M98 Timney safety install

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pop91

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Hi all,

I recently had a scope mounted on my FN98 Mauser and while the wing safety still functions I would prefer to have a safety that gulls engages. After purchasing and attempting to install a Timney safety the other day only to put the old wing safety back on, I was wondering if anyone had any sort of guide or direction for installing a Timney/Buhler safety on a m98 Mauser.

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Thanks
 
It does, which I followed. However, I was a little unsure as to what to do with the small spring, and to install it correctly. When I installed the safety it was stuck in the down position and would not budge at all.
 
You will most likely have to address the small cam area on the underside of the Buhler type safety, there should be one started there. However these generally are made small on purpose because of the great variety of Mauser cocking pieces in relationship to their position when cocked. This can be fussy work and a bit intimidating if you are not familiar with the process. Some times you may also have to make a caming surface on the actual cocking piece itself. D.H.
 
Sounds like a job for the gunsmith. I’m not about to go messing with things and potentially damage the rifle. Alternatively, are those reproduction wing safeties worth while looking into?
 
I also think that the job should be taken to a competent gunsmith. The wing safeties you are mentioning are called 3 position Winchester model 70 types ? these work out quite well but you would need to replace the whole shroud. I don't think you would get much change out of $300 for parts and installation to go this route given the exchange rate. D.H.
 
pop91 said:
Sounds like a job for the gunsmith. I’m not about to go messing with things and potentially damage the rifle. Alternatively, are those reproduction wing safeties worth while looking into?
Click to expand...

I think it is a job for a gunsmith too...
 
I think those repro's are copies of a "sniper safety" - allows scope to sit much lower than regular m98 safety. The one that I have was a simple "drop in" replacement for an original m98 safety into the military shroud. Not at all "handy" to use - I can not operate one without using my thumb and finger to grasp it, so pretty much have to let go with shooting hand to grab it and turn it, in order to fire.

I have installed two of the horizontal swinging lever three position safeties - one was a "Dakota" and one was a "Gentry" - they work just like those on a Model 70 Winchester - requires careful marking, grinding a U-shaped notch into the bolt body, work very well when cocking piece, sear and that safety all fitted correctly together. Not really "drop in". They replace the military shroud completely.

You mentioned that you installed the Timney and it is "stuck in the down position" - you might realize that a mauser 98 safety can only be engaged when the rifle is cocked? The down position on a Timney safety is the "fire" position, and is supposed to allow the cocking piece to travel forward. If it is cocked and still "stuck down", not certain at all how you re-installed the firing pin and cocking piece, after installing the safety? A gunsmith who is familiar with the mauser system should have no problem fitting a Timney safety into your rifle. If someone, or years of wear, has ground or altered the sear or its engagement surface on the cocking piece, then it is possible a small bevel may be required on the leading edge of the cocking piece shoulder, where the safety's bevel will cam. Big letters on the Timney instructions - DO NOT GRIND SAFETY.
 
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The one and only sniper safety that I have, worked exactly the same as the military one that I replaced it with - the extra commotion required to get it from "safe" to "fire", and wanting that middle position for dismantling the bolt without tools, was why I went ahead and installed that first horizontal swing safety - the Dakota. That was on a Husqvarna 649 - it is built on an FN commercial M98 action, and came with the military type wing safety. Worked very well with iron sights, but I installed a scope. I had also installed and used a Parker Hale branded one - operates on the left side up the bolt, just like the Timney operates on the right side - I read that FN commercial sporters had similar to the left side Parker Hales. It seems to me almost all of the two position levers - Timney, Dayton Triaster, and one other brand I can't remember - all need an exact relationship between safety, cocking piece and sear, or else a bevel is needed to be ground on the cocking piece shoulder. I did not have to do that with the "sniper safety" on the one installation that I did with it.
 
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