What can be done with an Israeli Mauser converted to 308/7.62x51mm NATO?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi All,

I have an Israeli Mauser acquired sometime in the early 90's in full wood military configuration.

The question for the forum intelligentsia is, can this be converted into something useful?

I am thinking possibly a re-barrel and magazine work for a 9.3x62mm but anything else will considered. A big bore is preferred.

Conversely are these actions/rifles best left as is, and to sell and buy a ready-made big bore?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael.

@Michael70
The Israeli Mauser 308 is far to small to convert to 9.3x62.
Personally as it is a 308 already the best conversion would be to 358 Winchester. Not the thump of the 9.3 but when loaded to its potential the little 358 is an awesome cartridge. Those that have them swear by them. It punches well above its weight.
Bob

 

[Michael70]

@Michael70
The Israeli Mauser 308 is far to small to convert to 9.3x62.
Personally as it is a 308 already the best conversion would be to 358 Winchester. Not the thump of the 9.3 but when loaded to its potential the little 358 is an awesome cartridge. Those that have them swear by them. It punches well above its weight.
Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your input and suggestion of a 358 Win.

I have a friend in Victoria that has hunted Sambar for years, exclusively with his browning lever chambered in 358 Win. He has several other suitable candidates in the safe, namely an exquisite 375 H&H Heym and a Mauser 9.3x62 but he grabs the 358 every time.

You are right those that have them, love them. Much like your pet 35 Whelan.

This one will stay unmolested, and I will keep on the look out for a big banger locally....they are a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

Michael.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for your input and suggestion of a 358 Win.

I have a friend in Victoria that has hunted Sambar for years, exclusively with his browning lever chambered in 358 Win. He has several other suitable candidates in the safe, namely an exquisite 375 H&H Heym and a Mauser 9.3x62 but he grabs the 358 every time.

You are right those that have them, love them. Much like your pet 35 Whelan.

This one will stay unmolested, and I will keep on the look out for a big banger locally....they are a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

Michael.

@Michael70
Michael I have a nice 35 Whelen AI I could sell you complete with brass and dies. If you need more power you could ream it to 358 Norma mag or go the full hog to 358STW.
I've shot sambar with a 270, 30-06, 308 and 444 marlin. The 270 did a fine job with 130gr ACP bullets. The 444 was a bit of over kill with 280gn Woodleigh RNSP @2,400fps
I have still to shoot one with my Whelen but I think my 25 with a 100gn TTSX @3,600fps should be just the ticket as well.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi Mdwest,

I believe it is a K98 but I will take a photo of the markings when I get home tonight and post them for better clarity.

These were sold in bulk in Australia in the early 90's don't know if there was more than one variant but this has been sitting in a safe doing literally nothing for nearly 30 years.

Wood, action and barrel are in mint (as issued) condition and it may be better off as a collector rifle, if these have any collector value at all. Considering the numbers sold I doubt it.

@Michael70
I remember back in the 70s a lot of Israeli mauser carbines were sold in 308. They had a straight grip 18 inch barrel and ugly as sin. They were noisy little bastards when you touched them off.
From memory (of an old fart who could be wrong) they were a Spanish 93 Mauser in 7x57 and converted by the Israeli govt to 308 as a reserve weapon.
They were sold for the princely sum of 39 dollars back then
You could have also bought a 6.5 Westerner aka a sporterised 6.5 carcano for the same price. Oh how things have changed.
Bob

 

[Excessexpress]

I would think shooting as a 308 would be just fine, stick 180Gr Hydros in it and shoot buffalo

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have a 9.3x62 on built on standard 98 mauser action, this one was built by ted ulmer from central pa., my load is varget and .366 dia 250 gr nosler accubond bullets. my COL in 3.245 and runs thru the magizine with out any problems. i don,t think i could seat the 250 gr nosler bullets out any more and have reliable feeding. if your .308-7.62x51 mauser is on a small ring 93-95 mauser action the forget the longer cartiges.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hi All,

I have an Israeli Mauser acquired sometime in the early 90's in full wood military configuration.

The question for the forum intelligentsia is, can this be converted into something useful?

