8mm mauser conversion to 308

[apes]

I have 2 8mm Mausers but have always wanted one in 308. One is a 24/47 and the other is a Spanish Mauser dated 1947. I realize it is considered bubbaing it but still I like the military configured Mauser and I already have a 8mm and I like the 308. The barrel I have is a military contour so hopefully everything will fit back together like before is was rebarreled. My question is, which one is safe to do this conversion and which one would loose the most value in doing so. I never plan to sell either...I have had them since the 60's when you could buy them off the rack at the Army surplus store for $19.00
thanks

[MrTokarev]

You could just buy one of the mausers that were rechambered to .308 after WWII. It might be cheaper than having your gunsmith convert these rifles.

That way, neither loses value and you have a new gun to boot.

[Emdawg]

Just buy a South American or Spanish conversion.

There is about a bajillion of them going around. Many of them are in the 98 action too.

For what (or even less) you can pay a gunsmith to ruin an original, you can get a new gun that was done by a military armourer.

[yellowsled]

dont ruin them. please

[Sailormilan2]

If you can, look for a Chilean 1912-61. Those are 98 Mausers converted from 7mm to 308Win/7.62NATO by taking a 1903 Springfield barrel, and rechambering it.
In addition to rechambering, which actually required cutting off at least 1/2" and rethreading the barrel, they were also recontoured on the outside to Mauser contours and dimensions. Then a small feed ramp was installed into the magazine to assist feeding the shorter round.
Finally, at least on the receives I have, the stripper clip guide was redone. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be done to 7.62NATO specs, but to 1903 stripper clips specs.
Or, you can find some of the Isreali converted Mausers, which have a big 7.62 engraved on the receiver.
But, if you can't find and already converted Masuer in 308/7.62, I would convert the Spanish Mauser. Of the two, I think it has the least value.

[Mike A]

IMO the "crown jewel" of these conversions is a decent FN-actioned Israeli .308/7.62 conversion. (Of course you have to find one owned by somebody who doesn't know what FN actions are worth! I was lucky.).

They shoot. And there's a LOT of history there.

Personally, if I went the conversion route, I'd convert the rifle with the poorer bore condition, but that's just me.

[Toxic Shock]

Brownell's used to carry Wilson barrels in 308 with the military step contour, but these have been discontinued. Lothat Walthar does have this style of barrel in 308. But, like other posters have pointed out, by the time that you purchase a new barrel and have it chambered and head spaced, then blued and fitted to your stock, you will have spent as much or more than it would have cost to have simply bought another Mauser in the caliber that you want. If its a labor of love, or you want to do the gunsmithing as a hobby, then swap out the barrel on the one that has the worst bore. If you just want a shooter in 308, then it might be best to buy another Mauser.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It doesn't really make much sense (cost-wise) to convert your guns. But if you are intent, and willing to risk ending up in the special hell reserved to Bubba's and people who talk in movie theaters, I would chop the Spanish. It is lower quality than the Czech, and has a lower collector's value.

-Mb

[Mustang]

Personally, if I went the conversion route, I'd convert the rifle with the poorer bore condition, but that's just me.

What Mike said.

Let's face it, neither a Spanish nor a Yugo Mauser is a real collector's piece. If you are determined to convert a large ring Mauser to .308, you might as well use the one with the worst bore.

You apparently already have a .308 barrel. If it is in less than outstanding condition, you may what to consider a Kongsberg Norwegian .308 Mauser barrel. They are $100 brand new from Coles and have a K98 profile.

If you are going to spend the money to have a barrel mounted, make sure the barrel is worth the cost of mounting it.

[rojocorsa]

Buy a spare 98 action and a .308 tube. Build one essentially!

[bigbossman]

Buy a spare 98 action and a .308 tube. Build one essentially!

I did that, when I built my hunting rifle. It was fun, educational, and I got exactly what I wanted in a rifle.

As a practical matter, it would have been easier and cheaper to just buy a Big 5 budget rifle and been done with it.

That was for a hunting rifle, and utilized an action that was otherwise just a pile of parts. I don't know if I would go through the trouble to re-barrel a 8mm rifle to 308 and then stick it back in military configuration. It would be easier and cheaper to buy one of the Israeli conversions - and then you'd still have a rifle that held value.

[knucklehead0202]

yeah, there are so many out there that were already converted it seems silly to go to all the trouble of doing it yourself. just buy one.

[smle-man]

There are a gazillion 24/47s and M48s out there in less than pristine condition so if you do a .308 conversion it's no big loss to the collecting community. I'd pick the 24/47, some of the Spanish 98s were a bit soft. I saw a Spanish 98 receiver where the bolt lugs had had set back a bit from constant use into the receiver. I did a 7.62mm conversion on a Yugo M48 with a poor bore using a NOS FN 7.62 barrel made for Israel, it is a great shooter.

[rojocorsa]

I did that, when I built my hunting rifle. It was fun, educational, and I got exactly what I wanted in a rifle.

As a practical matter, it would have been easier and cheaper to just buy a Big 5 budget rifle and been done with it.

That was for a hunting rifle, and utilized an action that was otherwise just a pile of parts. I don't know if I would go through the trouble to re-barrel a 8mm rifle to 308 and then stick it back in military configuration. It would be easier and cheaper to buy one of the Israeli conversions - and then you'd still have a rifle that held value.

If I had time and money and could get away with it, I'd love to build a '98 action rifle with a nice 18"-20" in 6.5x55.

For example,

I'm sure you recognize the rifle below. It's got a fantastic and handy overall length. I'd do something more discreet and modern with a 98 action. I think it'd be really cool.

[y3rfavoritgerman]

Just buy an israeli mauser. They are k98s rebarrelled in 308