My 8 X 57 mm Turkish Scout Rifle

[Ben]

Today, I changed out my 2 X scope ( that was on my Scout Rifle ) to a Bushnell Trophy 2 X 6 Variable, extended eye relief scope . This variable powered scope is super clear and has worked well on several pistols that I've used it on.

The 6 X should give me the ability to move on out with my Scout rifle and we'll see what this rifle can do at 100 yds.

This rifle really likes the Lyman 323471 , sized .325"
I had some 31141 bullets sitting on my " drying board " this afternoon and some of the 222 gr., 471's ended up sitting by the 168 gr. 31141 HP's. I took a photo just for comparison purposes.

Quite a difference in the two bullets.

Ben

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/016_zps4e0eee01.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/016_zps4e0eee01.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/015_zps70cb2738.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/015_zps70cb2738.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg.html)

You can see below that my base is mounted DIRECTLY to the barrel. This helps keep the scope low. In my opinion, that is very impt.

Notice that the rear eyepiece of the scope is missing the receiver by maybe 1/8" or so , that is about as close as you'll get a scout scope in mounting height.


http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/010_zps2eb87c19.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/010_zps2eb87c19.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/011_zps1aa2545a.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/011_zps1aa2545a.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/012_zps95a62c03.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/012_zps95a62c03.jpg.html)

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg.html)

[DeanWinchester]

Killin' me Ben!

I've got a Brazilian Mauser that's been fitted with a factory contour 308 barrel. I have parts to set a scope up just like yours, I've just been trying to talk myself out of it. Looks like I'm gonna have to do it.

As always, nice stuff Ben!!
I'm diggin' the sling attachment up front. GREAT way to fill the cleaning rod hole. How'd you do it? Just a screw in piece or odd you make something?

[Ben]

Killin' me Ben!

I've got a Brazilian Mauser that's been fitted with a factory contour 308 barrel. I have parts to set a scope up just like yours, I've just been trying to talk myself out of it. Looks like I'm gonna have to do it.

As always, nice stuff Ben!!
I'm diggin' the sling attachment up front. GREAT way to fill the cleaning rod hole. How'd you do it? Just a screw in piece or odd you make something?

I cleaned out the cleaning rod hole and got down to clean wood ( oil free ) .
Then I filled the hole with Brownell's Acra-Glass ( tinted brown ).
Once it hardened, I used a standard quick detachable Uncle Mike's threaded Swivel stud like you'd put in the butt stock. I drilled the hole and installed the stud.

The stud being in the end of the fore end makes shooing the rifle on the bags much easier. You don't have to be concerned about the stud digging into the front bag on recoil.

Works for me.

Ben

[frkelly74]

I think that is how a rifle should look.

[Ben]

You guys really know how to make an old man feel good !

Ben

[TNsailorman]

I like it Ben. I am thinking along the lines of something like that for a winter project. How did you attach the scope base to the barrel--drill and tap, solder, or glue? I would be interested in how that set-up turns out for you. I have been wavering back and forth between just a Williams rear sight set up or a scout scope or maybe a dot sight. I also like the shortness of the fore end. I shorten the fore end down to just about the front hinge pin of the old sight base. Give us a report of how it turns out for you. james

[JWFilips]

Ben,
Just love that rifle! Hey I'm I seeing things or is that a faint wisp of alox or Recluse as a pre-coat to those nasty looking boolits?

[Ben]

JWFilips

They are lubed with Ben's Red and then rolled
in 45-45-10 and set on wax paper to dry overnight.

