Has anyone ever evulated NOS Mauser barrels accuracy potential?

[mauser284]

I am not expecting anything modern with this request.


I am just thinking that some time inthe 1950-1980's when all of these things where dirt cheap that maybe someone had objectively done said testing on a blue printed rig even if it was not an actual Mauser action. I recall in the 1980's all of the various magazines like popular mechanics and popular science and consumer reviews etc....

In fact I had a Popular Mechanics/Science book series that had all kinds of projects including loading your revlover with just the primer and wax bullet so you could shoot along at you TV while watching your favorite Western.

There was a time when all kinds of things that would not fly today took flight in print. You know the good old days before massive litigation happy population was born!

So I was just wondering if anyone recalled anything like this. Maybe a test of CMP 1903 barrels or the like.

We often talk about accuracy potential of various rifles like the Mauser for instance but as far as I am aware no one has ever tested just NOS Mauser barrels for instance or 1903 Springfield barrels or insert military barrel of your choice in mass "here"!

 

[jackieschmidt]

The answer to your question is yes. Through the decades, there have been many articles written about the accuracy potential of various military rifles, in particular those that were rebarreled, put in storage, then sold to the public.
A machinist friend of my Dad was a part time gunsmith and specialized in taking 8mm Mausers and converting them to 8mm/06. He did it with a kit that Brownells used to sell back in the 1970’s. It came with a reamer, a long T handle, and. Headspace gage. It was labor intensive, but worked quite well.
Those old ‘98’s, many which were rebarreled toward the end of the war and afterward, would shoot one MOA with a good load.
Of course, this was back when you could buy a post war ‘98 or even a Springfield for about $35.

I can remember reading articles from the late 1950’s and 1960’s about “getting the most from your surplus ‘98 Mauser.” The conclusion was with a few tweaks and good hand loads, they could be made to shoot as well as most commercial offerings of that era.

Many shooters today look down on the older military equipment. But keep in mind, no major Belligerent in a war produced junk for their men in the field. If you read up on some of the meticulous testing performed by various country’s Ordinance Depots, you can see this to be true.

There is a good article on the Net about all of the testing performed on the ‘03 2 Groove barrels. While the concept was introduced to cut production time during the rifling process, they turned out to be quite accurate.

Remington’s WWII Experience With 2-Groove Rifling | Remington Society of America

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

The answer to your question is yes. Through the decades, there have been many articles written about the accuracy potential of various military rifles, in particular those that were rebarreled, put in storage, then sold to the public.
A machinist friend of my Dad was a part time gunsmith and specialized in taking 8mm Mausers and converting them to 8mm/06. He did it with a kit that Brownells used to sell back in the 1970’s. It came with a reamer, a long T handle, and. Headspace gage. It was labor intensive, but worked quite well.
Those old ‘98’s, many which were rebarreled toward the end of the war and afterward, would shoot one MOA with a good load.
Of course, this was back when you could buy a post war ‘98 or even a Springfield for about $35.

I can remember reading articles from the late 1950’s and 1960’s about “getting the most from your surplus ‘98 Mauser.” The conclusion was with a few tweaks and good hand loads, they could be made to shoot as well as most commercial offerings of that era.

Many shooters today look down on the older military equipment. But keep in mind, no major Belligerent in a war produced junk for their men in the field. If you read up on some of the meticulous testing performed by various country’s Ordinance Depots, you can see this to be true.

There is a good article on the Net about all of the testing performed on the ‘03 2 Groove barrels. While the concept was introduced to cut production time during the rifling process, they turned out to be quite accurate.

Remington’s WWII Experience With 2-Groove Rifling | Remington Society of America

Yes, and I am sure an '03, 1917, '98, 1896 or Mosin would hold up better in a conflict than a modern produced 700 or model 70.

 

[precision1]

I bought one of the sarco stepped in the white military NOS barrels they used to sell .284 diameter.was short chambered 7x57 if I remember correctly

I Installed on a Turkish k-kale Mauser action.shoots phenomenal

 

[ebb]

Jackie does this include the Italian Carcano? From what friends say they come in at least 3 maybe 4 land bore sizes.

 

[ogre1911]

I can vouch for the Swedes that Kimber converted in the 80's I think. I had two, still have one with a cock on open conversion and trigger and it shoots 1/2 moa with the original barrel with steps removed.

 

[mauser284]

I figured it had to have been done.

I used to clip articles and keep them as a kid. Sadly Dad was in the Army and we moved all the time. How much weight you could take with you was a function of rank. I had to pitch a lot of magazines and books every move!

I figured someone had to have done it at some point! I would have expected nothing less especially of fellow Americans with 1903's and CMP barrels and such.

 

[mauser284]

I had heard of the 2 grove barrels but had never read the actual report on them. Thanks for posting.

I think it was last year might be 2 years ago I purchased 2 barrels off ebay from I think Perfered Barrels or X-Caliper but I think it wa Prefered both in 6mm one is I think 1:7 and the other 1:7.7 but one is a 3 grove barrel. Outside of BR circles you do not see 3 grove barrels very often.Not sure if it is 3 or 3R. Both in SS and MTU profiles. I think I gave $175+$20 shipping for each one.

I often buy the odd stuff because it is on sale because it is just a little bit odd.

I had the chance to purchase a NOS 2 grove CMP barrel decades ago but I did not have anything it would fit and that was in my pre-hording days! LOL Today if that same deal came by I would snatch it up since you can always sell it, trade it, gift it, or look for a donor rifle in need of a new barrel! Live and learn!

 

[tommeboy]

I had ER Shaw rebarrel a Turk SR 98 in a new truck axle in 8x57. With the 200gr Sierra hpbt matchkings it would shoot in the .2"s all the time.