Gun auction buy

[Brett Ross]

I attended my first gun action Sunday. I was interest in a couple M96 Swedish Mauser’s (jones’n for one of these bad), and a Remington rolling block of unknown caliber. Before the two M96s I looked at came up, they began to auction a 6.5 M96 I must have missed during the inspection time. As they could not get a bid, I jumped in at $50.00, It went up to 125.00 (about as far as I was willing to go without looking at it first). Well I own it at 125.00. When I went to pick it up after the auction, I discovered, it is not a M96, but a 1895 Chilean. As they are very clear up front, it is up to you to inspect before buying, I don’t have a 1895, and it was only $125.00. I decided not to put up a stink and took it. Now, I get it home tear it Down only to discover severe pitting on the bottom of the barrel under the hand guard, bad enough I don’t trust to shoot it. Now, what to do with it. The stock and receiver are in good shape and I would like to keep it in military trim. So the question does anyone know where a guy could find a barrel.

[Speedo66]

Try these guys: https://www.gunpartscorp.com/

[Brett Ross]

Thanks for the suggestion, but no such luck. I also looked at buy milsurp. I have plenty of time. I may find one someone removed for a sporter. If all else fails Midway has barrels for under 100 bucks and this rifle may have to go the sporter way.

[Multigunner]

I think Sarco used to have NOS German made replacement barrels for one of the large ring 7mm carbines, they may have some 95 barrels stashed somewhere.
With most such stores something not being listed in the catalog doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any left. Once stock of a item runs low they may not always give it space in the most recent ads.

[Brett Ross]

Good idea. I'm looking at ordering a 03A3 next week. I will ask then.

[Uncle Grinch]

You might try looking for a 6.5x55 barrel as then 7x57 SR barrels are hard to come buy.

[Brett Ross]

I have a buddy that has a 6.5x55 rifle. I will have to take a look and see if it looks like the barrel will work in the 1895 stock. The 1895 is a short rifle with the turn down bolt. I may just go the sporter route. I need to check into how rare (if at all) the short rifle is, before going full bubba in it.

[MtGun44]

Unless the pitting is 3/8" deep it will be fine. Hatcher machined down barrels to see how thin
they could hold and it was around 1/16 before they blew. I seriously doubt you have a real problem.
Even 1/8" deep, while it LOOKS horrible, will be perfectly safe for holding the pressure.

If the bore is good, I think you have a big win, IMO the 7x57 is better than 6.5 Swede as a cartridge,
and the 95 Chileans were probably the highest quality military build ever made.

Bill

[Buckshot]

............The M95 Chilean short rifles are much rarer then the infantry rifles. You can give Springfield Sporters a call. Wouldn't hurt. Another option would be to call a gunsmith or outfit that can match contours. I had Montana Rifleman create a replacement barrel for a nice (but not collector grade) M84 TD Springfield. This was several years back. Since the Mauser has a stepped barrel, creating a blank to match the original is much less difficult then the smooth, tapered Trapdoor barrel was. A benefit would be that you would have a nice barrel with reasonable bore and groove dimensions! That is if the external condition of the rifle warrants expense.

..............Buckshot

[Brett Ross]

Thanks all, I will have to measure but doubt the pitting exceede's 3/16s. The bore is let's say, less than pristine. I think I will Clean it up, have the head space checked and shoot it with some low pressure loads. I'm in the processes of redoing a badly done 6.5 jap sporter now, so the 95 will have to wait. As this rifle is a bit rare I will not go the sporter rout. I have no issues with a good sporter but like to leave that to the guns which are plentiful.

[bob208]

pictures would be nice to get other thoughts.

[john hayslip]

I picked up in a trade the other day a Chilean made by Steyer in Austria- if I remember correctly it says 1906. The Chileans had apparently converted it to 308 (marked NATO on receiver) for use as a backup. Hadn't been fired much or at all as a 308. Stock looks like it went through one of their wars but the metal is in fine shape and the rifle's serial number is imbedded in the stock.

[Brett Ross]

I will post pics tonight

[MtGun44]

The 1916 (IIRC) Chilean Steyr (98 Mausers) guns are nice. They were rebarreled with various US .30 cal barrels (apparently 1903 Springfield and others) cut
down from .30-06. I have shot several that were quite good shooters, not match grade but 5-6" at 200 yds with stock sights
and milsurp ammo is not bad at all. Better with better ammo.

Bill

[Brett Ross]

Sorry for the delay, things have gotten a bit crazy lately
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