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Mauser experts,..customization project?

JustC
I inherited a large ring mauser 7x57 straight bolt about 8yrs ago. The gun was in peices because the front action screw was missing and the bolt was dissasembled. The rifle was pitted and poorly taken care of externally. The action as you would expect is still slick. The bolt assembly inside has grease that has turned to gum and some rust. The gunsmith looked at her and said she's still good to go, just not pretty. The bore is VG and bright.

Here is the initial idea
bent bolt handle installed
drilled an tapped
replacement trigger
new firing pin spring
new stock
lapped lugs
bead blast and coat in something tuff
Cut the barrel just behind the front sight and recrown, remove rear sight base

Is there anything I have missed? anything to do differently? Also,..how can I get the safety lever to clear a scope mounted relatively close to the bore? Are there shorter safety levers or modified versions?



why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    My 2 cents, unless you are going to do the work yourself, your going to put way more money into it then it will ever be worth.

    No matter what you do to it or how much money you spend on it, all it will ever be is a sporterized MilSurp. Most knowledgeable gun folks take one look at it, and only one word comes to mind, BUBBA!

    Don't get me wrong it's your rifle and your money, have at it if thats what you really want to do. I sure their's a lot better things you can buy/do with the money then fixing up some, next to worthless clunker.

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  • JustC
    rufe-snow, Lets forget labor prices for a minute,..then what would you think of this project?[;)]

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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  • redice
    If you want it to be worth money put a new barrel on it and chamber it in something other than 8mm then it may be worth something in the end. Otherwise it will just be a fun gun for you to mess about with a very very expensive fun gun for you to mess about with that you cant sell.
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  • Elbesta
    A custom Mauser is worth as much as any other rifle depending on the quality and amount of work put into them. The mauser action with a 7x57 barrel is a good place to start. Do the work yourself and have a gunsmith check it out when you are done. Here is a pic of one type of safety, do a search for (Mauser low scope safety) or check out,
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    http://www.sporterexpress.com/
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  • D.S.COLE
    Unless you have the knowledge and tools to sporterize it yourself and Im not putting you down so dont get upset. Your questions tell me you dont. If you hire someone qualified to do it for you then you will have a lot more in it than a new Rem ADL, Savage, or Howa factory rifle will cost. It will never be worth near what you have in it if you ever want to sell it. Unless cost does not matter to you I would leave it as is. My 2 cents worth.
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  • richbug
    I would use a Buehler (SP) type safety. Midway sells them for $20. They operate on a narrow arc, clos to 70 degrees as I recall, as opposed to 180 for a standard Mauser safety. The neat part about them is they are built so that you can disengage the safety with your right thumb as the safety is moved to the right side, no machining on the ones I have installed. I would post a picture, but I am away from my guns currently.

    This is certainly a project you could handle yourself.

    My border collie is smarter than your honor student.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    what you want to do certainly is possible, I added up what I would charge for this work and came up with $340.00. If you do some or most of the work you could cut this down some (for example I figured $100 for a prefinish wood stock, you could get an unfinished one cheeper and bed and finish yourself).
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  • JustC
    I think I have to explain first,..My gunsmith probably will not charge me for the labor!!! keep in mind this is the same person who builds my benchrest and LR rifles. The quality of machine work will be flawless. That leaves only the cost of the parts[:D] The gun was free, so at this point I am at $0.

    I would simply like to make this a carry rifle that is capable of 1moa with handloads.


    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • richbug
    If the labor is free you might as well have it reamed out to 280AI, because if it shoots well you would have it done later.

    My border collie is smarter than your honor student.
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  • JustC
    I have not yet ventured into the stock finishing or bedding area by myself. For some reason, I would rather pay a professional than to chance it. The only reason why this is even a consideration is because the total price should be less than $300. What do you think of the Wolf or Timney firing pin springs? is either one any better than the other? Which low mount saftey seems to work best?

    Also,..who makes scope bases for these actions other than leupold? I would really like to have a 1 peice bridge mount if that were possible, and a picatinny rail would be sweet.

    Thanks guys

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • JustC
    richbug, I have a 280AI and it is one sweet rifle (but hard to compare a trued up 700rem with 28" PacNor #7 select match, to a mauser action with a military barrel). I do like the fact that it is a 4 groove barrel though. I figure I'll kind of stay authentic with the 7x57 chamber and I bought a 6x scope with a german post crosshair in it. This project if it takes shape will be my "just because I wanted to" rifle.[8D]

    thanks so far from you guys who know about these guns.

    Mike Whiskey, do you foresee any reason the barrel will suffer if cut off behind the front sight and recrowned? this shouldn't throw off the harmonics any should it? Like I say, 1MOA with handloads is all she needs to do.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
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  • He Dog
    Justin, I think both Warne and Talley make rings and bases for K98 Mausers. Have fun, I have that $600 10/22 that was a just because project, and I ain't sorry (just stoopid!)
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