Another Travesty!

[Calfed]

And here are both the Persian and Argentine in match shooting trim...

[Calfed]

If the Argentine shoots well, I 'm considering converting the Argentine to a CMP vintage sniper match-legal trim by replacing the scope mounts with reproduction turret mounts and the Bushnell scope with a Weaver K4. That particular rifle is not listed specifically in the rules, but it would seem to meet the criteria for inclusion in the match. The Weaver K4 scope seems to be the overall match legal replacement scope for the Zeiss scope used on many Mauser sniper rifles.

Here is a pic of the original '09 Argentine sniper rifle, first introduced in the late 1920's.



The Persian would be a little trickier to use in the CMP match. As far as I know, the Iranians never had a sniper version of the 98/29. However, the 98/29 is very similar to the GEW 98 and I'm wondering if it could run as a GEW 98 with the proper repro scope mount and a Weaver K4.

Alternatively, the vintage sniper rules refer to a "7.92mm VZ 24, 24” or 30” barrels" rifle under the "Yugoslavian and Czechoslavakia" heading. The only Czech Mauser rifles I'm familiar with that have a 30" barrels are the 98/22 and the Persian 98/29. I've posted on the CMP forum as to whether anyone over there is familiar with either of these rifles competing in the CMP vintage sniper match and am awaiting any replies.

Anyone familiar with either of these rifles being used in the CMP vintage sniper matches, with appropriate glass, of course?

[Shooter5]

That is a good question: did Iran put any scopes on their 98/29s? I wonder what the Mauser reference books say?
Have you done any trigger work on either of those rifles?

[Calfed]

I've checked Ball's MMRotW and can find no information that Iran ever scoped any of their Mausers, although it is possible.

No trigger work on either rifle. The Persian has a "draggy" first stage, but grisp second stage. The prior owner of the Argentine put a trigger shoe on it, and the first and second stage are fantastic. It is possible he worked the trigger over.

[Calfed]

I got to the range for a quick session. I got a chance to fire a few of my rifles, including the scoped Argentine. I didn't have any time to reload for the 7.65 x 53, so I shot 5 Prvi Partizan 174 gr's and 5 Norma 150 gr's at 100 yards off a sandbag front rest. The Argentine liked the Normas pretty well...



Was so-so with the Prvi...



I think I can do better with some reloads.

[Calfed]

I also brought the Persian Mauser and had 4 leftover reloads from the last match. Also at 100 yards...



I think that the Argentine, with a good load, will keep up with the Persian

[Shooter5]

I've checked Ball's MMRotW and can find no information that Iran ever scoped any of their Mausers, although it is possible.

No trigger work on either rifle. The Persian has a "draggy" first stage, but grisp second stage. The prior owner of the Argentine put a trigger shoe on it, and the first and second stage are fantastic. It is possible he worked the trigger over.

I checked my 4th ed as well and couldn't find any mention of it. Pre-2003 time frame, Scopes in that region were rare; never saw any on the old rifles. The Warsaw Pact scopes for the SVD were the only others scene. Since then, lots of Chinese optics have flooded the market but still haven't seen any on the old bolt actions, only modern rifles like a Steyr, etc.
One issue I have with the reference in Ball is the sentence structure on page 276 for the Model 49.
"Manufactured by the Iranians in the state rifle factory set up by the Czechs in Mosalsalsasi,..."
This sentence seems to imply "Mosalsalsasi" is a city but it is not: that word means 'machine-gun factory' and it is in downtown Tehran.

[Calfed]

I got to the range today and shot a few handloads through the scoped Argy...

174 gr .311 SMK's @ 100 yards...5 rounds with varying loads of 4320







It looks like this one will keep up with the Persian.

[Shooter5]

The key to winning is grouping and since you can group no wonder you clean up!
It helps when your rifle/ammo assist. Real good for arms made in another era.

[Calfed]

The Argentine definitely liked the 43.5 gr load of IMR 4320.

I think the loads in many reloading manuals for the Mauser cartridges are conservative because of the many different actions (small ring, large ring, GEW 88) that the Mauser cartridges are chambered in. With the '09 Argentine and the 98/29 Persian, I feel comfortable pushing the upper limits because of the strength of the large ring actions.

[Shooter5]

The literature seems to indicate both small and large ring are extremely strong. The 8mm can be loaded quite potent but the US market dials it down a lot.

[Calfed]

You are right, th eUS commercial 8x57 loads are wimpy.

My reloads are quite a bit hotter than US commercial and I get no signs of pressure with either the Argentine or the Persian load.

[Calfed]

I shot the Argentine at the vintage military rifle silhouette match for the first time last Saturday. It did OK--31/40. I need to shoot it a little more and possibly refine the load.

[Shooter5]

You're going to have to open up another thread with a different title; there is no travesty associated with the way these rifles are shooting!

[Calfed]

Here are the results of the match last weekend. There was some pretty good shooting going on there. I was shooting my new scoped Argentine 1909 for the first time in the match and scored a 31. I believe the old girl can do better with a little more practice.




The Swiss did respectably, but were bested by the Swedish Mauser shooters. I believe that this is due, at least in part, to sights that are allowed on the Swedish Mauser in the match that were not actually "as issued" sights.