Liner a 8mm Mauser?

[kawasakifreak77]

Got this old Mauser. Barrel is .329" at the muzzle so I don't have much hope for it... of course I notice this after I scabbed onto some 8mm components & bought dies!

The barrel is only 17.5" long so lopping off the end in hopes of getting a good bore I figure is doubtful. Then I heard someone mention putting a liner in the barrel.

Who has had this done & did the end result work well?

Could I convert it to 30-06?

That has a longer case to clean up the chamber once the liner was installed. I already have tons of 30 Cal bullets plus cases & dies for the '06.

Hoping to hear from someone who has successfully lined / converted a barrel. Thanks for any help!

[TNsailorman]

Widener's and a few others have new military mauser barrels for sale and most run under $75.00 or at least did have a few months ago. They are in 8x57 of course. That would be a more cost effective way of curing your problem. Relining is not cheap, at least the last time I checked on the subject over 25 years ago. I never had a barrel lined myself but I have heard and read some stories about them being inaccurate in higher pressure calibers. That may well have changed in the last few years. I would check out all the options before going the reline route. james

[junkbug]

I would look into getting it counter bored first. Counter boring is fairly inexpensive, and will not prevent you from trying other things later. Re-lining is possible, and was done to high power rifled decades ago, but nobody in the USA want to do it today.

Have you shot it as it is yet? With a very short barrel and open sights, it will be difficult to get fine accuracy out of it, even without muzzle wear problems.

[john hayslip]

One friend of mine had a South American country's Mauser in 7mm and a another friend threaded and installed a muzzle brake on it. I was at the range with the first friend when he fired it and the muzzle brake went down range with the bullet. Happened to find it about 60 yard down range as we went to check target.
A close examination of the barrel showed it had been lined and the job was so good you couldn't really tell it. Second friend's threading job stopped just above the liner and the remaining barrel part held for a few shots and then the part that was left broke off.
Just a story about lining high power rifles.

[kawasakifreak77]

It's been suggested to me to counter bore but since the barrel is already so short I really don't want to go that route.

It is all numbers matching with no importation markings but it doesn't have the military stock. I figure it's value isn't much, but I would like to save the original barrel just because, even if it's another caliber.

I've also considered having it bored out to either a 9 or 9.3x57 so then I'd only be out the money I have in dies & bullets. If it was bored to 9x57, I could use the 1000s of 158 SWCs I have for my .357 for cheap shooting. I'd rather have it in '06 though, since I already have the stuff.

[Dark Helmet]

"rather have it in '06 though, since I already have the stuff"
35 Whelan then.

[jonk]

There are plenty of 8mm barrels floating around. The cost of lining or reboring would be something like $300 or more; you could install a factory new or otherwise much better condition barrel on it for much less; a smith will likely charge $50-75 for the work, barrels can be had new in the white for under $100, or on the auction sites for much less; I got a WW2 German barrel at a gun show for $30 that had hardly been shot.

Or, just dump it and buy one with a better barrel.

[MaLar]

Never reline for a high pressure cartridge. Re-barrel it. Sounds like the original barrel has been cut? So no collector value there. I have relined many small caliber and black powder rifles.
You can do it so it doesn't show.

[Larry Gibson]

Never reline for a high pressure cartridge. Re-barrel it. ............

+ another. Rebarreling will probably be cheaper any way and a whole lot safer. If your "old Mauser" is a M98 (you don't say and are you sure? A picture sure would help?) and has a 3.3" long magazine (inside) then rebarreling to '06 would be very easy. Or to 35 Whelen and then you can also use all those .35 cal bullets.

Larry Gibson

[kawasakifreak77]

Okay so relining is out. I was not aware of the high pressure issue. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

The barrel has not been cut. I took it to a Mauser geek I know & as close as he can figure it's the Belgium 1930 carbine.

So reboring to 9x57 would still be a viable solution?

I know I could put another barrel on it for cheaper. For no good explainable reason, I really, really want to keep it's original barrel on it.

