Anyone one with precision rifles built on Mauser actions?
- Thread starter CustomMauser
- Start date
Though far from ideal, they can certainly be used for a precision rig. One chap that shoots at our BC matches uses Turkish Mausers that he has powdercoated and accurized and they look incredible. He has done very well with them, so they can obviously work.
The criticism has always been their lock time, that is essentially the period of time it takes from the instant you pull the trigger to the point when it strikes the primer. Because of their vintage - and in particular the Spanish Mauser, the steels used are often reputed to become more brittle with age and are not considered an optimal platform for a high-pressure cartidge.
If their integral lugs are true and it has been properly headspaced, there is no reason they cannot be made to shoot very well with a good barrel as a budget project.
The criticism has always been their lock time, that is essentially the period of time it takes from the instant you pull the trigger to the point when it strikes the primer. Because of their vintage - and in particular the Spanish Mauser, the steels used are often reputed to become more brittle with age and are not considered an optimal platform for a high-pressure cartidge.
If their integral lugs are true and it has been properly headspaced, there is no reason they cannot be made to shoot very well with a good barrel as a budget project.
Although as stated they are not ideal i lucked into these 2 actions at and incredible price.. One of them the Magnum is already barreled for 7mm stw and shoots rather well so far.. I have shot it very limited with factory ammo and am getting just over 1 inch groups.. so i figured with some modding and truing and a good load i should be able to get it down quite abit...
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I have built many target rifles using military actions. Mostly sporterised P series.
They can work very well but if they need work to tune, that is going to add alot to the 'cheapness' of the project.
The cost to tune up a Mauser is likely the same as tuning a Rem. With the Rem, you now have a zillion accessories the most important being triggers.
I use Savage/Stevens and they work just fine out of the box but moding the bolt timing will make it much more pleasant to operate.
These older gems can certainly shoot well with quality barrels but I wonder if that is a good long term investment?"
Jerry
They can work very well but if they need work to tune, that is going to add alot to the 'cheapness' of the project.
The cost to tune up a Mauser is likely the same as tuning a Rem. With the Rem, you now have a zillion accessories the most important being triggers.
I use Savage/Stevens and they work just fine out of the box but moding the bolt timing will make it much more pleasant to operate.
These older gems can certainly shoot well with quality barrels but I wonder if that is a good long term investment?"
Jerry
Totally understand from an investment point of view.. But myself i just want rifles built for me, They will be passed on to family so resale is unimportant.. I realize they will cost the same as a 700 to modify but i have hardly anything into both actions and the magnum action has a Douglas barrel and Timney trigger already.. So if i invest 500 into the action i have a stock and i only have 650 into what should be a nice rifle?
Thanks for the replys..
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Why would you need to do anything to the action if the barrel is already installed?
I would just spend my time tuning a load and enjoying it for what it is.
When you blueprint an action and the action threads need to be recut, the original barrel can't be put back on cause the threads are too small. Unless this barrel has a long shoulder to set back, you will not gain anything from this barrel.
Bed properly, work up some loads and have at it. The odds are the barrel will have a 'short' lifespan (7STW) so you can think about your next project and tune the action then.
Maybe it was already done????
Jerry
I would just spend my time tuning a load and enjoying it for what it is.
When you blueprint an action and the action threads need to be recut, the original barrel can't be put back on cause the threads are too small. Unless this barrel has a long shoulder to set back, you will not gain anything from this barrel.
Bed properly, work up some loads and have at it. The odds are the barrel will have a 'short' lifespan (7STW) so you can think about your next project and tune the action then.
Maybe it was already done????
Jerry
Everyone with a Parker Hale M82 etc sniper rifle has a "precision Mauser rifle". And yes, they can be made to shoot very well. Is it a BR gun? No, but not much else is either. Enjoy it. - dan
- Location
- Newmarket,Ontario
I was out yesterday with my 1916 GEW 98 with original 8mm Barrel. The only Mod I have is a new trigger and stock and was getting some groups of 1/2" to 1" at 100 yrs. I thought about getting it more tricked out but hell it shoots so nice that I'm thinking on just reloading 8mm now.
That also is an option.. Was planning on shooting it some more before sending it out for any work!
I personally just like to be different.. Would love to show up at the range with my own personal idea of a precision rifle.. I have yet to see a mauser precision at the range i shoot at!
