I'm curious what you think of the old Mauser style actions. I have an "Alpine model special, 7mm mag." with a Mauser action not unlike a Parker Hale. I know several countries used the Parker Hale as their sniper rifles back in the day...But how about now? Swap the barrel out for a .300 Win mag bull barrel fresh stock and a trigger job? I saw a few of the guys that made their own benchrest stocks and thought this may be a fun future project some day.
Speaking of building A precision rifle out of an old action...
- Thread starter hitch.bd
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
You can build a competent rifle on a Mauser action, but it is unlikely to provide any competition to the custom rigs that dominate most benchrest shooting disciplines. You can build a superlative long-range rifle for hunting man and beast alike, but I would not bother trying to turn it into a benchrest competition rifle. Keep in mind the general qualification for a sniper rifle (when major armies used Mausers or equivalents in the sniper role) was the ability to deliver a lethal shot on a man sized target at 600 meters. You can tune any rifle to be incredibly accurate when judged against it's peers, but no "issued" military rifle can hold anything against a dedicated rifle specifically built for the purpose of long-range shooting.
That's my .02 at least.
That's my .02 at least.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I know a shooter that is very competitive in F class with a Mauser. I think he even does his own machining. So it can be done.
At the end of the day, except for the extractor, how much different is it to a tuned up Rem?
Just make sure the action is strong with no post war damage.
I built several Enfield P actions into fine shooting LR target rifles. I even had a Parker Hale 1200 that was rebarreled. A few Lee Enfields shot way better then they should have.
Nowadays with commercial donors in the few hundred dollar range, it just doesn't pay to modify and upgrade an old action. BUT if you have time, desire and resources, it will work
About to build another enfield P14. Will post results when done.
Jerry
At the end of the day, except for the extractor, how much different is it to a tuned up Rem?
Just make sure the action is strong with no post war damage.
I built several Enfield P actions into fine shooting LR target rifles. I even had a Parker Hale 1200 that was rebarreled. A few Lee Enfields shot way better then they should have.
Nowadays with commercial donors in the few hundred dollar range, it just doesn't pay to modify and upgrade an old action. BUT if you have time, desire and resources, it will work
About to build another enfield P14. Will post results when done.
Jerry
I've built quite a few mausers and have trued up a few of these actions {only the comercial ones] ,If you want to true up the older military ones there is some case hardening involved.
They shoot well and you can get aftermarket stuff for them but the downfall of a mauser is locktime it is to slow.
However I think there may be some kits available to correct this , other than that they can be trued up and the bolt can be sleeved to tighten things up.
IMO these are best used as hunting rifle actions due to the control round feed and the large extractor.
They shoot well and you can get aftermarket stuff for them but the downfall of a mauser is locktime it is to slow.
However I think there may be some kits available to correct this , other than that they can be trued up and the bolt can be sleeved to tighten things up.
IMO these are best used as hunting rifle actions due to the control round feed and the large extractor.
A Mauser can be a very accurate rifle, if it's design realities are considered in your build.
Benchrest capable?, not likely ..... however 1/3 to 1/2 MOA can be achieved with the better vintage actions.
The receiver itself is not particularly stiff, so both the stock and the 'no stress' bedding job need to be rigid, to compensate. This is very important for consistent Mauser results.
The lock time issue has little effect, if you are shooting prone with bipod/rear bag.
There are plenty of crisp light triggers available. The inexpensive Bold can tune up nicely to under 2 pounds pull.
Lapped in scope rings, or Burris Signature's with the inserts, also help keep the action unstressed, for even gooder results.
Assuming a quality barrel and scope, and refined match grade handloads, .... you should be smiling
Just this past Sunday, my lo-budget bubba'd Swede M96 6.5x55, with it's Trade ex barrel and Super Sniper 10x scope, put three touching at 200 for the zero check, ... then 15 fast shots--with two shooters--at -15C and breezy 440 yards ... went inside a cigarette pack.
Good 'nuff.
Benchrest capable?, not likely ..... however 1/3 to 1/2 MOA can be achieved with the better vintage actions.
The receiver itself is not particularly stiff, so both the stock and the 'no stress' bedding job need to be rigid, to compensate. This is very important for consistent Mauser results.
The lock time issue has little effect, if you are shooting prone with bipod/rear bag.
There are plenty of crisp light triggers available. The inexpensive Bold can tune up nicely to under 2 pounds pull.
Lapped in scope rings, or Burris Signature's with the inserts, also help keep the action unstressed, for even gooder results.
Assuming a quality barrel and scope, and refined match grade handloads, .... you should be smiling
Just this past Sunday, my lo-budget bubba'd Swede M96 6.5x55, with it's Trade ex barrel and Super Sniper 10x scope, put three touching at 200 for the zero check, ... then 15 fast shots--with two shooters--at -15C and breezy 440 yards ... went inside a cigarette pack.
Good 'nuff.
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
I don't disagree that such successes are possible, but achieving superior results with sub-par materiel is much harder and more labour intensive than building with superior materiel. Unfortunately most people do not have the luxury of having a machine shop, time and knowledge to tinker a rifle to perfection, and/or are not willing to spend to coin necessary to achieve the results that they want.
Sure you can dolly up a Pinto to outperform a Ferrari, but the cost and labor involved is prohibitive for the average person. Save your money and buy/build what you really want, not just what is cheap and available.
Having said that, and re-iterating what I said before, there is no reason why you cannot build a very accurate rifle off a Mauser action. There are, however, much better actions suited to your end use.
Thanks for the input guys! I was just looking at the old girl and thinking that I do not like her in her current configuration. I have never liked 7mm rem mag and this one with her pencil thin barrel kicks like a mean girl that you just gave a shocker In a few weeks I will probably put her and some others up for sale and save for something I really want.
Thanks again, Hitch
In a few weeks I will probably put her and some others up for sale and save for something I really want.Thanks again, Hitch
