How easy would it be to rebarrel a Mauser for .30/06

[RMTactical]

I have a turkish mauser, very long and heavy. It serves no practical purpose and I almost never shoot it because it's size and I don't like dealing with the corrosive ammo.

I'd like to make it more practical, how hard would it be to rebarrel my turkish mauser?

I like to work on guns and enjoy a project. Plus, I already have a Rem700 in 30/06.

I realize some of you may think I am butchering this gun, but it really is the dog of the mauser world and I would really like it to be more practical...

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=213702

Also, does anyone know where I could buy a curved bolt handle? Would it work in my turkish action?

Feel free to critisize my decsion as long as you leave some helpful input. ;f

[Kentuckian]

If it's just a size issue, you could cut down the existing barrel and get a different stock.

If it's an ammo issue....it's very easy to clean up after shooting corrosive ammo. Reloading your own is an option as well.

If you just don't like the caliber at all, then I suppose rebarreling is what you'll have to do. You could also have it rechambered to 8mm-06 and keep the existing barrel, but then you'll definitely be reloading for it.

Personally though.....I'd keep it as is. ;)

[kf4zra]

i have a columbian mauser made by FN, it was converted in the 50's to 30-06. they had to drill out part of the receiver ring to make the longer 30-06 rounds fit.

[RMTactical]

Originally posted by kf4zra
i have a columbian mauser made by FN, it was converted in the 50's to 30-06. they had to drill out part of the receiver ring to make the longer 30-06 rounds fit.

Good to know.

I will probably keep it as is, but I've said that 100's of times and I keep thinking that changing the caliber and shortening the barrel is what I'd want...

But at the least, I think I want to shorten the barrel eventually. It'd probably be pretty easy to put a new front sight on there, don't you think?

Ah hell, maybe I'll just sell it and buy a Yugo...

[thisaway]

There may also be a problem with the bolt as the 8mm and .30-06 have different case head diameters (IIRC).

[brentwal]

Originally posted by thisaway
There may also be a problem with the bolt as the 8mm and .30-06 have different case head diameters (IIRC).

Nope, same - same.

.473" diameters

[RMTactical]

Originally posted by brentwal
Nope, same - same.

.473" diameters

Yeah, I had thought so, but he had me second guessing...

Thanks. :)

[cadet3]

You can pull the action out and send the whole thing to ER Shaw and have it rebarreled. www.ershawbarrels.com Have a pretty quick turn around from what I have heard as well.

[NoGo]

Check over at Surplus Rifle.com (http://www.surplusrifle.com/index.asp). They have a surplus Mauser to Sporter article and references. Midway used to sell a bunch of M98 conversion barrels, stocks and bolt handles (Weld on?).

Interesting project, even though it may end up costing more than starting out with a Rem 700 action. Still, a vintage Mauser conversion to well finished Sporter is so much more beautiful than the modern offerings.

[criticalbass]

No expert here, but I read someplace that the Turkish Mausers are likely to have internal dimensions (barrel threads I think, perhaps other stuff) which are not always the same and that working on them can be a crapshoot. I think it was in a Shotgun News feature article maybe two years ago. CB