[Uncle Grinch]

Be careful what type 8mm barrel you buy. There are lots of Yugo barrels out here that are not straight swaps for a standard 98 Mauser. They have a breeched chamber with an extractor groove cut into the face of the barrel. You can make them work however.

Jess at www.35caliber.com can rebore to a larger caliber, i.e., 9mm, 9.3 etc, but you would have to reload your own. The 9x57 ad 9.3x57 are great calibers, with components for the 9mm being easier to get.

Good luck!

[kawasakifreak77]

Thanks for the tip!

If I go 9x57, what's the best twist / # of grooves for boolits?

[Larry Gibson]

Max of 6 grooves and I'd opt for a 16" twist, 14" at the fastest, if you want the greatest from .38 pistol bullets and cast rifle except for the real heavies. I'd go right to the RCBS 35-200-FN for a rifle bullet. It will fit the neck and it is an excellent bullet. I push it at 2150 fps out of my 35 Rem bolt gun (rebarreled M91 Argie with a 26" Shilen barrel w/6 lands and grooves) with a case full of 4895 but could push it faster with another powder like Leverevoltion. Was going to rechamber it to the 35x57 (basically the same as the 9x57) but it works so well in 35 Rem I can't bring myself to do it.

Larry Gibson

[oscarflytyer]

odd thought... Lee makes a .329 mold, and Graf sells .329 and may .330 jackets. These are all intended for the 8x56R. You might want to try some J bullets first, and maybe even the inexpensove Lee mold and see what happens. Maybe resize the case with 8x57 die and then run an 8x56R neck expander down the neck. Lee makes the 8x56R dies.

If you were to buy 100 of the Graf bullets in .329 to try, and they didn't work out, I would gladly take the remainder off your hands at your cost. I am set up to reload for the 8x56R, but have yet to do so. I also have both 8x57 and 8x56R dies. We might be able to work something out for you to use/try w/o buying the dies.

Think about it and let me know.

[Ben]

Jess at www.35caliber.com can rebore to a larger caliber, i.e., 9mm, 9.3 etc, but you would have to reload your own. The 9x57 ad 9.3x57 are great calibers, with components for the 9mm being easier to get.

I don't think JES will rebore a military barrel ? ?

As to relining to 8 X 57 mm.......NO WAY ! ! ! !

If the barrel that is in your rifle right now isn't suitable, have it removed by a good gunsmith and replace it with a good Mauser sporter barrel in your choice of caliber.

Ben

[Bjornb]

Wideners has new Yugo barrels (w/military step) for $55. Just ordered 2 for a couple of old sporters.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Tried out my google foo, here's what I found:

The 30.06 caliber is on closeout and is stepped like the military version:

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/barrel-parts/rifle-barrels/98-mauser-barrels-prod16633.aspx

Sporter barrel in the white:

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/m98msrbarrel3006.aspx

Mauser barrels on gun broker:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Rifle-Barrels/BI.aspx?Keywords=mauser

Premium sporter barrels, in calibers you're interested in:

https://www.saodind.com/barrels-mauser-m-98/results1-10?lang=en

A very affordable sporter stock, if you're so inclined:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/712752/boyds-jrs-classic-rifle-stock-mauser-98-sporter-barrel-contour-laminated-brown-wood-finished#ReviewHeader

Barrel offerings by Numrich:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Categories/BarrelsRibsChokes-36009/Barrels-35348/RifleBarrels-35346/8mmRifleBarrels-38452.htm?page=1

Another option, I've used these barrels on a customer Mauser rifle I built and was pleased with them for a hunting rifle:

http://www.switchbarrel.com/Mau_sale.htm

Another option in 30.06:

http://www.gunauction.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9589600

Just some other options,

[UBER7MM]

The barrel has not been cut. I took it to a Mauser geek I know & as close as he can figure it's the Belgium 1930 carbine....

Kawasaki,
9x57 shouldn't be a problem for any 98 Mauser action, but if you are still thinking 30'06, you'd better verify that you don't have a intermediate length action. Yugos & Belgians are intermediate length and problematic with the 30'06 family cartridges. Make up a dummy 30'06 cartridge an see if it'll fit in the magazine and action.

