Mauser Sporter ID

[woodchopper]

so I bought another rifle, Mauser sporter built on a Santa Barbara action in 308Win but no markings as to who made it.

anyone recognize this work?

Stock is interesting it has no markings but has a recoil pad marked KASSNER HC356. Receiver is drilled and tapped and came with scope mounts.

Barrel is 25 1/2" and a fairly heavy taper



interesting bolt knob, its threaded and I think that it will be replaced



Trigger is marked Finland and a 2 on the other side but no other marks, I believe that it is a Sako trigger, not a bad trigger but not as nice as the Parker Hale one on the other sporter I got



safety is marked



and finally these are the only other marks on the receiver and barrel

 

[gaff]

the stock shape, bolt handle, and Finnish trigger scream Scandinavia.
Appears styled after a krico sniper or varment rifle.

 

[woodchopper]

So no other leads on this thing.....

 

[HuskyDude]

Interesting.
Not exactly, but reminds me of an Anschutz stock that's been modded.

 

[bearhunter]

So no other leads on this thing.....

Did you measure the length of the receiver???

It appears to be a purpose built intermediate length type, made in Yugoslavia for export.

It also appears that the rifle has been "made up" by a very skilled craftsman, who used some very decent quality after market parts for the build, such as the Buehler low swing safety, made in the US and the Finn made trigger.

I had a very similar rifle, without markings, other than a serial number.

The receiver may have been made by Tikka or even Husqvarna, but not if it's an intermediate length type.

Nice rifle, how does it shoot???

It's definitely a purpose built "match" type rifle, likely for off hand shooting as it has sling swivels.

The barrel is marked for the 308Win as well which IMHO would indicate it was rebarrled or set back and a new chamber cut for the round in North America.

 

[woodchopper]

interesting thoughts

Action is a full length commercial Santa Barbara action, it is marked SPAIN, I didn't include that picture, and it has a block in the back of the mag well to shorten it up for 308Win

There are no proof marks anywhere on the action or barrel, which is what is confusing me.

I thought it might be a SAKO built on a FN commercial action but those are all marked.

I have not shot it yet but its coming to the range with me next trip out, just need to find a scope for it.

 

[bearhunter]

IMHO, that rifle was put together in North America during the mid eighties, when those Santa Barbara actions were being sold by several different outlets in the US/Can.

The trigger is also from that era as is the stock, which may have been a take off being repurposed.

I built a lot of decent hunting rifles on a batch of Santa Barbara actions I purchased from Golden State Arms out of California in the eighties. They were reasonably priced and all of the hard work to sporterize a milsurp action was already done and done fairly well.

Those actions really get smooth with some TLC such as honing the bolt lug on the bottom and the rails on the receiver.

Some folks turn up their noses at Spanish made Mausers. Big mistake IMHO.

Spanish Mausers got a bad rep because people tried to make them do more than they were designed to do. 93/95 actions just aren't as strong as 98s but they're usually butter smooth and very capable when operated within design parameters.

Spain rode those rifles hard and put them away wet for the most part.

The commercial Sanata Barbara actions were used by several different gun makers all over the world. UK, Germany, Italy, US, Canada, Australia, etc. They are time proven and easily the equal of the recent M70 Zastava actions

 

[dan belisle]

Have to agree with BH on the Spanish commercial Mauser, I've owned probably half a dozen of them. Good actions. Sorry WC, I don't have anything more to add. - dan

 

[woodchopper]

Have to agree with BH on the Spanish commercial Mauser, I've owned probably half a dozen of them. Good actions. Sorry WC, I don't have anything more to add. - dan

well it is my second commercial Mauser built on a Santa Barbara, the other one is a Parker Hale Safari, and I also have a Zastasta model X 458WM Mauser so I am just learning about these Mauser Actions

 

[maynard]

The rifle looks like it was built to be a prone rifle for shooting target rifle with iron sights. These actions along with other military actions (#4 Enfields, P-17, P-14) were used in the 50's, 60's and 70's until single shot purpose built target actions started to be introduced.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Buehler marking is Scandinavian too I think. Years back I dealt with a farm loader manufacturer of that same name, I think it was Swedish.

 

[dan belisle]

Buehler marking is Scandinavian too I think. Years back I dealt with a farm loader manufacturer of that same name, I think it was Swedish.

Beuhler sold accessories, scope mounts (very good ones), safeties, etc. I still have one of their mounts on a sporterised P14 in 375 Wby. - dan

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

Buehler marking is Scandinavian too I think. Years back I dealt with a farm loader manufacturer of that same name, I think it was Swedish.

Maynard Buehler was based in Orinda, California. Brownell's carried their low-swing Mauser safety up until not too long ago.

 

[jbmauser]

I have seen a commercial Santa Barbara action take some serious, serious over pressure and survive so they are definitely a good action.