Author Topic: 1st project rifle (Read 867 times)

anthony passero · « **on:** January 15, 2005, 04:44:13 AM »

I am thinking of building a rifle from scratch. I was wondering what is a good action to start with. There are so many surplus actions out there. I want something that can take a fairly intense cartridge on the order of a 7x57 mauser or a 6.5x57. I always wanted a light, everyday converted military job with a good stock and a douglas barrel. I am thinking of using a k 98 mauser to start but some people say I am nuts, that they are all 60+ years old. Any ideas of a book or website to start and advice would be really appreciated. Anthony

xp-600 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2005, 08:38:02 AM »

I have a mauser 96 rifle spanish in 7x57 , needs some work it was a gun that was going to be a doner for me but i havent worked on it has a good action and composit stock im wanting to sell

anthony passero · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2005, 09:13:38 AM »

please let me know if you recieved my pm

xp-600 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2005, 01:37:35 AM »

No new pm's you can email me at

lovinmystealth@aol.com

chris

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2005, 03:08:26 AM »

anthony: you can use a K-98, or a M-48, or a VZ/CZ24 or any of the 98 actions. If you want, you can also just get a M96/38 in the original caliber, 6.5 Swede. HTH. Mikey.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2005, 09:33:19 AM »

I can find no referrence to the spanish ever using the 96 actio0n to create a 7x57. The Spanish 7mm's were m93's and M95's. Not bad rifles but not the place to build a high pressure custom sporter. The '95s and 93's were cock on close actions. Meaning the striker was cocked on the closing stroke of the bolt. The '98 was the first of the cock on openiong Mausers. The 93/95 rifles made BY the spanish were very poor quality. Both in manufacture and maintenance. Those made by the germans were well made but heavily used. I would strongly advise extreme care when buying a spanish mauser for customizing...

xp-600 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2005, 11:28:03 AM »

yea its a 1916 spanish yes it cocks on close i was going to rebarrel with a 257 roberts since this is the later with the 3 locking lugs i have been told by my smith
the 7x57 barrel is good its been cut down to 19"

gunnut69 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2005, 03:09:30 PM »

You have a short action cock-on-close action with a third locking lug? Where is the third lug located? Is the bolt handle locked into a notch in the rear tang? No flames intended just curious...

dave375hh · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2005, 03:45:13 PM »

Why not start with a Howa barreled action of known quality and concentrate on the detail and finishing. Reworking a military action is only easy if it is done haphazardly. By this I'm not questioning your abilities just that reworking one correctly is a major operation to do properly. By starting with a sound bbl action first you can perfect many of the required techniques first before you take on the metalsmithing of the action that is or may be of unknown soundness. If you have a background as a machinest or at least a mill operator you have a leg-up to be sure, but properly reworking an action to sporterize it is more involved than just grinding and polishing. I suggest reading everything you can find on the subject first. But by all means give it a try, It's the way most of the pro's got started. Best of luck!

xp-600 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:29:48 AM »

None intended I also was stumped till i was shown the early modles in the rear there is a indention well he pointed out to me on mine the indention is deeper and closes into a raise in the rear that is why i guess these were rebarreled to the 308 round on the later ones mine slipped through before the rebarrling and is still the 7x57

I accuired this rifle off a buddy who i refinished the stock on his full leght manlicher stocked 7x57 mauser small ring he didnt need it and payed me for my time on his stock with the rifle , his is set upo as a scout rifle with a burris 7x pistol scope and after seeing his it looked to be something fun and in a 257 it would be neat but i havent gone very far and have almost lost all interest in it

But there is a sight were they have it listed and the info on it
mauser central if i remember they talk of the 3 lug also

my father has a 98 german mauser with the markings that was customized with a douglas barrel and bell and carlson stock in 270
never really knowing the value of those rifles now in the shape it was then (original) but that was the mid 80"s when it was built

chris

xp-600 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2005, 01:31:37 AM »

actually if you just wanna start one i have been looking at the CZ actions just the action there really good price makes them look better and dont forget those charles dalys

gunnut69 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2005, 07:30:04 AM »

xp-600-- So the rifle you have has the root of the bolt handle turning down into a notch in the rear of the receiver?

Big Paulie · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2005, 05:29:35 AM »

Having done the "customize a mauser" thing, and spent $2,400 and two years, and ended up totally unhappy, I would very respectfully advise that you buy the Howa action as suggested. Unless you are an expert machinist who can do his own metal work, you will not save any money whatsoever trying to "customize" a military action (unless you want to just take a good 98 Mauser in 8mm, leave it in that caliber, and cut it down and clean it up, adding only a dayton traister safety, turning down the bolt handle, and drilling and tapping.)

