Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Mauser 1908 ?

I have an opportunity to buy a barreled (30-06 IMP) action that is marked Model 1908 on the right of the ring, and "Berlin" on the left side of the receiver, for $350.

Great shape, but are these actions any good?

Wayne

Sounds like it might be Brazilian. Any other markings, like a crest under the scope base (if there is a base)?

If a 1908 Brazilian, they were/are quite desirable for the basis of a custom rifle.

Yep, there's a crest. Covers the entire top of the ring with little marks like 5 minute marks on a clock. It was made by the German small arms and ammunition factory in Berlin.

Wayne

That would be DWM, Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken. Judging from your description, I believe the crest is other than Brazilian. Post a picture of it if you can, I'd like to see it.

Here's the M 1908 Brazilian Mauser. Scroll down a bit for the crest.

I can't post a pic cause the scope base covers the center of it. It was originally in 7 x 57 though.

Wayne

GRAB THAT ONE!

(Ever steered you wrong?)

Those 1908 DWM mausers are nice actions; very smooth and well built, but they have been known to have heat treating issues; you want to check for lug setback. If the bolt seems hard to open, I would pass on it. It also might be worth it to have it re-heat treated before you barrel it.

No picture.

I have a couple of rifles built on Brazilian/DWM 1908 actions.

B62xx has a 22-250 E.R. Shaw barrel, a McM camo stock, a Redfield turn-in mounts with a late 1960s vintage Weaver K8. I have been thinking about rebarreling it to 256 Newton.

B73xx had the original barrel cut back to 22" and recrowned, a Sile stock, Weaver mounts with with a mid 1980s vintage Simmons 1053 1.5-4.5x. Perhaps surprisingly, this rifle shoots the Federal 140 and 175 grain factory load into MOWT groups and is on semi-perminent loan to my friend Andy in Piermont, NH. Andy suffers from short-term memory loss, in that he is always ready to borrow, but forgetful when it comes time to return the borrowed items. He also has a Winchester/USRA 70 Super Shadow in 25 WSSM and a Rossi 59 in 22 Magnum on semi-perminent load. 'Just hope that he remembers to keep 'em oiled up good!

Jeff

OK, I bought it. The action opens, uncocked, as smooth as silk, so no problems there. The bolt face and extractor appear new, and it closes on a dummy round fed by hand without pressing the extractor in. He tossed in a wood stock which I haven't seen, but says it will have to be totally inletted for the magazine and floorplate.

Oh, well, he said he was tired of it, so we'll see what happens.

Thanks, guys. (what they say about lawyers isn't always true)

Wayne

Good photos here:

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&p=421738




Bruce

Here too - Sorry 'bout that

http://www.angelfire.com/vt/milsurp/bm08.html

Yep, that's it exactly. The stock he "tossed in" has absolutely beautiful wood. Should make a pretty decent custom rifle. I'll post pics of the completed rifle in a few days. Thanks to all for their help. I think I got a pretty fair deal as a result of all the encouragement.

Wayne

Sounds like a good score.