Bubba'd Argentine mauser

[Calfed]

I got a Bubba'd 09 Argentine Mauser last month at an on-line auction. Thought I might be able to "re-mil" it, based on the auction pics and description. I thought it might need just a stock and furniture (which I have) and a straight bolt handle. Alas, such is not the case...barrel cut about 4", rechambered to 30.06. I've got a full length 09 barrel from Numerich..but gunsmithing will add significantly to the cost.

[4F4Nam]

Too bad. Looks like it was a nice 1909. Nice wood.

Ed

[Calfed]

I also got a sported No4 Enfield that will only need the forewood and handguards and 4 Swiss rifles that are still in "military trim"

It irks me that someone cut up a nice Argentine Mauser...all matching and in great shape.

[Tuna]

Well it most likely won't shoot very well to start with. If the barrel is original to the rifle then it was a 7.65 which is about .312 diameter bullet while the 30-06 is a standard .308 and quite a bit smaller. Your best bet as you already have all the parts is to restore it with the new barrel as what you have now isn't worth very much.

[dave]

Never a good idea to re-mi, restore a sportered military. Especially in this case, it was rechambered but still has the 7.65 barrel, accuracy will not be the best. Those conversions were done by importers not the Argintines so its not original anyway!

[spanner1751]

Just reload the 30-06 with .311/.312 bullets. I inherited a sporterized 7.7 Arisaka converted to .308 Win (barrel set back and re-chambered) from my Dad and I just used .311/.312 bullets. It shot very accurately. Recommend you slug the bore to determine bore size first.

[Calfed]

This one's barrel is about 25.5". It appears to have been cut at the second step and recrowned. It definitely started life as a 7.65 barrel...



That is on the side of the barrel, about halfway down from the muzzle.

[BudT]

I know what I would do with this 09 if I had it but your probably not interested.

[Calfed]

I know what I would do with this 09 if I had it but your probably not interested.

Tease!

[kcw]

Just reload the 30-06 with .311/.312 bullets. I inherited a sporterized 7.7 Arisaka converted to .308 Win (barrel set back and re-chambered) from my Dad and I just used .311/.312 bullets. It shot very accurately. Recommend you slug the bore to determine bore size first.

Some say that sticking a .311/.312 bullet into an 06' case in the 1909 conversion isn't safe, but that's exactly what my dad and did with the 1909 that we got from K-Mart in 1969. I still have it, and the Lee Loader that we bought at the time. Probably put a 1000 rounds through it anyway with no issues. Of course we only developed the modest loads that you can get with the single scoop that comes with the Lee Loader. VERY accurate.

[spanner1751]

Some say that sticking a .311/.312 bullet into an 06' case in the 1909 conversion isn't safe

I could see that, if the chamber neck is tight and you're using military brass. I used commercial brass in the Arisaka with no problems.
If the round with the .311/.312 bullet chambers easily, I would say no problem. If you have to force the round into the chamber, then I would not fire those rounds.

[BudT]

No serious. If the headspace is good and the barrel is good then I would take a cast of the chamber to make sure it has a large enough neck to reload for it. A 7.65X06 would be a good cartridge. All you need to do to a 30-06 sizer die is change the expander ball and load it with a .310-.311 or .312 slug and as they say "twang away frogie". A 7.65 Arg. is a dam fine hunting cartridge and this 7.65X06 would be even better using the new Barns 150 gr. tripple shock slugs. Just my opinion mind you and probably unwanted at that.

[Calfed]

Got to the range today and shot some of my recent acquisitions, including the 31.06 Argy. I was shooting factory Federal 150 and 180 Power Shok's. Rifle seemed to like both of them. But it was printing them high. I shot these 4 shot groups at 50 yards (they look like about 3 MOA). The hits were very high..I had to take a 6 o'clock hold on the small bottom target and hit the upper target. At 100 yards the rounds were going right over the target backer..

150 grain Federal PS's @ 50 yards:



180 grain PS's @ 50 yards


Better than I expected, shooting .308 bullets thru a 7.65 barrel.

I've always had trouble with the Mauser inverted triangular sights, so not sure how much of the group dispersion I can blame on the sights.

[BudT]

needs a tall front sight that you can work down to a 100 yard setting. Gun Parts used to sell them but I dont know anymore.

[kcw]

needs a tall front sight that you can work down to a 100 yard setting. Gun Parts used to sell them but I dont know anymore.

Brownell's is offering two models of "taller" replacement front sights. One is advertized for the Swed, but is supposedly adaptable to 98K's , ect. ($15). And then there is a VERY utilitarian looking product that's available in two height offerings @ $9 ea. Both designs are "file to fit" @ your desired range.