Ben

[Ben]

I like it Ben. I am thinking along the lines of something like that for a winter project. How did you attach the scope base to the barrel--drill and tap, solder, or glue? I would be interested in how that set-up turns out for you. I have been wavering back and forth between just a Williams rear sight set up or a scout scope or maybe a dot sight. I also like the shortness of the fore end. I shorten the fore end down to just about the front hinge pin of the old sight base. Give us a report of how it turns out for you. james


I removed the rear sight sleeve and mounted a Weaver 92-A scope base ( originally intended for a Thompson Center pistol )directly to the barrel.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1477242441/weaver-top-mount-scope-base-92a-thompson-center-contender

If you are curious as to how I mounted the scout scope base to my barrel ?....This is how I did it , this link takes you to a slide show, click the arrows on the left and right to advance to the next photo :

http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/slideshow/Scope%20base

I believe this system is many times stronger than scout scope bases that use the rear sight sleeve.

I do not like the looks of the rear sight replacement scope mounts that fit into the rear sight sleeve on the barrel. It places the scope far too high for my taste. I like the scout scope as low as possible. Being forced to lift your head from the stock to be able to see through the scope is something that I wanted to avoid.

Just to add extra holding power, at the end of everything, I drilled 4 holes through the factory pre-drilled base holes into the barrel steel, threaded the holes and then put in 4 , 6-48 screws coated with slow cure JB weld. I'd hate to have the job of removing this scope base.

Ben

[madsenshooter]

I tried that scope on my Kraghaus mount, but to get the eye relief right, the ocular bell would have had to been way out there. About even with the back of the edge of a 1902 rear sight. No way to get it out that far with the mount I had. Very nice scope otherwise.

[mikeym1a]

That is a really pretty rifle. You did really good. Mine doesn't look nearly that good. mikey

[UBER7MM]

Ben,

The bolt bend turned out well. Perhaps you covered this in a previous post, what kind of iron front site do you have on your Turk scout?

[PAT303]

Ben,your making us spend money again :smile:,my Turk is all but a copy,I'm getting a walnut grove traditional style stock for it with a leatherman EER scope,I'm going to turn the lip off the front of the receiver and rust blue the lot,I'm an Enfield man but the mauser has a ''feel'' about it. Pat

[Hamish]

It seems I have a cousin to yours Ben,,,,,,. First time I've seen a Turk with a "duffle cut", it grabbed my attention real quick!

You are spot on about the commercial mounts putting the focal plane too high, wonderful idea about the 92A base!
105068

[Ben]

Ben,

The bolt bend turned out well. Perhaps you covered this in a previous post, what kind of iron front site do you have on your Turk scout?

Here is my front sight. I'm using an Ivory bead front :

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/002_zps4862584e.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/002_zps4862584e.jpg.html)

[Ben]

Can you see me now? [smilie=1: (reloaded in original post. If shows up will delete this post)

Ahhh, Yes !

Works now.

Ben

[Ben]

Ben,your making us spend money again :smile:,my Turk is all but a copy,I'm getting a walnut grove traditional style stock for it with a leatherman EER scope,I'm going to turn the lip off the front of the receiver and rust blue the lot,I'm an Enfield man but the mauser has a ''feel'' about it. Pat

Sorry about the $$$$ thing.

You're right, these Mausers do have a feel.

[tomme boy]

Ben, check these out. They are not for a small ring, but it would work for a nice regular 98 build. http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/mauser98tackdriverheavybarrels.aspx

I don't have any 98's left anymore or I would be on this!

[tomme boy]

Here is a review of one.http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=137141

[DeanWinchester]

Wish ya'll'd stop posting stuff like that. I would LOVE to build me another 8x57 and that sounds like an awesome barrel. MUCH easier to headspace too.

The ole 8mm, it'll never get the recognition it deserves. What a great cartridge.

[Ben]

Here is a review of one.http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=137141

I'm fortunate, this one ( right now ) is shooting so well, I'm afraid to even think about rebarreling.

Ben

[Ben]

Wish ya'll'd stop posting stuff like that. I would LOVE to build me another 8x57 and that sounds like an awesome barrel. MUCH easier to headspace too.

The ole 8mm, it'll never get the recognition it deserves. What a great cartridge.

As to recognition, I understand that all the guys on Omaha and Utah beaches had plenty of respect for the 8 X 57 mm round.

The 8 X 57 mm is a deadly round, no doubt.

