Chilean 1895 Mauser

[Enfield47]

Be sure to scrub out your chamber. Who knows how long it's been since it was properly cleaned.

Congrats on you Mauser BTW. I like the look of the crest too.

[SVT-40]

The 1895's are great rifles. The receiver on the OP's rifle appears to have been refinished... It should be blued.

The receiver should look like this.

[knucklehead0202]

Pretty sweet piece. Mine had a cut-down stock that I managed to find a replacement for. Still have the original that's matching number and a cut forend I plan to stick together someday to re-match her. Anyhow, you may have a rough chamber that could require some filing or cleanup with a small flex-hone. I've heard of this a lot with French rifles but never mauser, but who knows? I also would like to see some pics of the fired brass.

[kowalski]

Took some photos of the fired shells.

Let me know if you guys see anything abnormal.



Each shell has a slight bulge about 1/4 up from the rim.

Each shell has a somewhat deep scrape/gouge in the same location.

[pacrat]

Pic 1
Primers look OK, Still have rounded circumference.

Pic 3
Circumferential "scratches" approx 1/2" above bases

Pic 4
Longitudinal "scratches" starting just above extractor groove and extending to web area.

Slight bulges at web area typical of generous chambers of old Mil-Surps.

Rough Chamber, likely has burrs that need smoothing out.

Since it is a new aquisition from a LGS. I would return it and describe the problem and request they fix it. Especially since they are ignorant buttheads that jerked you around and made you unnecessarily wait 10 days and pay for DROS on an Antique.

JM2c

[knucklehead0202]

Yeah looks like the chamber needs some cleanup like pacrat said, looks like there's some burrs in there. Otherwise, no worries I'd say.

[kowalski]

Thanks for the input, going to take a trip to the shop this Friday.

How exactly can you smooth out the burrs in the chamber?

[Enfield47]

Thanks for the input, going to take a trip to the shop this Friday.

How exactly can you smooth out the burrs in the chamber?

You can try attaching a 20 gauge brass brush to a piece of cleaning rod and chuck in a drill. Coat the brass brush with Hoppes insert it into the chamber and spin it on high speed for about 20 seconds. Use you fingers to feel around for the burr. If it's still there, repeat again for 20 seconds. If the burr is still there you may need to get more aggressive and use a case coated in a polishing compound. You can cycle it in and out several times to remove the burr. I would only do this if the brass brush doesn't work. You don't want to be too aggressive and enlarge your chamber.

[kowalski]

Well, I have some mixed emotions after speaking to the shop workers/owners

Their first response was to tell me to seek a gunsmith. Apparently they are not gunsmiths due to "liability" reasons. I replied by saying that this was not the response I was expecting.

How do you sell an antique firearm, assure that it is in perfect working condition, having never thoroughly checked it or fired it and not expect problems to occur??

They then went on a spell about how the gun is old and only cost so much.... Which made me only more angry. Was in the process of returning the rifle when the owner of the shop said that he would order 7x57 ammo of a different brand to try in their indoor range. One of the workers actually tried to tell me that this action couldn't fire modern ammo......also mentioned to the owner about the rifle being an antique, which resulted in him going off on me about how only irresponsible shops sell firearms without background checks.

Going to wait a couple of weeks for the final verdict. How much do these antique actions sell for without barrels?

[pacrat]

Well, I have some mixed emotions after speaking to the shop workers/owners

Their first response was to tell me to seek a gunsmith. Apparently they are not gunsmiths due to "liability" reasons. I replied by saying that this was not the response I was expecting.

How do you sell an antique firearm, assure that it is in perfect working condition, having never thoroughly checked it or fired it and not expect problems to occur??

They then went on a spell about how the gun is old and only cost so much.... Which made me only more angry. Was in the process of returning the rifle when the owner of the shop said that he would order 7x57 ammo of a different brand to try in their indoor range. One of the workers actually tried to tell me that this action couldn't fire modern ammo......also mentioned to the owner about the rifle being an antique, which resulted in him going off on me about how only irresponsible shops sell firearms without background checks.

Going to wait a couple of weeks for the final verdict. How much do these antique actions sell for without barrels?

Most LGS that are not also smiths. Have local smiths that they farm work out to and refer people to for repairs.

His comment about "modern ammo" tells me he knows nothing about his given trade. Here in the USA all ammo makers abide by SAAMI ammunition manufacturing guidelines. Such earlier calibers of ammo still being produced such as 7x57 and 8x57 is ALL by SAAMI guideline made to conform to original manufacturing pressure spec for use in the old rifles it is made for. In the case of the 8x57 it was originally made for 1888 Commission rifles. 7x57 was originally chambered in the 1893 Spanish Mauser.


In your particular case, the ammo is not an issue. No matter what your LGS says. Your fired cases tell the story. It is the rifles chamber at fault.

[kowalski]

Just got back from shooting the rifle with different ammo.

Gun store owner had purchased remington 140gr core lokt.

Fired one round, gun functioned flawlessly. I was able to extract the shell like butter. Guess the rifle really doesn't like ppu.

Has anyone else had this experience with ppu ammunition?

Ended up buying the remington box of ammo.

[Enfield47]

I've always had good luck with Prvi ammo. It has worked well in my Enfield's, and SKS.

[knucklehead0202]

Prvi tends to run a little hotter than some commercial ammo, as it generally runs around similar ballistics to surplus, where most American commercial is loaded very gentle. This may have something to do with it but every rifle is a bit different. Once you handload for it you can find what it likes and reproduce it. Enjoy your mauser!

[pacrat]

PRVI-PARTIZAN ammo is made in Serbia, and loaded to European "CIP" standards. Domestic US stuff is made to milder SAAMI standards.

CIP is typically hotter than SAAMI.

Big "IF" here is that the PRVI fired cases showed no signs of pressure. And OP did NOT experience the typical HARD bolt lift and flattened primers of over pressure loads. Over pressure doesn't "scrape" cases, it flattens primers. Buggered chamber doesn't flatten primers, it scrapes cases.

I was able to rotate the bolt to the pull back position, just couldn't pull back without banging on the bolt.

Hence pressure was most likely not the hard extraction issue.

Since I'm an answer a question with a question kinda guy, rather than jump to conclusion kinda guy. I have to ask.

OP did you leave rifle with LGS, while he got Rem. ammo in? And upon firing Rem. ammo did the cases show the same scrapes which caused the original hard extraction issue?

If no scrapes on Rem. cases, then it is without doubt, that the cause of the scrapes is no longer present in the chamber.

JM2c

[kowalski]

I did not leave the rifle at the shop.

Surprisingly the remington shell showed no signs of scrapes found previously on the ppu shells. I'll take a picture when I get the chance.