Custom Mauser or derivatve

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Omenator

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Anyone want to share their thoughts on custom Mauser 98 type rifles? What are the better base actions, what modifications are recommended, what do you like best and what would you change if you do it again.
Pictures are always nice of course.
 
Omenator said:
Anyone want to share their thoughts on custom Mauser 98 type rifles? What are the better base actions, what modifications are recommended, what do you like best and what would you change if you do it again.
Pictures are always nice of course.
Click to expand...

Here is my custom FN M98 action. It has a Krieger 1:11.27 5R 26" barrel, bedded, Timney trigger group, modified bolt handle, Harris bi-pod, McMillian stock, 6" picitinney rail embedded in the stock with fold out handle, Leopold Vari X III 4-14.5 x 56mm scope.

The is a sub moa shooter, so far my best 10 shot grouping (cold bore to 10th shot) in 3 minutes is .582" using Lapua 167gr Scaners hand loads. Pictured with the rifle are cards split and a .223 rem casing punched through at the neck from 100 yards. The Hun's Head target is a 3 shot 200 yard grouping.

The rifle was built about 12 years ago and is a pleasure to shoot. I wish Cadex made stocks for them like the rem 700 as I would swap that in and install a Horus Falcon or Nightforce scope.

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My first choice action would be a Brno commercial mauser action, second choice a Husqvarna small ring commercial action. I am past the days of altering a military action as a basis of a custom rifle. That being said, I have a .280 on a Brno VZ24 action that is a pretty fine rifle.
Stock has to be fancy walnut, classic contours with fine checkering and a Pachmayr Old English butt pad. If it doesn't look graceful, why build it ? I have always hunted with my custom rifles and have used them in any weather. If the wood and metal need some refinishing at some future date, so be it.
 
I think the best actions are the pre-war commercial 98's, or military actions made up to about mid-1942. After that date, the panic set in and quality dropped off sharply. Many of the late war actions are so rough as to be a waste of money trying to turn them into something decent, and I've read that the quality of the hardening can be suspect too.

Second choice would be a post war FN commercial mauser. Many Husqvarnas were built on these actions, and they can be picked up at quite a reasonable price.

The first Mauser 98's were designed for the 7.9x57 and the military actions are at there best and most reliable when using the x57mm case size. Move up to the .30-06 length and they don't feed as smoothly. Move up to the belted magnums, and reliable feeding is really a problem without a lot of work by a good gunsmith.

The pre-war commercial actions came in 3 lengths ( 4 if you want to include the intermediate for the 7x57) & were designed around a specific cartridge. If you wanted a .30-06, or a 250 Savage, or a .416 Rigby you would order the action specific to the cartridge. Stoegers was the retailer in the U.S. back then, and they assigned each action a number, 1-20, to make things simpler.

As far as looks go, that's a personal choice. I like blued steel and walnut, and English styling. Others like rifles with a more American or Germanic flavour. Look at as many different rifles as you can, collect pictures, and take them to your gunmaker when you're ready to build.
 
For building a modern hunting rifle and spending little money on customizing, to me, one of the most underrated - or forgiven - Mausers are the FN Supreme. They can be found on many luxury sporting rifles of the late '50s 'til the "70s.

Another option is the similar M/98 action used by P-H / Santa Barbara action. Zastava are also the same (or almost) less the finish touch, but for the price, it's hard to get a better deal on an old world style action. Theyb usually need a bit more tuning, but except that, they carry all the features the two others do. As a bonus, most of the three above are already fitted with good quality adjustable triggers.
Most post WW II use modern steel and are field proofed for almost any possible caliber.

The ZG47 and ZKK actions are also pretty neet, so are the H21-22 and F21-22 but since they are so collectible, I wouldn't use an untouched rifle for a custom build.

HVA 1600/1640 are just as good as the above, using modern steel.

Here's a FN Supreme from a Sako Hi-Power

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I know a few of you guys won't approve, but I'm wanting to stay with common non-magnum calibers for my rifles (.270 Win/30-06) as I don't reload. I like the CRF of the Mauser 98 type actions and prefer the sear-holding safety as opposed to the trigger safety as seen on most modern rifles. Another feature I like is the hinged floorplate, but this isn't a deal breaker for me. As far as I can tell, my options are limited to commercial 98 Mauser types as I don't know if there were ever 'true' 98 Mauser pattern rifles produced in either 30-06 or .270. What are your opinions on the Husqvarna 640 series and Parker Hale rifles?

Some neat rifles and information so far.
 
Nothing wrong with a .30-06. No comment on the .270.

If all you want is a good serviceable Mauser, I would look at the used Husqvarna's tradex has to offer. The old beechwood stocks aren't the nicest, but that can be replaced later, and the barrels tend to be very good. Mine is quite accurate. Look for an FN 98, not the model 96.
 
Check the cz550 line of rifles. The receiver is longer and kind of cradles the bolt more when its open, keeping it from binding. I find those to be very very well made guns for the price. The set trigger when set right is incredibly nice to use as well.
 
Somewhat along the same line of questions, what makes the original 98 Mauser pattern rifles and pre-64 Win. M70 the two main choices for the really expensive $10k+ custom rifles? I am looking at the rifles produced by the big names like D'Arcy Echols, Ralf Martini and the like. Not that I'll be buying one soon!
 
Look for a JC Higgins model 50 or 51, the early models were FN commercial 98's with chrome lined high standard barrels, all you need to do is change out the silly stock mounted trigger and you have an excellent 30-06 or 270 as that is all they were offered in. They are a fantastically built and dependable quality mauser action and top end barrel, and can be found for a lot less than say a husky.
 
Like others already stated, don't waist your money coverting an Military action, unless you want a small ring mauser 95/96. You can buy actions from CZ, already to be barreled and stocked to your choice, I would go this route if wanting a 98 Mauser style action today, due to the cost of modifying an Military 98 due to labour costs.
One action not mentioned is the Remington Model 30 AKA Enfield model of 1917, these make great custom actions and only need the trigger changed out, as Remigton already did all the modifications when they built these tough 98 type rifle actions. Have a look at the A-Square rifle co, they use these for all there heavy thumpers!

I built my 35 Whelan a decade ago buy buying a Husky model 1640 commercial 30-06, was a great action to build on! No alteration to the bolt handle or action at all, letting me put money into custom trigger gaurd, saftey ,barrel ,etc.
You can pick up a FN rifle that has been hunted hard as a donar rifle for a reasonable price, make excellent sporting rifles.

Good luck, Dale Z!
 
An informative site on Mausers is Nitroexpress > Mauser Archives & Mauser Discussion, you'll get some ideas there.
One must remember that all standard length 98 Mausers are except for fit and finish and some slight changes LR v SR
are the same animal.
After that it's in the name, somewhat like cars, almost anything "Oberndorf" brings a premium, then FN, then Brno etc. etc.
All are great actions - it's just if you have an Oberndorf, preferably a commercial, you can look "down on the Peons". FWIW --- John
 
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