Commercial FN question

[cam1936]

I'm going to ask this here even though it's a commercial built rifle and not a milsurp. You guys are simply more knowledgeable than the "hunting and sporting arms" guys at this kind of thing.

I got this rifle on the EE about a year ago, but don't know much about it. The registration just says FN supreme. It's a 98 Mauser made by FN chambered in 7mm RM. On the left side of the barrel says 1974 and someone’s name (I think Barrett, I don’t have the rifle in front of me). I like the rifle and it took a deer last year. Google does not tell me much, can someone tell me a little more about it?

 

[kamlooky]

Mauser 98's are good actions.
Own a couple myself.
That sure is a good looking rifle.
How's it shoot?

 

[vviking]

Looks like a custom stocked/barreled F.N 300 commercial. Nice. The 'supreme' (400) has a hinged floorplate, side safety on often Sako trigger, and streamlined bolt shroud.
A top drawer action you've got there.

 

[cam1936]

I've seen pictures of the supreme and the bolt shroud/saftey setup looked different, hence my confusion. Well I know what I've got. It shoots quite well. The trigger is excellent, it must have been tweaked because it breaks very light and clean. The barrel isn't exactly free floating so the shots wander if you start banging off round after round. Cold barrel groups are in the 1"-2" range.
Any idea what it was originally chambered in and does this mean that the bolt face was changed to accomodate the 7mm RM case head?

 

[mbogo3]

The early Sako's and Weatherby's used FN actions as well as JC Higgins...........Harold

 

[dan belisle]

I've seen pictures of the supreme and the bolt shroud/saftey setup looked different, hence my confusion. Well I know what I've got. It shoots quite well. The trigger is excellent, it must have been tweaked because it breaks very light and clean. The barrel isn't exactly free floating so the shots wander if you start banging off round after round. Cold barrel groups are in the 1"-2" range.
Any idea what it was originally chambered in and does this mean that the bolt face was changed to accomodate the 7mm RM case head?

As it was a commercial action, it was probably shipped with a magnum bolt face. Could have been chambered for a lot of cartridges. Has the feed ramp been cut (D action if memory serves)? If so, it was probably originally for a 300 or 375 H&H. - dan

 

[smellie]

The 7mm Remington cartridge is one of the most accurate hunting rounds on the market. If you are only getting 1 to 2-inch groups from a cold barrel, you have something wrong. Check that the barrel is floating, put a small pressure-point under the fore-end tip and make sure that all your SCREWS are done up TIGHT. I have shot two of these critters that will do your 2 inches at 500 or better. Of course, they WERE Fred Jensen rifles, so that makes a difference right there.

The commercial FN Mauser action is a solid receiver-rail action and is capable of excellent accuracy. The 7mm Remington cartridge came out in 1962 and became shriekingly-popular in very short order and for good reason. I would think that they were factory-chambering them for this round well before 1974.

Good triggers are quite the norm on these rifles, too.

You have one of the best bolt-action hunting rifles ever built.

Don't ever let anyone tell you differently.

Congrats on the Fine Toy!

 

[diopter]

1-2 inches?
Try:
A) Adjust Focusing slightly.
B) Try different ammo and bullet weights.
C) Rest rifle stock closer to action and use rear bag.
D) Use very small aimpoints. like crosshairs on target line intersections, or corner of blocks. I like using black 1/2 inch target patches oriented like so, ◊, cross-hairs on tips.

 

[cam1936]

I have no doubt on the accuracy that this action could achive and I know how to make a rifle more accurate. Yes 1"-2" is the norm right now but this is because the barrel is not free floating, the stock contacts the barrel throughout. Also, this is with factory ammo. I haven't worked up a load for the rifle and probably will not, in the current caliber. See the gunsmithing forum for my plans for this beauty.