What would you rebarrel a Mauser to?

S

SVTCobra306

New member
I have a sporterized 8mm Spanish Mauser that looks like it's going to have to be re-barreled to make an accurate functional rifle. I don't have a lot of money in it so I am considering rebarreling it to a different caliber. I am staying with the bolt that is in it and if possible with the stock that it has, so my case head will have to remain the same, as well as the rough length to fit the magazine.

Additional info.. my next rifle purchase will be most likely a 7mm Magnum, I am planning an Elk Hunt in the future and I like smaller speedy bullets when possible. I am a handloader and I'd like to keep it to a bullet size that I already use so I don't have too huge of a collection of different sized bullets.. it's bad enough as it is! I also load for .308, .243 and a lot of .223 and .22-250 so that's what I have laying around already, plus the future 7mm/.284 stuff.

I'm kinda leaning toward a .280 Remington, though I'm considering going back to an 8mm with an updated barrel. What would you guys/gals choose if you had the choice? .I don't currently own anything in the -06 family, that's another factor that's pushing me toward the .280. I have considered going 8mm-06 also, but the gain is minimal and I already have the dies and trim setup for the 8X57mm Mauser.
 
If it were me, I would rebarrel entailing the least amount of modifications possible.

Any cartridge longer than the 8x57 will entail changes to the magazine box, and some will require a clearance notch in the receiver bridge to allow the longer rounds to be loaded into the magazine. (For example, .30-06 or .270.)

So, using the K.I.S.S. method, my rebarrel of choice would be for either (first choice) the .308 or (second choice) .243.

Additionally, both .308 and .243 are commonly available rounds.
 
the 308 and .243 were great suggestions but .257 roberts and 6mm rem were originaly mauser based shell casings as well.

handloaders can do well with 6mm rem because it has a higher powder capacity than the .243

im not sure how a 8mm spanish mauser differs from the german 8-57 mauser but if you can get brass for the mauser espanol why not keep it.
one thing that does worry me about reloading for rare cartridges is that the brass may be hard to get but available now,but what if its impossible to get 5 ten years from now.
 
If your future plans are for a 7mm 280 not a bad choice or even 7x57. You already load for 308 and 243, 7x57 might fit in better. Well good luck
 
Spanish Mausers weren't particularly known for top quality metallurgy.

Keep the pressures low, go with a 7x57. Use heavy bullets at moderate velocities, it will kill critters just fine.

Jimro
 
7x57 or 8x57, thats what Mausers were designed for and work best with. Shorter cartridges don't work as reliably in the Mauser, longer cartridges need modifications to the feed ramp and the magazine.

7x57 has an edge in accuracy and bullet selection though, 8x57 is better for most hunting situations. Can't go wrong with either.
 
Off the Midway page I see that the 8mm mauser takes the same shell holder as the ones listed below. Seems you wouldn't have to mod the bolt then or at least not that much.


.22-250 Remington
.240 Weatherby Magnum
.243 Winchester
.243 Winchester
6mm Remington (.244 Remington)
.25/06
.250 Savage (.250-3000)
.257 Roberts
.257 Roberts Improved
.260 Remington
6.5mm-06
6.5 x 57mm Mauser
.270 Winchester
.280 Remington (7mm Express Remington)
.284 Winchester
.7mm Benchrest Remington
. 7mm-08 Remington
7x57mm Mauser
7 x 64mm Brenneke
.30-06 Springfield
.300 Savage
308 Winchester
7.65mm x 53 Belgian Mauser
8mm-06
8x57mm Mauser
.35 Whelen
.358 Winchester
9.3mm x 62 Mauser
.38 Casull
.400 CorBon
.45 Automatic (ACP)
450 Bushmaster

After that I would look at shell length and probably keep it a low pressure cartridge. If the 8mm's are anything like the 7 where they converted some to 308 and everyone threatens they'll blow up.
 
the 308 and .243 were great suggestions but .257 roberts and 6mm rem were originaly mauser based shell casings as well.

handloaders can do well with 6mm rem because it has a higher powder capacity than the .243

im not sure how a 8mm spanish mauser differs from the german 8-57 mauser but if you can get brass for the mauser espanol why not keep it.
one thing that does worry me about reloading for rare cartridges is that the brass may be hard to get but available now,but what if its impossible to get 5 ten years from now.
Click to expand...


