Another family heirloom uncovered: Peruvian 1935 Mauser 30-06

[KneverKnew]

I recently posted about the Inland M1 Carbine handed down to me by my cousin that his dad, my late uncle, had purchased from the government back in 1968. He paid $34 for it. Here is the link to that post. https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=79144&page=6

At the time my cousin handed over the Carbine to me he mentioned his dad had also purchased an FN model 1935 Short Rifle Peruvian Mauser chambered in 30-06. It had arrived the same day at the train depot along with the Carbine.
A few days ago my cousin called and said he had found the Mauser and wanted me to have it as well. So I made the hours trip to his house again to pick it up. When I got there he handed the rifle to me in a sporterized wooden stock that his S-n-L had put on it with the intent to hunt with it. He never did.


Cuz swore to me that the original stock and handguard had been tossed in his work shed out back so I went digging, and digging, and digging. And wouldn’t you know it, at the very back of the shed, in a closet on the floor, I found that original stock! But unfortunately the handguard was not with it and additional searching turned up empty. I will have to locate a replacement soon, along with the missing “H” end cap and front sight protective hood. The good news is that original stock was in pretty decent shape with beautiful striped figure to the wood grain, and included the matching serial number and “CAL30” stamped on the left side of the butt. At some point my Uncle covered it in a thick glossy varnish of some kind. I will be restoring back to a linseed oil finish as soon as I can.

After leaving my cousins I visited a friend so we could examine the gun more closely. It only took a few minutes to dress the old girl more appropriately in her old original stock. I took these pictures in his back yard so lighting wasn’t the best.


After inspecting everything we went to another friends range. It was only 25 yards but we were able to fire several headstamps of Korean M2 Ball surplus we had on hand. The first were loose rounds in an ammo can and were very hot and kicked like a mule. Those had KA headstamps with dates 62, 67, 70, 71 and 72. I’m sure all were corrosive. Only shot ten. My shoulder thanked me. Thankfully, based on my subsequent reading, none of those KA’s caused a Kaboom.


Then we shot a full box of Korean M2 Ball with headstamp PS 75. These were much more tame and enjoyable to shoot. I was able to shoot a decent offhand 10 shot group, only pulling the one.


All the rounds, both KA and PS are boxer primed. Based on my research some may and some may not be corrosive, so to be say I cleaned the gun accordingly.

I hope you like the pictures. I’m very grateful my cousin decided to entrust both guns to me for safe keeping. They will be lovingly used by myself and my children and their children to come.

As I mentioned, I am in need of the correct upper hand guard, front “H” barrel end band and the front sight cover shroud. If anyone has these for sale or knows where I can find them, please PM me, but also let me know here. I get notifications of replies on posts but for some reason I don’t get notified of PM’s.

[oldfoneguy]

If you reload you are sitting on a gold mine!

I bought a 50 cal ammo can with 500 of those South Korean M2 ball rounds back in the 80's headstamped PS 74. The brass sat for years because I didn't have a swaging tool to remove the military crimp. Finally got one and have been reloading them for years now. Each case has been refilled 8 to 10 times and you'd never know it. They wear like iron. I have reannealed them only twice in all this time. No stretch and the brass is thick and hardy. I've used them in bolt actions and the Garand. Even with the M1s abuse they are still fine.

Back in the 90's I think it was there were reports of case head separations with my specific headstamped ammo. To me this has been proven to be internet bs. I suppose if you didn't check the headspace on your rifle and you use this thick heavy brass it will crack at the base. However I have been reusing this brass loaded to M2 spec for 20 years with no issues. The case walls are thick so download appropriately. These rounds were made by PMC for the South Korean military in the headstamped year and were pretty accurate right out of the box.

Good luck with the Mauser. Those are fun rifles, even if a little rough on the shoulder.

[KneverKnew]

Most of my personal M2 Ball is Greek HXP non corrosive from the CMP. Shoots great and reloadable. The Korean rounds we shot in the Mauser was just the one box of PS and the handful of KA my friend had. He gave me another handful and a box to chronograph later. I’m a bit Leary of the KA as I’m hearing of kabooms with the KA headstamp. Any input on how safe it might be to shoot another five or ten to clock speeds would be welcome. I know that what we shot of the KA was definitely hot!
My shoulder could definitely tell the difference between the two batches.

[KneverKnew]

Is this FN 98 MAUSER FRONT BAND correct/ same one used on my Peruvian FN Mauser?
FN 98 Mauser Front Band

Also, these Peruvian 30-06 mausers are considered Large Ringe, correct? For some reason my cousin keeps telling me it’s a small ring. ?*??


Any suggestions on the easiest and gentlest method of stripping the varnish/ shellac/ polyurethane from the stock? I was thinking citristrip. Cleaning up with mineral spirits. Trying not to get stock too wet.

[oldfoneguy]

Most of my personal M2 Ball is Greek HXP non corrosive from the CMP. Shoots great and reloadable. The Korean rounds we shot in the Mauser was just the one box of PS and the handful of KA my friend had. He gave me another handful and a box to chronograph later. I’m a bit Leary of the KA as I’m hearing of kabooms with the KA headstamp. Any input on how safe it might be to shoot another five or ten to clock speeds would be welcome. I know that what we shot of the KA was definitely hot!
My shoulder could definitely tell the difference between the two batches.

I didn't really know anything about the K A stamped ammo so I did some searching. This first link is from the IAA forum and post 5 explains both the K A and the P S headstamps. Some I already knew and some I learned.

https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/k-a-73-headstamp/37318

Next up is the CMP forum which gets more specific on the K A ammo. The last post however further stretched the truth and enforced the myth regarding the case failures of the P S ammo. Someone who never had a problem or knows anyone who did but heard online once of the problems with the P S ammo. It exhausts me reading this ignorant stuff.

https://forums.thecmp.org/forum/cmp-sales/ammunition/12784-ka-73-headstamped-ammo

[KneverKnew]

Thank for the links. I’m going to test some HXP for group and velocity soon. Then I will do same for the KA and PS ammo my friend gave me.

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:55 PM ----------

Still looking for an upper hand guard. My friend learned how useful those are when we shot it for the first time the other day. After he and I shooting just 15 rounds combined he accidentally lost some fingerprints when he grabbed the barrel around the unprotected section just in front of the rear sight. Ouch.

[KneverKnew]

I managed to get off a quick five rounds of Greek 82 HXP from my deck today. Distance was 82 yards. Hit high as expected.

[KneverKnew]

Would any of the other FN 1935 short rifle models upper handguard work as a replacement for my Peruvian 1935 short rifle?
It really needs something on there.

[KneverKnew]

I’ve been told that a vz24 handguard would be a good fit. I’d just have to shorten the front leg. Any thoughts or opinions on doing this? Any other possible substitutions?

[KneverKnew]

And then I find this an Apex. Looks about right, am I wrong?