1871 Mauser rebuild - Alpine Stalking Rifle

[BlackPowderLove]

Having wanted to do a fun gun project for learning's sake and because I wanted a BPC Germanic stalking rifle, I purchased an original 1871 Mauser this past winter. It was not firing, but I quickly remedied that and worked up a load for it.

My hope was that this first time, learning project wouldn't be too much of a “Bubba” job. Knowing it was my first time and I am nonprofessional, my hope was that this would reflect the look of a surplus rifle that an alpine hunter bought and lovingly carved and chopped away into a stalking rifle for himself. And hopefully it will help fill my freezer (sighting in and accuracy recheck to come this weekend).

Things done...
Barrel cut down and recrowned
New sights added (with old removed) and underbarrel lug made and added (as well as made the inlays and wedge for it)
Stock cut down and completely reworked including the adding of a bird-head pistol grip and cheek rest
trigger guard reworked
stock carving and flat comb checkering (forged the tools for doing this work) and refinish
Inlays of antler
Reblue of metal parts
New sling swivels made and made the new sling (hand embroidered and all).

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[BlackPowderLove]

A view of the one carving not shown above

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[Der Gebirgsjager]

I think you did a great job! A couple of questions: Where did you get the brass trigger guard? You decided not to bend the bolt...why? How does it shoot?

DG

[Love Life]

Very cool!!

[Texas by God]

"One shot- One kill"?

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[shortlegs]

Beautiful rifle! Wish I was that talented! What caliber is it?

[BFJ]

Great work.

[samari46]

I have to say you did a real fine job on that 1871. Frank

[smithnframe]

Very nice!

[Gtek]

I am torn right down the middle! Oh my, he carved up a 7-8 bill correct untouched correct 71', on the other hand it is now a piece of art showcasing the individuals wonderful talents. Very well done Sir! Are you making brass or modifying magnum? I have a couple of these and getting ready to finally dive in.

[swheeler]

I like it a lot, you need to shake the cob webs out of your lederhosen as season is right around the corner! Good job

[lar45]

very nice! I like it.

[BlackPowderLove]

I think you did a great job! A couple of questions: Where did you get the brass trigger guard? You decided not to bend the bolt...why? How does it shoot?

DG

Shoots well. I just filed the front sight (original that I soldered back on) to slim and shorten it. This should improve the sight picture and tighten things a bit more.

Brass triggerguard is the original. I took some thick sheet brass and built the germanic little curl on it which is then riveted (brass rod) and soldered on. I was trying to use as much of the original as possible and fabricate anything else with what I had on hand.

Bolt... I chose not to bend it as I think it is cool and a bit "different" being straight. I will see how I like it hunting. If it is problematic and snags on stuff too much, I may go back and bend it. Easier to leave and bend later than bend and decided I wanted it straight.

For the other questions...

This is an 11.15x60mm
I am using reshaped 45-90 brass, 1.5F OE (Black Powder Baby!!), and am casting some .450 boolets from a custom mold I ordered from Accurate Molds to replicate some boolets a friend had cast that the rifle really seemed to like.

Isaac

[BlackPowderLove]

"One shot- One kill"?

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Basically. I think the most direct translation here is "One shot, One Death." Basically I wanted to pay homage to the fact that this is a single shot and this is the way of hunting my father brought me up on.

IW

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Thanks for the answers. Makes sense. My guess was that the trigger guard came from something like a Hawken rifle.

Yes, toten = death.

DG

[jaguarxk120]

The Mauser 1871 single shot is 11 MM Mauser, it shoots a 385 grain paper patched bullet powered
by 77 grains black powder. It is truly a one shot deer rifle, since it makes a very big hole.
I believe both Lyman and RCBS make molds for this caliber.
Buffalo Arms should have brass for it.

[mazo kid]

As I mentioned on another forum.....I am impressed with your talent(s)! Leather work, embroidery, carving, arrow making, cooking, and on ad-infinitum

[BlackPowderLove]

The Mauser 1871 single shot is 11 MM Mauser, it shoots a 385 grain paper patched bullet powered
by 77 grains black powder. It is truly a one shot deer rifle, since it makes a very big hole.
I believe both Lyman and RCBS make molds for this caliber.
Buffalo Arms should have brass for it.

Yes, Betram makes brass at a Hefty price. Making your own is fun and cheaper. Most of the boolets and moulds I have seen fall short of perfect. Paper patch is cool and correct for the historical military 1871 but I am going with some grease lubed groove, straight up boolets for my needs.

Big hole but not hydrostatic shock mess of modern loads. Ballistics on the 11mm here is about the same as 45-70. It will leave a big hole but less mess than my modern .270 WIN. Basically it is a "surgical sledge-hammer."

[Texas by God]

Mein duetch ist zum kotzen[emoji16]
I would love to hunt with that rifle.

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[jaguarxk120]

At $2.60 each, I think I'd by about 50 case's. They will last a very long time and add value
to the rifle. Loading dies are not cheap either!

[BlackPowderLove]

At $2.60 each, I think I'd by about 50 case's. They will last a very long time and add value
to the rifle. Loading dies are not cheap either!

Out of curiosity, where have you found them at that price? I have only seen them at 3.50-4.50 a piece, and most often they are out of stock on top of that.

[mazo kid]

........Loading dies are not cheap either!
Titan Reloading has the 43 Mauser dies at just under $30.00. That's what I use.

[swheeler]

Out of curiosity, where have you found them at that price? I have only seen them at 3.50-4.50 a piece, and most often they are out of stock on top of that.

look here............https://www.buffaloarms.com/43-mauser-cases-11-15x60r-43mauser 2.53 ea if you buy 100

[KCSO]

Got mine for Grafs and Sons.

[KCSO]

I doubt that you will be able to chamber the 450 bullets I have measured a couple of these prior to reloading for mine and they will chamber a 446-447 bullet at most. This is no problem as the wide deep grooves slug up the 446 nicely and are good for 4 inches or so at 100 yards. I am shooting 439 PP slugs that mike right at 446 when ready to reload and accuracy is good. I seat them about 1/4 to 3/8 into the start of the rifling. I am using FFG Swiss with light compression and a 1/8 inch grease cookie. Or for smokeless 15 grains of Trail Boss for just plinking.