1893 Turkish Mauser

[five.five-six]

OK, I got an 1893 and I am starting to tinker with it. I am having trouble removing the nose-cap. anyone know how to go about taking that down?

[fal_762x51]

There should be a spring band under the nose cap. Press it down and get a block of wood and a mallet, or just a wooden mallet. Start pounding outward while pressing the band down.

[five.five-six]

thanks that did the trick. I thought that was what I needed to do but it was cosmo-glued in place. I just dumped a little paint thinner on it let is soak and tap tap tap.. worked great

[fal_762x51]

I was actually useful?

[five.five-six]

yep.. now if I can just get the magazine release to dump... I have it soaking in wd-40 I took a punch and removed the release and spring but I think the retaining ball is rusted in

IS THIS THE CORRECT AMMO FOR IT?

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/8mm.html

[Mssr. Eleganté]

IS THIS THE CORRECT AMMO FOR IT?

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/8mm.html

While that is the correct caliber, many Turk collectors only shoot the weak loaded U.S. commercial 8mm Mauser ammo in their M93's. The 1893 Mauser doesn't have the same gas handling abilities as the 1898 Mauser. A split case or blown primer in an 1893 will result in a lot more gas blowback in your face.

Romanian surplus is the lightest load of the three listed on AIM's web site. But it is too prone to gas blowback from poor case neck expansion for me to want to shoot it in an 1893.

[five.five-six]

While that is the correct caliber, many Turk collectors only shoot the weak loaded U.S. commercial 8mm Mauser ammo in their M93's. The 1893 Mauser doesn't have the same gas handling abilities as the 1898 Mauser. A split case or blown primer in an 1893 will result in a lot more gas blowback in your face.

Romanian surplus is the lightest load of the three listed on AIM's web site. But it is too prone to gas blowback from poor case neck expansion for me to want to shoot it in an 1893.

well I picked up a few rounds of turkish 8mm at the show this weekend. I was looking for the weak loaded U.S. commercial 8mm Mauser ammo but I was in a hurry.. the guy said "it is turkish ammo for a turkish gun" which sounded loke B.S. but it was $12 for 70 and I did not have time to look around. I cycled some through and the bolt is real snug to close with it.. would you reccomend I keep looking for the weak loaded U.S. commercial 8mm Mauser ammo ?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

...the guy said "it is turkish ammo for a turkish gun" which sounded loke B.S. but it was $12 for 70 and I did not have time to look around.

He is correct in that the Turks probably did use that ammo in their converted M1893 rifles, but what was considered safe for a Turkish soldier in 1930's probably wouldn't be considered safe by you or I today.

The Turk 8mm in 70 round bandoleers from the 1930's through the 1950's is very hot ammo. Some folks have chronographed the 154 grain bullet at speeds around 3000 fps. This is fine if you are shooting it out of an 1898 style Mauser but kind of risky out of an 1893 model.

...would you reccomend I keep looking for the weak loaded U.S. commercial 8mm Mauser ammo ?

Yes!

Some of the guys on the Parallax and Gunboards forums who reload have had good luck "downloading" Turk 8mm for their M1893 rifles. They pull the bullets, dump out the powder, and then remeasure a reduced powder load using the old powder and then reseating the bullets. This process involves all kinds of safety issues that I'm not really familiar with, so you'd have to research all of the technicalities of it before you did anything like that. Some say that reducing the powder charge too much is dangerous in itself.

[five.five-six]

well then I will just save it for when I buy a 98k and look for some low power stuff. thanks. remember it is all fun and games until some one looses an eye,... then it is still fun and games, you just can't see

[five.five-six]

well i shot it this weekend. just plinking but it shoots very nice. no problem hitting clays at 75-100 yards off hand and kneeling. recoil is very managable. thanks AII for the help picking ammo! I love this fourm