FN Mauser or Interarms ???

[Coyote Hunter]

OK, I have a dilemna regarding the custom rifle I'm building.

In hand, a new Interarms Mauser action with standard .473" bolt face and feed rails to match.

Available for trade (and probably a little cash), a 'pristine' 1950's (estimated) FN Mauser action, standard length with .532" magnum bolt face and feed rails to match.

The FN action would get built as a .375 Ruger.

The Interarms would get built as a .338-06, .338 Hawk, .35 Whelen or possibly opened up and built as a .375 Ruger.

I guess I also have the option to swap the Interarms action for a Ruger M77 MKII or Remington M700.

Questions:

1. I've been told the Mauser actions won't slick up as nice as the Remington or Ruger  - is this true?


2. Which way would you go (regarding the actions) and why?

[Swampman]

That's a tough one....

As much as I like my Interarms Mark X, that FN would probably get my vote.

Keep the Interarms for a later project.   Mine is very slick.

I like the .375 Ruger cartridge a lot, but I'd rather have the .375H&H for the nostalgia.

[lrs]

I'd go with the FN.
I think a FN 9.3x62 would be a good rifle.

[Boxhead]

An FN 9.3x62 IS a great rifle. That's what I would do if I were you.

[Coyote Hunter]

Sorry guys, the 9.3x62, while a good cartridge, is not in the running.

Leaving the action as is:
338-06
.338 Hawk
.35 Whelen

Or, with the action opened up or swapped:
.338-375 (Necked down .375 Ruger)
.375 Ruger

[kyelkhunter3006]

I think that a good Mauser action, once it's broken in a bit, is as slick as them come.  Well, a Mannlicher action is super smooth....but that's not one of your choices.  I say keep the Interarms and make it a Whelen or the 338-06.  Either of them will do anything any belted round or "magnum" under .375 will do, and then some.  But I'd be really tempted with that Ruger action too.

[45north]

I have an interarms whitworth in 375 H&H with a brown precision stock on it and every rifle in my battery can be traded or sold god forbid and that includes my 4 ruger 77 mkII's,a 270 win ultralite,two 338 win mag's and one 35 whelen special edition but I will never ever loosen my grip on my interarms 375 H&H. Enough said..
45north

[Brithunter]

1. I've been told the Mauser actions won't slick up as nice as the Remington or Ruger  - is this true?
 

No it's pure Bunk 

if you just think about it for a second or two your suggesting that that a Holland & Holland, a Purdy, or Westley Richards and even Rigby bolt action rifles are rough in operation  sorry but it's laughable. One could also suggest that Fred Wells' rifles must be rough as he used Mauser actions as well.

   And out of your choices I would go with the 35 Wheelan and there is no way I would ever swop a Mauser for a Rem 700  the thought is simply too shocking to contemplate. Keep the Interarms the FN's are nice but you already have the Interamrs in your hand  .

[jstevens]

The two actions are functionally the same, but the FN will be far better finished and smoother.  I own several of both and really love the old 50's FN actions.  They are finished better on the inside than most new rifles are on the outside and they are a Mauser.

[AtlLaw]

In hand, a new Interarms Mauser action with standard .473" bolt face and feed rails to match.

As good a modern 98 action as is made IMO.  I wouldn't hesitate to use one in any build.

a 'pristine' 1950's (estimated) FN Mauser action, standard length with .532" magnum bolt face and feed rails to match.

To me, the epitome of commercial 98's.  I'd love to have one!  I keep looking for Sears & Robuck Mausers to try to talk someone out of that "cheap ol' JC Higgins rifle..."   

Questions:
1. I've been told the Mauser actions won't slick up as nice as the Remington or Ruger  - is this true?

Of course not...  They're just a different feel.  But I think someone else commented on that.

2. Which way would you go (regarding the actions) and why?

Easy, I'd keep the IA and also procure the FN.    But you said:

The FN action would get built as a .375 Ruger.  The Interarms would get built as a .338-06, .338 Hawk, .35 Whelen or possibly opened up and built as a .375 Ruger.

So whether you end up with one or both actions, the first question you must answer is which cartridge do I want the most.  The answer to that will drive your action selection.  If it were me I'd eliminate any action modification from the equation, i.e. opening up a bolt face/modifying rails.

Ain't these kind of problems grand!   

[Coyote Hunter]

2. Which way would you go (regarding the actions) and why?

Easy, I'd keep the IA and also procure the FN.    ...
Ain't these kind of problems grand!   

I like the way you think! 

And yes, I'm fortunate to have such a problem!!!

[mrbigtexan]

the fn needs to be hardened to within specs of a magnum, but the newer ia should be sufficient for anything thrown at it with the newer metals it was made from. if the bolt face has already been opened up on the fn then it probably already has been hardened, but you need to ask anyways.

[EdinCT]

 My dad had a FN of that period and it was Smooooth. I have a Mark X 7/57 that shoots great but its rough compared to what my dad had. That said though the Mark X shoots MOA and the adjustable trigger that came with it has been very good, for a fabulous price, I and my sons have twenty years of success on more whitetails than I can remember now.

[Brithunter]

Ahhhh I think the problem here is that we are comparing rifles from totally differetn eras. The 1950's FN was made when quality was paramount, even inside actions were smoothed and carefully finished something that is too costly today or so we are told  , but back then a rifle so poorly finished which is now considered normal or at least acceptable would never have sold at all.

Now I can only go on those I have actually seen and the couple of Mark X's were fine rifles indeed with no roughness. Of course to odd one may slip through  my CZ ZKK 601 needed a little smoothing something which is not the norm or was not the norm as of course the ZKK 600 series has been replaced and is no longer made  .

As you have the Mark X in hand I would go with that however if I could swing it I would certainly acquire the FN  after all it won't eat anything 

[Coyote Hunter]

Looked at several FN Mausers today at the Tanner Gun show in Denver.  One was clearly stamped "1952" in the receiver, another as was tagged as a 1950 model.

One locked the bolt up tightly when closed, like my Interarms MArk X, the other you could wiggle the back of the bolt.  All were smooth to operate and well finished on the inside of the receiver.

I'll be keeping the Interarms and maybe just polish up the innards a bit.

[Brithunter]

If you stop and think about it for a moment  there should slighty fore and aft play in the bolt with a empty chamber. Otherwise the bolt face is contacting the breech face and the must be some room for the headspacing! Likewise on a Mauser 98 action the third (safety) lug should not bear at all in normal use.

Edit:-
Almost forgot  as you cole the bolt do so very slowly and watch carefully the extractor and you will see it move very slightly outwards as it rides into it's recess. Depending on how it's fitted this can take up the slight play there should be 

[Coyote Hunter]

If you stop and think about it for a moment  there should slighty fore and aft play in the bolt with a empty chamber. Otherwise the bolt face is contacting the breech face and the must be some room for the headspacing! Likewise on a Mauser 98 action the third (safety) lug should not bear at all in normal use.

Edit:-
Almost forgot  as you cole the bolt do so very slowly and watch carefully the extractor and you will see it move very slightly outwards as it rides into it's recess. Depending on how it's fitted this can take up the slight play there should be 

Keep in mind my Interarms Mark X action is just that - no barrel attached, so there is no breech face for the bolt face to contact.  The wiggle I was talking about with the FN actions was side-to-side, not fore-and-aft.

In any case, much as I'd love to have an action stamped FN, that will have to be down the road - the Interarms Mark X wil be the one for this build.