Mauser 98 "scout"

BeaverMeat

BeaverMeat

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I'm starting to like the scout rifle concept. I was all hard into buying a Ruger GSR... but I'm still not sold on that rifle. So I've been looking into getting a custom rifle built off a Mauser 98 action.

The No 4 MkII, MkI/2, or MkI/3 actions were my original choice. Problem was finding off-the-shelf parts for a custom build of my requirements. Everything would have to be custom built. So I'm going with the 98.

Here's what I'm thinking:

- Original 98 action with clip guide (would prefer a late 40s FN action)
- stainless 16" .308 1-10 barrel
- CDi AICS bottom metal

Stock is undecided, something strong and light. Barrel mounted rail might have to be custom made. I'll have to do some more searching to find something that will work.

To keep things simple I'm wanting to have the muzzle end threaded for M1A muzzle devices. Thinking a SAI Scout brake or SEI/Good Iron USCG brake. In addition my front sight choices will be plentiful.

I have yet to find a ghost ring sight for the rear. Must be adjustable.

Any suggestion?

Thanks in advance.
 
This is a really good idea. If it's going to be all custom, will you get the detach magazine adapter? What kind of iron sights will you use if you can't find a rear ghost ring? Will you bother with the bipod?

I'm with you on the Ruger GSS, I had one and it was incredibly bad. I bought the Savage Axis Scout in 7.62x39, and recently a Tikka T3 Arctic in 308. The Arctic is possibly the finest rifle I've come across..
 
the rugers are pretty nice actually. if u do build one out of a 98 find a butchered one and leave the originals as is. i have an fr8 already has a short barrel peep sights and in 308 and my trench mag works on it
 
Its your choice of course but I wouldn't want a .308 with a barrel shorter than 18". They just get too loud! I actually wish my 18.5" GSR was 20". Now if we were permitted to have suppressors on hunting rifles....
 
Rocket Surgery said:
This is a really good idea. If it's going to be all custom, will you get the detach magazine adapter? What kind of iron sights will you use if you can't find a rear ghost ring? Will you bother with the bipod?.
Click to expand...

In the first post:

To keep things simple I'm wanting to have the muzzle end threaded for M1A muzzle devices. Thinking a SAI Scout brake or SEI/Good Iron USCG brake. In addition my front sight choices will be plentiful.
Click to expand...

XS does make a GRS for the 98. Although I would like wings.
 
kayaker1 said:
Its your choice of course but I wouldn't want a .308 with a barrel shorter than 18". They just get too loud! I actually wish my 18.5" GSR was 20". Now if we were permitted to have suppressors on hunting rifles....
Click to expand...

I'd sacrafice some noise for portability. A linear comp might help with that.
 
I've been thinking of turning a Mauser into a scout aswell.
Mausers are cheap, plentiful, and sturdy.
The problem with mausers is the military safety prevents a scope from being mounted low, and the lack of detachable mag makes loading slow as stripper clips cant be used with a scope.
Setting one up as a scout negates this cons, and your left with an inexpensive solid scout rifle.
 
kaskirov said:
I've been thinking of turning a Mauser into a scout aswell.
Mausers are cheap, plentiful, and sturdy.
The problem with mausers is the military safety prevents a scope from being mounted low, and the lack of detachable mag makes loading slow as stripper clips cant be used with a scope.
Setting one up as a scout negates this cons, and your left with an inexpensive solid scout rifle.
Click to expand...

CDi aluminum AICS magwell.

You can retain the standard safety if you mount the scope on the barrel. The original safety is probably the best safety ever devised. It's just a pain to disengage when shoulderd.
 
So, to OP - what do you have in mind for it's use? I've been collecting parts for years to put one together - I bought a couple Weaver 92A bases which appear very close fit to drill and tap into the section of 98 barrel where the rear sight sleeve sits. Just haven't had the "guts" to actually fire up the drill press and drill the holes! Came across an older matte Burris 2.75x Scout scope for it. Have a stash of stripper clips, a sported CZ marked action (Brno?), and a new, in the white M48 8x57 barrel. Also have a sported Isreali 7.62 all forlorn and ignored in the cabinet. All good stuff, for me an interesting project. However, not real certain what it would be for. I read a neat critique suggesting that the era of a "lone wanderer in the wilderness", living off the land, sort of wound up about 150 years ago, if it ever actually existed. The old Colonel seemed to develop a perfect solution about 100 years after the problem had went away. As far as apocalyptic scenarios, I am thinking some sort of 9mm handgun and an SKS (with a case or two of ammo) would make more sense today. I am sure I will build one, just not sure what I will end up doing with it. Your thoughts?
 
find the article by Finn Aagaard on his scout rifle,,friend of Colonel Jeff Cooper,,,