I had eyeballed the .257 Roberts. That's a thought as well, though it doesn't do much for limiting the variety of bullets I have on hand LOL! I suppose there is a good thing to diversity... .25 caliber is one of the sizes that wasn't perpetually sold out during the panic, it isn't popular enough. I like the idea of having a caliber that is harder to find. Anybody can go to their local big box outdoor store and pick up a .22-250 or a .243 and so on, in any number of makes and models. Since I have to pay for a rebarrel, I'd like it to be sort of an odd duck.


The Spanish Mauser (this one anyway) is very similar to the German 98 Mauser, and is chambered in 8mm x 57 JS Mauser (.323). I have 50 pieces of new brass for it, and about 35 more factory loads that are boxer primed brass. Bullet selection is thin, I have a couple boxes of Nosler/Winchester 180 grain coated Ballistic Tips, but they're heavy, slow, and kick fairly hard, which isn't my cup of tea. I don't mind a hard kick as long as it's accompanied by some speed :)
 
the .257 roberts is a light easy shooting deer gun with a 100gr and the 120gr bonded core bullets are good for bear and moose at short ranges.
you might be able to form .257 brass from your 8mm mauser brass but dont quote me on that.
as far as the .257 roberts declining popularity,that only hurts you in brass availability not bullet availabilty because the 25-06 is rising in populaity.you should be able to form that brass from 7-57 mauser,6mm rem,or even 9.3-57 brass so some retailer somewhere should have what you need
 
I'v heard it was once popular to rechamber the German Mausers to .300 HH Mag . I'v never seen one but sounds like quite a rifle . I have a friend that rebarreled his Springfield 1905 to 25.06 .
 
Spanish Mausers weren't particularly known for top quality metallurgy.

Keep the pressures low, go with a 7x57. Use heavy bullets at moderate velocities, it will kill critters just fine.
Click to expand...

+1.

Either that or the .257 Roberts.

Lots of small ring "Spanish Mausers" were converted to The Bob.
 
I like Mausers but am not familiar with a Spanish Mauser. Never played with one. I do have rifles with FN Mauser, Steyr Mauser Oberndorfs and DWM actions but not one from IIRC La Corona.
I like the idea if the .280 Rem. I recently built one on a DWM Argentine Mauser. Easy was to check if the magazine is compatible would be to try a 30-06 shell and see if it fits. If it does the .280 is a go. Get a 1 in 9" twist barrel.
Even if Spanish 98 Mausers are considered weaker than other versions, the .280 is not loaded as hot as say the .270 Win. because Remington first put kit in pump and semi-auto guns. The 8x57 round is not exactly a weak sister either except as loaded here in the USA. European ammo is loaded quite stout. If you're not comfortable loading a .280 to it's full potential, just stay with factory level loads. The Remington factory .280 with 150 gr. Coreloct dos just a bit over 2800 FPS from my 24" barrel. I have one handload with the Nosler 150 gr. ABLR that does 3010 FPS and no pressure signs.
What to go with if the magazine is too short can be a puzzle. I like the 7x57 Mauser round. I have one in an FN action and it's a sweetheart. The 7x57 is drastically underloaded due to all the old 93 and 95 Mausers chambered to the round so naturally I pretty well hot rod that one as well. With judicious handloading practices is you can warfm that one up as swell and still stay within safe parameters for your rifle. The .257 Robt. is also underloaded but the 6MM Rem based on the same case is not, I don't think. I could be wrong on that one but as it supposedly competes with the .243 in powder, probably not underloaded.
Paul B.
 
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Like a couple of previous posters, I'd rebarrel it to 7x57 Mauser ( a fine hunting round), and have done with it.

The only thing needed would be to fit the new bbl so the headspace is good - no feed rail mods for differently shaped cartridges, etc.


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I have a turkish action thats going to be sent off for work and its final caliber wil be 6.506, cause thats a cartridge I've been jonsing for for years....Light recoil super accurate and easy for handloading budget.
 
Spanish Mausers weren't particularly known for top quality metallurgy.
Click to expand...
If the rifle was originally in 8X57, it is a Modelo 1943 La Coruna rifle, on par with any 98 made during that time. Therefore, it could be rebarreled to virtually any cartridge with the same head size.

I really like 8X57, but a 7X57 (either standard or improved) is my favorite, but for my next build I am seriously considering going for a 284.
 
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