Mauser caliber swap

frtyfivsevnty · September 10, 2006, 18:51

Gunparts Corp has a .308 Norwegian barrel advertised for 98 Mauser's.Is there anything else needed to convert to .308 from 8mm other than mag follower?

whirlibird · September 10, 2006, 21:19

It's not so much the follower, as a .308 will feed and function through a standard magazine.
The follower and a rear spacer are generally used to restrict OAL and to keep the cartridges to the front of the magazine for feed reliability. It also makes it harder to short stroke the 98 with a short cartridge.

frtyfivsevnty · September 11, 2006, 08:03

Thanks.

TideWater 41009 · September 11, 2006, 22:28

I have re-barreled many Mausers from 8x57 to .308 W. I never changed followers or modified the magazines in any way, and all the rifles have functioned 100%.

FWIW, YMMV.

mrbonecrusher · September 12, 2006, 04:01

A spacer block at either the rear or front of the mag well is a nice touch and can help prevent recoil induced cartridge misalignment problems in the mag well. The 8mm is 57mm long while the 308/7.62 is 51mm so you're only looking at 6mm or approximately 1/4". Perhaps it really isn't necessary but old habits die hard.

**Hebrew Battle Rifle** · September 13, 2006, 01:54

Aren't those barrels short chambered?

Clark · September 17, 2006, 00:31

I have converted a few 98s to .308.
Handloaded .308 can't keep up with handloaded 8x57mm.

william013 · September 18, 2006, 22:13

Did the extractor need modification? Going from a rimmed cart. to rimless seems to me to be quite a jump.

mribley · September 18, 2006, 22:37

For those short chambers.
You can rent chambering reamers from White Rock Tool & Die.
816-454-0478 Cost about $30.00

whirlibird · September 19, 2006, 19:58

What, huh?

Going from rimmed to rimless? Both .308 and 8mm are rimless. Both share the same rim size and head dimensions. With monor variations in extractor grooves of course between manufacturers.

8mm Mauser is the parent case. .30-03 came out of it, then was modified to the .30-06. The .308 was spawned from the .30-06.

The 8mm Mauser is the Granddaddy of 'em all.

william013 · September 19, 2006, 20:15

OOPS! My mistake.

September 10, 2006, 18:51	#1
frtyfivsevnty Registered FALaholic #: 6367 Join Date: May 2002 Location: ny Posts: 2,250	Mauser caliber swap Gunparts Corp has a .308 Norwegian barrel advertised for 98 Mauser's.Is there anything else needed to convert to .308 from 8mm other than mag follower? __________________ "I'd like to buy your deadliest gun please."-Homer Simpson

September 10, 2006, 21:19	#2
whirlibird Registered FALaholic #: 5039 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Plains of Colorado Posts: 894	It's not so much the follower, as a .308 will feed and function through a standard magazine. The follower and a rear spacer are generally used to restrict OAL and to keep the cartridges to the front of the magazine for feed reliability. It also makes it harder to short stroke the 98 with a short cartridge. __________________ Don't leave til tomorrow, that which you can gleefully blast into inexistence now.

September 11, 2006, 08:03	#3
frtyfivsevnty Registered FALaholic #: 6367 Join Date: May 2002 Location: ny Posts: 2,250	Thanks. __________________ "I'd like to buy your deadliest gun please."-Homer Simpson

September 12, 2006, 04:01	#5
mrbonecrusher Registered FALaholic #: 6604 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pocatello, Idaho Posts: 815	A spacer block at either the rear or front of the mag well is a nice touch and can help prevent recoil induced cartridge misalignment problems in the mag well. The 8mm is 57mm long while the 308/7.62 is 51mm so you're only looking at 6mm or approximately 1/4". Perhaps it really isn't necessary but old habits die hard. __________________ Ships boarded, plundered and sunk by appointment only. Custom pirate attacks available.

September 13, 2006, 01:54	#6
Hebrew Battle Rifle Horses Ass Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 5777 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Arkansas Posts: 6,812	Aren't those barrels short chambered? __________________ THANK YOU JESUS

September 11, 2006, 22:28	#4
TideWater 41009 Registered FALaholic #: 1789 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 1,364	I have re-barreled many Mausers from 8x57 to .308 W. I never changed followers or modified the magazines in any way, and all the rifles have functioned 100%. FWIW, YMMV.

September 17, 2006, 00:31	#7
Clark Registered FALaholic #: 1213 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 750	I have converted a few 98s to .308. Handloaded .308 can't keep up with handloaded 8x57mm. __________________ No technical content or wit in your rude post... no response from me....I'll give the last word to a turd.

September 18, 2006, 22:13	#8
william013 Registered FALaholic #: 20834 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: houston,tx Posts: 407	Did the extractor need modification? Going from a rimmed cart. to rimless seems to me to be quite a jump.

September 18, 2006, 22:37	#9
mribley Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 10860 Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 165	For those short chambers. You can rent chambering reamers from White Rock Tool & Die. 816-454-0478 Cost about $30.00

September 19, 2006, 19:58	#10
whirlibird Registered FALaholic #: 5039 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Plains of Colorado Posts: 894	What, huh? Going from rimmed to rimless? Both .308 and 8mm are rimless. Both share the same rim size and head dimensions. With monor variations in extractor grooves of course between manufacturers. 8mm Mauser is the parent case. .30-03 came out of it, then was modified to the .30-06. The .308 was spawned from the .30-06. The 8mm Mauser is the Granddaddy of 'em all. __________________ Don't leave til tomorrow, that which you can gleefully blast into inexistence now.

September 19, 2006, 20:15	#11
william013 Registered FALaholic #: 20834 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: houston,tx Posts: 407	OOPS! My mistake.

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