Save yourself a lot of headaches and money,

[kawasakifreak77]

Thanks for all the links Dave in GA!

& thanks for the magazine tip, Uber7mm.

I have put '06 in the magazine. They juuuust fit. Might need to take a little off the feed ramp but they fed into the chamber & extracted just fine.

[UBER7MM]

Glad to hear. I overheard two guys talking at the flea market a few years back. One of them had just unloaded his Yugo chambered in 30'06. The project wasn't working out like he'd hoped! [smilie=b:
.
There are tricks to opening up the magazine to get more room in there. You can file down the back wall as much as possible. That enlargement will get you a few thousandths of an inch. The other is to cut and the front wall out of the magazine well and weld/braze in a 'U' shaped piece in its place. You only need an 1/8" or so. This would best be done before opening up the ramp in the action, so as not to do the work twice.
.
When your done, the magazine and ramp should be flush with each other. Any lip on the action (when the magazine is longer in the front) might cause a bullet tip to catch and jam.
.
One other thing. You do need that front wall in the magazine. Otherwise the cartridges get knocked forward during firing and jam under the action ramp.
.
I've done this work to get the bullet seated out closer to the rifling. Depending on the particulars of your chambering, the sweet spot could be past the 3.34" COAL.
.
I hope this helps,

[Hang Fire]

Never reline for a high pressure cartridge. Re-barrel it. Sounds like the original barrel has been cut? So no collector value there. I have relined many small caliber and black powder rifles.
You can do it so it doesn't show.

Same here for low pressure cartridges. Last one done 30 years ago, was conversion of a replica paper cartridge .54 Sharps to .45-70. Cut barrel off just shy of forearm, drilled it out to .5625", turned down rear of a Ruger #2 barrel .5620" to correct length. Used low temp silver solder paste inside drilled barrel and same on turned down barrel, then pressed it in and centered sights. Used high temp calking to seal chamber end, with muzzle up, heated up until solder paste flowed, then used low temp silver solder wire until would take no more and let cool. Converted hammer from percussion to CF, built cartridge breech block, tested with three over pressure 3031 smokeless rounds. Rifle is still going strong, taking deer and goats (antelope)with only real black powder loads.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/TANSTAAFL-2/P1010003-2.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/TANSTAAFL-2/media/P1010003-2.jpg.html)

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/TANSTAAFL-2/P10100011.jpg (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/TANSTAAFL-2/media/P10100011.jpg.html)

[Hang Fire]

Here is a cheap out, just have it re-chambered to 8mm-06. (this was a very common conversion when 8mm ammo was very scarce) then order a gas check cast bullet mold (around 225 grain) to custom fit the rifle's groove to groove diameter. (slug bore to get) With cast bullets, over/under size bores matter not. Here is a Lee .329" double cavity mold for 26 bucks.

http://leeprecision.com/images/P/p-2860.jpg

http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-c329-205-1r.html

If you do not want to cast yourself, one can order custom diameter cast bullets from some bullet casting companies.

The 06 reamer should clean up chamber, gas checked hard cast bullets can be pushed to accurate 2,000 fps (or higher velocity with easy to do powder coatings) with faster burning powders to compensate for short barrel.

[morcey2]

kawasakifreak77,
How did you measure the groove diameter at the muzzle? Calipers, slug and micrometer, etc?

Matt

[UBER7MM]

morcey2,

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?78293-How-to-slug-a-barrel

I hope this helps,

[IROCZ]

I have used 2 of the Yugo Zastava replacement barrels on 2 Mausers. The first was a M48, it was a direct swap. The second was a 98k. The gunsmith just had to remove the safety breech ring. Both rifles are incredibly accurate. The barrels were $55 from Wideners. Very affordable.

[mikeym1a]

If you have a Numrich catalog, they also list a 19.5" in barrel in 7X57. The bore is in like new or new condition. There was some external pitting from long term storage, but had been cleaned and matt blued, although the one I got looks black, although it is not paint. this is a large ring barrel, price was around 50 dollars. Lots of choices. Have fun! mikey