7.62 Chileno Mauser

[Calif-Steve]

The 1895 Mauser will slowly stretch with a hot 7.62mm round. I had a good friend who rebarreled his 1895 into .257 Roberts. It slowly stretched and he junked the receiver and kept the barrel. I doubt there is any blow-up potential, but receiver stretch will happen.

[bearhunter]

Just took a Steyr 1912 with 29' bbl to the range. My bud shot a -2in group with it. Better than I can do, with these glasses anyway.

[Calfed]

I was always sorry that I didn't bid on this rifle. I felt at the time that with the description of "7.62" caliber, there was too much uncertainty as to what it was, even without the ".30", "7.62" or "NATO" nomenclature on the rear bridge.

I still would like to get a 7.62 conversion of the 1912 Steyr. I've heard that the "1912 Nato" long barreled rifles are converted using a bored barrel and a chamber insert ala the 1895 conversions. I've also heard that the "1912 Nato" short barreled rifles are converted using a USGI 30.06 barrel with the chamber shortened and rechambered to 7.62x51.

Anyone able to shed any light on these matters? How satisfactory is the 1912 7.62x51 Nato conversions?

Thanks, Steve

[Calif-Steve]

My short rifle has an USGI 2 groove barrel. My 1912 Steyr has a new barrel, I think. No Steyr external stampings on the barrel and I can not see a sleeve. The long barrel Steyr is a very nice shooter.

[Dutchman]

I was always sorry that I didn't bid on this rifle. I felt at the time that with the description of "7.62" caliber, there was too much uncertainty as to what it was, even without the ".30", "7.62" or "NATO" nomenclature on the rear bridge.

I still would like to get a 7.62 conversion of the 1912 Steyr. I've heard that the "1912 Nato" long barreled rifles are converted using a bored barrel and a chamber insert ala the 1895 conversions. I've also heard that the "1912 Nato" short barreled rifles are converted using a USGI 30.06 barrel with the chamber shortened and rechambered to 7.62x51.

Anyone able to shed any light on these matters? How satisfactory is the 1912 7.62x51 Nato conversions?

Thanks, Steve

I have a Steyr Model 1912-61 short rifle. I recently tore it down to the barreled action. The barrel is most certainly a USGI 2 groove 03A3 barrel. The outside is rough and ugly. The juncture of the barrel shoulder and receiver has an eccentric fit in that you can see light through one side but not the other. This is due to the barrel seating on the torque shoulder inside and not the barrel against the front of the receiver as on a small ring action. In other words, it was not a skillfully done conversion.

The bore of mine is excellent. The decision about rebarreling is awaiting my son-in-law (former USMC sniper school graduate) and some test firing while its in a Fajen synthetic stock. If it proves to be inaccurate, and maybe even if it doesn't, the action is going to be rebarreled with an Adams & Bennett .308 F34 or F54 barrel.

This particular Steyr 1912 was purchased from Century Arms as a u-fix-em for $18 but no bolt or cleaning rod. Complete otherwise. Has lots of character on the wood but nice action. I stuck a Brazilian m/1908 bolt in it and test fired it and it lengthened cases only .002" with no apparent swelling anywhere else.

Dutch

[bearhunter]

I have the 1912 long rifle. It has an excellent bore and the chamber isn't sleeved. It is a Century import and minus the cleaning rod. I don't know if it ever had one after conversion. It isn't uncommon for nations making conversions to elimiater the rods.
As mentioned above, they are well used and in Good only condition on the exterior. They are all mixmasters from what I can tell but are mechanically excellent. Mine has .003 headspace on IVI surplus cases.

[Calif-Steve]

Dtchman is right about the barrel fitting. My 2 groove RA barrel is done the same way. I have been told this is due to the '03 barrel not having enough metal in the shoulder. They do not fit 98 Mausers properly, as the barrel should bear both internally and externally on the receiver. The USGI barrel CAN'T do it. This is the reason why so few Mausers are found with 2 groove barrels. Many gunsmiths will not mount them. As best as I can figure, my Chilean Mauser has its 2 groove barrel bearing internally, this is the best solution to a poor decision. Does anybody know when Chile got its hands on 2 groove barrels?

[Dutchman]

Does anybody know when Chile got its hands on 2 groove barrels?

If I had to guess, which I am, I'd say Sarco.

[Calif-Steve]

The Chilean Army bought thousands of 2 groove barrels from Sarco circa 1959? That is a news flash. Here I was thinking they got them from Rock Island from the DOD Surplus Catalogue. Oh, well.

[concretus]

I have a Steyr 1912/61. Nice piece, strong 98 action (in the white). I cleaned up the metal and applied soma Duracoat from the breech down, tiggerguard, and buttplate. Stock had a crack at the pistol grip so I pinned it. other than that, nice wood. It's got a Springfield 03A3 2-groove barrel w/ excellent rifliling. I got moa groups w/ my handloads. if you find one, don't let it go....