Caliber question in Oberndorf M98?

[mark-hunter]

I vote for 9.3x62!

 

[Foxi]

Hi all,

I have a M98 Oberndorf I want to build into a plainsgame rifle. (Including Eland)I most want a European caliber, but 375 H & H are too long.

- What caliber would you selected in this rifle?
All work is being outsourced to specialist ...

/:Fury

Congratulation to your Mauser.
A real Mauser and its quality comes from Oberndorf (near Stuttgart) and not from Isny, as it is today.
Including me,some of us are thinking ,that a 9,3x62 is not really a PG caliber,like 8x68 or .300 Win Mag.
But a (almost) friend of mine, is PH in the Bavarian mountains.
And he is shooting his red deer at a range of 400m !!!!with his beloved 9,3x62
You can load this from 190 gr until 300gr.
That makes a big difference.
In my country (Germany) it is very popular and famous for the precision and the recoil is almost soft for the class.
Today we use modern,strong powder and bullets ,no bad choise to reload the 9,3x62.
Foxi

 

[dchamp]

I would do the 9.3x62 also. While the 8x68s is a great cartridge it has a different case head dimension from the 8x57 or 7x57 and will probably need to have the bolt modified. With the 9.3x62 all you should need to do is thread a new barrel on with the correct head space and your ready to go.

 

[gizmo]

I love the 8mm Mauser cartridge that would have my vote. I have 2 mausers in 8mm mauser. Great caliber.

 

[dchamp]

I have to agree with you gizmo I too love the 8x57. I have had one since I was a teenager and have never found it wanting. I just thought that fury was looking for something closer to the 375H&H.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Why not a 9.3x64 Brenneke caliber? Then you really have a classic calibre?

 

[sestoppelman]

How is the barrel broken??

 

[EDELWEISS]

BEFORE you decide on 9.3x62 make sure it will fit in the action. K98s typically are just a tad bit too short for 62mm length cartridges (30-06), hence 9.3x57 being popular--its only a matter of a barrel swop. K98s can be made to fit by a cut in the top of the receiver. Adding a longer cartridge will also limit the actual rounds (longer bullets) that will fit in the magwell lengthening the mawell ISN'T simple. BE SURE before you barrel or youll have a pretty single shot.

 

[spike.t]

BEFORE you decide on 9.3x62 make sure it will fit in the action. K98s typically are just a tad bit too short for 62mm length cartridges (30-06), hence 9.3x57 being popular--its only a matter of a barrel swop. K98s can be made to fit by a cut in the top of the receiver. Adding a longer cartridge will also limit the actual rounds (longer bullets) that will fit in the magwell lengthening the mawell ISN'T simple. BE SURE before you barrel or youll have a pretty single shot.

"All work is being outsourced to specialist"..... this from original post so hopefully he will know what to do....

 

[Shootist43]

I think I would take the list of suggested calibers to your gunsmith noting your preference for the 9.3 x 62 and see what he has to say. If it is just a barrel swap and you can use commercially loaded 9.3 x 62 ammo I'd say go for it. From the picture the stock and action appear to be in great shape. This should make one heck of a PG rifle. I recently had an '03 Springfield (a WWI Bolt action similar to if not a Mauser design) sporterized and re-barreled to a 35 Whelen (a ballistic twin of the 9.3 x 62) and used it very successfully on PG including an Eland last August. Good luck with your project.

 

[ve7poi]

9.3 x 66
Just to be different

 

[nztimb]

318 WR without a doubt. Class and effectiveness all rolled into one exceptional package.

 

[Foxi]

Why not a 9.3x64 Brenneke caliber? Then you really have a classic calibre?

the classic is more 9,3x62,created in 1907,the x 64 came much later(1927).
I would be careful with old guns.Old guns was produced for old calibers and "low " pressure.
And 8x68 and 9,3x64 are playing in an other league.
The powderpressure(dont know an other english word for) is always an important factor.
For me, it calls to 8x57 and 9,3x62.And with the last you can have a 247 gr bullet and would come on 2.460 fps.
Good choice for your Eland.
Foxi

 

[EDELWEISS]

ALSO keep in mind if you stretch the receiver, that will mean youll need a non standard stock and maybe non standard bottom metal. I speak from experience on custom guns, that seemed like just a minor change.... Then theres the whole "all work will be outsourced"--there are gunsmiths and then there are gunsmiths, some can do the work and some only think they can, youll be lucky if you get the first type OR one who tells you hes not up to the job.

I left a 577NITRO with a smith for a year for something as "simple" as a new rear sight and a barrel band sling swivel. The smith had done superior work on a couple of typical sporters, so I thought he'd be up to it. A year later he finally decided he didnt know how to do what I wanted.... Id take another Rem 700 to him; but nothing out of the norm.

 

[DM Shooting]

Just to chuck a couple more out there but 9.3 x57 is cool
308 Norma magnum
8x60s
275 rigby don't get the poorer European 7x57

 

[ZG47]

9.3x62 rifles made by Mauser have a special, i.e. wider, magazine with a wider floor plate. The standard magazine can be made to work, by a competent gunsmith but ... it will add to,the cost.

 

[boldo 42]

9.3x57 , 8x57 , keep the pressure down on the old girl. Plus you won't need to modify anything other than the barrel. She looks good, try to change it as least as possible.

 

[ZG47]

A minor acquaintance of mine bought a nice, well-balanced 9.3x57 from a guy who imports quality secondhand firearms from Sweden. It was good to hold and ideal for stalking. He had it rechambered to 9.3x62 and found that it was sImply too light in weight, with standard 9.3x62 loads.

 

[boldo 42]

A minor acquaintance of mine bought a nice, well-balanced 9.3x57 from a guy who imports quality secondhand firearms from Sweden. It was good to hold and ideal for stalking. He had it rechambered to 9.3x62 and found that it was sImply too light in weight, with standard 9.3x62 loads.

Sometimes you need to leave it alone , and enjoy it as is.