Help me decide what to do with a spare FN commercial action...

If I had that action, and were going to spend 2G on a custom rifle with a 20" barrel, it would be either a 9.3X57 or a 358 Winchester.

Either chambering will be far more efficient in that barrel length than a 6.5X55, and both are well-able to take big game out to 300 yd using spitzer bullets.

Having said that, your choice is surely not a bad one. Just keep us informed with lots of pictures. :)

Ted
 
The Kurgan said:
Hi gents. Keep 'em rolling!

Just an update that I have settled on 6.5x55

I also just found a Pac-Nor heavy sporter contour M98 stainless barrel. Pre-chambered in 6.5x55 and pre-thread from Hirsch Precision (local sponsor). 1-8" twist.

How about a Boyd's Featherweight thumbhole stock?
Click to expand...

Don't #### around with a Boyds stock, get something decent. If you're going so far as to have Oskar CC the action then you're nuts to not put it in a decent handle. Maybe a blank from Prophet River.
 
Why not? said:
If I had that action, and were going to spend 2G on a custom rifle with a 20" barrel, it would be either a 9.3X57 or a 358 Winchester.

Either chambering will be far more efficient in that barrel length than a 6.5X55, and both are well-able to take big game out to 300 yd using spitzer bullets.

Having said that, your choice is surely not a bad one. Just keep us informed with lots of pictures. :)

Ted
Click to expand...

I like that idea.
 
I'd go 6.5x54 MS

Nice piece of wood, shorter forearm, long open grip, nice checkering, and ebony tip.
2-3 leaf express sights.
Nice bottom metal.
Case hardened steel buttplate and skeleton grip cap.

Something like this


images
 
The Kurgan said:
I've come into possession of another M98 small-ring FN commercial action. These suckers are rare so I jumped at the chance to buy it. Now what to do with it?

Like every non-stainless part, it WILL get the full colour case hardening / lacquer coating treatment from Oskar Kob, that much is non-negotiable :)

I was thinking of a handy 18.5" medium heavy contour stainless barrel (are Pac Nor any good?) and perhaps a Boyd's thumbhole laminate stock with extra bedding to account for the smaller diameter receiver ring. Timney trigger.

But, at the end of the day, I just don't want this fine action sitting around dust-collecting.

These days, I lean towards handy, shorter rifles in the time-honoured classic calibres: 6.5x55, 7x57, 308, 30-06, etc.. However, I've also been toying with the idea of something different like a 6.5 Grendel or perhaps even 7.62x39.

Budget up to $2000.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

I would buy an SKS to inoculate against that 7.62x39 idea and the spend the rest of the budget on having a nice rifle made of that FN action.
 
The Kurgan said:
Hi gents. Keep 'em rolling!

Just an update that I have settled on 6.5x55

I also just found a Pac-Nor heavy sporter contour M98 stainless barrel. Pre-chambered in 6.5x55 and pre-thread from Hirsch Precision (local sponsor). 1-8" twist.

How about a Boyd's Featherweight thumbhole stock?
Click to expand...

Kinda figured on 6.5, and good scoop to boot.:) Thumbhole stock? Tis up to you.
 
My focus is on "handy" and "no fuss" and less on traditional cosmetics... though there's beauty in functionality.

I want a nice looking laminate stock. I don't want to worry about dinging up a delicate walnut stock, especially a premium cut.

I'll experiment with different stock styles.
 
Good thing I have another similar action, I just got offered a king's ransom (well not quite) for my action.

I will harvest my other small-ring FN M98 action from an existing sporter with a lovely walnut stock that unfortunately developed a crack in the tang, and has a few unsightly dings. Now my budget is $2450. :)
 
I'm having a 9.3x62 barrel put on my JC Higgins 50 in place of the 30-06 pipe.Commercial FN 98 action...........Harold
 
I have bit of a strange one. An FM Supreme 98 action that Marlin put a 22 inch micro groove barrel on, in 30-06 calibre, then apparently got Eaton's to sell them as it is marked, EATON'S OF CANADA, trueline, MODEL 100.
On the barrel near the action is marked, Made in USA.
I think 30-06 is a good calibre for it. The rifle is light enough that I would have been happy to have had it for a mountain rifle, for any north American game.
 
The Pac-Nor barrel arrived today. Only 3 days shipping from Nova Scotia. What a fine piece of kit! I don't think I have ever owned or handled a finer quality barrel! Perfectly finished (polished) stainless steel, a perfect super smooth bore and perfect/sharp rifling (of course), a perfect crown, pre-threaded, and a perfectly smooth chamber. It came in 22", and I might consider leaving it at that length to better utilize the 6.5x55 ballistics. It is a medium-heavy sporter contour. Just the right amount of beefiness and not too heavy. I'll throw it on the scale later.

I am waiting for my NOS blued Mauser bottom metal/trigger guard (Spanish made), Timney trigger, Boyd's pepper laminate stock ("interm" stock, maybe, until I decide on a custom option later), and a few other tidbits. At this stage, I don't know if I will go with a colour case hardened or blued floorplate.

The stainless against the colour case hardening looks fantastic! No worries about an ugly contrast. I'll post pics later. This could very well be the first custom build that combines old-school colour case hardening with a silver stainless barrel -- at least that I can find.

What do you guys think of a shotgun style trigger guard as opposed to a standard Mauser trigger guard?
 
Last edited:
BigUglyMan said:
Don't #### around with a Boyds stock, get something decent. If you're going so far as to have Oskar CC the action then you're nuts to not put it in a decent handle. Maybe a blank from Prophet River.
Click to expand...

...working on an idea to have a traditional English stock made from a blank. Very costly, so I think I'll first bed the action into a "handy" and durable laminate stock, and later, have a custom stock made. The guy I am conversing with is about 2 years behind! In the field it gets the laminate. In my hands, wall, or leisurely walks it gets a fine piece of walnut. I don't want to rush the "classy" stock idea until I am 100% sure what I want. Blanks alone start at $1200 and easily go up from there.
 
I have some bottom metal of unknown origin that has a detachable trigger guard. It appears to be an M98 variant with hole spacing identical to a large-ring M98 Mauser. Standard M98 release, but protrudes .5 cm above the floor plate. It appears to be a commercial Mauser variant.

As noted above, I also purchased a common M98 bottom metal with standard Mauser trigger guard.

I need to see how each look on the assembled rifle.
 
My Spanish M98 Mauser bottom metal arrived today from Tradeex. As usual, another top quality product from Tradeex.
Nice deep bluing, old-school forged metal part. I will have to compare both bottom metals to determine which I go with. Traditional vs. elegant. Strong vs. delicate. Traditional rust blued vs old-school colour case hardened. The Spanish bottom metal does have a spot for 1 capture screw. Weird. I guess I'll block that off with bedding compound.
 
Well Kurgan; Many years ago I bought a small ring FN Supreme action, this had to be about the mid 70s? Had a Douglas ### premium barrel in 6mm Rem. installed in 1x10 twist, 24 "s long. Got 98 bottom metal and modified it to suit myself. Fitted & finished a Herter's stock in California English - one of their better grades. Still have the rifle & to those interested it is pictured here >Nitroexpress>Mauser Archives>2cd page>Mauser Pics by John303, it's the one with the maple leaf checkering.
You are right in that these actions are rather scarce and deserve a "classic" application, good choice in the 6.5. I have no idea of the worth of these actions but I do know E. Epps while in Clinton wanted $650 for a large ring supreme. Take care all --- John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom