Mauser 98 Custom Questions

mmattockx

mmattockx

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I recently bought a bubba'd Mauser 98. In person it is quite a bit rougher than it looked in the seller's pics. Price was still decent just for the action and I got a set of 8x57 reloading dies with it. After looking at it for a bit, I am less and less happy with just leaving it as is and I want to look at building a custom with the action.

I would like to have a gunsmith rebarrel it in a new calibre and then find a nice laminated thumbhole stock for it.

1) Is it reasonable to just have the 'smith do the action/barrel work, then do the stock myself? I am reasonably handy and have done my share of mechanical work on vehicles and other stuff and woodworking over the years. I am not being cheap, I just want to have some of myself invested in the project rather than simply signing a cheque for it when completed.

2) It is the long action, currently in 8x57. What calibres will work without major mods to the bolt or action? I am thinking maybe 25-06 at this point, yes or no?

3) Any recommendations for a gunsmith in the Calgary area to do the work? Rough costs to expect?

Thanks,
Mark
 
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You can bet that you will always sink more money into a custom job than if you would if you bought one already done. Ask me how I know. The last time I did this, I must of spent 1,000.00 only to end up selling it years later for $450 (here on CGN). That does not mean that you shouldn't do it, just know what you are getting into before you do so. Sure, cobble whatever parts you can in advance. Sure, do the stock finishing yourself. Worse case, you can always have someone else fix it up if you run into trouble. Regarding the caliber choice, I'd be inclined to have it rebarreled in a 7x57 calibre - but that's just me. If you are interested in .270 winchester, TradeEx has short chambered mauser barrels for cheap: $95 ... can't beat that price. Theyhave some other parts of interest as well. A stock can be purchased from Richard's microfit (long wait). Google "Mausercentral" for a good site on the topic.

Good luck!
 
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I know the value is not going to be the same for my own custom, but I am not much of a wheeler/dealer type. I tend to hang onto guns for a long time and if I build it myself, it will be a dark day before it ever gets sold. I was figuring around $1000 all in if I do all the wood work myself, I can live with that price tag.

Any other stock choices for laminated thumbhole units?

Mark
 
I did some searching and found a number of stock makers. I liked what Boyd's had for variety and options, along with decent prices. Do they ship to Canada, or have a distributor I can contact up here?

Mark
 
Have you thought about keeping the calibre the same and starting with the stock?

One reason I ask this is because the 8x57 is a great calibre. The only reloading manuals that even come close showing this is the Nosler manual and even then. I am safley getting 2820 fps with Nos 180grn Noslers and 2700 with 200grn Seirras out of an old Husky that I have. It also shoots very accurate.

The other reason I ask this is becuse some mauser actions have shorter magazines ment for the 8x57, 7x57, 6.5x66 etc. and a 30-06 length cartrage with longer bullets will not fit with them in them.

Just my thoughs
 
I just had this same discussion with Rob at ATR. He figured about a grand to rebarrel,etc. He also stated he would not work with a boyd's stock whatsoever, as they take too much work to properly fit.Good luck.
 
Funny running into this post tonight. I am doing a very similar project.
I have a Russian capture K98, stock was trashed so I put a Houge stock on it the year before last. Love the stock. Had it out in the rain and in the winter, hard to beat the grip on a rubberized stock. I want a hunting/range plinking rifle. It is currently chambered for 8X57 but the rifling looks closer to a dirt country road than a match barrel and it groups consistently MO-Barn door.
I love the Mauser action and the action is in pristine shape so I figured a rebarrel and a little trigger work. The chambering I decided on however is 6.5X55. Very similar length to the 8mm and the same base.
Should be up and running by summer.
 
barktwid said:
Have you thought about keeping the calibre the same and starting with the stock?

The other reason I ask this is becuse some mauser actions have shorter magazines ment for the 8x57, 7x57, 6.5x66 etc. and a 30-06 length cartrage with longer bullets will not fit with them in them.

Just my thoughs
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Well, I have a pristine Yugo M48 in 8x57. I agree it is a great calibre, but I want a fast, flat shooting deer/coyote/varmint rifle and the 8x57 isn't the one for that.

I was under the impression that the 8x57 and 30-06 were comparable in length? I will make sure to check that before I commit to a calibre.

Thanks for the tips,
Mark
 
colt45cz75 said:
I just had this same discussion with Rob at ATR. He figured about a grand to rebarrel,etc. He also stated he would not work with a boyd's stock whatsoever, as they take too much work to properly fit.Good luck.
Click to expand...

