Is this an 8mm Mauser?

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  • ipikachupoo

    Can I change my name?
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Nov 17, 2019
    24
    3
    Denham Springs, Louisiana
    I got this rifle from my grandpa, but honestly neither of us really know what it is. I’m pretty sure it’s an 8mm Mauser but would like to confirm. Thanks.
     

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    Xeon64

    Well-Known Member
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    7   0   0
    Jan 26, 2021
    790
    93
    Prairieville, LA
    Looks like it. If it does not have import marks your grandfather may have brought it back from WWII. Esp if the forearm is cut. This is called a GI cut to make it small enough to ship back to the USA. Also it has a 1903 date stamps which means it more than likely has a .318 bore. I forget the year but the 8mm Mauser bore was changed to .323. Shooting .323 ammo out of a .318 bore can be problematic. So I would suggest get a gun smith to bore it if you plan on shooting it.

    If you have anymore questions let me know. I am obcessed with the 8mm Mauser and own plenty of them.
     

    john17427

    Well-Known Member
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    17   0   0
    Oct 23, 2010
    880
    43
    Baton Rouge
    Think it's a K98b; a converted Gew 98 from ww1. It is 8mm mauser(7.9 on the barrel shoulder), but as Xeon says there's a question of what the actual bore size might be. Early Gew's had the .318 bore, but most K98b's had the barrel changed. Modern 8mm is sized .323 so if it has the smaller bore, it might create an overpressure situation. Not good for an old gun. A gunsmith can slug it and tell you what the bore size is.
     

    Danny Ross

    Well-Known Member
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    0   0   0
    Aug 5, 2022
    52
    18
    Bush, LA
    You can get a good idea of a bore size by driving a soft lead round ball into the muzzle and out through the breech, and measuring with a vernier caliper.
     

    Fordfella

    Well-Known Member
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    5   0   0
    Jul 8, 2018
    416
    63
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    See if you can find somebody with reprorubber. A machine shop or design shop should have it. Take equal parts and mix together like JB weld and put in your bore. It should get hard about the consistency of a pencil eraser, that can be pushed out with a cleaning rod. Then mike the "slug" that comes out. I've used it to get inside contours and thread profiles and the like.

    www.reprorubber.com
     

    Danny Ross

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Aug 5, 2022
    52
    18
    Bush, LA
    See if you can find somebody with reprorubber. A machine shop or design shop should have it. Take equal parts and mix together like JB weld and put in your bore. It should get hard about the consistency of a pencil eraser, that can be pushed out with a cleaning rod. Then mike the "slug" that comes out. I've used it to get inside contours and thread profiles and the like.

    www.reprorubber.com
    I priced this stuff online and on Ebay. Yeow! $27 for 50 ml
     

    BOSS351

    CZech It Out
    Premium Member
    Rating - 100%
    62   0   0
    Dec 13, 2008
    2,332
    48
    Prairieville
    It is stamped 7.9 so I would guess it is an 8mm x57. As mentioned the only real way to know is to have it slugged and measured.
     

    Fordfella

    Well-Known Member
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Jul 8, 2018
    416
    63
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    I priced this stuff online and on Ebay. Yeow! $27 for 50 ml
    Yeah, It's not cheap. It's easier than using lead or babbitt. It can be sliced thin with a razor blade then measured on an optical comparator if necessary. If you need an inside profile, O-ring, or snap ring grove, there's nothing better. Luckily, I've worked at a few places that bought it by the quart!
     

    74Blazer

    New Member
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 28, 2022
    3
    1
    Lafayette La
    Brownells sells a material specially made for chamber casting. It has a low melting point and is easy to use. It comes with clear instructions and works very well. Casting the chamber is the only way to make sure what caliber you have.
     

    dwhaley929

    Well-Known Member
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    33   0   0
    Dec 14, 2016
    508
    43
    Baton Rouge LA
    Brownells sells a material specially made for chamber casting. It has a low melting point and is easy to use. It comes with clear instructions and works very well. Casting the chamber is the only way to make sure what caliber you have.
    If you fire a cartridge and nothing horrible happens is it still possible that the cartridge is not the correct caliber. Maybe the bullet is small enough and the casing manages to go into battery. I saw a similar conversation recently and wondered about this. Of course it would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.
     

    Labadie

    WFPD
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    May 31, 2013
    40
    8
    BR
    Gewehr 98 changed to the larger .323 round in 1903. I would have it chamber cast for safety purposes. If it was 1904 or greater it would be the 7.92 most likely. The fact they it is stamped 7.9 is a good indication. But when in doubt cast it. I have several GEW 98 and really just love them.
     
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