Mauser 4000

About the Mauser

Back in 1811, Friedrich I of Wurttemberg launched an arms factory in Oberndorf, Germany. Employing 133 workers, the company officially started its business in the following year serving as the royal weapon forge. The initial moderate success of the company was refined in 1867 when Wilhelm and Paul Mauser came up with an innovative rotating bolt system used for breechloading rifles. Most of their rifles at the time were built around a 7.9x57J cartridge which eventually became known as the 8mm German cartridge.

Alongside the Model 93 release, the smaller, 7x57mm cartridge was introduced. The United States spotted the potential of German ingenuity; hence they incorporated many features of Mauser design into their 1903 Springfield and so did the United Kingdom with their SMLE rifle that was the standard of British infantry units up until the 1950s. Soon after, many countries around the world, such as Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Sweden and even China had recognised the outstanding performance of Mauser 93 and began flooding the company with new orders.

Along with their rifle production success, Mauser also broke new ground in 1896 with the introduction of their autoloading C96 pistol that was produced up until 1936. In 1897 the Mauser family were given control over the factory and renamed it Waffenfabrik Mauser AG. Only a year later, one of the most recognisable Mauser rifles of all time was presented by the company – Mauser Gewehr 98. The rifle had been redesigned with some of the noticeable changes being better-ruptured case gas venting, a stronger receiver with a larger receiver ring and an extra third locking lug providing additional safety. In later years, numerous rifles were derived from the original Gewehr 98 design, a lot of them being manufactured by various German contractors.

In the first decades of the 20th century, Mauser introduced a myriad of hunting rifles such as Type A, Model B, Model K, Armee-Model C and Africa Model. Up until the 1960s, various other models were presented including M1916, Mauser 1925 Special range, Karabiner K98, Mauser KKW cadet rifle, Gewehr 41 etc. Alongside their rifle production, the company additionally focused on the production of hand and pocket pistols, with some of the most recognizable models being Mauser 1910, Mauser 1914, Model 1934, and Mauser HSc.

After World War II, when the company was seized by Allied forces and placed under French control, the factory was torn down, and its records were destroyed. The former Mauser engineers Edmund Heckler and Theodor Koch, together with their associate Aled Seidel founded Heckler and Koch arms firm in the following years, recovering some leftovers of Mauser company which remained in the arms of Allied forces until 1952 when it was again permitted to continue manufacturing firearms. In the second half of the 20th century, the company presented some new models such as Model 66, Model 77, Model 86SR, Mauser SP66, Models 94 and 96, Mauser SR 97, Mauser 90SA and Mauser 90DA.

The Rheinmetall Berlin AG bought the firearms division of the company in 1996 and renamed it to Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH. In 1999, part of the Mauser was sold to Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft company often referred to as SIG, which later became known as Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH.

Today, the company is under the parentage of the Blaser Group, which also manufactures rifles under the J.P. Sauer & Sohn brand. Mauser has presented some new models in the last few years, such as Mauser M03, M12, and M18, attesting to the company’s rich and successful history once again.

Mauser 4000 Rifle Review

Mauser 4000 is a push-feed bolt-action rifle manufactured alongside Mauser 2000 and 3000 from 1969 until 1975. The production was mostly carried out by the Heym company in later years as they signed a working agreement with Mauser to produce bolt-action rifles for their label in the middle of the 1960s.

After the deal was terminated at the beginning of the '70s Heym renamed the existing Mauser-based products to the Heym SR series. Although the rifles are essentially the same, Heym renamed the short action Varmint variant called Mauser 4000 to Heym SR 40.

The rifle comes with a drilled and tapped blued metal receiver that houses a bolt with dual locking lugs that lock up with the action’s casing. Mauser 4000 utilizes a Mauser-type locking system allowing for a smooth bolt operation. As the rifle is available in both - left and right-side versions, the three-position safety catch that locks the bolt and the trigger can be positioned on either side. When safety is put in the middle position, the bolt can be safely opened for unloading the chamber.

Standard action magazine can hold up to five and the magnum action up to three cartridges which can be removed using a hinged floorplate. In addition, the user can choose between three trigger options, namely a single-stage adjustable, single set, or double set trigger that is surrounded by an aluminium trigger guard. The rifle comes with included iron sights with the rear one having an adjustable elevation notch.

The possible barrel length for Mauser 4000 is 597 mm (23.5-inch).

Figure 1: Mauser 4000, chambered for 5.6x50 Mag. (Source: https://greatnorthgunco.ca/product/mauser-4000-in-5-6x50-mag/)

Mauser 4000 can be chambered for the following calibres:

• .222 Rem. 

• .223 Rem.

• 5.6x50 Mag.

All Mauser 4000 receivers come with four holes for mounting purposes, two on the front and two on the rear mounting surface.

Figure 2: The receiver of Mauser 4000, chambered for 5.6x50 Mag. (Source: https://www.lauritz.com/en/auction/mauser-jagtriffel-model-4000-kal-222-rem/i4251255/)

Unfortunately, we currently lack photos of the bare mounting surface for this rifle which features four holes for mounting purposes, two on the front and two on the rear of the receiver. Should you happen to own the Mauser 4000 and would be willing to send us some photos of the receiver, we would gladly accept your help and expand our database accordingly.

A: 12.7 mm

B: 80.2 mm

C: 12.7 mm

BHU: 0 mm

Ø: 6-48

R1: R15

R2: R15

Which Rifles Have Interchangeable Mounts

Two-piece mounts

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Mauser 4000. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. The rifle that meets such criteria is: 

• Heym SR 40

One-piece mounts

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Mauser 4000. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. The rifle that shares the same dimensions and mounting surface with Mauser 4000 is:

• Heym SR 40

Our Recommendations for Mounts

Detachable Repeatable Mounts

Detachable mounts are one of the most practical mounts on the market as they offer dependable repeatability and recoil resistance. If you are in search of such a mounting solution, we recommend this Pivot mount manufactured by the German company EAW. It is made of high-quality steel and comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu