Oviedo Model '93 Mauser, Caliber 7mm, Mfg. 1927

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks to Calif-Steve for reminding us that the nostalgic sentiments such as "I can remember when they only cost peanuts" usually blank out the fact that "those were the days when I only earnt half a peanut".

JM, don't despair! KISS - Mausers shoot fine without any upward pressure at the fore-end. In my experience, any pressure on a Mauser fore-end turns it into a thermometer, with the temperature being indicated by the position of the shots on your target!

If the barrel front end has a few tenths of a mm clearance all round between it and the front band/bayonet boss that is fine. If nobody is looking over your shoulder to scream "not original", then I recommend a slight opening out the band if necessary to make sure that this is so. A piece of woven electrical insulating tape (modern duct tape may be too thick) can then be discreetly placed between the band and the barrel in such a way that it is invisible, but stops metal banging against metal when the rifle is fired. This not only stops the finish from being damaged, but dampens the barrel whip that is caused by the ignition shock wave travelling up the barrel (at the speed of sound in steel) and vibrating the muzzle end before the bullet has got there! I.e. it is relevant for good shooting!

Patrick