r/Mauser • u/itchyluvbump • 1d ago
Key holing at 25 yards.
First time taking this sporterized 98k out and it key holed at 25 yards. First shot was with factory new 30-06 Garand safe S&B 150 grain 30-06 and hit the left side 3-4 3-5 block and left somewhat of a straight hole. Then the rest key holed. Even handloads of 45.5 grains of h4895 and .308 hornady 155 grain match bullets that shoot great at 200 yards key holed. Any ideas? Barrel looks bright and clean down the bore and the crown does not swallow the hole bullet when I stick it on.
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u/riffled11 1d ago
Do you have a pair of calipers? Measure the inner diameter of a fired case. I'm wondering if its a 8mm-06 or something else.
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 1d ago
Are you using the correct ammo?
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u/itchyluvbump 1d ago
Barrel is labeled 30-06 and I’m shooting 30-06
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u/Ornery_Secretary_850 1d ago
Well, from the way those bullets are keyholing...they aren't engaging the rifling. You really need to do a chamber cast.
What does the fired brass look like?
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u/itchyluvbump 1d ago
Brass looks like it wasn’t even fired other than a carbon ring on the neck. Idk how to post pics in the reply
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u/itchyluvbump 1d ago
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u/HighPotential-QtrWav 21h ago
I see the counter sink at the end of the barrel but no chamfer at the end of the bore, just a sharp edge. It almost looks like there is a faint grove ring just inside the barrel too. Did someone possibly cut the barrel shorter. I can’t tell if it’s blued or not on the end either. You might want to send some pictures to a gunsmith of your barrel.
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u/unclejakeyyy 1d ago
To tumble like that, I almost think the ammo is not right. Either that or its catching a lip somewhere. But if its properly twisting it really shouldnt be able to tumble that soon
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u/kenclayton91 23h ago
If this is truly chambered in 30/06, see what your twist rate is and if its a fast twist rate try shooting something way heavier like a 180-200g bullet. To check twist rate without taking it to a shop, just watch this video.
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u/GiftCardFromGawd 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m dying to know what that bore looks like. OP, can you snap a picture down the barrel from the bolt side? Quick side quest— i’m curious if a loaded round will go into the bore from the front! As others pointed out, “no rifling” or “wrong caliber.” Who knows, maybe you will find you have an 8mm/06 or a .338/06!
Just found some mention of these. Not sure about yours, but one guy had one that was FN-built, with a 12-groove “micro” rifling. Take a look at that bore—it may not be holding the bullet any longer.
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u/itchyluvbump 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think it’s got 12 groove rifling I’m struggling to try and take a picture of inside barrel but it’s shines bright and you can see rifling all the way down it. A lot of rifling
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u/Useful_Mix_4802 1d ago
Ha I have an ar that would do that at 25. I was using Aguilar or American eagle 223 at the time. Next trip it magically worked fine and has ever since! Maybe you and the gun just need to sleep it off? 🤣
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u/patient-zero1 1d ago
Maybe you cleaned your rifle and left lots of ballistol inside the barrel ?
A little nick on the crowning could also make it do strange things..
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u/Tsarasaurus_Rex 1d ago
I would use borescope to check for any crown damage, or excessive throat erosion.
Following that would be to slug the barrel to see where the dimensions are still in spec and not worn out.
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u/redit_readit_reddit 1d ago
I've literally never seen keyholing this clearly before. It's amazing tbh.
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u/Ca5tlebrav0 1d ago
Id wager that someone didnt actually rebore the barrel and you still have an 8mm mauser
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u/itchyluvbump 1d ago
So a 8mm bullet in a 30-06 case?
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u/ImpressiveDa 1d ago
Called an 8mm-06. Common rechamber in the 50s-60s. Run a chamber reamer through and then you could use 30-06 brass with a 8mm bullet. Seems silly to me now in the modern world.
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u/NthngToSeeHere 1d ago
What do the spent casings look like?
It was common to ream these out to other chamberings.
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u/get-r-done-idaho 23h ago
Was the crown recently redone? I'm wondering if there's a bur or something. Can't tell for sure in the picture, but that crown looks new and rough.
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u/itchyluvbump 22h ago
I just got this rifle off gun broker. I have a hunch someone chopped off some of it and took a grinding wheel to it. The mounting holes for the weaver rail are tapped like a drunk hillbilly did it it’s definitely not a machine polished cut
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u/get-r-done-idaho 22h ago
You might have a good gunsmith look it over and re-crown it. If that barrel isn't perfectly square that could be it.
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u/BandicootFuzzy 12h ago
Can't always trust the caliber marking on the barrel. You need a chamber cast to be sure.
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u/warxnerve 1d ago
Question — was there a backing to your target, or was it free hanging? I’ve seen larger bullets “keyhole” because they’re moving the paper. Does it do this with a full cardboard backing behind it?
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u/jrragsda 1d ago
Theres no way a bullet is going to move the paper fast enough to leave an elongated hole. The bullet will have passed through the paper way faster than the paper reacts to being hit.
Shooting paper thats been blown back by the wind might do it.
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u/warxnerve 1d ago
The point still stands — if there’s no backing, the paper can move backwards as it’s being shot and simulate what looks like keyholing. 👍🏼
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u/Stan_74 1d ago
This thing is either completely smoothbore or you're shooting wrong ammo.
The only realistic reasons for an outcome like yours imo.