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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

A Youngster's First Rifle


Doble Troble

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Hey guys, long time no post.

 

I'm still kicking. I just haven't been doing much sporterizing.

 

That's changing. A friend's son (a big 13 y/o) has developed an interest in building a Mauser. He struggled between 6.5 x 55 and stock 8 mm, but decided on the 8 mm. I think it was a fine choice, but I imagine we're going to start with some light loads.

 

So he's building it on a Turk. We're going to cut down the stock barrel to 24" and put it in a sporter stock. We're going to rechamber it which leads to a question: how much should we face off the barrel to be sure the old chamber is cleared out?

 

I hope everyone's been doing well, and that we haven't lost anyone else recently.

 

DT

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Hi DT! Good to have you back.

 

Unless the throat is just horrible, I would not think of rechambering that barrel. Given good headspace, leave it as is.

 

I assume that you plan to remove the sights?? That simplifies things if you absolutely must rechamber. I would remove half a thread so that the hole for the rear sight falls under the stock line. Then ream to the correct headspace.

 

Clemson

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just a thought, but if you could see the throat, and see how much erosion there is. if its not to much, maybe just enought to clean up the throat area. my guess would be maybe 1/8" or so? but i am not a machinist, nor have i done a mauser barrel yet. soon, but not yet.

 

 

edit: well, i guess clemson was typing as i was typing. i would listen to him before me. remmember, post pics!!!

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Doble Troble -

 

If you can wait a few days I might have an interesting option for you. I will likely have either a 270 Win barrel, or 8x57 barrel (both are 23.5 inches) which has come off a Husqvarna 1640. Both have vg-excellent bores and are in a sporter contour. I understand from knowledgeable gunsmiths that those barrels have the right diameter with threads that fit Turks.

 

If I buy the 1640/8x57 I was considering re-barreling it to 270 Win using a barrel in the corner (you get the 8x57 take-off, not yet seen but described as very good)). However, I might pass on the 1640 and purchase an FN action for a different project (in which case you have a 270 Win option). Let me know if you're interested - for a 13 year old the price could be very reasonable.

 

That 270 Win can be soft-loaded to a recoil similar to 6.5x55, or you might have the versatile 8x57 that can be loaded from 30-30ish to 308 Win-like.

 

I was actually gonna give Clemson a call to do the work related to this project regardless of the option chosen. We can make it a "Carloinas project" Aren't you in NE Carolina?

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Bob,

 

Thanks a bunch. I'll talk to Sam (the youngster) and see how the potential of a 270 flies. I'm trying very hard to make recommendations and not decisions - I figure the more he decides the more vested he'll be in the project and the more he'll learn. Yes, I'm in East Carolina - Greenville. I'm acutally starting to like it here even with the humidity.

 

Thanks for the shortening advice too. I don't *think* there's anything wrong with the original chamber. I just *assumed* that if we took it back a bit and cut a fresh chamber that it might be *better*. You know what happens when you assume though. I suppose there might be an advantage to putting the set screw holes pointing down, and the experience of cutting a chamber could have educational value.

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Bob,

 

Sam seems committed to the 8mm. If you go with the 8x57 let me know...I don't think there's anything wrong with this Turk barrel, but it is a Turk barrel. You can't beat Swedish steel.

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