Beautiful day at the range today. 74 degrees, moderate humidity, and a good breeze; but as the range is in a hollow not much got to the shooters.
Interwar 1930's contestants:
1. 1935 Mauser Karabiner 98k 8mm ‘S/42G’ (Mauser/Obendorf) #6600c, Restored Russian capture and rework. 32 Waffenamts remain from Mauser/Obendorf. Three original matching numbers on action; barrel, receiver, and front sight. Bolt is a completely matching WaA63 Obendorf assembly (Weimar, 556k). Stock is a walnut (1936) Mauser/Obendorf, Norwegian capture stock refinished with Tung oil, and pre-war light pattern with Weimar eagles and flat butt plate. Eleven matching numbers on stock: forearm, hand guard, butt plate, upper and lower bands, floor plate, trigger guard, follower, guard screws, and bayonet lug, #965f. Reproduction sling, and original unmarked 10.5” cleaning rod. Barrel bright, with slightly rough grooves and counter-bored about 2cm, but no pitting; very good. Import marked, TGI, Knox, TN.
2. 1931 M1903 U.S. Springfield .306. Originally an unfinished 1919 Rock Island receiver, #423882. This is a post production assembly variant, as it was completed and barreled at Springfield armory (8/1931), with original finish Springfield transitional Semi-C stock, original and reproduction slings. Parkerized finish about 95% turning brown. Four well marked cartouches (AA1, AA, S, and P). Barrel bright, flawless, excellent. Non import.
I just got the Springfield back from the gunsmith. I have had it for a couple of years, but had trouble sighting it as the previous owner had peened the front sight in place and the screw was missing. I had those replaced, and with the help of another shooter and his spotter scope, I re-sighted the rifle with 15 rounds. Technical note on the S/42G; the Russians counterbored the original barrel to a depth of about 2cm.
Terms: 100 yards, seated, no rest, 20 rounds of military surplus ammo on stripper clips. American: American surplus, 10 rounds each of 1956 and 1967. German: 20 rounds of 1956 Yugo.
S/42G bore: you can see the counter-bore line
Springfield barrel:
Results:
The Mauser is the left target in both pictures. Mauser: 4-X's, 8-10's, 5-9's, 2-8's, and one miss for a score of 181. The Springfield shot 9-X's, 3-10's, 6-9's, and 2 misses for a score of 174.
The winner: S/42G by a 7 point whisker. The Springfield had more X's: 9-4.
The rifles were very close. The '03 is such a close copy of the '98 that the Germans sued America over copyright violations; the case was dismissed after WWI. I re-sighted the Springfield. I had shot 35 rounds before I got to the Mauser and I was tired. I had a great L-R group, but couldn't hold my Kentucky elevation today. The Springfield shot a better pattern. I like the American sight better, but I felt much more comfortable holding and shooting the Mauser.
MS
Interwar 1930's contestants:
1. 1935 Mauser Karabiner 98k 8mm ‘S/42G’ (Mauser/Obendorf) #6600c, Restored Russian capture and rework. 32 Waffenamts remain from Mauser/Obendorf. Three original matching numbers on action; barrel, receiver, and front sight. Bolt is a completely matching WaA63 Obendorf assembly (Weimar, 556k). Stock is a walnut (1936) Mauser/Obendorf, Norwegian capture stock refinished with Tung oil, and pre-war light pattern with Weimar eagles and flat butt plate. Eleven matching numbers on stock: forearm, hand guard, butt plate, upper and lower bands, floor plate, trigger guard, follower, guard screws, and bayonet lug, #965f. Reproduction sling, and original unmarked 10.5” cleaning rod. Barrel bright, with slightly rough grooves and counter-bored about 2cm, but no pitting; very good. Import marked, TGI, Knox, TN.
2. 1931 M1903 U.S. Springfield .306. Originally an unfinished 1919 Rock Island receiver, #423882. This is a post production assembly variant, as it was completed and barreled at Springfield armory (8/1931), with original finish Springfield transitional Semi-C stock, original and reproduction slings. Parkerized finish about 95% turning brown. Four well marked cartouches (AA1, AA, S, and P). Barrel bright, flawless, excellent. Non import.
I just got the Springfield back from the gunsmith. I have had it for a couple of years, but had trouble sighting it as the previous owner had peened the front sight in place and the screw was missing. I had those replaced, and with the help of another shooter and his spotter scope, I re-sighted the rifle with 15 rounds. Technical note on the S/42G; the Russians counterbored the original barrel to a depth of about 2cm.
Terms: 100 yards, seated, no rest, 20 rounds of military surplus ammo on stripper clips. American: American surplus, 10 rounds each of 1956 and 1967. German: 20 rounds of 1956 Yugo.
S/42G bore: you can see the counter-bore line
Springfield barrel:
Results:
The Mauser is the left target in both pictures. Mauser: 4-X's, 8-10's, 5-9's, 2-8's, and one miss for a score of 181. The Springfield shot 9-X's, 3-10's, 6-9's, and 2 misses for a score of 174.
The winner: S/42G by a 7 point whisker. The Springfield had more X's: 9-4.
The rifles were very close. The '03 is such a close copy of the '98 that the Germans sued America over copyright violations; the case was dismissed after WWI. I re-sighted the Springfield. I had shot 35 rounds before I got to the Mauser and I was tired. I had a great L-R group, but couldn't hold my Kentucky elevation today. The Springfield shot a better pattern. I like the American sight better, but I felt much more comfortable holding and shooting the Mauser.
MS
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