The Germans had the ZF - 41 scope , however optics in 1944 still had a way to go.
I've looked through original Z F - 41's, they were better than metallic sights, but not by much.

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/zf41_zps867cbb1d.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/zf41_zps867cbb1d.jpg.html)

As I use my Scout rifle, I've wondered , more than one time , what a German sniper would have thought about my rifle with its advanced modern optics ? ?

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/014_zps3fc7db7f.jpg.html)

Ben

[JRR]

My 1941 Ankara Turk.

One off barrel mount. Bold trigger. Williams rear and front ramp. Butchered bolt handle. Hogue stock (temporary).

Fantastic accuracy with BRP Silhouette 200 gr. as well as two Lyman clones from NOE.

Next comes beautification.

http://i62.tinypic.com/2vvt6o0.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/htheua.jpg

http://i57.tinypic.com/334kaj7.jpg

[Larry Gibson]

Now that is how a Scout scope should be mounted, excellent.

Larry Gibson

[Ben]

JRR

Looks like you are off to a very good start.

Ben

[JRR]

Thank you Larry and Ben,
I am usually just a reader and knowledge sucker.

This rifle was a 69.00 special at Big 5 about 12 years ago. I have used it for varmits up to large boars for years with just the iron sights and Bold trigger.

Reading Ben's posts about accurate shooting with cast and old Mauser rifles has incited me to slightly modernize the old shoulder smacker. I really appreciate your posts. I have only spent about four times the original cost in this decade old project (not including lead, moulds, powder, primers, checks and all the rest). Oh yes, I bought a scizzers jack at a yard sale last week!

Larry's many posts have also been enlightening. I do get a bit twisted around the axle with the rpm stuff but it's good.

I'm still working out the cosmic shift when going from iron to aluminum but it makes life more interesting.

Thanks guys,
Jeff

[UBER7MM]

http://i57.tinypic.com/htheua.jpg


JRR,
.
I like your front site. What kind is it?

[PAT303]

Mines a funny thing,the boolit it likes is the old Lyman 324366 mold,a real long nose pointy thing that shouldn't shoot but over 16-17-18grns of 2400 or 13-14-15grns of Trail Boss it clover leafs at 50mtrs,the TB have that little amount of recoil you can see the boolit go through the paper. Pat

[DeanWinchester]

13-14-15grns of Trail Boss it clover leafs at 50mtrs,the TB have that little amount of recoil you can see the boolit go through the paper. Pat

Yeah but I bet it'll turn a wallaby inside out.

[Ben]

JRR

Reading Ben's posts about accurate shooting with cast and old Mauser rifles has incited me to slightly modernize the old shoulder smacker. I really appreciate your posts. I have only spent about four times the original cost in this decade old project (not including lead, moulds, powder, primers, checks and all the rest). Oh yes, I bought a scizzers jack at a yard sale last week!

OOOppps ! !

Looks like I've been costing you some $ $ $.
Sorry about that...........

Ben

[Ben]

Is your scope mount one of those in which you remove the rear sight sleeve and then put your scope base on with Brownell's Acra Glass ?

Ben

http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p545/Ben35049/scout_zps7d8dcd2b.jpg (http://s1155.photobucket.com/user/Ben35049/media/scout_zps7d8dcd2b.jpg.html)

[cainttype]

Weaver two-piece #13 works well for barrel mounts, too.
'41 German with 19" .308 and '32 Turk with 20" 8mm. Have receiver sights waiting, just not enough time, recently.

[Ben]

Weaver two-piece #13 works well for barrel mounts, too.
'41 German with 19" .308 and '32 Turk with 20" 8mm. Have receiver sights waiting, just not enough time, recently.

How do they shoot ?

