Anyone have an idea why my Mauser is so inaccurate?

FirstFreedom · March 1, 2005, 03:27 PM

Got a surplus model 08/.30 Brazilian Mauser, cal .30-'06. Took it and some Hornady new factory 180 gr soft points to the range. Not on the paper at 100 yards. Hmmm. Move to 50 yds. Still not on paper, so I put the sights on the bulleye and eyeball it by looking down the barrel. Looks like it would hit low left. So I drift the front blade as far as it would go to the left - any more and it would blend with the guard/ear on the left side, and not be a distinct blade in the sight picture. Then move the rear blade from 200 to 100. Sure enough, now I hit the paper - that is, I hit the paper ONCE out of the next seven shots, and that one shot was nearly off the paper, about 5-6 inches low and still about 10-12 inches left, at 50 yards. What the heck? One gunny friend suggested it might be chambered in 8 mauser, but no, it's marked "08/.30". Any ideas on why so off-target AND inaccurate? Doesn't look like the rear is windage-adjustable, and the front won't go any further. Suggestions on what to do? I understand why it's low at 50, but the windage problem is unacceptable for any actual use, such as hunting. Thanks.

yekimak · March 1, 2005, 04:37 PM

can you see down the bore and does it look straight?

is the action tightened into the stock?

What does the bore look like? Rough, smooth, etc? What are the cases looking like? How used is it?

I have seen a few guns with lead fouling that was not totally visable, cheaper ammo has exposed lead bases and can leave deposits that are hard to remove. I used a kleenbore lead removing cloth on an old savage and had good luck with it afterwards (I had spent a month soaking it in hoppes copper remover and was still getting black patches every night).

Have it checked and made sure that is is the correct caliber, I think there are a few 8mm.06 guns running around that use a .30-06 case and an 8mm bullet.

good luck

FirstFreedom · March 1, 2005, 05:30 PM

K, I'll clean it good, check it, and report back. The bore looks a little dark indeed. I considered that a possibility (re-chambering), but thought it unlikely anyone would do that since (a) .30-'06 would more likely be the GOAL cartridge for rechambering milsurps to, along with .308, not the SOURCE chambering, typically, and (b) if it IS in fact rechambered to either 8mm-06 or 8mm mauser, that would require a barrel change, and why again would anyone do that when .30-'06 is so prolific/cheap/popular/useful? Weird. I may have to have the chamber cast - that's about $35 but worth it if there's any doubt.

jefnvk · March 1, 2005, 06:29 PM

Any possibility it just doesn't like the ammo? Or, that the front or back sight is maybe bent/twisted?

yekimak · March 1, 2005, 06:37 PM

take a .30 cal bullet, and stick the pointy end into the muzzle (not pound it in) 8mm is just a shade larger than .30, but you might get an idea from that. for rifling to work, the bullet must seat into the grooves.

there would be alot of blow by around the bullet, and velocity would be low I assume.

Did any of the case necks crack, etc? how do they compare to unfired brass?

LAK · March 2, 2005, 06:19 AM

Once you've checked everything else mentioned above closely inspect the muzzle crown, and inspect the stock bedding and check for fit. If the wood is oil-soaked and rotten underneath it may need cleaning out and glass/epoxy bedding.

If things improve some but not greatly try some other ammo of varying bullet weights.

2002gti · March 2, 2005, 09:56 AM

could just be a shot out barrel too, these things happen on them old guns

DnPRK · March 2, 2005, 11:25 AM

I think the 08 stands for 1908, the model year of the rifle, not 8mm.

Inability to hit point of aim could be because of:
1. bent barrel - already mentioned
2. damaged muzzle - already mentioned
3. bullet not stabilized (bullet flying sideways don't travel in a straight line). Due to damaged rifling or bullets undersized to bore diameter.
4. Canted front sight base or front and rear sights were installed in a misaligned condition.

Check eBay and you might be able to find a good replacement barrel for a reasonable price.

