Rem 700 Bolt Handle on Mauser Action

[dondford]

GunNut69: Great answer on my riflestock question; I am going with a aa-aaa piece of Claro.
My next question:

I am building a rifle on a Swede 96 Mauser action; I have always liked the styling of the Rem 700 Bolt Handle (albeit they are always falling off) and wonder if there is a down-side of using a 700 handle on this action.

Thanking you in advance for your thoughts.

Don

[billy_56081]

On a 96 mauser or any other small ring mauser you must maintain the bolt stop machined into the base of the bolt handle. This is the square portion at the base of the bolt handle that hits the saftey shroud to stop the bolt handle. As long as you maintain the bolt stop you can put any handle you wish.

[gunnut69]

The style of bolt handle used by Remington there shoudn't be a problem. As for how to install just cut the existing handle off just outside the receiver wall and weld the new handle to that stub. That's the normal procedure anyway so it's an easy process. I would reccomend the handle length be a bit longer than the normal M700. On the cock on opening mauser actions the conversion process involves cutting a cocking cam into the rear of the bolt. Even if the cam is helical in nature the cocking effort is a bit higher than an action design as a cock on opening system. I prefer a more rounded style as found on the M70 as it fits the open handed technique I tend to use.. I am a poor welder so use a good friend who was a body shop welder. He uses a MIG welder with high tensile wire and it really works well.

[Rangr44]

Here's a Remington 700 handle on a Mauser bolt - Be SURE a good heatsink is used during welding, to prevent any change to the bolt/boltlugs hardness/heat treat.





Some rifle owners/builders may prefer that the bolt handle shaft lie closer to the stock/action, i.e. in a groove cut into the stock wood to accept it in the closed position.

If so, then the only difference in the prep would be (besides the stockwork) to grind the old bolt handle stub shorter (prior to welding on the M700 handle), so that the upper end of the M700 bolt stem lies closer to the bolt C/L.
(The action/tang may also require a small clearance notch be filed, under the root of the bolt handle)

Just be aware, however, if that's done - the wood inletting for the bolt handle shaft can be TOO deep, exposing the trigger inletting and/or trigger to both view (with the bolt handle raised) and the elements.

.