Mauser Actions
Is the bolt face and receiver of a new, not mil surplus, mauser action large enough for a WSM case with out any major modifications. Can some1 please help me with this answer. Thanks
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I read ads for custom rifles built on mauser actions. Not knowing anything about Mausers, are there different types and if so is one more desirable than another? I hear Mauser 98 mentioned often. I also hear of Chile Mausers, Argentine Mausers. Are these 98s? How do you know you have a Mauser 98? Which Mauser would be suitable for a dangerous game rifle, say a .375 H&H? Did mauser make short actions?
Lot's of questions huh?0 -
Here is a excellent on-line reference concerning Mauser 98 Rifles. Go through the menu & links on the left side, it will answer all your questions regarding the sporting use of 98 actions.
http://www.mausercentral.com/links.htm
Stay away from the earlier model Mauser actions 91, 93, 95 etc. Stick with the 98 for modern high velocity, high pressure commercial ammo.
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Wow, you've just asked us to cover many of the primary topics of any number of books on exactly these subjects. Many people will have different takes on these answers. I'd suggest that you look into buying a book or two on the subject. Don't buy books that are just pics and lists of milspec rifle variations. You are looking for other info. Probably the best place to start would be to observe that the Mauser 98 action came into being for the Germany military in 1898. It is the most widely reproduced, usually under contract, bolt rifle type the world has ever know. Aside from the milspec actions there are also commercial actions, usually identified by not having the thumb cut thru the left side of the receiver to aide in pushing cartridges down into the magazine. The better brands of milspec actions would be Mauser/German, FN/Belgium and Buno/Check. These three made rifles for many countries all over the world for many decades. So a given Peruvian Mauser may have been made by any of the three depending on when it was bought. Always ask who was the manufacturer of the rifle, not who's crest was on the front ring. As far a lengths of actions they have been made in extra long magnum, standard, intermediate, and short. The extra long 375 H&H magnum length actions are very rare and very expensive, like $1000 for an original bare bone action. The short or kurtz (sp?) action are also not common and gunsmiths used to cut down standard length actions to make them. Alway check to see if a short action is original production or a custom cutdown, both will be expensive. The vast majority will be standard length actions and a lesser number will be the odd ball intermediate length actions. And this is just in Mauser 98s, there are also the M96 & M93 and other Mauser actions produced prior to 1898. If you have a Big 5, or similar cheap surplus source, in your area go out and buy a cheap mil spec Mauser for plinking, say a Turk or a Yugo. Once you become familliar with the action much will be clearer. Have fun...... 0 -
Kent,
There isn't enough time or space on this forum to relate all of the information necessary for you to understand the Mauser 98 completely. But rufe-snow has pointed out a very good place to start. There are drawings online and some of your questions are already answered. But the best part is the section on Mauser books since they list out the most useful books about Mausers. These are usually available from Midway and Brownells or from the publisher.
Another good website is:
http://www.surplusrifle.com/
Go through this site carefully, there's a lot here. Of most interest will be the disassembly/re-assembly instructions.
I will go into this a little bit just to clear up a couple of things that you ask about.
There have been lots of truly CUSTOM rifles made up on the pattern 98 Mausers BUT they were not created from the $69.95 mil-surp Mausers. Give that idea up, it ain't going to happen. You can most certainly make one (or more) up for yourself and they will be a great thing to have but the dream of buying cheap mil-surps and making high dollar custom rifles from them to make your fortune is simply, a dream. Sorry.
Yes, Mauser made commercial short action receivers called Kurz length Mausers. If you find one that the average rifle nut can afford, please let me know, secretly. There were not very many made and they are highly collectable which accounts for why you don't see more of them available. They were very popular here in the U.S. with those in the know. Currently, Montana Rifleman makes short action Mauser/Winchester style receivers for a good price. Or with deep enough pockets you can opt for a Granite Mountain Arms, Johansson or Hartmann & Weiss custom receivers that start around $3000.00/each.
The "standard" or long action Mausers are "suitable" for the .375 H&H conversion, which means that it can be done but the cost nowdays is prohibitive. You will be much better off getting a new or used CZ 550 ready made for the .375 H&H or Montana Rifleman. Look at their websites and see what I mean, very high quality at affordable prices especially if you can book a safari.
Maybe I've misread the direction that you want to go in but this is the usual pattern to these questions. I'm not trying to be rude at all and if you have the machines and the skills to use them combined with an indepth knowledge of firearms and safety, you could build the Mauser of your dreams.
The best advise is search the web, buy books (or check them out) and read, read, read. There's a lot of material to cover.
Best.0 -
Thanks to all for the replys. Lots of interesting stuff. Yes I had been thinking of a custom .375 H&H but seems that is only a pipe dream. Still I'll enjoy the reading. Thanks again. 0 -
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A (MORE OR LESS) DIY PROJECT, FIND A M-1917/P-14 ENFIELD ACTION. MAUSER BY DESIGN, THESE ARE EASYER TO MAKE INTO A .375 H&H. ACTION LENGHT IS LONGER THAN THE MAUSER AND LOTS OF AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. COMPLETE SPORTERISED RIFLES CAN STILL BE HAD FOR <$200. 0
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