Surplus .308 Bolt guns?
Bill Vojak
We have a big gun show coming up next weekend in Denver, (Dec 7)
and I was thinking of getting a .308 Win surplus bolt gun, if
such an animal exists. I know that some older guns have
been rechambered for the .308. How safe/reliable is this?
If anybody can recommend a model to get/avoid, your input
will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bill Vojak
BCV...@worldnet.att.net
Gary Chambers
The Spaniards made a bolt rifle in 7.62 NATO as a
supplementary/trainer rifle to the CETME. I think it is a mauser action,
and can be identified by the CETME flash suppressor and rear sight with
the same sight picture as the CETME. It is called the FR-8, and there are
lots of them around.
GC
Arne Carlsten
Bill Vojak <BCV...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
: We have a big gun show coming up next weekend in Denver, (Dec 7)
: and I was thinking of getting a .308 Win surplus bolt gun, if
: such an animal exists. I know that some older guns have
: been rechambered for the .308. How safe/reliable is this?
: If anybody can recommend a model to get/avoid, your input
: will be greatly appreciated.
They're getting rather hard to find, but keep on eye out for an Israeli
7.62mm NATO conversion of a Mauser 98. Most were built on German or Czech
WW II surplus actions, though there were a few built on new FN actions
(easily recognized as they have an Israeli Star-of-David crest on the
receiver ring).
Basic Model 98k rifles (which is no slight praise) with very nicely done
conversions using FN-made barrels. I have one that I acquired as a $35
barreled stripped receiver; "well worn" would've been putting it kindly.
After parting it out again to the straight GI configuration it would keep
5 rounds in under 2 inches at 100 meters, under .75 inches at 100 meters
when I tried the B-Square scope mount and a Burris 2 3/4x scout scope.
And that was with (Portuguese) GI ball.
There're similar conversions on other countries' M98s, as well as some
conversions on M93 and M95 Mauser actions. I'd recommend staying away
from the M93 and M95 conversions, such as the Spanish M1916s converted to
".308 Win." The older actions aren't as good in the event of a failure as
the M98 action, and the rifles involved are usually both older and
have seen more use than the M98 actions.
You might also be able to find a new FN barrel in 7.62mm NATO/.308
Winchester; a large number were imported from Israel as surplus a few
years back, and I think there were similar barrels made for other users.
It'll cost you about $40-$50 to have a smith install a new barrel in a
Mauser 98, like the Yugoslav 24/47s that're coming in cheaply these days,
or the German WW II rifles that've been coming in from reserve stocks in
eastern Europe lately. Find one with a good action and a bad bore, and it
shouldn't be over $100.
--
Arne Gustav Carlsten
Flagstaff, Arizona
Chomh da/na le muc...
qks...@aol.com
1. Look for model 98 mausers that were converted by FN for Israel.
2. There are now on the market, Enfield rifles converted by India in the
1960s to 308. They are wholesale around $99.00.
Both rifles are safe to shoot with normal 308 loads.
Stay away from any 93, 94, 95, Mausers that were converted. They might not
take the extra pressure.
Mark
On 28 Nov 1996 21:14:06 -0500, BCV...@worldnet.att.net (Bill Vojak)
wrote:
#
#We have a big gun show coming up next weekend in Denver, (Dec 7)
#and I was thinking of getting a .308 Win surplus bolt gun, if
#such an animal exists. I know that some older guns have
#been rechambered for the .308. How safe/reliable is this?
#
#If anybody can recommend a model to get/avoid, your input
#will be greatly appreciated.
#
# Thanks
# Bill Vojak
# BCV...@worldnet.att.net
#
I would look around for one of the Israeli surplus 98 Mausers
in .308. They usually have 7.62 inscribed in the toe of the buttstock
in large numbers. Could be a little hard to find though, but IMHO, the
best one available.
