Unusual Mosin(?)

[Dr T]

I was over at the local Cabela's yesterday and in the gun room they had what appeared to be an octagon receiver Mosin chambered in 11 x 60. It was pretty pricey. It was also in pretty nice shape.

Anyone know what this could be?

 

[tark]

Any chance of a pic? I've never heard of this. Is the rifle in military configuration or has it been "sporterized?" If the latter, then it is doubtless a custom chambering. I had a Mosin once in 45-70 with a Ruger barrel. It was a single shot and it could eat anything a Ruger #1 could digest.

 

[daniel craig]

I was over at the local Cabela's yesterday and in the gun room they had what appeared to be an octagon receiver Mosin chambered in 11 x 60. It was pretty pricey. It was also in pretty nice shape.

Anyone know what this could be?

Without pictures is nearly impossible to make any kind of determination.

 

[Dr T]

Sorry no pic. And it appeared to be in unsporterized condition.

After poking around, I think it was an 1871 Mauser. The octagon receiver and the shape of the hammer threw me off. I didn't look closely, but I think it had the same type of safety as an 1896 Mauser.

 

[tark]

I think you answered your own question. The hammer part is a bit confusing, Mosin's didn't have hammers so it definitely isn't a Mosin-Nagant.

 

[zaitcev]

After poking around, I think it was an 1871 Mauser.

The 1871 Mauser is possibility, as is the Berdan II. But many blackpowder rifles from the period locked into the bridge.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Saw a Bannerman .30-06 Mosin conversion once. No way I would attempt firing it.....

 

[caribou]

28 gauge Russian shotgun convertion of a Berdan II ? It was a common end for a worn Berdanka in Russia 1920s 1930s or so.

 

[zaitcev]

Saw a Bannerman .30-06 Mosin conversion once. No way I would attempt firing it.....

I would shoot a Bannerman, no problem, if it's the original and not a fake.

 

[Slamfire]

I would shoot a Bannerman, no problem, if it's the original and not a fake.

I recommend you closely look at what Bannerman did to convert those Mosin Nagants before pulling the trigger. The rear of the chamber was much too wide for a 30-06, so Bannerman's cut the wide section out. And then ran a reamer to make a 30-06 chamber. Take a look at this picture, about half the 30-06 cartridge is in the thin barrel section. And given that the wall thickness there was never made to contain 50,000 psia, it is only a matter of time till the metal fatigue fractures. Also looks they drilled and tapped that section for a rear sight.



This was in the pre Product Liability era. If someone sold you a dangerous weapon, and you bought it, that was your fault for not knowing better.

I also recommend against buying a Marlin 1898 Shotgun

 

[zaitcev]

The rear of the chamber was much too wide for a 30-06, so Bannerman's cut the wide section out. And then ran a reamer to make a 30-06 chamber.

I'm fully aware and I'm sure it's completely fine with the military 30-06. As long as you buy the Federal that's marketed "for Garand", it will be no problem.

Also looks they drilled and tapped that section for a rear sight.

Bannerman didn't do that, it's not the original work.

Bannerman's rear sights came in two varieties: brazed on between the stump of the original sight and the thickened part, and one that uses the original sight's base. Not sure which one was the earlier one, but either way, they didn't drill into the barrel.

 

[Slamfire]

I'm fully aware and I'm sure it's completely fine with the military 30-06. As long as you buy the Federal that's marketed "for Garand", it will be no problem.

It is my recollection the Imperial Germans performed a similar conversion to 8mm Mauser with capture Russian Nagants. The conversions were too unsafe to issue to German troops.

A quick search shows the Poles did similar conversions,



https://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=14071

and there is the poorly documented Blindee conversions

https://thinlineweapons.com/7.62x54r/7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRareBlindee.html

The fact these conversions were done, does not mean they were safe in any sense of the word.

I held up 30-06 rounds next to the chambers of my Mosin Nagants, and decided these conversions would be too risky for me to shoot, if I got one. There are good reasons the Bannerman conversions have a reputation for blowing up.