1916 Spanish Mauser Ammunition

johnwilliamson062 · February 9, 2009, 06:00 PM

So I got one of these. Rumer has it this is one of those few guns shooting 308 out of would be a bad idea. As much as I don't really believer that I also realize my eye is directly behind the bolt.
What does everyone think?
I may be buying a few more of these. Pick a few I like and use the rest to trade up.

Hawg Haggen · February 9, 2009, 06:53 PM

I had one and factory loaded .308 is fine just don't go any hotter. The steel in these isn't heat treated. Hot loads after a time will stretch the receiver. It won't blow up or spit the bolt back in your face but once it starts to stretch it will get increasingly hard to open the bolt.

johnwilliamson062 · February 9, 2009, 07:03 PM

I like the feel of this a lot more than the other military bolts I have. Much better balance and easy pointing.

Hawg Haggen · February 9, 2009, 07:20 PM

I don't care for the cock on closing but I've got a Bubba'd Spanish 7MM I use for a truck gun. Does a good job.

**James K** · February 9, 2009, 11:35 PM

Well, the 7x57 it was designed for runs around 45,000 psi; the .308 Winchester can go as high as 62,000 psi. Your decision. No, it probably won't "blow up", but it won't last long on a steady diet of .308 factory loads.

Also, there is a question about how some of those rifles were converted. Some were re-barrelled, but others were rebored and re-rifled, then the chamber drilled out and a chamber sleeve installed. I have posted a picture of such a conversion at

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...5&d=1232476324.

Jim

johnwilliamson062 · February 10, 2009, 11:29 AM

that is ugly. Will have to look at mine to see if it has the chamber sleeve deal.

HankC1 · February 10, 2009, 08:32 PM

Jim, I believe the picture you posted is 1895 Chilean Mauser conversion not Spanish Mauser. Kind of misleading and fuel the rumor.

http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html

This website talks about 1916 conversion and demostrate how it is done:
http://www.geocities.com/fritz125541/Unmarked1916

There is also rumors that this rifle is converted for 7.62CETME round, not 7.62NATO. The website master talks about a Spanish manual that he has showing it is converted to shoot 7.62CETME or 7.62NATO. I found a picture of the 1967 Spanish manual somewhere on the internet but can not locate it anymore, here is the picture I saved on my harddrive. It clearly says 7.62NATO on the cover.

This article shows 1916 is capable to handle 7.62 load:

http://www.geocities.com/fritz125541/Gammo

I would think it is safe enough to shoot 7.62NATO but always check headspace to monitor wear, it is a 100 year old rifle anyway.

February 9, 2009, 06:00 PM	#1
johnwilliamson062 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 6,107	1916 Spanish Mauser Ammunition So I got one of these. Rumer has it this is one of those few guns shooting 308 out of would be a bad idea. As much as I don't really believer that I also realize my eye is directly behind the bolt. What does everyone think? I may be buying a few more of these. Pick a few I like and use the rest to trade up. __________________ $0 of an NRA membership goes to legislative action or court battles. Not a dime. Only money contributed to the NRA-ILA or NRA-PVF. Of course, you could just donate to the Second Amendment Foundation I was feeling pretty good, then I looked around and realized I am not swimming or on fire.

February 9, 2009, 06:53 PM	#2
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,238	I had one and factory loaded .308 is fine just don't go any hotter. The steel in these isn't heat treated. Hot loads after a time will stretch the receiver. It won't blow up or spit the bolt back in your face but once it starts to stretch it will get increasingly hard to open the bolt. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

February 9, 2009, 07:03 PM	#3
johnwilliamson062 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 6,107	I like the feel of this a lot more than the other military bolts I have. Much better balance and easy pointing. __________________ $0 of an NRA membership goes to legislative action or court battles. Not a dime. Only money contributed to the NRA-ILA or NRA-PVF. Of course, you could just donate to the Second Amendment Foundation I was feeling pretty good, then I looked around and realized I am not swimming or on fire.

February 9, 2009, 07:20 PM	#4
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,238	I don't care for the cock on closing but I've got a Bubba'd Spanish 7MM I use for a truck gun. Does a good job. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

February 9, 2009, 11:35 PM	#5
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,418	Well, the 7x57 it was designed for runs around 45,000 psi; the .308 Winchester can go as high as 62,000 psi. Your decision. No, it probably won't "blow up", but it won't last long on a steady diet of .308 factory loads. Also, there is a question about how some of those rifles were converted. Some were re-barrelled, but others were rebored and re-rifled, then the chamber drilled out and a chamber sleeve installed. I have posted a picture of such a conversion at http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...5&d=1232476324. Jim __________________ Jim K

February 10, 2009, 11:29 AM	#6
johnwilliamson062 Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 6,107	that is ugly. Will have to look at mine to see if it has the chamber sleeve deal. __________________ $0 of an NRA membership goes to legislative action or court battles. Not a dime. Only money contributed to the NRA-ILA or NRA-PVF. Of course, you could just donate to the Second Amendment Foundation I was feeling pretty good, then I looked around and realized I am not swimming or on fire.

February 10, 2009, 08:32 PM	#7
HankC1 Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2005 Posts: 270	Jim, I believe the picture you posted is 1895 Chilean Mauser conversion not Spanish Mauser. Kind of misleading and fuel the rumor. http://dutchman.rebooty.com/1895Chile.html This website talks about 1916 conversion and demostrate how it is done: http://www.geocities.com/fritz125541/Unmarked1916 There is also rumors that this rifle is converted for 7.62CETME round, not 7.62NATO. The website master talks about a Spanish manual that he has showing it is converted to shoot 7.62CETME or 7.62NATO. I found a picture of the 1967 Spanish manual somewhere on the internet but can not locate it anymore, here is the picture I saved on my harddrive. It clearly says 7.62NATO on the cover. This article shows 1916 is capable to handle 7.62 load: http://www.geocities.com/fritz125541/Gammo I would think it is safe enough to shoot 7.62NATO but always check headspace to monitor wear, it is a 100 year old rifle anyway. Last edited by HankC1; February 10, 2009 at 09:18 PM.