Chilean mauser 1895?

[OLDER THEN DIRT]

As advertized on centerfiresystems.com. Chilean Mauser .308 (7.62x51) Model 1895. I already know how they have been rechambered & rebored & rifled for the 7.62X51. In your opinion, are they good to go & does anyone have one of these that they have shot more than just a couple of rounds out of it?
Thanks in advance.

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

Pass, they were poorly sleeved. Not safe in my opinion.

[Patrick Chadwick]

1895 Mausers are small-ring receivers. Many people would be worried about applying a full-load 7x57, let alone anything harder. The normal and proof pressures for a .308 / 7.62x51 are way, way above that for the original 7x57. Please take a look at the CIP/SAAMI data!

The general opinion (which can be found in several posts on this forum) is that these rifles can not be considered safe to shoot with full .308 / 7.62x51 loads. And if the rifle has been sleeved, this may make it worse, because of the weakened cross section at the joint of the sleeve, which is impossibe to check.

Patrick

[jmoore]

IF you shoot it, use reduced power reloads. Stay around 40.000psi or so. However, that sleeved chamber insert scares me. Pitch the barrel if that's been done and start over. I've heard that 7mm Mauser might be a good round...

---------- Post added at 02:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:36 AM ----------

[Aragorn243]

Saw a picture of one of those sleeve cross sections, possibly here on this site. Not pretty. The gas was causing separation of the sleeve insert from the rest of the barrel

[Patrick Chadwick]

Saw a picture of one of those sleeve cross sections, possibly here on this site. Not pretty. The gas was causing separation of the sleeve insert from the rest of the barrel

Aragorn, you were probably thinking of the the same horror picture that was imprinted in the back of my mind. Maybe someone will find it? Things can really rust/crack away in there, and you cannot tell unless you slice the receiver along its length - or it goes bang.

Patrick

[Patrick Chadwick]

I looked at the online advertisement. It does not say whether these rifles have been rebarreled or bored out and sleeved. That is a point that a prospective buyer should have clarifed in writing before making a purchase decision.

Patrick

[Aragorn243]

I think this is the photo, I was thinking there was another with the erosion being more dramatic.


http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks Aragorn - that's exactly the horror photo I was thinking of!

At the gap, the strength of the whole action has been reduced to the thickness of the receiver ring alone.

So it does not help if the barrel itself has been tested to a million psi - it will be the receiver ring that ultimately gives way. Whereas in a normal rifle, the pressure pushes the barrel out against the receiver ring, which therefore supports the barrel, in this sleeved chamber the pressure will tend to push the receiver ring away from the barrel, even if that is only a fraction of a micron, allowing erosive gases to get in behind the sleeve. And you cannot see any corrosion working away in in that gap to further reduce receiver strength.

Wallhangers only, I think!

Patrick

[jmoore]

???

"At the gap, the strength of the whole action has been reduced to the thickness of the receiver ring alone."

T'ain't no receiver that far forward, or are you referring to another gap?

My concern, as voiced in a previous thread on this same subject, is WHEN the insert separates from the barrel due to solder failure. Then you have a large OD piston that has full pressure gasses working against a MUCH larger surface area, driving back against the locking lugs. MASSIVE increase in back thrust! (And little to no friction retarding it, unlike the "grippy" cartridge case walls.) Death IS an option...