Rebore Israeli .308 Mauser To .338 Federal

[NKBJ]

Looking at maybe reboring to .338 Federal a Mauser refit by the Israelis to .308.
Anybody worked over the Israeli refits? Good points, bad points?

 

[citizenkane]

What condition is the mauser in? The Israeli mauser conversions are pretty collectible these days and it could be worth significantly less if you start changing stuff around.

If it's one of the ones that's came out of South America Id say go for it, if it's a nice Armscorp import from the 90's then no way.

 

[NKBJ]

As a rifle it's worth to me what it's worth.
Somebody on the east end of the Med up and changed it to 7.62 NATO.
It would be pretty nice changed to .338Fed if there's no hang ups I don't know about.
So, figured I'd ask the forum.

 

[citizenkane]

It is your rifle to do with as you please. I just hate to see what could be a $900 rifle have $300 spent on it to turn it into a $500 rifle.

On the technical side I confess I have no idea. The Mauser action is strong, I'm sure it could handle it. I did a quick Google search and found several guys pondering the same thing but didn't find any who have actually done it.

 

[223 Gunner]

Please don't destroy a nice piece of Military history. Maybe you should just list it for sale, and find some beater to destroy.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Please don't destroy a nice piece of Military history. Maybe you should just list it for sale, and find some beater to destroy.

I tend to agree with this. Finding a more common 8mm Mauser like a Turk or a Yugo might be a better (and less expensive) option for using as your base gun.

 

[indy1919a4]

I tend to agree with this. Finding a more common 8mm Mauser like a Turk or a Yugo might be a better (and less expensive) option for using as your base gun.

I think by converting from the 308 rifle you would not have to modify the chamber as much.. where as if you had the 8mm mauser there would be extra costs.. 308 & 338 are the same case length. Hell plus if the gun was 8mm why do it, you have more power with that round.. But I am an 8mm bigot..


I am intrigued, any idea what kind of cost one would look at to do such a thing????

 

[BogWalker]

Couldn't he rebarrel to .338 and save the .308 barrel? Best of both worlds as long as he doesn't chop the wood.

 

[30calmachinegunner]

I think by converting from the 308 rifle you would not have to modify the chamber as much.. where as if you had the 8mm mauser there would be extra costs.. 308 & 338 are the same case length. Hell plus if the gun was 8mm why do it, you have more power with that round.. But I am an 8mm bigot..


I am intrigued, any idea what kind of cost one would look at to do such a thing????

just how would he be able to shoot a .338 Dia. bullet out of a .308 Dia. barrel?

 

[IndyDave1776]

just how would he be able to shoot a .338 Dia. bullet out of a .308 Dia. barrel?

He appears to be planning to have the barrel bored out to .338. My guess is that regardless of whether he insists on doing this or acquires a different Mauser action of little historic significance, he will find it a more economical option to simply buy a .338 barrel chambered to his preferred cartridge.

 

[indy1919a4]

just how would he be able to shoot a .338 Dia. bullet out of a .308 Dia. barrel?

Oh the barrel will have to be changed.. I am sure the OP knows that.

 

[IndyDave1776]

Oh the barrel will have to be changed.. I am sure the OP knows that.

That's not what he said, although I am sure he will discover that the alternative is a more expensive alternative.

Looking at maybe reboring to .338 Federal a Mauser refit by the Israelis to .308.
Anybody worked over the Israeli refits? Good points, bad points?

 

[17 squirrel]

He appears to be planning to have the barrel bored out to .338. My guess is that regardless of whether he insists on doing this or acquires a different Mauser action of little historic significance, he will find it a more economical option to simply buy a .338 barrel chambered to his preferred cartridge.

A rebore will cost 250 to 400 dollars depending on if the neck will need to be reamed out after the rebore. I don't believe you can buy a barrel, have it installed and chambered in the new caliber for under 400 dollars. JMHO

 

[30calmachinegunner]

Who's going to bore out the barrel and re rifle it ? Was he just thinking about the chamber?

I think he posted this using that rifle to "stir the pot" or troll, maybe bragging about what he has

 

[indy1919a4]

Who's going to bore out the barrel and re rifle it ? Was he just thinking about the chamber?

I think he posted this using that rifle to "stir the pot" or troll, maybe bragging about what he has

Well that may be true, but perhaps he was simply using the word rebore in a generic sense, as is needs a new bore by replacing the barrel to boring out the barrel..

As for if OP was bragging, crap, he could just post a photo if the gun and bragged that way.. And God knows the k98 Izzy muser is one heck of a gun and I love them dearly but they are hardly sacrosanct, and have seen a few that could use a new barrel no matter what the caliber.

But it would be nice if OP came back with more details.. No matter what , it sounds like a heck of a project.. Perhaps not financially practical... But heck some of the coolest projects I have seen were not the most prudent.