Sporterizing a Mauser action? Any advice?

[PogoJack]

[200Apples]

Huh.

I've no experience in these matters but I do appreciate hopped-up Mausers as well as those rifles unmolested. They serve their purpose either way. Sporterized, because I like efficiency and machines that are pared down to their essentials, for speed (or speed of handling in this case).

Interested to see how this plays out.

[M1NM]

Make it yours.
I wanted a 300 Weatherby and couldn't afford it.
I came across an Argentine 09 Mauser action with a 30-06 barrel (with muzzle brake) on it. They had drilled too deep before the chamber reamer and it would leave a ring on the shoulder of the brass. I took it to Pachmayer and asked if it could be rechambered in 300 Wea. The guy said yes. They chambered it and opened up the face of the bolt. He told me how to open up the magazine since he knew I was a broke kid. After he heard how I wanted to finish it he took it in the back and stamped the top of the barrel "Custom Made by Pachmayer". Being a leftie I got a LH French Walnut thumbhole stock. I regret selling it to a friend after I got my LH German Weatherby.

[sghart]

I have built a couple, or rather I have had them built. A 30-06 is not cost effective as you have stated. 30-06's are very common. But I wanted a 35 Whelen and those are rare and pricey.

I had ER Shaw install the barrel. I bought a Boyd's stock. The rifle came out great. It came out so good that I had them barrel a Siamese Mauser in 45-70. That came out great also but there was more work involved to get it to feed.

Their prices are listed on their website. Turnaround was a few months for each.

They don't install iron sights. I had the gunsmith in Woodland do that. His name escapes me right now.

I have another action sitting in my shed. I am thinking of a bolt action 30-30.

If you know what you want go for it.

[RNE228]

Have extended family that LOVES Mauser's. He has built a number of them, and they're beautiful and shoot very nice.

I've used a '08 Brazilian Mauser built with Douglas air gauge barrel in 6.5-284 the last three deer seasons in Wyoming. Talk about a great combination. The action has been tuned and is silky smooth. With handloads and the Douglas barrel it is a tack driver.

They can doo their own machining and bluing, so didn't have to send anything out. Otherwise it is no cheap.

But, it depends on what you want too.

[THBailey]

If you have the correct tools it is easy to set up a Mauser 98 action to shoot well. Trouble is the access to the tools. Go/no go gauges, chamber reamer, jig to true the lugs, bolt handle jig, tig welder, torches, action wrench, a press to hold the barrel when wrenching on the action, and a great big expensive lathe to do the chamber correctly. Lots of cutting oil and Dykem, and a super sized order of patience. Most barrel makers offer a pre-cut short chamber so you only need a finish reamer, and you can make a sloppy job of it with a "T" handle in lieu of lathe, but not recommended if you are looking for an accurate rifle. 30-06 is a good choice as the rim diameter is compatible with the unaltered bolt face. Just my 2 cents worth. Have fun with the project.

[PogoJack]

[Sailormilan2]

Standard length action, so with careful searching you should be able to find a hinged sporter trigger guard for about $100. The bolt will either need to be replaced ($150+) or another bolt handle welded on. You can still find sporter bolt shrouds. The ejector box can easily be replaced with a commercial one.
Check with ER Shaw barrels. They can rebarrel and blue the barreled action at a decent price and offer other gunsmithing services.

[splithoof]

If it were mine, I’d either sell it, or keep it as a paperweight. By the time you end up with a nice rifle, you could have bought something that hasn’t been butchered before you found it. Find a CZ-550 and start with that; it gives you the attributes of a Mauser, with the strength of modern materials.

[GunDog]

Best advice yet! ^^


I've built up three rifles based on Argentine M1909 actions over the past 20 and couldn't agree more. Sure, they turned out to be nice hunting rifles but at a cost far beyond what a new Remington 700 or Winchester 70 could be had for and have little resale value. In retrospect, they were nothing but a money pit.

[200Apples]

Considering SplitHo0f's excellent advice along with GunDog's astute corroboration, I'd display this neat old action along with the Williams book in a nifty shadow box/picture frame deal and hang it on the wall...

Then go get your CZ550 or Win Model 70 (or, heck, a Serb Mauser) and go have fun shooting something accurate and reliable.

[PogoJack]

Considering SplitHo0f's excellent advice along with GunDog's astute corroboration, I'd display this neat old action along with the Williams book in a nifty shadow box/picture frame deal and hang it on the wall...

Then go get your CZ550 or Win Model 70 (or, heck, a Serb Mauser) and go have fun shooting something accurate and reliable.

I would love to do this and it seems like the correct thing to do. Thanks so much for the suggestion.

550s have become unobtanium but ill keep looking. I heard that in the latter years before they were discontinued that they had QA issues. Are the modern Mauser 98 by Mauser any good? The Serb M70 appeals to my thrifty values too.

Thanks again, gents!

[LynnJr]

You said it's already a 30-06 and the bolt handle has already been bent plus it's drilled and tapped.
I would put in a newer trigger from Dayton or timney add a Boyd's stock for $135 and change out the firing pin spring for another $5 and call it good.
If you want to go fancier you can cut and blend the extractors claw so you can single feed the gun and do a home bluing job.
The scope not running true to the bore is extremely typical because most of the receivers have been ground and polished so nothing lines up.
Get some Burris rings with the inserts and your all set.
You can do all that yourself or Kendog who posts here can either do it or point you to someone who can.

[splithoof]

I'd display this neat old action along with the Williams book in a nifty shadow box/picture frame deal and hang it on the wall...

[splithoof]

550s have become unobtanium but ill keep looking. I heard that in the latter years before they were discontinued that they had QA issues.