Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Mauser project, what would you do?

Its a "no brainer", but you are asking these guys what they would do? You also didn't answer the gentleman about why your are changing barrels if you are going to send it to JES for a re-bore anyway. The no brainer would be to keep the 7x57 barrel and have Jess re-bore it, if that is what you are going to do anyway. Cuts out the middle man/smith who has no reamers.. Is there a reason you seem to be bound and determined to have the Zastava barrel installed?

The military step barrel is rough , the zastava barrel is clean and has nice bluing. It is also not stepped. If my smith friend puts it on and I decide to keep it 8x57 I’ll guess I can rent the reamer and gauges to finish the job. Or I might just have him put it on and then send it off to JES so no need to bother with reamers and guages on my end.
Appreciate the replies so far.

MM

I asked a question and find it interesting and insightful to get other’s opinions. If this is somehow annoying to you, move along, no need to respond as you are.

MM

The 8mm bullet is quite the thumper in it's own right. No it's not a 9.3 but a respectable thumper.

kwg

I'd have Jess rebore the zastava barrel to 9x57 with a .358 bore and 12 twist aka .358 Roberts

I got that, but what's the cost of free? How much more is it actually to get a new barrel installed on your action vs. free barrel installation and rebore.

JES rebores for $250, but does that include removing your old barrel, cutting a 9.3X62 chamber and headspacing the free barrel to your action? Or are you going to have to pay a GS or JES to fit the barrel to your action before/after the rebore? It might not be hard to get $400+ into this rebore project of a free barrel.

For $500 Douglas will install one of their CM barrels on your action, you'll also have the additional cost of bluing or coating as they don't offer it. PacNor will install a stainless barrel for $605-630 to your action, no need to coat unless you want to. Just weigh the actual costs is all I'm saying, it might be worth the extra money to buy a new barrel

That is a good point that I didn’t make clear, my gunsmith really is my friend, like we hang out together with our wives, we hunt together, hell I’ve packed out his elk on my back. So there will be negligible cost in having him put the barrel on( but I wouldn’t have him do it for free, he’s a good guy and wouldn’t take advantage of him).
Ive had JES rebore 2 guns for me, both to 358 and both shot very well after. He rebored, rechambers and head spaces it. At least that is my understanding. But I do have a call into him as I’m going to discuss what I want to do with him. I’m also interested in his opinion.
Thanks again for the replies. Projects are fun, new guns are. Can’t hunt right now or fish where I’m at so talking about it with people on the fire is a good way to pass the time.

MM

If the barrels being installed for next to nothing, I'd go 8x57 and take a chance. Installing a used barrel just to rebore, I'd buy a new barrel.

I agree with a new barrel over reboring the free one.

Shaw barrels are about 200 and it sounds like you have a hook up to install it. Or let Shaw do it for another $135.

If you make a decision to get rid of the 8 x 57 Zastava barrel, PM me, I need one. I also have a Brownells short chambered 7x57 barrel laying around here, and a reamer doing nothing. Paul.

I'd put the 8x57 barrel on it, it's a very versatile caliber, it will do anything that a 308 or 30-06 will.

The fact that the existing barrel is a "Stepped" barrel would to me make it not up for consideration. To me, the big question is what do YOU want. No sense in making it a chambering that you don't want. The 8x57 is a great choice, but if you don't like it, then why even consider it.

I hear all the emotion about making it a 9x57, but I don't believe that's a viable choice, either. Dies are uncommon and expensive. (Altho' I think I have an extra set I could let go. Brass is Non-existent. Thus, you must make brass. One can either use 8x57 brass or cut down .30-06 or .35 Whelen. But it's a lot of work. But I wouldn't... unless you just happen to like doing it. (I do) I do have a fair quantity of factory Kynoch 9x57 ammo, and I'll donate a box of it just for good luck. I've more than I will ever use... and I've already taken a deer with it. (245 gr. RN) It is, I believe; corrosive and I know it's Berdan primed. But don't let that sway your decision. I've owned three 9x57s but I don't see it as any more powerful than a .358 Win. In reality; the difference between a .358 Win. and an 8x57 is practically negligible. If you want any significant gain over the 8x57, one must go to the 9.3x62. But don't expect to find any loaded ammo in your local sporting goods store... The other down-side to the 9x57 is that loading data is practically non-existent. Altho' I can help you out on that, as well. But none is available with the popular powders of today. Old Lyman manuals have it, and perhaps a couple of articles in Handloader magizine.

I'm just offering you up a few things to think about... Good Luck!

I really like my 9.3x62, but another option might be 338-06. I seem to grab my 338-06 more than any other rifle for most of my hunting. I would have it rebarreled rather than bored out.

I’ve found my #1 most costly mistake in Mauser building has been trying to save money.

At best I end up with a job I can tolerate, at worst I end up spending the money I should have up front to get the job done right.

It took me a while to accept this, and I spent twice far more times than I ought to have had to before learning the lesson.

And that’d be true even if I had a friend who’d do the work for free.

As a matter of fact I’d take the free (or close to it) work as a reason to get it done right; you’re already saving so why not put that money into a quality tube?

Just my $.02

Lots of really good advice on here, 338-06 was one consideration I hadn’t really thought of.

Flintlocke also provided an option I had as of yet not considered.

MM

I have done this too many times. The problems I ran into were being cheap and then not being happy...and the balance/weight.

Just talk with Lothar Walther for a barrel...278 bucks shipped got me a long chambered 6.5x55 barrel which now lives on my Husqvarna action.

mitchellmountain, I have had two .338/06 and two .338/06 Ack Imp. I eventually abandoned the calibers because of also owning a .338 Win Mag. Compare the .30/06 loaded with 200 gr. Nosler Prt to the .338/06 and there isn't much of a difference. With 250 gr. bullets, the .338/06 can't hold a candle to the .338 Win Mag. Thus, if you have an '06, (and who doesn't?) there's not much reason for a .338/06 (Logically, that is...) And if you also own a .338 Win Mag, then there is even less reason for a .338/06. I queried writer Ken Waters on the merits of the .338/06 vs the .35 Whelen and he seemed to prefer the Whelen. Someday, I'll find that letter and frame it. But if you just WANT a .338/06, then all bets are off...