I really can't say for sure whether they are safe for long term use with 308 Winchester ammo."I have an old 95 spanish mauser in 7x57, Its light, cute so Im goin to play w/it. I have probably put less than 250 rounds through each, so I doubt I will ever get any definitive safety data from my rifles. I have only used relatively mild handloads in them, mostly because I don't care to beat up my shoulder with the steel buttplate if all I am shooting is targets. If you are concerned about the safety of your rifle, I suggest that you handload to lower pressures and check headspace periodically to check for lug setback. An article on that appeared in Guns & Ammo talked about the results of tests run on some of these rifles, and can be accessed here. On the other hand, any firearm is (or should be) designed with a generous safety factor. The 308 Winchester cartridge can develop more pressure than the 7mm Mauser cartridge that these rifles were originally chambered for.
Spanish mauser 7.62x39 conversion manual#
I assume the numbers given in the manual were measeured using the copper crusher (CUP) method available at the time.Ĥ6,000 psi CUP - 7mm Mauser (SAAMI maximum)Ĥ6,800 psi CUP - 7.62 CETME (from the manual)Ĥ9,700 psi CUP - 7.62 NATO (from the manual)ĥ2,000 psi CUP - 308 Winchester (SAAMI maximum) The manual also gives the pressures of the 7.62 CETME and 7.62 NATO cartridges, which I have converted to English units and compared to SAAMI maximums for 7mm and 308 Winchester. I have never heard of one of these converted rifles actually blowing up using any type of 308 ammo, however.Īccording to a Spanish Army training manual that I have a copy of that was published in 1965, Model 18 rifles were converted in the mid-1960's to use 7.62 CETME or 7.62 NATO. If most or even some of these reports are accurate, the quality of steel in these guns seems to be inconsistent. Others have reported increased headspace due to lug setback after just a few rounds, which would indicate soft steel in the receiver, bolt, or possibly both. Some people claim that they have shot thousands of rounds of high pressure ammo through theirs with no problems. Just start a thread on one of the online firearms forums asking what type of ammo to use in your Model 1916 conversion, and experts from all over will jump in with informed opinions. There is lots of debate with strong opinions on both sides about whether or not these are safe to shoot. Most of the rifles currently being imported are these. "Many of the "unmarked" 1916 Spanish Mausers have been converted so they can use 7.62 Cetme, 7.62 NATO, or 308 Winchester ammo. Gunboards is in disagreement and most of us that collect and shoot these tend to believe the original information from the Spanish Mauser forum That resource is not the most accurate that you couuld use on the matter. There is no guessing on this all the specs for the various Mauser actions are out there for all to see. After that, the specs for the ctgs it will safely shoot are then immediately verifiable.
The rifle pictured is not a '98 version, and thus suspect in handling-safely- milsurp or high-pressure civvy ammo.Īll I'm saying is verify the type of Mauser action. I have one and have never had any problems even using commercial 308, despite the usual "that's not safe to fire" internet rumors and myth.Īside from the care given to the re-barreling and re-chambering by the cost-conscious (broke) Spanish, the essential issue is the design features of the rifle (Model), and the care used in its manufacture. The latter is less powerful than the former. I believe these were chambered not for 7.62 NATO but rather 7.62 CETME.
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