Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles 1909

Ed LaPour. Wouldn't mind one of these:

Nice

DWM made nice rifles didn't they?

I've always wondered why the 1909 Argentinians have always been more popular during my lifetime than the almost identical 1908 Brazilians. Except for the bottom metal, the actions appear to be the same.

1) Bottom metal. 2) 1908's are rarely found in as nice condition as the 1909's.

Otherwise, besides the feedrails, the actions can be considered to be VERY similar.

Does he have them reheat treated? They have had softness issues in the past not all but lots have...mb

"Does he have them reheat treated? They have had softness issues in the past not all but lots have...mb"

I'm not sure if that problem occurred with the DWM rifles but I have heard comments that Mauser allowed Argentina to make the rifles and that those did have problems with heat treatment. I do know that my 1909 DWM was thoroughly checked for proper heat treatment has all the little dimples to prove it. Action and barrel done by the Harry lawson company and the stock by Sterling Davenport. Purtiest rifle I own. Chambered to the .280 Re,. 24" barrel. very accurate too.
PJ

Doing a Rockwell test on a 1909 un the underside of the receiver (flat part) does not give a clue as to the hardness of the lug seats. Remember, these were not gas carburized, they were pack hardened.

They are slick and beautiful actions, but they're soft. I had a sporterized 09, a nicely done job, that I had a 257AI barrel put on. It was a good condition barrel I got as a throw-in in a trade. About ten rounds into sighting in and shooting for a group I got noticeable set back, obvious when I opened the bolt. I was shooting moderate pressures.

Oh, and it was a DWM

Heat treatment

That’s the issue I have with Mausers. Clearly I don’t know enough. I got soured on Mausers at a young age when a rifle we built had poor heat treating. Luckily I have a cousin who knows a lot about Mausers. If/when I build a rifle with a Mauser action, I buy the action from him.
I suppose those of you that love Mausers know a lot more than me too.

I've been running a fairly stiff load with the 160 gr. Grand Slam at nearly 2900 FPS and no problems so far with my 1909 Argie.
PJ

Agreed on the 1908 Brazilians. I've owned both 1909s and at least two 1908s. The 08s looked great on the outside and bores seemed to have good rifling but were initially dark. The more I cleaned them the worse it got. They went from almost black to brown after brushing and got progressively worse from there. The patches finally started tearing from all the pits in the bore. I ended up parting them out.

The only reason I can think of and don't know if I'm right is Brazil being a more tropical country was a lot harder on rifles then Argentina.

That's what I've always figured, but I suppose differences in the amount of (corrosive) ammo fired and cleaning practices could certainly have contributed.

beautiful.. Venezuelan are also found in clean in-the-white condition.

Hey, Hey, Rich J... great centerfold you got there today!

Just perusing and couldn't let your great rifle go by without congratulatory comment! Looks like new! A suggestion! Your chiming in, a bit off-subject for this Thread and also tagging on downstream of accumulated number of Posts! Likely that's why accolades deficit. Suggestion your rifle really merits its own Thread including full centerfold pix. Future 'perhaps' word to wise!
Best!
John

John

thanks. This one found a new home a while ago. only have a few pic.

Interesting thread for me. I have a 1909 that was re-barrelled to .270 some time before I inherited it from an Uncle, also re-stocked in a nice piece of walnut. Shoots great, has put some deer down for me.

Mike Holmes

I have had a pretty mint, numbers matching 1909 action for years that was to become a 20" Mannlicher stocked 35 Whelen. Came close to pulling the trigger with Roger Green. Interest clearly passed. I should sell it as I will never do anything with it.

They are lovely rifles. Back in the 70s, a shop in Silver Spring, MD had a barrel full of pristine ones. Had test targets attached. $175 IIRC, about a week’s pay then.

Still, a commercial FN or Husky, sometimes the same thing, remains the easy button for Joe Average.

No truer words!


These days, with the lack of decent smiths that know anything about 98's, a commercial action is one's best bet. They are generally scope ready, have better heat treatment, and will cost a whole lot less to get up and running.

That said, nothing beats a Standard 98 converted to a fine sporting rifle.

One question to confirm things in my mind, will a large ring 98 mauser barrel fit a 1909 action? Why i ask I have a 1909 I bought that was supposedly chambered in 244 Rem.(6 mm) and the chamber has been bubba'd it needs a new barrel.