Lengthen a Mauser 98 receiver?

[Evanguy]

One could cut a receicer ring off where the mag well starts(feed ramp) and it would still be just as strong as a complete receiver. Anything more then 10mm behind the locking lug area is just to mount a mag and trigger to also guide the bolt when cycleing not about strength. Now a lee enfield action id agree on the strength issue. But a front locking rifle. Not so much.

And the recoil goes into the recoil lug directly below the receiver ring.

 

[Potashminer]

One could cut a receicer ring off where the mag well starts(feed ramp) and it would still be just as strong as a complete receiver. Anything more then 10mm behind the locking lug area is just to mount a mag and trigger to also guide the bolt when cycleing not about strength. Now a lee enfield action id agree on the strength issue. But a front locking rifle. Not so much.

And the recoil goes into the recoil lug directly below the receiver ring.

Only if set up the way the Mauser brothers intended it to work - that is, not bedded tight at the rear of the receiver rear tang, nor "improved" to tightly glass bed the magazine into the mag well, nor having the magazine box tight to the underside of the receiver, nor having the trigger guard front "boss" become part of the recoil transfer lug... Very few "improvements" to Mauser 98 actually make it better or stronger - almost all lose something, mostly made it easier (cheaper) to manufacture. Gun makers need to make profit - that is laudable - just too many claimed to "improve" the 98, when they actually gave away something, along the way. Others may have different opinions, of course...

 

[Claven2]

FWIW, the reast of the receiver DOES serve a purpose - it keeps the bolt perfectly (or close) aligned to the chamber. High speed video of 98 actions when firing shows they DO flex. The receiver is attached to the stock at multiple points with screws and contact lug areas.

Flexing, over time, is not good for welds that have not been annealed. That's a fact for any welding of steel. The builders I know take the time to anneal the entire receiver and then re-harden it. Also, many Mauser actions are near glass hard on the surface - way easier to do all sorts of finishing work if you are annealing it anyway.

 

[Why not?]

Bevan King did numbers of 98 design Mausers into longer and shorter lengths by cutting them at different locations in the receiver rail. Using two actions, one would be cut at about a quarter inch different location from the other to start. The bolts and floor plate/magazine assembly were left in the action, and everything got cut at once.

He then welded the two shortest sets of pieces together to make a shortened action, and the two longer ones to make the lengthened one. The feed ramps were machined and polished for reliable feeding but never shortened.

His 375H&H and 250-3000 rifles built from two actions were so well executed that you could barely see the work done to accomplish that. Charlie Peeling then stocked the rifles. Bevan and Charlie were two of the best-kept secrets in Canada.

He also did at least one 416 Rigby this way that I am aware of. Pete Matuk may remember seeing that one.

Ted

 

[AP]

I think the various process previously described are solutions to a problem that doesnt exist ...assuming you can find a reasonable BRNO ZKK 602 action.. in fact (IMO) the ZKK 602 is a significantly better solution as it offers a factory 'dropped' magazine with increased capacity with belted cartridges; does not split the left lug for ejection; has a faster lock time; easy scope mounting with a special accomodation that offers excellent security against heavy recoil; very strong/sturdy side rails; and maintains the 'C' reinforced breech. The bolt dismantles simply and the secondary locking provided at the base of the bolt handle is very robust given the strength of the side rails. I believe these features are why they are pretty popular with professional big game hunter/guides in Africa on a budget. .. any way just my point of view (and they seem to shoot well also)

 

[tiriaq]

The 602 is a fine rifle - or action.
This thread is about an advanced gunsmithing project, though, so the Brno isn't really relevant to the discussion.