1941 Swedish Mauser needs a LOT of help

[Aragorn243]

That stock was sporterized. The stock I have is fine with the exception of the first six inches. It needs a serious cleaning and probably needs to dry out more and then sanded down so it fits the butt plate again. I don't think it will shrink back that much. I also have a carbine stock that was sporterized that would fit it. This is not a 96, it's a 38 short rifle.

[vintage hunter]

I don't see where the pitting is severe enough to make it unshootable myself. I have a Mauser 98k thats rusted like that over 90% of the exterior and I've been shooting it for years with Turk ammo and it has'nt exploded yet. I did pretty much the same thing you did with the vinegar to remove the rust and counterbored the muzzle bout a quarter inch then primed and painted it without attempting to fill the pits. I replaced the rotten original stock with a German made Isreali reworked stock. Accuracy does'nt seem to suffer from the pitting that I can see. Turning it into a tanker would make for a handy little carbine but I don't think shortening the barrel will reduce pressures any, just velocity. But I could be wrong.

[Patrick Chadwick]

it has'nt exploded yet

If it's Aragorn's face behind the breech and Aragorn's hands on the stock, then it is his risk and should be his decision and responsibility. No-one is going to guarantee that it is safe.

Over here, the correct thing to do would be to have it proof-tested. But as has been noted by others, proof testing can also be viewed as a formal way of stating "it hasn't exploded - yet!"

[Aragorn243]

I noticed the "yet". I understand the risks involved. I do have a lead sled I could fire it from but that "yet" is the problem. I could fire 20 rounds through it with no problems but the 21st could be the one that is too much.

I was talking with a friend who is an engineer and designs and fabricates metal projects. He said that the barrels were most likely built over strength and that when it was manufactured, it was probably also built "heavy" due to the capabilities of the manufacturing processes of the day. Today we have fluted barrels and all sorts of other things done to them to make them lighter.

So what exactly is the risk with something like this? Dove tails and scope mounts are drilled in deeper than this pitting, but obviously they aren't as extensive.

My situation is I do not ever need to fire this rifle. Doesn't mean I wouldn't like to nor does is set aside someone in the future firing it. I won't be around forever and the next person to get this may shoot it, especially if I would go the filling/polishing/painting route.

Cutting the barrel isn't going to reduce pressures at the chamber, but the chamber isn't pitted deeply at all, nor is the thick section of the barrel. I'm not worried about that section. It's the stepped down section of the barrel where my concern lies and of that, the end 6 inches the most. But as I mentioned, I'd rather restore the full rifle rather than cut it down, that's more of a last resort to get some function out of it. The deepest pitting on the entire barrel is right at the muzzle and even there, with a counterbore on the inside, the thickness of the metal is at least 1/8th inch. The Swede barrel is much heavier than a Berthier carbine barrel in both weight and thickness.

Decisions, decisions.

[vintage hunter]

You ain't got got killed in a wreck while driving to work YET either have you? What you going to do? Sit home or continue driving to work?

[Patrick Chadwick]

I won't be around forever and the next person to get this may shoot it, especially if I would go the filling/polishing/painting route.

That is a very good argument, which I had overlooked. I hereby withdraw the filling suggestion in the interests of safety.

As to pressure: Surely the peak pressure is long past when the muzzle is reached? That is why Mauser could design a stepped barrel to reduce weight without impairing safety. And if you look at shotgun muzzles, they seem paper-thin to me. But shotguns typically use a fast powder that peaks very early along the barrel.

Dove tails and scope mounts are drilled in deeper than this pitting, but obviously they aren't as extensive.

That is indeed the tricky aspect to evaluate. It's still your call, I'm afraid.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Sarco has what appear to be new carbine barrels if that would help.

[Aragorn243]

Sarco has what appear to be new carbine barrels if that would help.

Checked their site, can find a listing for them but not that they have them in stock or at what price. But again, it would have to be pretty reasonable to be worth the effort. If I have to spend so much that I could buy a "new" complete one, it sort of defeats the purpose.

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 PM ----------

As to pressure: Surely the peak pressure is long past when the muzzle is reached? That is why Mauser could design a stepped barrel to reduce weight without impairing safety. And if you look at shotgun muzzles, they seem paper-thin to me. But shotguns typically use a fast powder that peaks very early along the barrel.

That's how I see it. As the bullet travels along the barrel the space gets larger and the energy (pressure) is transferred to the momentum of the bullet. Highest pressure would be at the instant of ignition where a dead weight, the bullet, is forced down the path of least resistance. Not all the powder burns at the same time so pressure would continue but I doubt it would rise as the bullet travels down the barrel.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/swedmsrbarrelcarbinem94.aspx $74.95

[Aragorn243]

Thanks for the link. That barrel would be too short to replace the one that I have. It is about an inch and a half longer than what I would have if I cut the end off this one.