Rifle Grease

Posted June 12, 2010 By admin

Rifle Grease
1891 Argentine Mauser Carbine?

Does anyone know if there is an inexpensive method to change this rifle to a more commonly available caliber? Or should I just take it apart, grease it, and store it in the closet? I am currently shooting ammo that costs $1.00 - $1.20 per round. Caliber is 7.65 x 53

The "Mauser Modelo Argentino 1891" was one of the most beautiful of the early Mauser rifles to come out of Germany in the late 19th century. As such, many collectors (such as myself!) would be gladly willing to trade you a rifle in a more common "shooting" caliber for it.

These were sold as surplus and distrubuted throughout the US (if I'm not mistaken, Sears sold them in their catalog for years for like $49).

Many were subjected to the exact type of conversion you are talking about, having the barrel changed, scope mounts drilled and tapped and stocks replaced. As a result, original versions have become much more hard to find and desirable in recent years to Mauser collectors. I routinely scour the pawnshops and gun shows for old Mausers and many more have been butchered....excuse me, "Sporterized" than those that were not.

To answer your question, the barrel can be changed and headspaced by a qualified gunsmith. This may or may not fit nicely into your stock, so a stock change would be in order.

If your rifle is original in barrel and caliber then I'm optimistic that you may have an original or close to it, as any American hunter would have changed calibers from the hard-to-find 7.65x53mm Mauser.

Please let me persuade you to consider keeping an historic relic intact.

My advice: Either (1) keep it as is or (2) trade for a rifle in a more shooter-friendly caliber or (3) start reloading the 7.65x53mm Mauser.

Of course, you can have a professional change the barrel and have it headspaced, which is going to cost you $200+ on a good day.

Or you could keep it intact and get a nice Mauser in 7mm, a British .303 Enfield, a German K98 or many other Mausers in 8mm, or a Russian Mosin Nagant....all with readily available and some even cheap ammo. I really think this is the best option......hey, I just gave you an excuse to get a new gun!!!!