Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
1943 sporterized, guy claims it's a J.P. Sauer.... 
Mauser Geeks, what can you tell me....?
- Thread starter Milo'sSyndicate
- Start date
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Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
“I would give my left nut for a J.P. Sauer sporter on a Mauser action”
- Abraham Lincoln 1861
- Abraham Lincoln 1861
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
8x57, pick it up fr FFL this week.
wburns
Active member
I would wager it is possibly a Sauer built for the military sporterized by someone else. It may say Sauer and correctly so but I do not think it is not one of their commercial rifles. Nevertheless it is still a damn nice platform to work with.
Either way this is a cool gun. If you got it at the right price, that’s even better. I’m looking forward to seeing how it shoots for you.
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
At all of $450, not a big gamble. Another 60 second video. 
SEJohnson73
Member
The left side of the receiver will likely have markings to give more clear direction on which variant it is...there were a lot...commercial and military. The barrel appears to be a stepped military barrel with an aftermarket barrel band hood sight soldered on...the stock is well executed, but appears to be more American in style - forend and wrist shapes. Likely a Bishop stock blank. The white diamond is typically used to "dress up" a recoil lug that is located in such a way that it contacts with the front lug of the receiver to provide additional strength. The diamond on this stock is located way too far back to be a recoil lug, and given it's location, it is purely decorative. The checkering looks well executed, but not a commercial pattern that I'm familiar with... the finish appears to be laquer, but well done, again pointing to a small shop sporter. Definitely mid-40's-ish period build...but I'd say you've most likley got a fairly well done sporter done by a talented gunsmith/craftsman from days gone by, chambered for a very useful cartridge. The left side of the receiver will tell you a lot more about the pedigree of the action itself..but I suspect this one likely started life as a military rifle. That said, I've been wrong plenty of times in the past. For $450 bucks... you did good. Hope you enjoy it.
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
Thank You Sir, it's a little adventure unto itself. Looking closer at the left side of receiver all I can mka eout fr the pics is the "dirty bird" stamps on barrel and receiver, and a 4 digit serial #. Looks like it was pretty well scrubbed of many identifiers, from the photos anyway. It's in the mail!
SEJohnson73
Member
My pleasure! I have a soft spot for old Mausers, especially well done sporters. The 8x57 is a very capable cartridge that is easy to handload and performs well with bullets from approx 120 to 220 grains; lots of personality range. Far as factory ammo goes for the metrics in general... S&B is probably the most pragmatic option & inexpensive for what they deliver. I've had great luck with their 6.5x55, 7x57 and 8x57 ammo. They keep it simple and their ammo has shot reasonably well across multiple rifles of the same chambering. Best of luck with your new rig. I really dig the peep sight set up on it; you snagged a cool one for sure.
Milo'sSyndicate
Active member
Yes, I was looking at the S&Bs for starting out, see how it (196gr IIRC) groups, and trying some of the Buffalo Bore as well. It'll be another 60 second video when we get some weather here that's not -20 wind chill. The S&B I've run has been their 220gr 300BO subs, consistently excellent. I guess, if Sundles is still making ammo for these rifles, it's not just another fad!? So, in your opinion, leave the wood as is for a bit of a Historical perspective? Drive on, keep moving and doing, TY again for your perspective!
SEJohnson73
Member
Yep, the 195-196gr bullets are very common in the 8x57 and tend to perform well. I'm pasting a link to Graf & Son's, which is my personal preference for online supplies, but there are plenty of others out there. They have a few options that should give you a very good idea of how it will shoot. Norma makes very good ammo as well, and they are no stranger to the metrics. If you reload, or are considering it, Norma brass is some of the best. I'll only speak to stuff I have actual experience with and I do not believe you can go far wrong with S&B, Norma, Privi, the big red H, Federal, or any other SAAMI or CIP manufacturer. Again, just my opinion based on my experience. Full disclosure - my opinion won't even get me a cup of shitty coffee anymore, so take it for what it's worth. lol I hear you on the temps. I was hunting mountian lions in Northwest Nebraska this past weekend and it was proper cold. Def not shooting groups weather... haha
Far as the rifle goes.... if it were me, once I got my hands on it, I'd pop it out of the stock and get everything cleaned up proper, to include taking the time to clean all the layers of copper and carbon from the bore - Sweets 7.62 is great for this. I'd also check to see if the front of the action has been glass bedded or not, if it is not, I would make a mental note and reassemble. The factory Mauser bottom metal should have a "pillar" on the front screw, which you want to make sure and torque. Just how much torque....somewhat subjective, but I'd say at least 35 in/lbs, but don't try and twist the blade off the screwdriver... The rear screw just needs to be good and snug. Tighten the front first, after making sure the follower in the box isn't bound up in the feed lips, etc... I'd then shoot and assess. If it makes you happy. Stop and enjoy as-is. If you're not happy with accuracy, and it was not bedded in the past, I would bed the front lug and receiver just in front of the lug and re-shoot. I use Devcon Steel Putty when I care enough to use the best....I use JB Weld on the rest and I WISH I could tell you there was an objective difference besides the order of magnitude in cost...
8x57 Mauser - Rifle - Ammo - Graf & Sons
www.grafs.com
