Hi,

I am considering building a rifle based on a near new M48a Yugo Mauser action and I want to use the 7.62 x 54R. Do you guys reckon that it will be possible to modify the action and fit a new barrel to accomodate the new cartrige - only worrying thing is that the the original 7.92 case has a diameter of .468in while the russian case is .564in.

I want to use a Mauser action in preference to the Nagant solely because it will be possible to install one of those lovely Timney triggers.

If I decide to go throuh with the project, i plan on getting a new stock, glass bedding the action, installing a heavy barrel - 24 inches long, light adjustable trigger, 3-9 x 40 scope and bipods.


Thanks

The 30-06 or the 308 are naturals for the Mauser . The 8x57 will also do anything the Nagant will. Is there a particular reason you want to use the Russian cartridge?

Bolt face on the M48 isn't big enough to do it. You can get away with it using the huge Mauser style actions built for African hunting cartridges but the cost factor would be insane.

Doing a caliber conversion for the sake of a trigger job is not really functional. I'm not being rude here but any decent gunsmith can tune the trigger on a Mosin-Nagant anyway you want. It takes a little time but nowhere near the amount of time and cost of a calibler conversion. Turned down bolts for the M-N are available cheaper than you can modify one.

Both rounds are very good, if you want to stay with the Mauser action, there's nothing wrong with using the 8x57, just have the receiver checked then load it to the original spec's, not the whimpy domestic loadings. If you want to stay with the 7.62x54R, get a trigger job done on the M-N, aftermarket stocks and such are available for the M-N too.

Here in the US the only reason the Nagant cartridge is popular at all is because of the cheap Rifles, not because the cartridge is any too exciting. As I said earlier, the 8x57 or any of theAmerican thirty cals, will match or beat the nagant .

If you measure the rimmed angled cartridge head of the x54r round it will not, even with a custom bolt function safely. Again the 8mm is a great round when loaded to full potental. BTW you would also have to modify the Magazine. Way to much work for a Yugo. You can buy a new barrel in .308 or 30.06 and change it out with no other major modifications. A 7.62 Mauser threaded(.311) barrel would be a custom job and not cheap either. Jim

Either use a Siamese Mod 98 for your project, or a Magazine/trigger guard from one on your Yugo, then you would still have to open up the Mag rails at the rear of the Yugo to get the 7.62x54R to feed. (Not worth the effort.)

MNs are great rifles, and the 7.62x54R is fully the equal of the .30/06 up to 150 grain bullets, and compares even more favorably than the 7.62x51 or .308. About the only Mauser action, IMO that might would work would be the Siamese Mauser that was designed from the outset to use a rimmed cartridge. Just isn't enough room for that fat case and rim in a Yugo M48.

I've seen a Mosin project rifle on the old gunboards that was rebarreled with a .308 bore, and used the 54R case. Shoot very well, acording to the builder. Time and money.

I would suggest if you want to build on a Mauser action, pick a rimless cartridge. If you want to try building on a Mosin action, buy a Huber Concepts trigger. I've not shot with one personally, but everything I hear about them is very favorable.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=177547

Agreed - stick with the rimless 54mm to 57mm cases when rechambering the Yugo Mauser.

The MN with the .308 bore barrel should be a real winner. Both my MN's have .312" and .314" barrels, which is pretty common. Have to shoot either cast .316" or jacketed .311" bullets for any sort of accuracy. The rimmed cases would be a real chore to modify the bolt face and magazine to accept.

I could probably get 2 or 3 MN"s for what it would cost to do a mauser project. If I had access to a Siamese Mauser It would definitely become a45/70. Are mosin Nagants hard to come by where you are?

M-N's can be ordered by any dealer for around $135 tops when you add the shipping and xfr costs. A decent barrel blank is going to run around $220 and still has to be chambered, profiled, installed and finished. I'm sure if one put some effort to it, they can come up with some new barrels for a M-N already done, just needs to be installed. These were running around $50 delivered to your door a few years ago.

Although Nagants are available in Australia, I guess I'd better be sticking to the 8 x 57, 7 x 57 or 30-06 for my project. I have shot a few Nagants including a beautiful Finnish version but I never really liked the action. Sure it is very strong and tough (it survived Stalingrad), but it is no Mauser. Its also a shame that I cant get the high velocity 8mm ammunition that the Luftwaffe used in WW2 (from some of the stories I have heard, firing the cartrige in a Mauser produced enough stress on the rifle that a few rifle stocks cracked).

However I wonder if the nagant cartrige will fit in a Mk1 No3 or Mk4 No1 Enfield (The .303 has a case diameter of .53 while the 7.62R is .564).

Thanks Again

you could rechamber to 8mm-06. That would probably give the performance you are looking for.