Any AM03 owners out there?

[splitbeing]

Never heard of this rifle until today in an old, barely trafficked thread.

Any AM03 owners out there? What has your experience of this rifle been?

[HectorMedina]

I have some experience with these guns:

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-mauser-am03-and-shooting-the-reconstructed-original-field-course-in-delaware-co-pa

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/second-round-with-the-diana-mauser-am-03-shooting-at-difta-on-cinco-de-mayo

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-nacht-jager-or-the-night-hunter

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/mandarins-to-oranges

The Mauser AM03 was the workbench that allowed to adapt the NTec gas unit to a "standard" 34.

They are good guns, suffering from ONE quirk:
The sights sometimes sail into oblivion.
But if you take care of loc-titeing the settings in place once you are done sighting in,

AND, you really need to replace the cheekpiece screw arrangement, because tightening finger knobs from one side does not do a good job.
Apart from that, they are REALLY good guns.

A friend took one to Alaska, and it was his "Survival/Small game" rifle that replaced well the 22 RF he normally takes.

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM

[splitbeing]

Thanks, Hector! Looks like you've had more than one of them!

[HectorMedina]

Thanks, Hector! Looks like you've had more than one of them!

LOL!

Well, let's say that less than half a dozen have passed through this workshop.
;-)

In reality, they were the precursors to the EMS system.

A number of things were tested and, while some of them worked, they were deemed too expensive for the springer world (like the adjustable cheek piece).
Others, laid the foundation for the body-locked piston (stemless), that is a really fast element in the train. I know it's not "Tradition", but it really works better in breakbarrels that do not allow their pistons to rotate (one exception: the LGV, but then, that one is hardly a "traditional" break barrel, LOL!) anyway.

It was also a good workbench for the NTec unit, it showed its flaws and its potential.

Lastly, it allowed me to work a few ways to AVOID the NTec unit. It is not bad, it is a consistent, stable, powerful, vibrationless, smooth operator all around.
It's just not as efficient as a well tuned steel spring can be.

Lastly, it also allowed DIANA to gauge how truly useful short barreled airguns could be. Evidence showed that they were just as useful, just not as agreeable to shoot.
In the end, the barrel IS the cocking lever, so a longer lever will always mean reduced PCF.

In the end, I kept one, fully tuned in 0.22" it is a pleasure to shoot. She's not that much of a "looker" anymore, after going through several metamorphoses, but it will have a special place in my gunroom.

;-)

Keep well and shoot straight!







HM

[splitbeing]

[chuckling]. Thanks, Hector!  The historical context is interesting.