Ben

[JRR]

Ben,
The sight base is machined on the bottom to fit the Turk barrel curvature. Four holes were drilled and the barrel drilled and taped. Torkx screws from Brownells.
http://www.brownells.com/optics-mounting/rings-mounts-amp-bases/rifle-bases/picatinny-base-stock-prod1651.aspx

The KNS front sight is for a 1022 dovetail. It is a loose fit in the Williams ramp and I shimmed and glued it in place. If I replace it, heat will soften the glue to permit drifting.
http://www.knsprecisioninc.com/iron-gun-sights/ruger-10-22.html

[DeanWinchester]

Are you guys getting co-witness with the iron sights? That'd be really nice to turn it down to 2x and be able to use the iron sight.

[cainttype]

They both do fine with jacketed.
The 308 barrel and laminate stock are Israeli. Although it shoots well with Js (1.5 MOA regularly) the throat is surprisingly large, too large for me to be really excited about trying cast in it. I've almost decided to have it rebarreled for that reason.
The Turk has a few new cast designs to work with, but a few other 8mms are ahead of it. The bore isn't pristine, but I have good dimensions in the throat, groove, and bore... The last Turk with issues currently sports a new (original) Swede 6.5 barrel.

[DeanWinchester]

They both do fine with jacketed.
The 308 barrel and laminate stock are Israeli. Although it shoots well with Js (1.5 MOA regularly) the throat is surprisingly large, too large for me to be really excited about trying cast in it. I've almost decided to have it rebarreled for that reason.



I wouldn't do that! For less than the cost of a rebarrel job, JES could rebore that thing to .358 Winchester. That would be a seriously great scout rifle in a sledgehammer caliber.

[cainttype]

I wouldn't do that! For less than the cost of a rebarrel job, JES could rebore that thing to .358 Winchester. That would be a seriously great scout rifle in a sledgehammer caliber.

JES is definitely another good option. I happen to have several good barrels stored, so my problem is really just deciding. Like I said, it shoots Js pretty well... If I ever get around to it, I see a larger bore as the end result either way I go.

[PAT303]

JRR

Reading Ben's posts about accurate shooting with cast and old Mauser rifles has incited me to slightly modernize the old shoulder smacker. I really appreciate your posts. I have only spent about four times the original cost in this decade old project (not including lead, moulds, powder, primers, checks and all the rest). Oh yes, I bought a scizzers jack at a yard sale last week!

OOOppps ! !

Looks like I've been costing you some $ $ $.
Sorry about that...........

Ben

More money.:groner:. Luv it. Pat

[PAT303]

I'm going to make mine a 9.3x62 when I get tired of the 8x57.Actually a 9.3x57 would be even better. Pat

[Ben]

Are you guys getting co-witness with the iron sights? That'd be really nice to turn it down to 2x and be able to use the iron sight.

I cannot see my iron sights when my scope is in position.

Of course, the idea ( at least for me ) was to be able to loosen 2 screws on the scope mount base , remove it and I would be back to metallic sights that are ALREADY zeroed. Best of both worlds......

[Hang Fire]

My solution for such.

Poor boy ghost ring aperture sight: http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/PB_Sight1.JPG

I added a front sight to retrofitted B-Square mount: http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Sight-mount.JPG

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/th_Front2_1_.jpg

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Import_balard.jpg

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Mauser_Scout_op_800x448.jpg

[Ben]

My solution for such.

Poor boy ghost ring aperture sight: http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/PB_Sight1.JPG

I added a front sight to retrofitted B-Square mount: http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Sight-mount.JPG

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/th_Front2_1_.jpg

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Import_balard.jpg

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/Mauser_Scout_op_800x448.jpg

That will work just fine.
Sometimes, the simplier the better.
Did you make the receiver sight ?

Pretty impressive ! !

Ben

[Hang Fire]

Yes on the receiver sight, I built this scout up little over 25 years ago.

Here is how I did it, scroll down past MN.

http://hstrial-rchambers.homestead.com/early.html#

[Ben]

Very nice work !

[Hang Fire]

I visited your site, that is some great stock work you do.

[Ben]

I visited your site, that is some great stock work you do.

Many thanks for those generous comments ! !

Ben