Looking for an action

[Bingo]

  I am looking for an action to start a Father Son build. It is for a friend of mine. He understands that in time he will have more in the gun than he can buy one new, But this can be done over time and he and his boy can build it together. He really doesn't want to get into a lot of money. Maybe a Mauser action that is still nice and tight.
   Anyone have one the would like to see become an heirloom for a kid.

[ctrout]

Your best bet in this case would be to go with a Savage or stevens action.  All work can be done without a gunsmith if you have a minimum 60 IQ and a few special tools.  There are a lot of options for a custom build.  Check out www.savageshooters.com.  More info than you can probably digest in a month.  Here are a couple of mine.

338 Edge with 30" Shilen stainless select match varmint contour barrel, Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24 x 50mm target scope and SSS LVT stock


338-06 24" barrel, Walnut stock, burris FF2 3-9 x 40mm scope

[Bigeasy]

Might want to look at one of the Yugo 48 Mauser rifles that have been imported recently.  Most are in pretty good shape, inexpensive, and would make a pretty good starting point for a step by step sportsterizing project.

Larry

[gunnut69]

I aree with Bigeasy a mauser would be a really good place to start. it's the best engineered action available and requires a loot of work, which is what this type project should about. A Savage is more of an assembly that a build. You don't learn how to drill and tap a hole, polish metal, shape metal or work on a mechanism. Is it the easiest way to get a rifle made...NO. but if that were the criteria simply buy a rifle, used, and restock it.. Quick and cheap. But then that's not the point of the exercise. Teach a boy to find TDC and drill a hole, then tap it for a scope base.,. Install a scope friendly safety. Install a short chambered barrel and set the headspace with a rented reamer and guages. Buy a pre-inlet stock and install, bed and style the stock. It culd even be a 10/22 Ruger. A cheaper build and a fun rifle for a youngster. Of course the teacher either has to have some serious gunsmithing skills or the Ruger would end up an assembling rather than a build.. A lot depends on how complex the father wants to get and how much he already knows or is ready to learn..

[Bingo]

The Dad has a lot of mechanical aptitude but not a lot of money, He is a mechanic, but not a machinist. He is good with wood but not good enough to make a stock from scratch. Some things will need dine by a gunsmith. Re-barrel, head space etc...... To shape a lathe turned stock and replace a trigger, no problem!

[trotterlg]

ctrout has it right, buy a cheap Stevens 200, sell off the parts you will not use and build up a nice savage.  No gunsmth required, you will end up with a better rifle for half the money.  Larry

[gunnut69]

I must disagree at leaast to this extent. The savage would make a good rifle and it would be cheap to build. It would provide little time together for father/son. Buy a base gun, buy and install barrel(you will need a headpsace guage + wrench), screw it all together... It will not necessarily be a better rifle. The mauser is much better engineered than is the Savage. If a mauser is used it may not even need a new barrel. The Swedish 96 rifles are still around and they are great little rifles and usually shoot as good as a modern savage with little alteration. After the rifle is purchased shorten the existing stock and drill and tap the action for a scope mount. Alter the safety to accept a low mounted scope. The existing trigger is perfectly acceptable but when time and funds become available it can be replaced. The rifle can remain shootable and the expense can be spread over a long period of time. Also the 6.5 Swede is a sweet caliber to reload for a kid or anyone recoil concious and they work very well indeed on most of or game animals.  Maybe get into handloading and load developement to further the enjoyment. If money becomes available put on the new stock, add an adjustable trigger, convert to cock on opening, learn to checker the stock..... It can get very expensive if you let some one do the work. Do it yourself and it can take a lot of time but it can be spread out over a long time, and that's what the exercise was supposed to be all about..