7.62 Chileno Mauser

[Calfed]

I'm looking at buying a 1895 Chileno Mauser that is described as being in "7.62". I know that there are conversions of the 95 Chileno Mauser to 7.62 x 51, but I always thought that the rear receiver bridge or the receiver ring had some notation of the new caliber--".30", "7.62", "Nato" or some such.

I can find no notation or indication of the conversion anywhere in the pics.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno.jpg

[RBruce]

I bought two of them that were rechambered in 7.62 NATO. Not long after, I noticed that one had a crack in the rear bridge. I returned them both. IIRC, they are the 93 model, small ring Mauser. They may not be safe for the pressure of a 7.62 NATO or .308 round.

[Calfed]

This one appears to be the 1895, because it has the auxiliary "locking lug" that the bolt handle fits into.

Was there any notation of the 7.62 rechambering on your rifles?

[Calif-Steve]

I bought a 7.62mm M98 Mauser (Chile Mauser?)at a show a few years back. It has a 2 groove barrel and certainly appears to be a USGI 2 groove 03A3 barrel. Chile went through a huge re-barrel program some years back and I have seen many Mausers rebarreled into 7.62mm. Some were very nicley done and are certainly worth the money. Not too sure about the M1895's, however. I also think at least some have 7.62mm sleeves, as they were not actually rebarreled, but bored out into 7.62mm. These must be avoided.

[Jim K]

Some of those Chilean Mausers were rebarreled to 7.62x51 NATO, but many were not. Instead, the chamber was drilled out and a chamber insert installed. Then the barrel was re-bored and re-rifled to .300/.308" caliber.

Here is a cross-section of a barrel converted that way. Safe? I believe so, at least for limited use, but hardly ideal. Still, it does preserve the original barrel and matching numbers.

Jim

[Calfed]

Thanks.

I'm wondering if there is some marking made at the time of the rechambering, such as "7.62", ".30" or "Nato".

If so, then I'm wondering if the absence of such a mark may indicate that the auction house is wrong about the caliber.

[Calif-Steve]

It may take awhile, but that type of sleeve will work out. Press-fit with no Locktite, it's backing out, for sure. By the way, the 95 Mauser was not designed for that type of pressure generated by the 7.62mm cartridge. The receiver will stretch. But the sleeve will be out by then. The 7mm version is a keeper, no doubt about it.

[Jim K]

I don't know if the chamber insert was put in with Loctite (or other glue) or not. The one's I have seen had nice barrels on the outside, so I am pretty sure no solder was used.

I am not sure the insert would back out, since ultimately the bolt holds it in. But I suspect that if a wide enough gap opened in front of it, and it is not in there solid, it would act like the floating chamber in a .22/.45 conversion unit and back up hard enough to damage the receiver.

I was told that the conversion was done by the Chileans, with the intent of having a war reserve of rifles firing the NATO cartridge. That may be true, and a "quick and dirty" conversion like that could be useful in an emergency even if it was not very durable. (The U.S. issued low-number M1903's in WWII, knowing they could be dangerous, but a man with a gun that might have a problem is better than a man with no gun at all.)

Jim

[Calfed]

Here are the rest of the pics from the auction site. Any opinions on what the lack of any markings indicating rechambering means, if anything?

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno1.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno3.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno4.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/Calfed/762Chileno5.jpg

[Calif-Steve]

7mm Mauser? A real keeper. Looks unissued. Nice.

[Calfed]

Well, that is the question.

The auction description says that it is 7.62, but I see none of the usual "7.62", ".30" or "nato" stamping anywhere in the picture.

That is why I'm doubtful about the re-chambering

[Calif-Steve]

I suspect it is a 7mm. A keeper, no doubt about it.

[Peter Costas]

I have an 1895 Clileno Mauser in7.62 Nato. It is marked 7'62 withan N below the caliber at the bolt handle end of the receiver. i do not know if it has been bored out to nato caliber or rebarreled. The bolt and receiver arematching #'s and the barrel finish matches the receiver. I have shot and it shot well.
Peter

[jisii]

I bought an M95 Chileno Mauser at an auction in March 08 thinking it was a 7mm. After I got it home I found it would not chamber a 7x57mm round. Then I noticed the 7.62 over N on the rear receiver bridge. It chambers 308/7.62x51.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/jisii/Mausers/collage1.jpg
I have shot it with no ill effect but I don't plan on shooting it a lot.
Recently, I/O in North carolina has been advertising them in Shotgun News for, I believe, $249.00, offering a choice of either 7mm or 7.62x51.
FWIW

[steved409]

I have read that military ammo (7.62 X 51 M/M) is loaded to lower pressures than standard factory ammo, designated .308 Winchester. So stick to military?

[Calfed]

Well, I didn't end up bidding on the Chileno Mauser. It sold for $250, plus an 18% buyers premium, so call it $295 plus shipping.

It sure was pretty...

[Dutchman]

It may take awhile, but that type of sleeve will work out. Press-fit with no Locktite, it's backing out, for sure. By the way, the 95 Mauser was not designed for that type of pressure generated by the 7.62mm cartridge. The receiver will stretch. But the sleeve will be out by then. The 7mm version is a keeper, no doubt about it.

Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread, but.....

If you looked at the photo of the sectioned chamber, which is my photo btw, you can see solder on the top and bottom. Flame cutting has blown out the solder around the throat.

1895 Chilean Mauser
conversion from 7x57mm to 7.62x51 NATO
http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html

FYI - the nice Chilean Calfed asked about was new/unissued/in-the-factory-crate when it was imported pre-68. Today its about a $650-800+ rifle. I know of at least one ship that docked in San Pedro unloading 10 rifle crates, new, beautiful rifles in about 1965. Among them were new OVS Boer 1893 Mausers. OVS 8776 was one of them. I owned it in 1968-74. Unfired. <sniffle>

Dutch

[jmoore]

The sleeve isn't cross pinned? Just soldered? Now THAT is a bit scary. Lots more frontal area for high pressure gasses to work against, so when the solder has had enough....!