Chilean 1895 Mauser

[kowalski]

Picked up a sporterized 1895 Chilean Mauser in 7x57. The stock has been cut down and the original sights have been switched for Lyman units. Numbers seem to be numbers matching and the bore looks spotless! The shop assured me that the rifle is in shooting condition. I picked up a box of PPU 139 grain ammo and with the bolt removed placed a round within the chamber. To my surprise the round wont sit flush within the chamber. The rim of the round sticks out. Wondering if this is normal? No picture of the chamber, but I did get one of a round in the muzzle. What do you guys think? My original plan was to turn the rifle into a nice hunting rifle. Should I think about returning it to stock, military condition?

[pacrat]

Schweeet Chileno, especially since it is a [Loewe]. Hope you didn't have to go throught the BS 4473 and wait crap. Last yr of Loewe production was mid 1897. So all Loewe marked rifles are legally "antiques" and not classified as "firearms".

To my surprise the round wont sit flush within the chamber. The rim of the round sticks out. Wondering if this is normal?

Yes, it is.

Shoot it as is and enjoy it. Cost you more to find all original furniture than it would be worth at completion.

7x57 is a great round. There is a reason it is the most popular sporting rifle cartridge world wide.

JM2c

[smle-man]

If the rim didn't stick out, there wouldn't be any way for the bolt to extract the fired case.

the 7x57 is a great round and accurate. Have fun!

[diverwcw]

Excellent! I remember when gun stores were filled with firearms like these.

[kowalski]

Awesome, thanks for the input guys.

The shop I bought it from made me dros it, but they did not charge for the dros cost or taxes. I am very happy with my purchase.

[SMarquez]

Awesome, thanks for the input guys.

The shop I bought it from made me dros it, but they did not charge for the dros cost or taxes. I am very happy with my purchase.

So did you wait or walk out with it?

[Friesland]

Tagged!

Need more pictures and up-dates. Enjoy!

[Toxic Shock]

You said that you placed a round in the chamber? Please remember that Mauser's are control round feed rifles, and not push feed actions. This means that your rifle should only feed cartridges from the magazine. You shouldn't try to place a round in the chamber, and then try to close the bolt. The extractor will have a hard time snapping over the rim of a chambered round. If you insert your cartridges into the magazine, the bolt should chamber them smooth as glass.

[kowalski]

I placed a round in without the bolt.

Unfortunately the shop required me to wait the full ten days.

Took the rifle to the range today. Managed four shots before I got fed up. The rifle feeds and fires rounds just fine, the problem lies in extraction. In order to extract a fire round I have to physically hit the rifle butt against the bench or ground while hitting the bolt handle back. Range master said the rifle may have some grease in the chamber, I'm worried that it is over-pressured. I may bring the rifle over to the shop where I bought it from and ask for help. The rifle should be fine firing modern factory loaded 7x57 right?

[19K]

They probably just did the 4473 and didn't dros it.

[pacrat]

Are you also experiencing "hard bolt lift" after firing? More an indicator of over pressure than hard extraction. You should be GTG with US made SAAMI spec ammo. Not hot rod reloads meant for Ruger 77s and such.

Suggest you check your chamber for roughness.

Can you post some pics of fired caseheads? Flattened primers also pressure indicator.

Your FFL needs a bit of educating on Antique v Firearm. Anything made prior to Jan 1 1899 is not a firearm.

JM2c

[kowalski]

I actually mentioned that the rifle was an antique and they responded by saying that as a gun shop they have to do back ground checks.

I was able to rotate the bolt to the pull back position, just couldn't pull back without banging on the bolt.
I tried cycling the spent cases and could not get the cases in the chamber, almost as if they over expanded...I'll post some pictures of the spent cases when I get a chance.

[19K]

I actually mentioned that the rifle was an antique and they responded by saying that as a gun shop they have to do back ground checks.

I was able to rotate the bolt to the pull back position, just couldn't pull back without banging on the bolt.
I tried cycling the spent cases and could not get the cases in the chamber, almost as if they over expanded...I'll post some pictures of the spent cases when I get a chance.

You can't do that with almost any gun. If you manage to stuff a spent shell into te chamber you won't have an easy time getting it out at all.
I can't think of any firearm that will easily chamber a spent case.

[Saigon1965]

I am only here to check out the crest - And I approved!

[kowalski]

You can't do that with almost any gun. If you manage to stuff a spent shell into te chamber you won't have an easy time getting it out at all.
I can't think of any firearm that will easily chamber a spent case.

Thanks for the info. Checked the primers and they look about normal, no abnormal flattening. Noticed that each of the cases has a very slight bulge in the same general area. I'm going to soak the bolt in some solvent tomorrow in hopes that it breaks up any old oil or grease.