on a good source for Mauser stripper clips? I see a bunch of cheap 8mm surplus on strippers, but haven't found any strippers by themselves.

The FR-8 is a hoot, btw, 8200 rpm. Gotta love the caliber, and the Mauser action is outstanding! We all want to hear range reports once you get her out there.
 
EricO,

I'm in SoCal; I went to the San Dimas, Pasadena, Glendale, and Burbank BIG5 stores. Both Glendale and Burbank had them but now they're gone. Pasadena had one yesterday; pretty dry and slightly rusted.

Good Luck
 
Just a note FWIW. I do not own an FR8, but there has been concern expressed on its quality, as it is supposedly soft (most Spanish rifles are) and can stretch if fired with .308 Winchester commercial ammo, which is loaded hotter than GI spec 7.62x51.

I would use the rifle only with GI spec ammo and keep a check on headspace.

To answer the first two questions, side ways play in the open bolt is normal with a 98 Mauser. The extractor should be able to be moved partway around the bolt, but it should not be loose and turn from its own weight. Cosmoline is a fact of life with surplus guns; some importers clean them, others let the customer do it and save a few bucks.

Jim
 
Mike Kilo Niner,
I got a bunch of strippers at a gun show, I think I paid about $15 for 100 that were in real good shape. I got some others from "Northridge" out of Shotgun News" but they were more expensive.
 
Delay99,

Thanks for the advice. I've been trying to keep myself away from gunshows (too expensive!), and now you've gone and given me an excuse... ;)

Jim,

You're right about .308 Win loadings having higher pressures than 7.62mm NATO ones, but most of the concern over Spanish rifles in this caliber arises from the FR-7 (built on a small ring Mauser) and converted Model 1916 (Guardia Civil). All I've shot is surplus NATO ammo, but that's more an issue of cost than fear of kB! YMMV.

Thanks for the heads up, though -- everyone needs to be aware of the concern.
 
I found this page while surfing the net. It has some info on the ammo questions. I dont understand the controversy between the two rounds. My understanding is that the differences were case size related and not worth worrying about. I've fired both nato and civilian ammo in both chambers with no pressure evidence in either. I reload my 308's to around 2600-2700 fps which is under nato spec for m59 ball (2750 fps) with a 147 gr bullet (as per Lake City's data for 1969) I use a 150 gr bullet. Ive shot a lot of both nato and reloads in my FR-8 with no sign of problems in the empty cases, the reloads being the same brass in the same gun loaded 10 times or more (full length sized). I use the same load in all my .308/7.62 guns with no problem.

http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/the_fr-8_page.html
 
I have sent a letter to SAAMI stating what has been said about the pressure differences between 7.62 NATO (50,000 psi) and .308 Winchester (65,000 psi) and asked them why commericial manufacturers do not print a warning on the boxes not to use the latter in military type rifles. I will see what they say. But I note that the general warnings always say to use only in rifles originally chambered for the round and so marked. Since an FR-8 or an M14 is not marked for .308 Winchester, they have an out if the commercial round damages the rifle.

The concern with the FR-8 (the FR-7 is really the old 1893 and was never designed for anything higher than 45,000 psi) was over both high pressure and soft steel, something Spanish guns are rather notorious for. Spanish military 7.9mm was loaded under 50,000 psi and I think the rifles would hold up reasonably well for that and for 7.62 NATO spec ammo.

Jim
 
I heard some talk about getting striper clips. I have fired a lot of surplus Turk ammo from my Yugo 48 and it has all been loaded on striper clips. I think a whole bandoleer(210 rounds packed on 42 clips) can be had for about $21. recently I have noticed that the striper clips have gone from the nice brass ones to cheap steel. I intend to keep it all just for the heck of it but unless there is something I am missing striper clips should be very cheap.
 
"Both Glendale and Burbank had them but now they're gone."

DAMN IT !!!! :mad::mad::mad:

So, now that I missed out, why don't you tell me how much you payed for them ?



[Edited by ATeaM on 04-14-2001 at 12:39 AM]
 
I paid $189.99 for the rifle and $19.99 for a matching bayonet.

Pasadena might still have one in stock, don't bother calling to find out. They had the FR-8 tagged as M95 8mm; they don't know what's up.

These FR-8's arrived recently in the stores (two weeks ago according to Big5). They said that they were only sent one FR-8 unlike the other surplus rifles they sell (which arrive in multiples).
 
Well, I talked to Big 5 today and they said they would be getting more in. So far so good. In the meantime, 8200 you gotta do a range report !
 
In the meantime, 8200 you gotta do a range report !
Click to expand...

The Kali 10-day waiting period kills me every time. By the time I pick up the damn gun, the magic has worn off and I'm already thinking about another gun!

I pick up Friday (20th), I'll try to go the range Saturday and post a range report that evening.
 
All is not lost. AIM Surplus has them for $179 (http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/AIM_Rifles_1.html) and I heard Century had them, too. Mine quickly became my favorite milsurp. Come to think of it, maybe I need another one!

Scott
 
Jim,
I think I understand the issue of the higher pressure of the .308 ... is it the Spanish Mauser receiver that has the questionable steel or the barrel? I should be able to hardness test my FR-8 along side a German K98k and see if mine has that weakness, right? I'd probably shoot mostly NATO rounds, but it would be nice to know that it is an acceptable .308 shooter if the right opportunity presents itself.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this one.

Saands
 
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