Is this rifle junk?

[BEN BODEY]

I have a Mauser 8MM that slugs at .326. From what I have read here, boolits need to be sized at .001 over that which makes it .327. Where would I find a boolit that diameter? This is the most worn out barrel I have ever seen. Is this project worth pursuing, or is this rifle junk?

[nagantguy]

Junk ,I will help you out from under this burden for $100 USD. But for serious can you post pics if it does have a blown out pipe is take it off your hands for a reasonable price or maybe a swap of some kind. I've been looking for an action for a .35 project.

[mroliver77]

Lots of guys shoot them with a .327 bore. If you don"t push it too hard a softer boolit will "bump up" to fill the throat. It works but is not optimum. I have a neat boolit for o .32 that drops like .323. I use it in a Turk Mauser with a .326ish groove but use cream of wheat filler and that seems to seal it up well. Shoots accurate and is clean. There are Custum moulds to drop larger boolits.
Jay

[keyhole]

Lee makes the mold below, which is intended for 8 X 56 R. Mine drops at .330-.331 with linotype. It shoots very well in my Steyr M 95. Not to say it is necessarily a great boolit for 8mm Mauser, but the diameter may be workable for your rifle. Lee also makes a .329 sizing die.
The cost of the mold and sizing die does not represent a huge investment.
LEE MOULD C329-205-1R DBL CAVITY

[Larry Gibson]

There are some M98s with pretty worn bores but I find on all the ones I've shot cast in over the years (a lot of them) that had good clean shiney bores a .325 sized 323366, 323470, 323471 or the GB Lee's 325-150-FN and C326-190-FN have all shot excellently. I've also shot numerous commercial cast (PB & GC) sized a .325 with excellent accuracy results with no leading.

You might run at least 3 slugs (preferably more) through the barrel again to get a better "average" as it is easy to mess up a single slug and not get a correct measurement. Also measure them with a micrometer if you have one vs a caliper. Some times we get wrapped around the axle over a .001 difference when it won't really make any difference, especially in a milsurp shooting it with issue sights.

Larry Gibson

[Hardcast416taylor]

I`d look at Accurate Molds web site catalog page 3 mold #32 - 195S. This 8mm mold is .325 as pictured, however you can ask for a larger dia. cavity by talking to Tom. Robert

[MtGun44]

Measured with a caliper? If so, doubt the number. Get a .0001 reading
micrometer before you go any farther down this road.

Bill

[kens]

Any old military bore of that vintage you cannot expect a really pristine bore. However, if the boltface & action is good you can get it rebarreled with a new pristine bore.

[EDG]

There are a couple of companies on the net selling new barrels for the Yugo 24/48 rifles that are reasonably priced and can easily be modified fit a K98.

[wallenba]

Measure your chamber neck diameter if you use the Lee C329. Then measure your case neck thickness, double it, and add to your sized boolit diameter. Make sure it has enough expansion room.

[leadman]

You can use a soft (8BHN) gas checked boolit and around 12 to 14 grs. of Unique and it may shoot just fine. I have fixed up several guys with old 8mm Mausers this way and they were happy. The Lyman 160gr Loverin boolit works good in these guns.
You could also but the Lee mold for the Steyr mentioned above and have Buckshot make you a push thru sizer to get it to the right size.

[WILCO]

Where would I find a boolit that diameter?

Good answers given, but you could always paper patch the LEE C324-175-1R.
+1 slugging more than once and on using a micrometer to measure the O.D.

[flounderman]

you didn't say which mauser you have. If you want to rebarrel, be aware some of the turks had small ring threads in a large ring receiver.

[Dschuttig]

Take a look at the Lee "Karabiner" and "Maximum" molds. IIRC they were designed here, and are custom made by Lee for midsouth shooters supply, who stocks them. They are designed for worn bores and drop around ,3285 from my molds.

[wellfedirishman]

If you beagle your molds you can usually get .003 or so increase in size. I do this for Enfields with worn bores and the beagled bullets shoot great.

[ironhead7544]

You didnt mention what model Mauser you had. I heard there were some that were made with a Glock-type rifling that looks like it is worn out. Did you fire the rifle with other ammo? If it is not accurate with factory ammo it probably wont be accurate with cast. You might also have someone who knows Mausers look at the rifle.

[Four Fingers of Death]

What keyhole said. I'd start with the Lee 8x56 Hungarian double cavity mould and sizing die and see if it works. Not a lot of money to invest (and you can buy an Steyer straight pull as well if you like,they are fun!

[Multigunner]

I haven't owned a mauser in quite some time so I can't check a bore but in older gun books I've found mention of some mauser barrels being made with rounded lands. I think they mentioned this in relation to pre WW1 7mm Mausers and possibly some others. Might not have been common practice since it would be harder to cut a groove with a rounded edge than with a square edge.
I've owned an Ovideo 7mm but don't remember much about its bore. My 98 style 8mm was not German made and I don't remember much about it either.

Most bore wear of old milsurps comes from the jointed steel cleaning rods rather than from shooting a lot. One reason the British went to the pull through cord, though these bring their own set of bore and chamber wear problems.