To build, or NOT to build.....UPDATE: I'm building...

[powderedtoastman]

Ok, a chance for knowledge. I don't understand what that means! I previously owned a Remington 700 SPS tactical in .308. I've also owned a 710, and Savage 110 in 30-06. Currently, this is the only bolt-action rifle I own. I am obviously of less experience than many, but I can't tell any differences in the action from what I remember of the Rem., or Savage.

Do you even like shooting claw extractor rifles?

[powderedtoastman]

Agreed. With the research I've been doing, I'll need to make my own action wrench if I'm gonna save money, and I'll still need to buy certain tools if I can't fabricate a jig of my own. If the tooling isn't going to get used more than once, I think I'll just keep this thing cleaned and preserved as a souvenir

If you're doing it yourself, & it's cheap, I say go for it. If it's gonna be expensive, I say no. Don't throw good money after bad.

[powderedtoastman]

Well, I feel bad like I've wasted your guys' time in giving me this knowledge, but things have changed big time in a few hours! I had lunch with my Dad today and told him what I was thinking about doing with that rifle. He said he had something to give me. We went back to my parents' house, and he gave me this.......




Apparently my great grandfather (who's 90 and still with us) brought this home from WW2! I guess the rule for his company was, if it didn't fit in your sea bag, you couldn't bring it home. So he chopped off the barrel and stock to make it fit in his gear and brought it home! I ended up going to visit my g-grandpa and asked him the story on it, and he WANTS me to build a "nice new fancy rifle" out of it, per his words. Or at least he said I SHOULD. Settled!

[Whiterabbit]

I spy 7.92. The cal is sure right on!

[powderedtoastman]

Words cannot describe how horrifying it was to remove this barrel!!! I have the wheeler action wrench and barrel vise and used them, but all in all I soaked this thing in PB blaster for 2 weeks, made 2 relief cuts in the barrel, had to heat it for 5 minutes straight, and after a battle of epic proportions...
Done.
Now I guess I'll have the whole action trued, not sure where to go for that, but that's next while I decide on a barrel and get it ordered...

[ar15barrels]

I can hang a barrel on that action once you have it, but I would not even bother with truing a mauser action.
There is so little to be gained on a hunting rifle that it's not worth the effort/cost in my opinion.

[6mmintl]

You should look at the surplus Norwegian 7.62mm barrels available in 98K configuration for about $135.

Truing the action (recutting barrel threads/barrel reinforce/receiver face/bolt lugs done on more modern actions.) should not be attempted due to action being case hardened requiring rigid lathe/carbide cutters if attempted, and doing so exposes soft metal core increasing wear/lug setback.

Most 98 actions used internal shoulder to lock/set barrel to receiver.

Minimum would be to true face of bolt and face of receiver if using shouldered barrel approach to receiver face and internal shoulder.

Fluting firing pin/lightening striker will help improve lock time.

The barrel that is on the rifle if in good condition and if 23" or longer could just be recrowned and shot as is to determine accuracy, if not acceptable twist on a new one.

I had Kendog450 set back a used match .308 Kreiger match bull barrel and chamber in 7.62x39mm Lapua for me and its an honest .4 MOA rifle out to 600 with 135/155 SMKs.

The suggestion's that the Mauser action cannot be a precision rifle is not really true, they can be accurate rifles, they don't make extremely accurate benchrest competition type rifles as there are way more better (stiffer/stronger/faster locktime/easier gunsmithed)) actions to use.

[Wrangler John]

Mausers don't make very good precision rifles.
With no sentimental value, keep it as a wall hanger and build a precision rifle with a more modern action with faster lock time and better fitting parts.

^^^ This is the answer. You'll be spending money on a dead horse. No matter the quality of the harness it's going to start stinking at some point. You can buy bare actions from Savage, Remington, Shilen and a bunch of others for a precision rifle, a new foundation made of modern steel is the best investment. Still, most custom rifles don't sell as used for what you put into them, but they are your creation made for what you want to do.

[powderedtoastman]

Well, I've been tossing and turning and spending countless hours doing research trying to make a decision, and I've decided I'm definitely going to build this 98 Mauser into a varmint rifle. Chambering is one thing I can't come to a conclusion on. I'd like something with more punch than a .22 cal projectile, but I can't decide between .243win, 25-06, 260rem, or just do .308win. I reload for rifle, so that's not an issue.

[ar15barrels]

Well, I've been tossing and turning and spending countless hours doing research trying to make a decision, and I've decided I'm definitely going to build this 98 Mauser into a varmint rifle. Chambering is one thing I can't come to a conclusion on. I'd like something with more punch than a .22 cal projectile, but I can't decide between .243win, 25-06, 260rem, or just do .308win. I reload for rifle, so that's not an issue.

Seeing as how it's a long action, stick to common long action Mauser cartridges like 6mm Remington, 25-06, 6.5x55 Swede, 7x57 or 30-06.

[kmullins]

Make it into a 6mm Remington Ackley Improved.

If your wanting a varmint rifle, it will send the 75 grain Hornady V-Max almost 3,900 fps (in a modern action).

Check this article out: 6mm Remington Ackley Varminter

[NorCalFocus]

I also like the 6mm Rem round.

[LynnJr]

Powderedtoastman
I read your post from start to finish and will let you in on a little secret.There are matches held at a couple clubs and they call themselves Precision Rifles as part of there title.It has caused me trouble in the past as they are mainly a tactical club but they shoot some pretty decent rifles nonetheless.

Your wanting to build a Precision Rifle has a double meaning thus the varied responses on this forum.

That said the 98 Mauser suffers from a Military trigger and is a weak action from a bedding standpoint.
If you look at the action were the thumb cutout is you will see very little metal from the cutout to the floorplate.Likewise on the right side of the action it is very thin for the entire length of the loading port.
If you hang a long heavy barrel on it they tend to move around in the bedding material at those points.
A heavy 26 inch varmint weight barrel in 25-06 with a 12 twist will shoot 100 grain ballistic tips at top velocity and be a dandy in a 98 Mauser.
You still need a stock ferrule for the rear action bolts.If your running the factory floor plate it has smaller locking bolts to keep the larger bolts from coming loose.These are all $5 parts available brand new.
Next you want a Timney trigger and you can do that yourself in 5 minutes time.It takes a single allen wrench to install.
Make sure it fits your floorplate as many time you need to do a small amount of filing so the trigger shoe doesn't rub.Always remove metal from the floorplate and never touch the trigger shoe.
Replace the firing pin spring yourself as they run less than $10 and are easily installed.
On the claw extractor they usually require you to load from the magazine an you can't just drop one in the chamber.
This is also easily modified by trimming the bottom front edge at a nice rake then polishing it up with a deburring wheel.
On the barrel get a pre-fit barrel in the white.If you get one short chambered it will cost you to much by the time it is installed.
On the stock that is up to you but the Boyds classic at $120 in walnut fully finished is a decent stock.
You can bed it yourself.
I will try and post you some pictures and links.
Lynn

[LynnJr]

Here are some pictures of a 257 Roberts I am putting together.I am doing a 30-06 and a 35 Whelen as well.
Timney trigger aftermarket bolt shroud to get rid of the sloppy fitting factory safety.Weaver bases and a surfaced boltface showing factory claw extractor unmodified.
Target action on top of Mauser so you can get the idea on action thickness needed to support an extremely heavy barrel.