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Hi all
My Mauser has turned out to be a bit of an issue, was apparently used for re-enactment and either not cleaned or badly cleaned, and I’m pretty sure it needs a new barrel.

Anyone have a clue what to do in this situation?

Steve

Try using cast bullets. Slug the bore first.

Cast bullets over factory?
Not familiar with “slug the bore” either!

Or, have it rebarrelled

Sim G wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:08 pm Or, have it rebarrelled

Any recommendations as to where?

There is a place here in the UK that makes new barrels for K98's and they make a "sleeve" from the old barrel shank that fits over the shank of the new barrel so original markings are retained but I can't think for the life of me where it was......someone on here sent me a link when I was considering a barrel for an Imperial Mosin.

I would say it was either Ovenpaa or Blighty.......

Cast bullets could be worth a try as they can be sized to suit your bore diameter, I have two Imperial Mosins both of which are over 100 years old and both shoot as well as a modern rifle with cast bullet handloads.

Slugging the bore means using a piece of lead, a 00 buckshot ball or similar works pretty well, and tapping it down the bore with suitable wooden dowels and a soft mallet and then measuring it to see what the actual diameter of your bore is.That will tell you what diameter of bullet will work best.

Are you sure the barrel doesn't need a really good scrub?.The barrel on my 1897 Tula M91 was like a sewer pipe when I got it and it took a good few hours to get it somewhere near, then it got shot so the barrel was quite hot and cleaned again whilst hot, shot again and cleaned again and now the rifling is in very good condition for a rifle of its age and I've seen much newer bores in a far worse state.

steve853 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:29 pm

Sim G wrote: ↑Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:08 pm Or, have it rebarrelled

Any recommendations as to where?

Speak to Kirk at By Sword and Musket.

https://www.byswordandmusket.co.uk/

Sim.....that's the place I was on about

Sim G wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:17 am [quote=steve853 post_id=425599 time=<a href="tel:1635287380">1635287380</a> user_id=5696]
[quote="Sim G" post_id=425598 time=<a href="tel:1635286094">1635286094</a> user_id=75]
Or, have it rebarrelled

Any recommendations as to where?
[/quote]


Speak to Kirk at By Sword and Musket.

https://www.byswordandmusket.co.uk/
[/quote]
Thanks guys I’ll give them a shout!

By Sword & Musket is the very much the place to contact if you want to preserve the original markings from a historical point of view.

If that isn't any issue for you (because of the cost or interest in preserving the markings) then any decent gunsmith that knows the K98 can do it for you, which will be a cheaper option.