Milsurp After Hours

At range today for our Christmas shoot and got the chance to shoot these two honeys side by side.

My Model 420b and a Mauser M45 military training rifle, quite a rare rifle, which was produced at Obendorf, one of approximately 6000 produced for the occupying French forces bearing the Mauser banner.

420b is at bottom of pic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b002.jpg[/pic]

Reciever comparisons.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b003.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b005.jpg[/pic]

Bolt comparison.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b004.jpg[/pic]

Model 45 action based on the KKW trainer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b007.jpg[/pic]

The M 45 rear sight has been drilled out and fitted with a Parker Hale 6 hole eyepiece aperture sight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b006.jpg[/pic]

And it does shoot very well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/j ... 20b009.jpg[/pic]

Unfortunately M45 rifles will have to be banned from all future .22 Training rifle matches.

Doesn't group well enough to qualify

I was given a MAS 45 barreled action crudely fitted into a cut down Mauser 98 stock by a friend.

It took me several years here in Canada to locate a correct stock, but I finally did and now I have nearly the complete rifle. I am still looking for a butt plate for the stock.

The rifle shoots well, though three to four inches high at 50 yards, when it shoots, but it does not fire consistently nor does it extract reliably.

I don't know if it is a firing pin or ammunition problem yet.

I will try different ammunition next time out, but do you have any suggestions for solving the extraction problem?

I have an original Mauser M45 number 5911 my dilemma is I have joined a new club and would like to a quire a .22 bolt action and a .22 semi auto. All my slots are full the only two .22 rifles I have is this one and another that is equally collectible.
Because they are so collectible I have not shot either of them in a age. I actually took the Mauser M45 to the new club no body new what it was and they had no interest in it or wanted to shoot it because it did not have a go faster stock a moderator and a scope that you could see the craters on the moon with.

Educate them Dave!
Here is one that I bought for a guy in the US. I shot it just to be sure it was OK - it was a tack driver.

http://www.milsurpafterhours.com/bb/vie ... 57&t=10685

After WWII the French stole all the machinery and parts and brought them back to St.Etiennne whee they continued to produce the rifle as a MAS 45.

Mine is literally like new. The woodwork is beautiful. Out of interest how much do they go for.

When they come up anything between €700 & €1200. Spare parts are expensive too...

http://www.naturabuy.fr/adsearch.php?ti ... univers=no

So if I was to ask for £600 I would not be robbing any one. Mine is way way in better condition than the one in the original photograph. The woodwork on mine is beautiful.

If it's that good Dave I would start at £800, you can always come down a bit but you can't go up!

I have wrapped it up and stuck it in the back of the cabinet with the rest of the keepers that never get fired.
I have no idea how I am going to acquire any thing that is suitable for this new club.
Apparently they are holding a Cowboy action shoot Sunday morning and I have been encouraged to attend.
If possible they would like me dressed in suitable cowboy clothing.
I am starting to get a bit concerned about these guys.
The village people comes to mind.