Longevity of a Mauser?

[twoblink]

A '98 Mauser, if properly maintained and not badly abused..

How long will it last? Or given good maintenance, and care, it should be a non-issue, and my grandkids should be able to shoot it?

 

[TimRB]

Given proper care, I don't see why the rifle shouldn't last hundreds of years. Your grandkids? Definitely.

Tim

 

[Tamara]

I have a couple Mausers that are already over 100 years old and still quite shootable. No reason why they shouldn't be shootable after another hundred.

 

[MrMurphy]

My father has one that was built for the Imperial German Army (1918). It didn't get issued or shot during WW1 or WW2 (came out of the cosmoline fresh in the mid 50s or maybe 1960 or so)..... he shot it lots since then. With proper care and feeding, it's still going strong.

 

[Art Eatman]

I cleaned up an old "attic gun", a '91 7mm Spanish Mauser that for all I know could have been at San Juan Hill. The first shot went right to the intended point of impact. "Hmmm," sez I, "It's still sighted in!"

A barrel can get badly eroded at the throat and still shoot reasonably well. So long as the crown of the muzzle isn't boogered up, your grandkids' grandkids can enjoy it.

While I didn't load it and shoot it, the 1853 Jim Bridger rifle I once had was in shootable condition. (It's now in the Mountain Man Museum at Cody, WY.)

With any decent care, guns generally don't wear out. That's why the gun makers keep coming up with new ideas.

Art

 

[Fatelvis]

Your grandkids will definately be shooting it.

 

[azrael]

I regularly deer hunt with a Mauser...It is over 60 years old and still puts meat on the table..At 75 yards it will put 5 shots on target that can be covered by a playing card...I expect it to last at least my lifetime and prolly my grandkids as well...

Gonna get me another and make it my "Scout" rifle...Prolly get another m48a..

 

[Colt46]

I've got a 96 yr old '96 Swede

Dreaming up something special for it's 100th birthday.
The biggest caveat with milsurps is ammo. Cheap surplus with corrosive primers can rally shorten barrel life if you are not careful. There are so many swedes in great shape today because Sweden was one of the first to use non corrosive cartridges for their rifles. Okay- They also didn't participate in the big one either.
Swedes are the best mauser. I didn't say strongest. Just the best craftsmanship and attention to detail.

 

[Delmar]

According to Sierra bullets-a properly cared for rifle barrel chambered for a non-magnum cartridge will keep its accuracy for about 10,000 rounds.

 

[twoblink]

10,000 rounds, divided by say, 500 rounds a year = 20 years of accuracy..

Not too bad..

 

[MuzzleBlast]

Even if you do shoot the barrel out, replacements are widely available.

 

[Wildalaska]

Swedes are the best mauser. I didn't say strongest. Just the best craftsmanship and attention to detail.

As I am getting sub 1/2 inch groups with mine, Id have to agree

WildjaAlaska

 

[Sunray]

A firearm, properly cared for, is the only mass produced manufactured product you can expect to hand down to your kid and his kid after.