Pre-98 Mauser

[Nyloc]

Ive been looking all day but having a hard time finding info on what i understand to be a 1897 Muaser.... looks like this.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWmauser.jpg

Beyond the fact that it's reputed to be 1897, and the store owner told me it was of the type used in the Boer war, that was all he knew.

Any help much appreciated.

[Schuetzenman]

It's a commission 88 rifle or 1888 rifle. There are several threads on the forum about such rifles. The barrel is freefloated inside a barrel sleeve. It has a nominal groove diameter of .321" modern day 8 mm barrels have a nominal groove diameter of .323. So modern 8 mm ammo is .002 too big. Next modern 8 mm is loaded to a higher pressure and speed level than the original loading for the 1888 rifles.

This means that you shouldn't shoot modern 8 mm ammo in them or you could blow up the rifle and yourself. Handloads using .321" bullets (the size of .32-40 Winchester projectiles) can be made up to shoot in them safely. They were designed for smokeless powders so that's not an issue.

[Nyloc]

Thanking you very much, ive done a search and found a bunch of info. I feel strangely tempted to go purchase just on principal now.

[Schuetzenman]

Oh and welcome to the forums, I forgot to mention that in the last post. On behalf of all the moderators we hope you will stick around and post with us in the future.