Re chambering and safety for mauser 98??

[cleveland48]

Hey guys, i have a 98 mauser that i have been wanting to mess around with for a while.  It has a 308 barrel on it right now and has been on it since i was a little kid. I was wondering what i could have this barrel re chambered too?  I know the 30/06 would be the easiest i've put 06 shells in the magazine and they seem to fit fine and not be too long. The barrel on it right now is pretty heavy barrel, and i was wondering if it could be re cut into something like an 8x57 or a 8mm06 and i really like the looks of a 338/06 u guys know if this is possible going from a .308 . Also i'm looking to have it drilled and tapped for a scope.  Right now it wears williams iron sights.  I'll have to have it drilled and tapped, but i have an old weaver k3 with a post reticle, that i think would make it into a classy looking rifle.  It has a very nice fajen stock on it also.  My biggest problem is with the safey though.  I'm looking at a bueller style safety because it looks ol timey.  Any of u tried this if so any information u have about them would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[mcwoodduck]

As far as rechambering and using the same barrel - 308, 30-06 and 300 Win Mag are your choices.
If you are wanting the change barrels....
Any of the 30-06 cases will work so 270, 280, 338 -06, 35 Wheelan, and 9.3X62
Any of the 308 cases will work so 243, 260, 7-08, 338 Fed, 358 Win
Any of the Mauser cases will work 7mm, 8mm, 7.65 and 6.5X55 (although the rim is slightly larger than the earlier cases mentioned).  And odd things like 7.7 Japanese too will work if you have a large stash of .311 bullets.
If you are willing to change the bolt face.
Any of the belted short mags are possible - 257 Wby, 264 Win, 7mm Rem, 300 Win, 338 Win mag.
Any of the Rigy cased short mags too are possible 300 WSM, ect. Ruger short mags (375 adn 416) and some of the lazzeroni rounds.
Simply changing out the barrel to the caliber you want and have it chambered is all.
As for a safety there are two schools.
A is add a Remington 700 style and either keep the lever safety or replace the cocking peice with a blank one
the second is add a wing safety like a Win 70 or the new Ruger M77 MKII's.
These are simple to change out and it should only take a few minutes.  Brownells has them in their catalog for under $200 in the white so you can have the finish match the rifle.

[Mikey]

Cleveland48:  Get a new barrel.  The twist on the 308 and 30-06 are different - 06 is 1:10, 308 is 1:12, 300 Win Mag is 1:10.  Most all the Mauser calibers, 6.5x55 or 57, 7x57, 8x57, 9.2 or 3 x57 all have the same case rim size - same as the 30-06 family.

If I had a 98 in 308 I would immediately put it back to 8mm and don't let anyone give you the mis-information that the 308 is better than the 8mm.  jmtcw.

Safety issue - get a Bold Trigger with internal safety and you will be very happy.  The internal safety replaces the wing safety so you can use a low mounted scope.  You will need a sleeve - forget the exact name - to replace the wing safety on the bolt - they are available from Brownells. 

[mitchell]

i would stick with the .473 bolt face so that you dont have many feeding problems. 338-06 is a great round and works well in a mauser. but you would have to rebarrel if you were to rechamber the 30-06 is your only choice without a lot of work on the bolt face. but a rebarrel is so cheap i would just go with it and get what you want.

although most people dont think much of them you could get a er shaw barrel in darn near what ever round you want . it will come threaded and short chambered with a few bucks in tools you can rebarrel it your self if you choose. (im sure myself and a bunch of others would be happy to walk you thru it) or you could just send it to er shaw and have them do it all. they will turn you bolt down drill and tap and rebarrel it and there prices arent that bad.


as for the saftey . i know most people dont like it but what i have done is just buy a trigger with a side saftey. leave the bolt on fire and use the trigger safe. good triggers can be had for under $100.

if you have any questions as you go feel free to pm me , ive done a few and would be happy to help

[cwlongshot]

I agree with Mitchell. IMHO its Excellent advice.

I have a number of Mausers. Some nicely sporterised some think they are. My favorites wear a after market trigger with a safety and a new bolt shroud that eliminates the factory safety hole.
My very first Mauser was a gift from my deceased grandfather. It wears a buehler safety and pinned back trigger to reduse it's travel. It's OK I don't change it cause it's how he wanted it. I do occasionally hunt with it for ol' times. It's still chambered in 8 MM Mauser and works wonderfully.

Good luck with yours. Beside to post up some pics too!!

CW

[gunnut69]

I would also like to mention the 338 federal round. It's a 33 on the 308 case. It would be possible to re-bore the present barrel perhaps but they are usually fairly thin and larger bores require larger barrels for safeties sake. The problem is that cost wise its about as expensive as rebarreling.. I'd go with the prior suggestions of using Shaw. As to the safety the Timney or Bueller both make safetues that replace the current three position safety with a low scope safety with 2 positions.. I prefer the old Buellers that were to the left of the bolt shroud. It just seems to fit the hand better but either will work and are quite easy to install. The verticle M70 style safeties require a lot of expense or milling of the exisying bolt shroud and aren't as strong as I like. The PMI version that replaces the entire bolt shroud is great but very pricey. A commercial shroud(no provision for a safety) and a trigger safety is easiest but one should remember the trigger mounted safety is just a trigger block. The others all block the striker itself from falling..

[WSM264]

Dayton Traistor makes a bolt shroud safety that is a 2 position safety.  I think it is around $20.  You will need a Dremel tool to install it.