Was $1000 to do the whole job and deliver a finished rifle? If he does not like Boyd's, what does he like? I want a laminated thumbhole stock with a variety of colors to choose from, if possible. The Boyd's selection was great, but I am open to any and all possibilities.

Thanks,
Mark
 
8x57 vs 7.62x63 aka 30-06. the Yugo action is 1/4" shorter than standard. take a 270/30-06 shelland try putting it in the magazine. If it fits GTG if not need a new mag box, and possibly cut into the lower lug. in other words go 7x57/257/ etc....
 
mmattockx said:
Was $1000 to do the whole job and deliver a finished rifle? If he does not like Boyd's, what does he like? I want a laminated thumbhole stock with a variety of colors to choose from, if possible. The Boyd's selection was great, but I am open to any and all possibilities.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

I was considering a 257 weatherby rebuild. Rick explained that it would need a hell of a lot of work and possibly unfeasible. He didn't specify what stock he prefers.Best way to find out is to e-mail him. If you were to stick with a cartridge of similar size I would imagine the cost would be much less. Good luck.
 
colt45cz75 said:
I was considering a 257 weatherby rebuild. Rick explained that it would need a hell of a lot of work and possibly unfeasible. He didn't specify what stock he prefers.Best way to find out is to e-mail him. If you were to stick with a cartridge of similar size I would imagine the cost would be much less. Good luck.
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I will send him a message and see what he says about it.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Well, I emailed ATR. Rick is currently backed up 6-7 months and it will slide some more when they move in a couple of months... Any other Calgary area 'smiths to check with that may have a better delivery time? I checked with Mysticplayer and he has barrels but doesn't do bolt bending and I have a straight handled bolt that needs to be altered for scope clearance along with the rebarrelling.

Mark
 
How long do you think it takes to get a custom rifle built? Considering that parts need to be ordered and arrive before the work is done, 6 months isn't too bad at all. That's why you start planning builds at the end of hunting season, not half-way in between!
 
BigUglyMan said:
How long do you think it takes to get a custom rifle built? Considering that parts need to be ordered and arrive before the work is done, 6 months isn't too bad at all. That's why you start planning builds at the end of hunting season, not half-way in between!
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No, it's not 6 months to get it done, it's 6+ months before he can start. It does not take 6 months to get the parts and then put a new barrel on an action. I am not dumping on Rick, he is simply that busy.

I do not want a mega buck full build, I simply want a new barrel installed on my action. I will install the new trigger group, inlet the stock and finish it. I am not really in a hurry, but I want faster delivery than Rick can offer, so I am looking around for another option. Is that unreasonable?

Mark
 
Well, normally I would say no, but there aren't many real gunsmiths around, so the ones we have are pretty busy. I've done the Mauser sporter thing many times in many calibers (still have half a dozen or so actions in the cupboard for future projects). Most of the work is within the reach of someone with a modicum of mechanical ability. Stocking, triggers, sights, drilling and tapping, bolt bending, all are relatively simple tasks. A few special tools are required, but it's not rocket science. Rebarreling and rechambering require a barrel vise, receiver wrench, a lathe, reamers, and some real skill, so unless you have those things, farm that part of it out. Finishing can be done by an amateur, but it is extremely time consuming to get it right. As to the caliber questions, bolt face is the same between 30-06 sized cartridges and the X57 family, however, the -06 is longer. It will require magazine box mods, and probably some feed lip work. If you wish to chamber for a standard length magnum (7mm Rem Mag, 257 Wby, 270 Wby, 300 Win Mag, etc), the length will be the same as the 30-06, but the magazine box and feed lips will require more work. Longer and larger magnums are certainly possible, but you are getting seriously into the area of diminishing returns. A properly done Mauser sporter is a joy to behold, milsurp fans not withstanding, and even a Bubba truck gun has a certain charm. In this day and age, from a financial point of view, just buy a Stevens. FWIW - dan
 
Dan,

Thanks for the info. I have bounced around a lot on the calibre, but I think I have settled on .308Win for this project. It should easliy fit the action length and will be everything I want this rifle to be. The bigger magnum can wait for a future project.

I agree on the barrel work. I want a qualified 'smith to rebarrel and headspace at the minimum. I also need the bolt handle bent to clear a scope. I am quite certain I will be fine with the stock work and finishing. But I need to get that barrel sorted before anything else can be accomplished.

I agree on the Stevens, I plan to buy one in 22-250 this summer to fill the varmint/coyote gun niche in my safe. They are a truly great value.

Mark
 
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