That's how I would build a scout rifle,,
 
I see a few possibilities and a few problems. A military Mauser is a relatively heavy action, so meeting the 3 kilo weight limitations of a Scout would be difficult, without expensive machining to reduce it's weight. Again with the barrel, unless you chose a barrel with a very light contour, weight is an issue, and machining a lighter contour to an existing barrel is expensive, and can create stresses that affect accuracy. A very short, light contour, barrel is sure to result in an unbalanced, clubby rifle, so I urge you to either select a longer 20" barrel, or a slightly heavier contour 18" barrel. There is no reason a clip guide could not be machined into a lighter commercial action. Jeff Cooper had two Scouts made, similar to your idea, one on an 03 Springfield in .30/06, and the other on a 600 Brno in .308; IMHO the Brno represented the best of the breed. The Springfield didn't make weight, so he referred to it as a quasi Scout. Any full custom rifle is going to be an expensive proposition, that can take a great deal of time to complete, whereas a commercial Ruger Scout probably is a more affordable option, that can be bought off the shelf, and can be tweaked over time, with a lighter stock, and machining for a clip guide.
 
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kayaker1 said:
Its your choice of course but I wouldn't want a .308 with a barrel shorter than 18". They just get too loud! I actually wish my 18.5" GSR was 20". Now if we were permitted to have suppressors on hunting rifles....
Click to expand...

I had a Ruger GSR with a synthetic stock and the 16.1 inch barrel and I found it very loud with the muzzle break on and ended up selling it after I got a CZ 557 Range rifle since I did not want two bolt action 308's
 
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Potashminer said:
So, to OP - what do you have in mind for it's use? I've been collecting parts for years to put one together - I bought a couple Weaver 92A bases which appear very close fit to drill and tap into the section of 98 barrel where the rear sight sleeve sits. Just haven't had the "guts" to actually fire up the drill press and drill the holes! Came across an older matte Burris 2.75x Scout scope for it. Have a stash of stripper clips, a sported CZ marked action (Brno?), and a new, in the white M48 8x57 barrel. Also have a sported Isreali 7.62 all forlorn and ignored in the cabinet. All good stuff, for me an interesting project. However, not real certain what it would be for. I read a neat critique suggesting that the era of a "lone wanderer in the wilderness", living off the land, sort of wound up about 150 years ago, if it ever actually existed. The old Colonel seemed to develop a perfect solution about 100 years after the problem had went away. As far as apocalyptic scenarios, I am thinking some sort of 9mm handgun and an SKS (with a case or two of ammo) would make more sense today. I am sure I will build one, just not sure what I will end up doing with it. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Hunting. That's about it. I've gone from "must want" to "must need" a general purpose go to rifle. Plus I do like the forward scope placement after I set-up my 1895SBL 45/70 in a scout configuration.

Boomer said:
I see a few possibilities and a few problems. A military Mauser is a relatively heavy action, so meeting the 3 kilo weight limitations of a Scout would be difficult, without expensive machining to reduce it's weight. Again with the barrel, unless you chose a barrel with a very light contour, weight is an issue, and machining a lighter contour to an existing barrel is expensive, and can create stresses that affect accuracy. A very short, light contour, barrel is sure to result in an unbalanced, clubby rifle, so I urge you to either select a longer 20" barrel, or a slightly heavier contour 18" barrel. There is no reason a clip guide could not be machined into a lighter commercial action. Jeff Cooper had two Scouts made, similar to your idea, one on an 03 Springfield in .30/06, and the other on a 600 Brno in .308; IMHO the Brno represented the best of the breed. The Springfield didn't make weight, so he referred to it as a quasi Scout. Any full custom rifle is going to be an expensive proposition, that can take a great deal of time to complete, whereas a commercial Ruger Scout probably is a more affordable option, that can be bought off the shelf, and can be tweaked over time, with a lighter stock, and machining for a clip guide.
Click to expand...

Not too worried about a short barrel especially if I'm mounting an optic ahead of the action. The added weight will balance out the short "clubby" gun. The short barrel will help reduce weight along with a light as possible stock. Aluminum bottom metal as well.

I do know about the heavy 98 action. If I'm lucky I can find a G33/40 action that's allready lost its collector appeal. Perhaps a M96 or HVA may do the trick. It's still on the drawling board.

You'd think there was an aftermarket clip guide for the Ruger GSR. So far nothing has been designed.

rhino62 said:
I had a Ruger GSR with a synthetic stock and the 16.1 inch barrel and I found it very loud with the muzzle break on and ended up selling it after I got a CZ 557 Range rifle because it was not very pleasant to shoot.
Click to expand...

I'm not too uncomfortable with loud nasty rifles. If your just sitting at a bench shooting at targets I could see it being a problem. When your in the field hunting you'll never notice the recoil or noise. Perhaps some of those fancy active earplugs will save your ears.

I have decided against a break for reasons above.
 
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I have been thinking of a Mauser 98 project myself.
I already have a perfect colour case hardened Oberndorf bolt and floorplate, and a nicely worked K98 trigger from a Danish M69. I want to build mine on an interesting K98 action with good original bluing paired to a new matte stainless 18.5" medium contour barrel with Battue-style sights. For a stock, I was thinking of a Boyds pepper laminate, fully bedded. I would take a rifle like that on woods loafing adventures. Calibre would be 6.5x55.
 
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