I am thinking possibly a re-barrel and magazine work for a 9.3x62mm but anything else will considered. A big bore is preferred.

Conversely are these actions/rifles best left as is, and to sell and buy a ready-made big bore?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael.

@Michael70
This is the style Fuller firearms was selling back in the 70s as the 308 carbine converted by the Israeli government
Bob

 

[Michael70]

@Michael70
This is the style Fuller firearms was selling back in the 70s as the 308 carbine converted by the Israeli government
Bob

Hi Bob,

I don't know the origin story of the action for this Mauser, although it is clear it was a re-barrelled action to 7.62x51 NATO as per the descriptions extracted from the article posted on the previous page. It does not look like the Fuller Firearms version you had in the photograph attached to your post. Slight variations with the end cap and foresight are immediately noticeable.

I am chasing a calibre that begins with a 4 as I have a 375H&H that covers me for everything below this mark. Although as I stated earlier they are definitely thin on the ground around these parts. So you chase up what you can. If sellers can reply to emails posted for their gun, listed on gun sales sites this may be even easier

Not to worry the 375 with 350gr Woodleigh's seems to work OK, it is more a want rather than a need, but we won't let that determine the contents of our safe.

 

[freefall]

I reiterate. Does your rifle cock on opening or closing? That will determine if it's a Model 93 or a Model 98. Others have listed the dimensional difference between large and small ring Model 98s.
I can relate to willful ignorance, it's what I do with cell phones, but in Firearmery it's hardly becoming.

 

[Michael70]

I reiterate. Does your rifle cock on opening or closing? That will determine if it's a Model 93 or a Model 98. Others have listed the dimensional difference between large and small ring Model 98s.
I can relate to willful ignorance, it's what I do with cell phones, but in Firearmery it's hardly becoming.

Wilful ignorance? Apologies if I missed something but I did not know that I was being asked anything.

This is a classic Mauser action that I am sure cocks on opening. I don't have the gun in front of me to confirm right now but I am sure that this is the case. In any event if it is different, I will let you know.

This is a moot point as the cost of modifying anything these days exceeds buying something purpose made and the varying opinions as to what this can be used for does not instil one with confidence before undertaking such a project.

I suppose my main driver for seeking to modify rather than sell and buy is that I am one of those strange people that have never sold a gun. I have gifted a few and scrapped a few but never sold anything and still have my first centrefire and air-rifle. If I could have transformed this without seeking to enter the buy/sell paradigm it would have been my preference; yes, I know this sounds ridiculous.

Thank you for replying to this thread.

 

[Michael70]

Wilful ignorance? Apologies if I missed something but I did not know that I was being asked anything.

This is a classic Mauser action that I am sure cocks on opening. I don't have the gun in front of me to confirm right now but I am sure that this is the case. In any event if it is different, I will let you know.

This is a moot point as the cost of modifying anything these days exceeds buying something purpose made and the varying opinions as to what this can be used for does not instil one with confidence before undertaking such a project.

I suppose my main driver for seeking to modify rather than sell and buy is that I am one of those strange people that have never sold a gun. I have gifted a few and scrapped a few but never sold anything and still have my first centrefire and air-rifle. If I could have transformed this without seeking to enter the buy/sell paradigm it would have been my preference; yes, I know this sounds ridiculous.

Thank you for replying to this thread.

PS. This aversion to selling anything also applies to other things in my life. I have gifted my last 5 motor vehicles rather than sell them. Yes, they were not probably worth much as I tend to keep my things for a long time, but I feel better within myself if I can help someone who is starting out or struggling to make ends meet with a useable if not somewhat older vehicle.

 

[Michael70]

I reiterate. Does your rifle cock on opening or closing? That will determine if it's a Model 93 or a Model 98. Others have listed the dimensional difference between large and small ring Model 98s.
I can relate to willful ignorance, it's what I do with cell phones, but in Firearmery it's hardly becoming.

To avoid any doubt, I went downstairs and opened the safe and can confirm that it is a Mauser action that cocks on opening. I suggest it is a LR Mauser of unknown lineage and will stay that way.

Thanks, Michael.