Mauser Action Length vs. Cartridge Length

[lgm270]

I've seen VZ 24 and other 30-06 length actions made into custom rifles in 22-250, .308, 7mm-08 etc.

How do these shorter cartridges function in the full length actions?   ARe there any feeding problems associated with rebarreling a rifle with a 30-06 length magazine to  the .308 or other short cartridges?

[S.S.]

The only problem I have had was a Spanish 7 mm Mauser that had
been re barreled to a .308. Will jam a standard OAL .308 high above the chamber
into the reciever every time. I load them to a very long OAL and it works fine.
Most problems have solutions.

[Larry Gibson]

The feed rails on most Mauser actions ('92-'98) are designed for the taper of the cartridge case they were made for. When re-barreled to a cartridge with like tape (22-250, 257 Roberts etc.) they most often feed fine. However when cartridge cases of minimal taper (.308, 7-08, 6.5-08, etc) are used the feeding problems are frequent. The problem is when 3+ cartridges are in the magazine the shoulder area of the case is held by the feed rail and the rear f the case is not pushed up so the bolt can catch it. Also with the shorter cartridges the cartridge head does not slip out from under the feed rail soon enough and the bullet nose is pushed into the side of the back of the barrel instead of into the chamber.  The rails can be altered to feed these cartridges but you must know what you're doing as once you remove metal from the rails there is no putting it back (easily anyway). Some of the shorter length M98 actions seem to feed the .308 without alteration though. One has to try them to find out. I've two Yugo M48s, one feeds 7.62 NATO just fine, the other doesnt.

Larry Gibson

[lgm270]

Many thanks for your responses.

[1911crazy]

One of the parts dealers does offer a trigger guard housing with a longer mag housing for the mausers so the longer calibers can be used if they fit in the bolt/receiver dimentions and don't fit in the magazine.  Its either brownells or midwayUSA I think. It could be numrich gun parts too.  I seen it somewhere and these are the only places I shop at.

[1911crazy]

The only problem I have had was a Spanish 7 mm Mauser that had
been re barreled to a .308. Will jam a standard OAL .308 high above the chamber
into the reciever every time. I load them to a very long OAL and it works fine.
Most problems have solutions.

My 30-06 had that same problem and i bent the mag body top feeder lips down in the front until the bullet came out of the mag and went straight into the chamber bore dead center.  The bullet was hitting the top of the chamber were the bolt locks up at 12 oclock evertime it would jam before i fixed it.  By bending the front feeder lips a little at a time adjusting the feeding on the right and left side one at a time it worked out ok.  We become gun smiths a little at a time.

[lgm270]

The only problem I have had was a Spanish 7 mm Mauser that had
been re barreled to a .308. Will jam a standard OAL .308 high above the chamber
into the reciever every time. I load them to a very long OAL and it works fine.
Most problems have solutions.

My 30-06 had that same problem and i bent the mag body top feeder lips down in the front until the bullet came out of the mag and went straight into the chamber bore dead center.  The bullet was hitting the top of the chamber were the bolt locks up at 12 oclock evertime it would jam before i fixed it.  By bending the front feeder lips a little at a time adjusting the feeding on the right and left side one at a time it worked out ok.  We become gun smiths a little at a time.

The "feeder lips"?  I'm talking about an m-98 mauser. It has milled rails, it does not have "feeder lips".  What kind of gun are you referring to?

[1911crazy]

Sorry for the wrong bolt action I had brain fade, but i wonder if the receiver opening can be reworked so it will feed right like my mag lips were redone.  Can that edge at the top be bent down a little so it will feed lower when it comes out of the magazine.  There has to be a way to correct it unless you shim one of the trigger guard screws to angle the mag housing lower or file the top of the screw hole to tilt it when its assembled.  There has to be a way to fix it.  Maybe they change the angle of the ramp under the receiver so it will come up later at less of an angle so it picks up the chambers centerline bore.

I got to be really quick when my 06 would jam on pushing the second round into the chamber. But i wouldn't take it bear hunting.

[1911crazy]

Century arms is offering a german 98k mauser that was reworked by the isralis to 308 and i wonder what they did to make it feed.  If i get some extra $$ i may get one and look at it, they have to cut the receiver opening.

If i remember correctly on the 7,62x39 mauser conversions they put a spacer in the rear of the magazine so the shorter bullet sits closer to the chamber opening so it will feed properly.  That means you need to shorten the pusher and may need a shorter spring too.

[goodconcretecolor]

I had the same problem as S.Sumner with a Spanish Mauser. I found if I had only two rounds in the magazine it fed fine. Two in the mag and one in the chamber worked fine for hunting.