Which Mauser action for this project?

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I'm near finishing the specs for a big bore wildcat cartridge based on the 458 Winchester case with its .532 base. This cartridge will propel a 400 grain bullet in the 40 caliber range so I do not require a magnum sized action. I will be looking for a classic finish becoming a traditional African Big Bore ie: a Jeffery, Westley Richards etc.

As I can see, every Tom #### and Harry around the world has produced one form or another of this action. I'm looking for an action that doesn't have the usual sloppy bolt movement as the military actions or all sorts of stampings that make it look like a passport.

Also: Since most of the Mausers where in the 8 and 9mm range - how difficult would it be to open the bolt face to the 458 Win. base? Who would do this and how much it cost?
 
How about a Husqvarna 1600 action? They are a very nice, slick modified Mauser, full size but small ring. I believe they were factory chambered for the 358 Norma Mag, which is a belted cartridge.

Check Tradex (top of page) they have lots for sale, but complete rifles, not actions.

You could also start with a bare, new CZ action.
 
Most Mausers will easily accept the .532" Magnum bolt face with gunsmith modifcation, getting them to feed reliably is more work however. Still consider a true magnum action, as all the hype about short actions being better is just that, hype, what a short action gives you is a lot of limitations, like seating length. In a magnum action, you'll be able to seat to the best length possible, even with heavies. You also will need zero modification of the bolt face, and most importantly, it will feed with little modification, in fact, a BRNO 602 magnum action will likely feed with zero modification for your cartridge, and hold up to 6 in the mag +1 in the chamber. The 602 is also the gun most found in the hands of PHs in Africa, and even common in Alaska, it's a rock solid, damn reliable double square bridge action with a huge Ribgy style bellied mag. It'd be cheaper to start with the right action, a magnum action, than to intially spend less on a smaller action then modify the bolt face, and try and get it to feed. True magnum actions already come sitting in stocks up for the job of the recoil your cartridge will generate too, whereas a smaller action's stock will have to be replaced or built up, cross bolted etc.

BRNO0319001251.jpg

BRNO0319001249.jpg
 
The magnum action is up to you but the case you are using for a base is designed for a standard length action. From the bullet weight you desire, unless you are going to use some extremely long spitzer boat tail bullets, you will have all the length you need in a standard length action. Necking down the 458Win Mag case to 40 cal is a good idea. It will solve many of the problems related to the parent cartridge.

Any good "commercial" 98 clone will do fine. Especially if you can find one already chambered in 458 Win Mag. That would probably be the best way to go actually. It would certainly save you a ton of gunsmith bills and feeding problems. The commercial FN or Husky actions come to mind first. The next action to consider is the Model 70 Winchester, don't worry about controled round feed but if it rocks your boat, go for one of the pre 64 or newer CRF models. You should also think big on stock design. The cartridge you are envisioning will generate a lot of recoil, especially at higher velocities. IMHO, I certainly wouldn't be planning on making it an ultra light or even medium weight. While I'm at it. I should mention the Montana actions and barrels available from "Bits of Pieces" in Delta, BC. Just Google the site and check out their prices, very competitive and all actions are in the white, ready for a blue job, unless you decide on a stainless action, which is another very good option to consider and it's unavailable on a surplus action.

By going to a previously dedicated 458WM commercial action, you will save yourself a pile of trouble and money. The triggers are already good, the mag wells are the right shape, the feed rails are already proper for the case, the bolt face is already correct and the extractor is good as is. If it comes with a decent stock, bonus all around.

Converting surplus actions is a lot more expensive than buying a tailor made commercial action. You will get your rifle a year or more faster as well. The commercial actions are already d&t for scope mounts but you may want to add ghost rings instead.

All in all a very worthy wildcat conversion but if you can't do most of the work yourself, I wouldn't suggest starting the project with a surplus action. It's just way to expensive and you would only be reinventing the wheel.
 
Good advice from bearhunter. It's pretty evident where my bias lies, larger cases, and I would seriously look at doing this cartridge on the .458 Lott case, not the .458 Win. Once you create a neck in the .458 Win, you're going to have a pretty limited cartridge with all the capacity you lose to give yourself a reasonable neck for reloading.
 
Lot's of good advice from other posters but I'll throw my 2 cents in anyway.

It sound as if yu have something along the lines of a .416 Taylor/416-338/416 Win Express as a caliber for the new rifle. If that's the case you would be well served with a Mauser 98 action. As mentioned, a commercial action would be a best choice as they come with a scope friendly bolt handle and safety and are drilled and tapped from the factory. Also, the mag well is usually around 3.4" long which is ample for the short mags. Choices for a commercial action would be:

Zastava action(Interarms/Daly/Remington 798)
FN(including JC Higgins Model 50, Husqvarna)
Browning FN

Using a military action can be an option but there are extra costs to convert the bolt handle and safety to clear a scope and for drilling and tapping. The bigger problem with the military actions is that their bottom metal is generally sized to the 8mm Mauser and is too short to accommodate longer rounds.

As for opening bolt faces and extractors and getting the feeding right, those are basic gunsmithing operations that shouldn't be a problem for a competent 'smith.

To give you an idea of costs I have a JC Higgins in .375 Ruger that started out as a .270 Win. The work done included barrel supply and installation(threading, chambering, cut/crown, profiling), bolt face/extractor mods, replacing the bolt handle with a Talley-style, barrel band, feeding work. Cost including the donor rifle was around $1300.00 including a Timney trigger. I used the original stock and did my own bluing for free.

BTW, a guy who posts over on the 24hourcampfire has built a Mauser chambered in .404-375 Ruger:). Sounds interesting..
 
Which mauser action

I built a 338/375 chatfield taylor (AKA 375 epstien) on a 98 mauser action and I had no problem getting it to feed, had to do a little grinder work on the gap to get the catridge to feed properly and opened up the bolt face to accept the larger base. There was plenty enough room to accept the longest bullet. Could push a 270 grn nosler over 3000fps. and if you google 375 epstien you will find that it is close to a 378 weatherby.
joe
 
I've got a Cz602 in 375 H&H improved(ICL configuration). It's a big heavy beast, that lands about halfway between the 375 H&H and the 378 wby, pretty close to 375 wby specs. Even with the improved shoulder on the case, this thing cycles rounds very well. I haven't had a rifle that chambereed and functioned this well ever. Now if I could find a better stock for it and turn the barrel down to a reasonable contour........
 
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