strength of action

[rogn]

I have a 1930s( I think) Mexican small ring mauser barreled in 7-57, been shooting it for years with no issues. However I have heard some intimations that the small ring is similar in strenth to the older 95, and 96. What is the general opinion of the small ring as to its overall safety. The loads its has eaten are across the board rigth up to the max listed in many manuals. Never tempted the sticky case gods or the crater factor. No signs of lug set back or stretching. I did see abunch of that years ago with a rebarrled '96 in 308. Old action was kinda rubbery.

 

[butchlambert]

It should be fine. If you are worried about it, just sell it to me.
Butch

 

[tightneck]

Come on Butch, ain't you got a purdy enough Mexican already??? I could use one though.

 

[butchlambert]

I have only one.
Butch

 

[Rustystud]

I'm with Butch 2 or more is always better.

If in question send it off and have it heat treated.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Clark]

I thought that Mausers were only surface heat treated for corrosion resistance, and that heat treat has no effect on the action strength.

I thought that if a Mauser action were made of tool steel that would take heat treat in the interior of the metal, and it was then heat treated, it would warp.

I have overloaded a number of 1903 Turkish Mausers made at Oberndorf, and the pressure required for damage will often blow the extractor out of the gun when the case head fails. Those very high pressures ~100 kpsi, will often dent the lug seat in the receiver and push forward the lugs on the bolt body. The bolt gets larger in outside diameter behind the lugs and the lug seat gets smaller in inside diameter creating an increase in headspace and a bolt that will not fit in the receiver.

The old Mausers do ok if the primer pocket grows, but not ok if the case head blows off and does gas cutting on the extractor.

 

[butchlambert]

Mausers are case hardened.
Butch