- Location
- Chilliwack
I have a M98 mauser action and stock looking for a barrel to fit the action. barrel can be chambered for 308,30-06,270, or a 338 cal blank.
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mauser
- Thread starter bearhunter338-06
- Start date
Might want to try the exchange forum. - dan
A 308 will feed and fire nicely. A 30/06 and .270 will require that the feed rails be opened up very slightly and that the front feed ramp (doubles as the bottom locking lug) be ground slightly so full length cartridges will feed from the magazine. The 338 will be very tricky to get to feed from the magazine as the cartridge is longer than the action will handle. You may have to put a blank in the magazine and use it as a single shot. If you have a commercial mauser action designed for long magnums then you should have no problem.
If you have the model 1903 mauser, it is almost 1/4 inch shorter than the standard and will not allow 30/06 or .270 cartridges to load in the magazine or feed properly.
The bolt face for the .308, 30/06 and 270 are all the same. The bolt face on the 338 will be larger and will reguire that the bolt face of the mauser be modified to feed, headspace properly, and extract the spent cartridge.
You are right there are thousands of 270 and 30/06 rifles built on standard length mauser actions. The rails have to be opened slightly at the front and the feed ramp ground to a slightly shallower angle in order for them to to feed reliably. I have owned a number and they are great guns.
As for the 338. The box mag has to be extended and the feed ramp needs extensive shaping or only the lightest bullets can be used in the standard length action. In the 30/06, 220 grain bullets seated out to get close to the rifling may not fit in the box magazine because they are too long.
That's why for those rounds you modify (or buy the correct) the box and follower to accommodate the std length rounds. You can also open the action up slightly at the rear to lessen the amount you cut in to the front ramp (it makes some folks nervous). Std length mags in Mauser actions are relatively easy to do. A little machine work on the bolt face, receiver and feed lips, modify/change the box and follower, fit and chamber the barrel. It's not a Savage, but it's not rocket science either. - dan
-Guys? Check out the original poster's name & remember that he said a .338 cal blank, not a .338 Win Mag or Lapua Mag chambered barrel. Would a .338-06 have any problems in an action intended for something around .30-06 class? I hope not, as that's just what I'd like to do some day.
I have had several military mausers modified for 30/06. 220 grain round nose bullets will fit in the magazine. 220 grain spire point make the overall length of the cartridge to long to fit the magazine unless the bullet is seated deeper in the case than I am comfortable with. A .338/06 would be limited to shorter (lighter) bullets.
The Norwegian mauser that is arsenal converted to .30/06 works well with 150 grain ball ammo. Put in a 220 grain round nose and there start to be feeding problems as the bullet will sometimes gouge on the feed ramp. The same is true of some gunsmith conversions.
Commercial M98 actions built for the 30/06 have enough room for long bullets and feed really well even with long heavy bullets. They make the room at the back of the magazine rather than the front.
It seems that .308 length cases seem to feed better than 30/06 length cases out of the Military mauser actions- at least in the conversions I have owned and shot.
A .338/08 wildcat cartridge would be an interesting beast and would work extremely well through a standard mauser action with very little tuning.
Actaully I found them online at Saskatoon Gunworks. Check them out on the edge classifieds as they have a list on there.
