Beater .308 Spanish mausers for $210 at LGS- worth a shot?

[woodsie57]

Stopped by Bradis, saw these in the rack. They're short, kind k98 carabiner looking, with the turned down bolt. Look like they've been thru a war or 3, but I have a thing for milsurps, esp if they can be easily/ cheaply fed. Anyone have experience with these?

 

[SSGSAD]

I bought a Spanish mauser, at a gun show, several years ago, from a "gunsmith" ..... ha ha

I was told NOT to use factory .308 ammo, just 7.62x51,

because these started life as a 7x57 mm .....

The pressure of a 7.62x51, is approx., 10,000 psi HIGHER, than a

7x57, and a factory .308, is 10,000 higher than that .....

I have had no problems, with mine .....

finish is terrible, but I can shoot 4" groups, at 200 yards.....

4 in the head of a silhoutte target .....

ENJOY !!!!!

 

[warriorbob]

I just bought one of these last week. The metal cleaned up nicely and all the ones I saw on the rack had good bores. They are actually 7.62 nato not 308 and from what I read the Spanish just drilled out and rerifled the barrels instead of rebarreling them. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. I shot some Austrian m80 through it Sunday and the bolt would lock up after each shot and I really had to whack the bolt to get it open. I'm not sure if it's because the anmo was to hot or if I need to clean the chamber out but it was still a joy to shoot. Worst case I'll just have to buy some low pressure ammo.

 

[SSGSAD]

If that is MG ammo, it is HOT !!!!!

The brass expands MORE, so is harder to extract .....

 

[warriorbob]

Ah maybe that's the reason. I couldn't find any info on the Austrian ammo online. I didn't shoot a lot of it but I have a good stock of it because my savage shoots it really good.

 

[Cerberus]

Technically speaking, just about all 7.62 NATO ammo made for the past couple of decades is MG ammo, and in the case of US made M80 is no hotter than the M80 that was used in the M14. Just about all of the M80 equivalent I've ever chronographed has been in the 2750-2800 fps range.

SSGSAD, MG brass expands more because MGs have generous chambers to improve reliability in austere conditions, not because the brass is different.

 

[SSGSAD]

Technically speaking, just about all 7.62 NATO ammo made for the past couple of decades is MG ammo, and in the case of US made M80 is no hotter than the M80 that was used in the M14. Just about all of the M80 equivalent I've ever chronographed has been in the 2750-2800 fps range.

SSGSAD, MG brass expands more because MGs have generous chambers to improve reliability in austere conditions, not because the brass is different.

Didn't mean brass was different, meant more powder, or different kind of powder.....


and yes, I know about MG, chamber being large .....

 

[Tula47]

JG has them for $199 or "gunsmith" specials for like $169. For $10 more I would support your LGS

 

[indyjohn]

So, I can have a Mauser and not add a new cartridge to my reloading list?

Need to drive to Camby..

 

[RustyHornet]

Is this the FR-8? I've wanted one of these for a few years. Seems like it would be really handy and fun. Add on a 20 rd trench mag and have a blast.

 

[1988-4551]

Missed one a few years ago at the 1500 and haven't seen one since. Figure they're neat and not that much more than a mosin.

 

[roscott]

If this is the FR8 you are talking about, do it!! Buy two! They are awesome little rifles. I got one here in the classifieds, and I'll never get rid of it.I didn't want to add another caliber, but love old rifles. Plus, I wanted an old gun I could "modify" and not feel bad.

Mine is now drilled, tapped, with a red dot, a recoil pad, and a cheek riser. It looks crazy, but they are crazy rifles to begin with!

 

[jspy5]

I have one of these in layaway as well. Looking forward to getting it home and cleaning it up. The barrel on mine looks almost new compared to others and the wood stock shows a little tiger stripe on it as well. Really looking forward to pulling the trigger on this one.

 

[indyjohn]

Mine is now drilled, tapped, with a red dot, a recoil pad, and a cheek riser. It looks crazy, but they are crazy rifles to begin with!

 

[m82mike]

If I recall correctly, these were .308 CETME. It had a lighter projectile and lighter powder load than 7.62 X 51 or .308 Winchester.
Israel converted some 98 mauser's to 7.62 X 51. Google the cetme, and be very careful!! JMHO.

 

[roscott]

Sorry for the terrible pic, but here's my Frankenstein rifle. (FR8)
Photo 2 of 2 from More Pics

Really struggling with the pics at the moment. I managed to get it into my photo album though.

 

[Hop]

I have one. Not an FR8. They were converted by Spain and have a nice crest on the receiver. Mine shoots OK @ ~3-4 MOA using NATO surplus ammo. It's a fun little mil-surp especially since it shoots a common caliber.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I'm guessing these are Model 1916s, not FR-8s. I have one that I got from SOG a few years ago. I also have an FR-8 and as has been said, they're cool little rifles!

FR-8:


Model 1916:

 

[woodsie57]

I'm guessing these are Model 1916s, not FR-8s. I have one that I got from SOG a few years ago. I also have an FR-8 and as has been said, they're cool little rifles!

FR-8:


Model 1916:

They looked nothing like the fr8- 1916 looks dead on- thanks for the info!

 

[Reverend Dreed]

Picked one up about 5 years ago, nice little shooter. It was advertised on a forum for 75 bucks and included 500 rnds of 7.62x51. I actually bought it for the ammo but was pleased with the accuracy of the rifle so I kept it.