Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 8mm mauser conversion

I have a couple to many 98 Mauser rifles in my safe and I like some odd guns, I am wondering has anyone seen one of these rebored to 358 Winchester, etc. I have one that is in really nice shape (been sportized safety and scope) that originally made it back to this side of the pond after the big one. Just one to do something special with since a close relative carried it home.

Thanks, and just looking for good ideas!

I think the "specialist" thing you could do would be to leave it just like your close relative brought it home after the big one.

Yea, had that thought but he brought more than one an I have a good collection of sentimental guns from him, but I totally understand your thoughts.

I saw such a creation at Ahlmans gun shop in Morristown, MN several years ago. I seriously considered buying it but decided what I traveled there for was a better investment.

I want to say Ken Waters had a 358 made on a Mauser but I might be wrong.

If it's got a good bore, you may want to consider a rechamber vs a rebore. Personally, I don't believe its possible to have too many 8x57 rifles and it is REALLY hard to beat it loaded to CIP pressure standards.

As far as rechamber goes, 8mm/06 is a classic Wildcat. 8mm Gibbs is probably the most horsepower you can squeeze out of the action with a standard bolt face. The 3200 Hawk is interesting too(I believe that one is basically a 9.3x62 necked to 8mm).

If you are going to rebore, a 35 Whelen or a 9.3x62 would be relatively painless as long as JES can rebore the military barrel.

I have a call into JES right now, we will see where it goes.

Capt. John:

A .358 Win will not clean up the 8x57 chamber. At least not without setting the bbl back considerable. However, a 9x57 will. And it is a simple thing to neck up 8x57 brass to 9x57. If you should decide to go that route, I have a fair quantity of Original 9x57 Kynoch ammo. I have taken one deer with the 9x57. And it worked superbly, I might add...

GH

There’s a 9.3x57 too. Or you could do a 338-06 or 35 Whelen

If it's something uncommon you like, the 8 X 60 would fit in to the mix quite nicely and would be historically correct, if that's of any importance. Lots of 8 X 57's had their chambers simply lengthened to that case after WWI. It also wouldn't cost a great deal if that's of concern.,

7.92x63 , there it is !

As far as the 9x57 goes, you will be somewhat limited when it comes to bullet selection. I believe Hawk (and maybe others) makes them, but last time I checked they were somewhere around a buck a pop.

If you have Jes rebore to 9x57 he'll make the bore .358 so you can use any of the standard 35 cal rifle bullets. My old 9x57 mexican mauser sporter has a .356 bore and while I'm still shooting some old kynoch factory loads, I plan to reload with .358 bullets.

Stick with something on the X57 case to keep it feeding slick as snot and to keep the job at a reasonable cost. I'd go 358X57, 9.3X57 or 375X57. Likely 9X57 dies will work with the .358X57 and I'd simply load it to 358 win levels.

If it came home with a Relative, I wouldn't consider an alteration, there are too many 'nonstoried' Mauser actions available at very reasonable cost for project rifles, rather than mar one with a great history inside the family.

A 358win rebarrel would be a great combo to play with, there are still inexpensive 35 Whelen Barrels available at midway that make great shooting/hunting guns too- if a .35 caliber is what interests you

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-in-14-twist-24-chrome-moly-in-the-white

Desertshooter

If the barrel is in great condition on the inside, I would rechamber to 8mm-06 AI.
Great cartridge. Lots of ump. Comfortable to shoot. Accurate. Easy to do.
re

Sounds like an expensive money pit project to me with a bubba milsurp waiting at the end of the tunnel.

....................That's what I was thinking, even if not AI'd .... Bunch of 8x57 bringbacks got that done back in the '50's & 60's and I always considered it a viable round.

I just got my 35 Whelen back from JES (from 30-06 Voere 98 large ring). It shoots sub MOA at 100 yards with basic reloads. (not a lot of workup). Excellent work by JES.

8x60