FN 7mm Mauser

[jfor]

Hey guys, I purchased this rifle a couple of days ago at a pawn shop. I am trying to find some info about it. I want to set it up to shoot .308. I just want to make sure that I don't have something that might be rare or collectible.

It was advertised as an FN Mauser 7mm. They were originally asking 199 for it but I got it for 150 out the door. After doing some looking, I am pretty positive that it is either an 1893 Mauser or a 1916 Mauser. I do know that it the bolt face is flat on the bottom. It is a small ring. Other than that I do not know. The receiver is stamped with Fabrique Nationale over Herstal-Liege. The side of the reciever right below the rear sight says 7mm. Other than that there are not many more markings.

Here are some pics I took.
Pic of the receiver
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/jfor441/FN.jpg

Bolt face
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/jfor441/42.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/jfor441/22.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/jfor441/41.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j2/jfor441/21.jpg

[swampelk]

Flat bottom bolt would, I believe, be a model 93 spanish mauser of one type or another.

[GWLindsay]

I would probably just enjoy it in the 7mm. It is a fine caliber, suitable for most small game in the US, but not for elk or bear. As far as converting it to .308, I dunno... The small ring action wasn't designed for those pressures and by the time you installed a new barrel and the other gunsmithing work, you probably would have spent more than what used hunting rifle in .308 would have cost in the first place.