Do not use a K-98 action, unless you leave it in the original 8mm. Towards the last three years of the war, these were being made by slave labor (intent on sabeutoge when possible), in factories that were being bombed day and night, and during periods when the Germans themselves were trying to make them quicker and cheaper. There are just too many safety issues with a K-98, unless you get a nice pre-War k-98. If you get a nice pre-war, then you would be very foolish to cut it up or re-work it. They are just too valuable.

Hope this info helps.

Big Paulie

gunnut69 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2005, 07:53:37 AM »

A K98 is a great action! There were issues with the very late war models but most were well made and the design is very nearly perfect(IMHO). It handles a peirced primer better than many modern rifles...The safety is positive and locks the striker but allows the bolt to be opened without taking the rifle off safe(this is often sacreficed in sporterizing). Extraction is almost legendary.. They lack modern metalurg but used a very strong system for the day.. Smooth reliable and accurate.. what more do you want. The Spanish 7mm rifles were M93's and M95's. These cock on closing and are short actions and small receiver rings. They lack many of the gas handling refinements of the M98. They also don't have the third safety lug. Some have the root of the bolt handle turned down into a notch in the rear of the receiver (M95) and some of the later 95's had the guide lug of the M96. This is not a safety device but a way to make the rifle less prone to bolt binding. some of these also have the hinged floorplates of some versions of the M98 but they still don't have the gas handling safety measures incorporated in the M98. The Sedish M96's major claim to celebrity is it's manufacture. Made mostly by the Swedes under a contract agreement they used a very fine swedish steel and the best worksmanship. Plus these were well cared for... The M96 Swedes are great little rifles but still lack some of the gas handling properties of the 98. No custom rifle is truly cheap. But one can build just what you want. Remember that just because you buy a new rifle doesn't mean it will work as you would like. I will say that if all your looking for is a good hunting rifle the cheapest way to go is a good used modern sporter. A 700 or M70 or an early Ruger M77.

Racepres · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2005, 06:44:59 PM »

If you want an inexpensive shooter ... buy a used commercial rifle and don't look back. Having said that I recently got a BRNO 98-22 turned 6mmX'06 to the point of firing it (only been at it two years) The only disapointment I have is that I probably could buy at least as good a gun for the same money (or less) But, I made this one .. Ugly stock and all... in the cal. I wanted. Would I do it again?? Yup... using already "sporterized" action and a bit more patience. Patience being the key... Good luck Marty

anthony passero · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2005, 06:34:00 AM »

Thank you everyone for the feed back. I am even more confused then before...lol. I like a 7xi57 , in a mannlicher stock with a low power scope for an everyday eastern woods rifle. I know commercial is cheaper, but I want my own handstamp on it. Plus finding one is next to impossible in a commercial action. Interarms is the only one I know that made one. Anthony

gunnut69 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2005, 08:38:21 AM »

Nearly any good quality 98 mauser will do just fine for your rifle. There are certain processes you will likely farm out but most like to do some themselves. Mannlicher stocks are available from nearly all suppliers some even in laminated(speak with Fred at Wenig's in Lincoln, Missouri). The military action will have to be drilled and tapped for a scope mount and the bolt bent to accomodated a scope sight. The safety will have to be altered to clear the scope also. Each of these operations entails selecting the parts you wish to use and that will dicate to some degree the cost.. Barrels are readily available and installation is probably best left to a pro. Determining all the parts you want on 'your' rifle will to some extent dictate the cost and the smith you select the rest of the cost. With a 20 inch tube(or thereabouts) you have described nerly the ideal woods rifle.. I would use a bit more open grip arc and carefully fit the comb to the scope sight you wish to use. This will allow the rifle to come naturally to the shoulder and the sight to be easily availble.. Unfortunately as in nearly everything there is a danger of getting poor quality service and basically ripped off. Just like buying a used car.. Still I've found gun people to be statistically 'better' than the average... I'd love to help answer your questions.. I've been lusting after just such a rifle for years but can't seem to break loose the time to build anything for myself..

Racepres · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2005, 11:15:25 AM »

Like gunnut69 I envision a 7X57 in a carbine as a perfect woods companion... but alas I have comitted to my current companions. If I had to do what you desire I would do a large ring 98 w/ small ring threads w/ a 7X57 military stepped bbl in a sporterized action as well as a sporterized military (or synthetic) stock ( only because Mannlichier stocks are pricy). There is a guy I know who has very nice, already converted actions that I trust. Drop me a PM and I would be glad to hook ya up w/ him. The other way to go is a small ring but you will be "pressure limited IMHO" still not a bad thing if you don't get power hungry.... LMK if I can be helpful. Marty