Totally understand just like to be different then most
Thats awesome
You haven't been to EOHC then.
I have one that I got quite cheap a couple of years ago at a local gun shop. It is a retired "Old School" target rifle in 308, that came with a peep sight (that I sold for half of what I paid for the gun). I installed a scope, and it shoots well enough to compete with other target rifles to 200 yds, but beyond that I know I'd not be able to do as well as I could with something else.If "being different" is a prize to you, then you might have to be content with just that if you shoot competitively.
Excellent point dan; CustomMauser, have a look at the Parker Hale sticky at the top of the "Precision Rifles" forum - I'm sure these rifles can be accurized and rebarelled to shoot real well.
That aside, why not look to Mauser's current offerings as a foundation? The company's still around... http://www.mauserwaffen.de/
I know exactly what you mean, which is why I went with a Blaser
I was reading the sticky already.. Pretty informative.. I already have 2 actions that is why i am not looking at the current production.. Thanks for the replys and info everyone!
I have a fn israeli mauser .22 single shot receiver and a israeli 308 98k mauser bbl. My plan is to put it together and make a single shot 308 rifle. But, I need a israeli 308 bolt complete to do this. The receiver is heavier than the normal 308 receiver. I have been restoring fn israeli mauser .22 single shot rifles and since I have the 308 barrel with both sights, it seems like an idea.
Anyone see any problems?
Anyone see any problems?
I recently bough a Norwegian Mauser M67 from a friend, it's 308 with a heavy round barrel and blond stock. Those rifles are fairly rare in Canada, I've heard there are about 50 of them in total, don't know how true is it. The only thing I did was replaced original diopter sight with a Burris Fullfield II milspec scope that I had left from the sale of a precision rifle. The setup shoots much better than I do, I'm getting 1/2" groups at 200 yds. Needless to say, I paid for it well below $1000. Action is not the smoothest, but does the job. Trigger is very light and crisp and recoil is unexpetedly light, the rifle is fairly heavy. Given well made custom loads, I'm pretty sure it will give you everything a precision target rifle will.
A magnum Mauser is a very valuable action and a waste on anything but a big boomer. As for the Santa Barbara it is not in the same quality as a nice 1909 Argentine or 1908 Brazilian when we are talking surplus rifles, a good commercial Mauser like an FN or Browning would be years ahead for custom work since alot of the prep work is not required. You can get good triggers and mounts easily along with a decent stock selection. The accurizing is nothing out of the ordinary from other actions. I was shooting at one match when a guy showed up with a Mauser 98 actioned rifle and proceeded to clean shop, he send us all packing that day, we shot Hunter at 100 and 200 and bench for score at the same distances.
The point is that it is seldom the gun that limits our potential at the range, unless you have a lot of trigger time behind you going to a custom action over a Mauser will seldom give you an advantage.You need to spend alot of time on the range before you can outgrow a Mauser action. Would I build a 98 target rifle, probably not unless I needed a repeater or a dual purpose rifle I could also go hunting with also.
bigbull
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Proof is in the shooting and much depends on the expectations of the individual. I had an untuned Mauser '98 with a medium contour Sportco 1:12 .308 barrel screwed on it. This rifle shot 168 gr MKs quite well, consistently under MOA and sometimes half MOA, in no small part thanks to a good trigger. The rifle was big clumsy and heavy, and I didn't keep it long, but it was a shooter in a practical sense.
If a good example of a Mauser action is chosen and matched to a high quality barrel and if attention is paid to all the little things that seperate really good rifles from the run of the mill, you'll have a winner.
If a good example of a Mauser action is chosen and matched to a high quality barrel and if attention is paid to all the little things that seperate really good rifles from the run of the mill, you'll have a winner.
Top shooter German Salazar talks to this in the latest Precision Shooting, stating, re: M1947 actions "not only are they competitive with any modern action, but there is a solid feeling to them..."
Regardless, Barnards or Rems, RPA are the way to go; nice triggers and equipment being available.
There will be a new rear-lug technology avalible next year, which will work extremely well and set records, guaranteed.
Regards,
Peter
Regardless, Barnards or Rems, RPA are the way to go; nice triggers and equipment being available.
There will be a new rear-lug technology avalible next year, which will work extremely well and set records, guaranteed.
Regards,
Peter