Gary J. Grace
Bill Vojak wrote:
#
# We have a big gun show coming up next weekend in Denver, (Dec 7)
# and I was thinking of getting a .308 Win surplus bolt gun, if
# such an animal exists. I know that some older guns have
# been rechambered for the .308. How safe/reliable is this?
#
# If anybody can recommend a model to get/avoid, your input
# will be greatly appreciated.
Bill, Probably the best of the 308 bolt guns would be one the Israeli
K-98 Mausers that were rebarreled to 308. There were quite a few of them
on the market a while ago, although I haven't seen too many lately, but
they do pop up. Asking price seems to be in the $175-250 range. Also
there were some Spanish M-93 rifles around converted to 308, these were
sesignated FR-8, it appears that the Spanish used H&K or CETME barrels
to convert these guns. Personally I would stay away from these guns as
the 93 action is not nearly as strong as the 98 action.
Gary
Howard Croy
>The Spaniards made a bolt rifle in 7.62 NATO as a
#and can be identified by the CETME flash suppressor and rear sight with
#the same sight picture as the CETME. It is called the FR-8, and there >are
#lots of them around.
>GC
There is a long and sometimes flaming thread about these guns back
a few months. I suggest you read it and make up your own mind. Try Deja-News ".308, FR-8"
HNC
James Feldman
qks...@aol.com wrote:
#
# 1. Look for model 98 mausers that were converted by FN for Israel.
# 2. There are now on the market, Enfield rifles converted by India in the
# 1960s to 308. They are wholesale around $99.00.
The Mausers are conversions, typically from 8x57 Mauser to 7.62x51 NATO (approx 308 Win.). The
Enfields, however, were built new in the '60's specificly for the 7.62x51 NATO round. Both
should work well, but I do prefer the Mauser style action.
--
Jim Feldman
jmfe...@worldnet.att.net
Spammers Beware! Commericial use of the above address implies an aggreement between us
consisting of your consenting to pay the amount of US $50 for my time and storage on my system
of your message.
Jerry Schroeder
#
#We have a big gun show coming up next weekend in Denver, (Dec 7)
#and I was thinking of getting a .308 Win surplus bolt gun, if
#such an animal exists. I know that some older guns have
#been rechambered for the .308. How safe/reliable is this?
#
#If anybody can recommend a model to get/avoid, your input
#will be greatly appreciated.
#
# Thanks
# Bill Vojak
# BCV...@worldnet.att.net
#
#
The Indians made a .308 #1MkIII Lee-Enfield in the 50s and 60s. This
was not a rebored conversion, but made for .308 from the ground up and
with a stronger receiver. I recently picked one up at Big-5 sports in
Seattle for 134 bucks. It shoots well, tho I'd think twice about
taking it to Camp Perry.
Jerry
st...@grove.ufl.edu
I am currently sporterizing a couple of '95 Chilean Mausers (one for
me . . . one for a friend) which were re-barreled by the Chilean
police in the 1950s to .308. They are great guns if you keep one
caviat in mind. The '95 action was designed for 46,000 CUP pressures
while the commercial .308 can be as high as 52,000 CUP and the
military ammo even higher. If you wish to be very safe and make the
gun last, you must handload your .308 to pressures acceptable to small
ring Mausers. I have quite a bit of good data some of which will
equal factory velocities while keeping the pressure below 46,000 CUP,
may in the high 30s. You should also have the guns checked to be sure
they are not already damaged by previous users by someone who knows
what they are doing. You must check the headspace.
Mike
Staggerwin
The Israeli Mauser and the Indian Enfield are both good choices.
But if you can, try to obtain an American Eagle Mauser. They were
originally assembled and sold by Fed Ord, which is now the Briklee Trading
Co, in El Monte, Ca.
(818) 350-8800. These weapons have the 98 reciever and new barrels, fresh
bluing, and polished bolts. They run for more than the Indian Enfield
(saw them at the last Great Western show going for $89.98), but look and
fire as new.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. Good luck.
Dan