Shooting gun tapped for scope?

Bruce

This past weekend I bought an Iranian Short Mauser (only about 38inches long) that I would say is near mint except for where a scope had been mounted.Where the scope had been mounted some of the bluing is worn away and more importantly it looks like they partially drilled into the barrel (not all the way through of course).All of my guns are open sight and I do not know much about the "tapping" process but is there any risk of gas forcing a hole in this weak spot while firing?? I'm assuming not but thought I'd ask.Thank you

luger01

Tapping a Mauser receiver does not weaken the action appreciably. I can't see your rifle, but you say there is a hole drilled in the barrel??? Do you mean in the receiver over where the barrel screws in? If that's the case, then simply go to a gunshop, get some filler screws and put them in with a drop of blue locktight on the threads.If some dodo drilled into the barrel directly, go to that same gunsmith and have him check the rifle. You may be looking for a new barrel.

Bruce

The tap was on the barrel BUT looking at the barrel you can see multiple thicknesses so in effect the barrel looks "staggered" by about four levels (Really thick, thick, medium, thin).It appears that the tap occured on the "thick" portion of the barrel and goes down to about the "medium" thickness area of the barrel.The gun appears to have been shot after being tapped so I am tempted to do the sandbagging and tying a string to the trigger trick and see what happens :-)

bfair

Are you sure this was for a scope mount? Something here is just not right. Your hole sounds like it is pretty deep. A tapped hole for a scope mount is usually only about a 1/4'" deep. Is it just one hole and not a set of holes? No matching holes in the receiver?Hummm

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Home of the Blue Angels, P'colaSemper Paratus

Bruce

Hmmm.... now you have me wondering.In all truth the hole really is not that deep at all (less than 1/4 inch).I picked up a copy of Small Arms of the World from the library, and it appears I have purchased an Iranian Model 49 Short Mauser. Looking at the picture I noticed that I am missing the upper forward hand grip (if that makes sense) where the original backsight was mounted --- from the picture this area looks like a wooden piece that mounted the back sight and covered part of the upper barrel. Whoever owned the gun before me mounted a "peep" sight towards the rear and I am wondering if the hand guard was removed to facilitate this sight (probably). I now wonder if the hole might have something to do with the upper "hand grip" that was removed? The wear on the bluing by the hole though does look like something was clamped unto the barrel.

Der Gebirgsjager

Most military Mausers have a large headed screw at the front of the barrel-mounted rear sight that assists in holding on the top handguard. The screw passes through the forward part of the rear sight base and into a shallow hole which is top dead center on the barrel. It is also quite likely that this screw/hole arrangement served as a jig for holding and locating the position of the sight when originally soldered onto the barrel. It's not to worry.

Bruce

Hurray!! I think you have identified it. Like I said it appears that the upper hand guard had been removed -- probably to allow a clear line of sight for the peep sight that had been mounted. The hole is about at the place where the rear sight would have gone.All in all I would say the rifle is in very good condition (barely a single dent in the stock, etc,) except that some "goof" decided to mount a peep sight at the rear and modified accordingly. Oh well it still looks good (even without the upper handguard)and should be fun to shoot.