Original Oberndorf 8,0 N Range Report

[blucher]

Took the old 1913/1914 Mauser Type B out to the range. I soldered the front sight back on about 8 months ago.

At some point somebody shot corrosive ammunition through it and never cleaned it, so the bore is pitted.

Originally I bought some Old Western Scrounger 8mm J which has lead bullets. These did not perform well, which I expected as the lead round simply stripped itself away on the rifling and the target showed keyholes and 12" groups at 10 yrds.

I then came upon some old original 8mm J Norma ammo. This also didn't perform too well.

Finally, I reloaded some Woodleigh bullets. To reload I seated the bullet by chambering a long seated bullet in the rifle then setting the seating die one additional turn.
I compared one of my reloaded rounds with a factory Norma round and couldn't believe the catridge overall length difference. I believe the Norma round was touching the rifling before it went off, although I have yet to smoke a round for rifling marks and measure COAL before and after chambering. This is pure speculation based on what I'm seeing and past performance. The Norma bullet while longer is narrower at the top of its profile but may expand to a larger diameter before my reloads meet the same diameter.

Anyway reloading was the ticket. At 50 yards I'm happy with the group and I'm sure a better shooter could get the group tighter. I tapped the front sight slightly to correct for windage, so hopefully I'll get back out there and step out to 100 yrds.

[sharps4590]

Honest old rifle...gotta love 'em!! Well done sir!!!

[mike ford]

blulcher,
Since your rifle is marked 8,N, rather than 8,S, the throat is long enough for the original 234gr(I think)RN bullet. This bullet is hardly available today. Your solution of loading available bullets "out" is about the best solution. Good job.
Mike

[Diz]

blucher,

Looks like it wants to shoot from the target you posted. Good job on the reload and keep us posted on further development. I myself would like to see more of your rifle in close up. It certainly is a nice honest rifle as Sharps comments but it may be a lot nicer from a closer view.

Thanks, Diz

[blucher]

blucher,

Looks like it wants to shoot from the target you posted. Good job on the reload and keep us posted on further development. I myself would like to see more of your rifle in close up. It certainly is a nice honest rifle as Sharps comments but it may be a lot nicer from a closer view.

Thanks, Diz

Let me know if you want any particular area, but here are some pictures...

Tristan

[blucher]

Rifle was very tastefully import marked by Simpsons. I called them to see if I could get further information on the rifle but all they could tell me is the exporter is from Sweden. However, they couldn't release his information to me. I'd very much like to figure out more on this rifles history but the trail is cold.

You can see this rifle was carried a lot in the field as the bluing is rubbed off on the floorplate at the balance point of the gun, exactly where a hand would hold it.

[blucher]

Additional pics

[blucher]

More pictures

[blucher]

Side profiles

[sharps4590]

Hmmm...the stock bears a striking resemblance to the 9.3 X 57 Mod. 46 I recently acquired from Simpsons, in that the wrist is checkered but not the forearm. I wonder, was it stocked in Sweden? Mine has an excellent bore. Working up jacketed loads was a slam dunk but cast loads were something of a challenge.

[Diz]

blucher,

A very nice honest rifle. Seeing some of the details make it more so. I like that double folding rear sight and front ramp combination and the barrel band sling attachment is very neat. I can't speak exactly to the stock configuration as sharps mentions but it certainly is a nice rifle. Thanks for the additional photos and good luck with it.

Diz

[blucher]

I think it's more probably that Husqvarna used the original mausers as an inspiration for their model 46 stock. The absent checkering on the foreend is actually pretty common on older oberndorfs. I like it personally. The swing swivels are from NECC gun parts as they were missing and I had a custom sling made by Murray Custom Leather. At some point somebody removed the original horn buttplate and put that awful looking Roy Weatherby inspired white liner recoil pad on there. I may replace this in time with something more tasteful. To my knowledge though the rest of the rifle is original from the factory.


Tristan

[sharps4590]

I was unaware of that, thank you sir. One never ceases to learn!! Unfortunately a lot of fine old rifles were submitted to the indignity of having an American recoil pad installed and I always wonder why. Most don't have that much recoil. I have one that was maltreated in such a manner.

[mike ford]

Sharps4590,
Vic, a lot of the old real horn buttplates got infested with worms, which was one reason some got replaced. If this was done when white lines were the style, then white line were installed. I have some that are infested; I would rather have the worm holes than white lines. My mod 46 doesn't have a grip cap, it has a round pg.
Mike

[sharps4590]

I have a couple with horn butt plates and they have holes in them. Just from the damage I can see on mine it's not much of a stretch to see they could pretty much destroy one. They will do the same thing to powder horns. As with you I prefer the worm holes to a white line spacer and a recoil pad. I don't believe my Mod. 46 has a grip cap either.