Neat old Mauser in 22 find at LGS

[joshb]

I stopped by my favorite LGS to look around and found this neat old 22 Mauser. I love old Mausers, so I brought it home. I’ve never seen one like this before so I’m looking for knowledge about it. Anybody here seen one of these? I paid $425 for it. I don’t think I paid too much but I don’t know. It was an impulse buy!

 

[Intheshop]

Impulse,shimpulse.... that's nice.

 

[STOMP442]

Dude! That is cool as hell.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Never seen one before either, but considering the condition, the rarity, and just plain cool, I would have snapped it up myself too. Very cool rifle, you're the only one of the block with one, and I bet it'll shoot too! Nice, very nice.

 

[redrockranger]

When you get a scope on it and some decent ammo, post the target shot a 50yds. Might surprise all.

 

[TAJ45]

I LIKE!!!!

 

[DGP4]

Looks like a pre-war Mauser ES340 B that someone put in a bench rest beavertail stock. Very nice find!!

 

[243Lapua]

Nice.

 

[joshb]

Well, after an hour on Google, it seems the barreled action was made around 1935 to 1940. The stock isn’t original but it’s actually nicer than the original, with a flat forend . I’m going to pull it apart and give it a good cleaning. There’s no sign of rust or pitting on it, that I can see. It has a little “shellac” looking spots on the barrel. Maybe some one used WD 40 on it. All in all, it’s in great shape for it’s age. I’m going to soak the inside of the barrel with Kroil overnight, give it a good cleaning and scope it tomorrow.
I’m not “up to speed” on 22 rimfire rifles.
Question: Would bedding it help accuracy on this one?
Also: The stock touches the barrel along it’s length. Would it shoot better if free floated?
Thanks!

 

[DGP4]

I'd shoot it first and see how accurate it is. Loosen the action screws and set them at 15 inch pounds to start then move up to a max of 25 as a first step. If you then need to improve the accuracy, you can free float the barrel first and leave bedding for last.

 

[riflewoman]

Well, after an hour on Google, it seems the barreled action was made around 1935 to 1940. The stock isn’t original but it’s actually nicer than the original, with a flat forend . I’m going to pull it apart and give it a good cleaning. There’s no sign of rust or pitting on it, that I can see. It has a little “shellac” looking spots on the barrel. Maybe some one used WD 40 on it. All in all, it’s in great shape for it’s age. I’m going to soak the inside of the barrel with Kroil overnight, give it a good cleaning and scope it tomorrow.
I’m not “up to speed” on 22 rimfire rifles.
Question: Would bedding it help accuracy on this one?
Also: The stock touches the barrel along it’s length. Would it shoot better if free floated?
Thanks!

Bedding MIGHT help if done right. But rim fires tend not to shift around much particularly if they’re large stiff actions and made with heavy barrels. Also, 22s and their accuracy are very ammo dependent and you can do a LOT MORE to improve the accuracy by shooting ammo it likes. Same for free floating. As a point, Anschutz match rifles did not come bedded. You can’t bed it to get CCI Minimags to shoot better than MOA.

so what I would do is get some high grade match ammo like R50, TENEX or similar and test it. Shoot 25 rounds of each sighting and serving before shooting for group. One batch or more should just pound the center like it has a vendetta.

 

[lb-ft]

I’d clean, then shoot without any other work performed. It will tell you if it needs any tweaks.

Nice find!

 

[EOD Rob]

Cool little find, would have done the same!

 

[KMart]

Also: The stock touches the barrel along it’s length. Would it shoot better if free floated?
Thanks!

You will need to burn some ammo, lots of different ammo to answer that question.
I have a 1929 mod 52 that has the long stock and a barrel band around it and tightly fitted to the wood. With Lapua Midas, it shoots very well, by my standards, at 50 and 100 yards. I am not a wind reader and an expert rifleman by todays standards.

 

[Ggmac]

Every one beat me . If it had the stock ( $500) or build one .
It is still very collectible. Rimfire central , has a guy that’s writing a book and very helpful. Nice find . I sold a friend a original and hes winning central fl matches with it . Do not drill it . You can get high mounts ( rings ) and give it a work out . Trig is marginally adjustable . What proof marks , B U G ?

 

[Ggmac]

See one of mine I shoot

 

[joshb]

Every one beat me . If it had the stock ( $500) or build one .
It is still very collectible. Rimfire central , has a guy that’s writing a book and very helpful. Nice find . I sold a friend a original and hes winning central fl matches with it . Do not drill it . You can get high mounts ( rings ) and give it a work out . Trig is marginally adjustable . What proof marks , B U G ?

Hi Gary! Yes, it has the “bugs” proof stamp. It has “ Patrone 22 LR” before the serial number. It has 459 stamped after the serial number. I understand from my search that 459 denotes the chambering from the factory. On the other side of the barrel, it’s stamped DRP DRGM.
The previous owner was actually working at the shop. He said it’s been in the rack for months! I talked him down from $475! He’s bringing some scope mounts that fit the gun. I’ll ask him about the stock and try to get some more history. Don’t worry, Gary! I won’t “drill it”! It has dovetails for rings already machined into the action!
The funniest thing happened when I was filling out the paperwork. Another worker came over and asked if he could handle the gun. I said sure. After a couple minutes of fondling, he asked if he could buy it from me! When I told him I was buying it from them, he looked stunned!
Thanks Riflewoman and others for the input!
I’ll clean it and shoot it. I have some assorted Eley ammo lying around.

 

[mudduck]

Shot with a couple guys a few years ago that had them and they shot very well. Don’t think you’ll be disappointed in it.

 

[nakneker]

Nice find Josh!

 

[Snuggie]

That is a really sweet rifle! Congrats!!