If its an FR-7 or FR-6 you should be fine. If it is one of the older ones it was probably converted from 7mm mauser to .308 and if so, the action is strong enough to take .308 pressures.

 

I have never heard of an FR-6. Only the FR-7 and the FR-8.

The FR-7's action is exactly the same as the 7mm conversions (Model 1916) since that is what they are made from. These are small ring Model 1893 actions and the Model 1916 designation was for the standardization of the worn out, 7mm "long rifles" into the "Short Rifle" (Mosqueton) configuration. It was later that these rifles were converted to 7.62 NATO not CETME. Here is their manual and it even says 7.62 NATO, Converted from 7mm (Transformado de 7mm). The CETME ammo thing is a myth. The, so called, low pressure CETME ammo was only used in the first prototype CETME rifles and the final issued version was made to shoot 7.62x51 NATO. This ammo had nothing to do with the M1916 conversions to 7.62 or the FR-7 and FR-8 program.

Original Model 1893 Spanish Mauser:

M1916 Short Rifle (1893 action):

FR-7 built on M1893 action:

The FR-8 was made using the 8mm Model 1943 Spanish Mauser and used an M1898 Action. Much stronger.

Original Model 1943 Spanish Mauser:

FR-8 built on Spanish Model 43 (1898) action:

Since these rifles were made to simulate the final accepted version of the CETME (7.62 NATO not CETME cartridge) the FR-7's and FR-8's were simply stop gap training rifles issued to recruits for training with sight picture, bayonet practice, etc.

If yours is a Spanish small ring (in 7.62) it would either be a M1916 conversion or an FR-7. I have shot .308 and 7.62 NATO ammo in these rifles for years without so much as a hiccup.
Here is an article from Guns and Ammo that you guys may find interesting. SAAMI max for .308 is 55,200 PSI not CUP and these rifles tested to 98,000 PSI. Hmmmmmmmmmm?

Be well and OP, as with all surplus rifles, get it checked by a competent gunsmith.

Al

 

Ps. A picture would be nice. Especially the area around the breech of the rifle or any stamps or writing to tell what you have.

 

Where do you find the FR6 or 7 ?
I've looked all over mine .OT-30624 only numbers on the breach .

 

As was previously mentioned and shown, with SN "OT-XXXXX", this is a Spanish 1916 chambered in .308 Winchester, built at the Oviedo Arsenal. If there are no other markings, it is likely one of those known as 'unmarked 1916's' as mine is.

Shooting regular pressure, .308 Winchester is fine and should be no problem.

 

I had one a while back and did a lot of research on it. Some people will say that the chamber will not handle the pressure from a modern .308 because they have more powder then a 7.62.51 NATO which is close to what the Mauser was chambered for. I put both through mine and never had a problem, some magazine did a study on the chamber and the pressure it could safely handle was a few thousand more psi then a hot loaded .308. If your worried Winchester white box Q3130 7.63x51 NATO is what essentially what that Mauser was chambered for, or just buy lower grain .308 ammo.

 

Does it look like one of these?

http://world.guns.ru/rifle/repeating-rifle/sp/fr-7-fr--e.html

 

Not at all .
I may have been misled .
I had been told by different gunsmiths that mine was a spanish mouser but it doesnt resemble any thing like those in the slightest.
Like other mousers It has the safety flag on the bolt ,if I can call it that . but unique to it is a release on the left of the bolt for freeing it from the cavity.
Interesting note to is a alignment hole at the chamber locking bolt area on the left side as well reaching down to the firing pin. I am assuming it is either a freeing access or a locking device to prevent use . These 2 things are unique in my expirence .

 

The spanish also used 7mm versions early on, a la the spanish-american war. You could have one from that era or one from a spanish speaking south american country. Like I said pictures would help out alot.

 

You can check this thread out on our sister site.

http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/curios-relics/88438-spanish-mausers.html

or this one

http://www.slickguns.com/product/m1916-spanish-mauser-308-win-16995

 

no such round as a 308 cetme

cetme is a 308/7.62

 

The spanish did come out with a round to use for thier CETME rifle that used lower pressures and velocities and a lot of people refer to it as the 762cetme or 308 cetme at it was basically the same dimensions as 762nato. It did not last long though and they adapted the cetme rifle for the standard 762nato cartidge. I think thats what the OP was talking about.

 

Ok thank you very much
It is the M 1916
I notice that there is considerable head space ,and I was wondering if adding material to the lugs taking up that space would be advisable.
I have shot winchester 308 rounds from it, but naturally , when I heard the posibility of problems was suspected I quit shooting it , consigned it to being a wall hanger /dust collector .It does that job very well .
Do you know any thing about that port passing through the breach to through the lug to the firing pin ?

 

I'm no gunsmith but I doubt adding material to the locking lugs would be the best avenue to fix the HS issue. I have heard of taking the barrel off and removing a couple thou from the breech end but your cheapest and easiest route would be to find a bolt that reduced the HS.

Did you check HS with a gage?

If you have calipers you can mesure the case length before and after firing to see how much your cases stretch. Thats not ideal but will give you an idea of how out of whack your HS is if you don't have a no & go gage.

They did have a port on some rifles to deflect escaping gases from ruptured cases, that may be what you are talking about.

 

No you can't really add material to the lugs. If your concerned about the head space, find a gunsmith and let them check it.

 

Thank you all very much ,it really means a lot to me .
there's still hope to make it a safe shooter .
if this works I might even explore the idea of scoping it as well, if that's possable .
Hope to have it done before Christmas for my son .

 

Years ago I had a Spanish Mauser rifle that shot .308 ammo. It was designed to shoot .308 ammo and had been used by Spanish police or "civilian guard." My rifle looked like the one that this guy in the YouTube video is shooting. From what I remember, my SM was okay to shoot just about any .308 Winchester ammo.

 

Here is some 7.62Cetme ammo you could try:

http://www.sgammo.com/product/surplus/480-round-can-762-cetme-santa-barbra-112-grain-fmj-non-magnetic-surplus-ammo

 

1: Take it to a gunsmith to have it's headspace checked.
2: Find out if it's actually a small ring or a standard receiver Mauser.

Agreed, fix it if needed and shoot it. Just remember it's almost a century old, don't try and hot rod it.

 

Thanks again guys for all the input.