March 1, 2005, 03:27 PM	#1
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Anyone have an idea why my Mauser is so inaccurate? Got a surplus model 08/.30 Brazilian Mauser, cal .30-'06. Took it and some Hornady new factory 180 gr soft points to the range. Not on the paper at 100 yards. Hmmm. Move to 50 yds. Still not on paper, so I put the sights on the bulleye and eyeball it by looking down the barrel. Looks like it would hit low left. So I drift the front blade as far as it would go to the left - any more and it would blend with the guard/ear on the left side, and not be a distinct blade in the sight picture. Then move the rear blade from 200 to 100. Sure enough, now I hit the paper - that is, I hit the paper ONCE out of the next seven shots, and that one shot was nearly off the paper, about 5-6 inches low and still about 10-12 inches left, at 50 yards. What the heck? One gunny friend suggested it might be chambered in 8 mauser, but no, it's marked "08/.30". Any ideas on why so off-target AND inaccurate? Doesn't look like the rear is windage-adjustable, and the front won't go any further. Suggestions on what to do? I understand why it's low at 50, but the windage problem is unacceptable for any actual use, such as hunting. Thanks.

March 1, 2005, 04:37 PM	#2
yekimak Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 198	can you see down the bore and does it look straight? is the action tightened into the stock? What does the bore look like? Rough, smooth, etc? What are the cases looking like? How used is it? I have seen a few guns with lead fouling that was not totally visable, cheaper ammo has exposed lead bases and can leave deposits that are hard to remove. I used a kleenbore lead removing cloth on an old savage and had good luck with it afterwards (I had spent a month soaking it in hoppes copper remover and was still getting black patches every night). Have it checked and made sure that is is the correct caliber, I think there are a few 8mm.06 guns running around that use a .30-06 case and an 8mm bullet. good luck __________________ .-.-.-Why? Because I can.-.-.-

March 1, 2005, 06:37 PM	#5
yekimak Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 198	take a .30 cal bullet, and stick the pointy end into the muzzle (not pound it in) 8mm is just a shade larger than .30, but you might get an idea from that. for rifling to work, the bullet must seat into the grooves. there would be alot of blow by around the bullet, and velocity would be low I assume. Did any of the case necks crack, etc? how do they compare to unfired brass? __________________ .-.-.-Why? Because I can.-.-.-

March 2, 2005, 09:56 AM	#7
2002gti Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Location: FIND ME Posts: 1,125	could just be a shot out barrel too, these things happen on them old guns __________________ HEE with the most toys dies happiest

March 1, 2005, 05:30 PM	#3
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	K, I'll clean it good, check it, and report back. The bore looks a little dark indeed. I considered that a possibility (re-chambering), but thought it unlikely anyone would do that since (a) .30-'06 would more likely be the GOAL cartridge for rechambering milsurps to, along with .308, not the SOURCE chambering, typically, and (b) if it IS in fact rechambered to either 8mm-06 or 8mm mauser, that would require a barrel change, and why again would anyone do that when .30-'06 is so prolific/cheap/popular/useful? Weird. I may have to have the chamber cast - that's about $35 but worth it if there's any doubt.

March 1, 2005, 06:29 PM	#4
jefnvk Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2004 Location: MI Tech Posts: 1,791	Any possibility it just doesn't like the ammo? Or, that the front or back sight is maybe bent/twisted?

March 2, 2005, 06:19 AM	#6
LAK Junior member Join Date: May 14, 2002 Posts: 2,251	Once you've checked everything else mentioned above closely inspect the muzzle crown, and inspect the stock bedding and check for fit. If the wood is oil-soaked and rotten underneath it may need cleaning out and glass/epoxy bedding. If things improve some but not greatly try some other ammo of varying bullet weights.

March 2, 2005, 11:25 AM	#8
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	I think the 08 stands for 1908, the model year of the rifle, not 8mm. Inability to hit point of aim could be because of: 1. bent barrel - already mentioned 2. damaged muzzle - already mentioned 3. bullet not stabilized (bullet flying sideways don't travel in a straight line). Due to damaged rifling or bullets undersized to bore diameter. 4. Canted front sight base or front and rear sights were installed in a misaligned condition. Check eBay and you might be able to find a good replacement barrel for a reasonable price.