More magnum mauser actions?

27 February 2002, 06:53

500grains

Has anyone seen the various magnum mauser actions at the shot show?

What were they, how much $, and were the nice?

27 February 2002, 08:18

fla3006

I looked over those made in South Africa by Selous Rifle Company. Look just like original double square bridge Oberndorfs only better. Imported by Tom Carter (tcic@juno.com). Available in several variations, tailored for individual cartridges. Extremely nice and can be purchased very reasonably now because of favorable exchange rates. The Legacy Sports International magnum Mausers are nice too but I think I prefer the Selous'.

27 February 2002, 10:40

D Humbarger

fla3006 is there a Selous website?
P.S. Thanks for making it possible for me to post my 500th post.

------------------
NRA Life member

27 February 2002, 10:55

Big Dipper

Bear Claw,

The url is www.selousrifles.com, but for some reason it is not loading right now. It's a nice site.

27 February 2002, 10:56

fla3006

www.selousrifles.com used to be the website but I can't get it to come up anymore. I would email Tom directly (tcic@juno.com).

27 February 2002, 15:22

Atkinson

I have come to the conclusion that these gunsmith get a backer and build about 30 or 40 actions before they run out of money and go broke or so it seems.

Unfortunatly it seems to be a limited market and the cost of production outweighs the price scheduling..I find that unfortunate.

I thought the CNC would correct the problem and make them cheaper and more affordable but I guess not. Kinda like a Hoenig stylist, at $40,000 you gotta turn a lot of $100 stocks to just pay for it.

I do hope the day comes when a true Mauser Mod. 20 is available at an afordable price. but at $3000 they are still a viable option.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

27 February 2002, 15:44

Alan in NC

Is there any chance that these actions could be purchased in South Africa while on a hunting trip and be brought back to the US? If so, are there any special import implications for a firearms action as opposed to a complete rifle? Just wondering as I will be in Zimbabwe/South Africa in July and I could bring one home for a future rifle project. Alan.

------------------

27 February 2002, 19:09

rcasto

Isn't Butch Searcy providing one. It may be a Vector but I'm not sure.

------------------
RC

27 February 2002, 20:49

500nitro

Alan,
from the SA side it is currently not a problem.
The Firearms Control Act of 2001 has not yet come into effect and will still take about a year to do so.
The Current Firearms act recognizes the barrel as the gun, and not the action. So actions can be freely bought and sold but barrels are numbered,controlled and licenced.
When the new Control Act comes about, any barrel, slide, action, frame will need to be licenced and that is when the rot will set in.
In USA the Action is the "gun" as I recall, so you would need to get the required import permits from your side.
Also, actions in the white over here (SA) do not neccesarily carry serial numbers so you will need to get a number stamped onto it.

I am going to our local "Shot Show" this weekend, and will be chatting to the manufacturers and dealers who handle the magnum actions and I will post the outcome on the forum for interested parties

27 February 2002, 22:43

Alan in NC

500nitro: Thanks for the info. I look forward to your update following your "Shot Show". Alan.

------------------

28 February 2002, 04:35

<Butch Searcy>

Yes, I have Mag. Mausers (vektor). Price is $2000.00 retail. I also have dealer priceing as well.
html:www.searcyent.com/barrelsaction.htm

28 February 2002, 05:03

500grains

Butch,

Who is vector and where are they made?

Are they a repro of the original magnum mauser action, or do they have a larger bolt body diameter (.750 instead of .700) and a longer magazine box?

28 February 2002, 06:30

<Butch Searcy>

500grains, They are the same co. in RSA that makes them for Selous Rifle co. The bolts are .700 Dia., also refer to the web page for all the details.
http://www.searcyent.com/barrelsaction.htm

28 February 2002, 07:33

Customstox

Butch, those are good prices on those integral barrels. I would not build one for that kind of money, but I would be doing it on a Bridgeport.

I have seen these actions before and have wondered why they did not put 3 position safeties on them. Any answers?

Chic Worthing

28 February 2002, 08:01

<Butch Searcy>

Chic, The barrels are done on my 4-axis cnc machine. Once the program is written, then proofed, it takes about about 14 hrs to machine, and no manual opperation needed.
I really don't know why they didn't put the 3-position safety on.

28 February 2002, 10:08

Customstox

I think the 2 position and the mauser shroud look better but customers seem to prefer the 3 position. The cost difference wouldn't be much between the two.

Chic

05 March 2002, 03:43

500nitro

SA show reportback.

There were no vektor actions on the show, barring one rifle in the white which had a modified vektor action in 416.
Vektor did not exhibit at all. I subsequently contacted the gentleman behind the project, Casey Lewis. He is one of the premier Mauser collecters in the country and one of the mausers in his collection was used to reproduce the vektor action.
When Vektor decided at his and a a few others suggestion, to make these double squarebridge copies, Casey was asked to spearhead the project. He got the show on the road and actions were coming off the assembly line built to very fine specs and tolerances making several improvements to the original design, but with the original type of safety.
They made an experimental batch of 3 position safeties which were very good, but the tooling went out of wack and has not been fixed yet, but should be by about july/august.
Vektor is a quasi govt ordinance company and this is very much a sideline business compared to machineguns and cannons!
In the interim it is suggested you use emery, dakota or reknagel 3 position safeties.
The bolt is made from EN36 steel, and the reciever from EN24.
The trigger group is Thor adjustable, similar to timney but all steel.
The rifle action is fairly calibre specific with tolerances being different for bolt faces according to calibre.
Unfortunately with the "new government" Casey was tossed out in favour of an affirmative and there has been a bit of a hiccup (could'nt spel custim gunsmif but now are one), but hopefully they are back on stream again according to their marketing agent Brian Cochrane.
Left hand receivers have been built, but the bolt assemblies have not. Brian says he hopes that they will be available by the end of the year.
There is also talk of producing an action 4mm longer designed for 505. Already the extractors on the current action are designed to accomodate this idea.
I had a good look at the rifle in the white mentioned earlier, and although the action has been customised and worked by the gunsmith, it showed good pedigree. Its action was smooth and clean and the finish was good.
There are gunsmiths here who would sell actions, but the USA agent mentioned was Tom Carter in Alaska contactable at tcic@juno.com
The Vektor marketing agent is naturally reluctant to sell to individuals in the USA in direct competition to his agents.
Bear in mind that USA residents need the neccesary paperwork from BATF and probably your customs to import such items.

05 March 2002, 04:03

John Frazer

quote:
Originally posted by Alan in NC:
Is there any chance that these actions could be purchased in South Africa while on a hunting trip and be brought back to the US? If so, are there any special import implications for a firearms action as opposed to a complete rifle?

Alan, under US law the receiver *is* the firearm--different from most places where the pressure-bearing components (i.e., barrels) are regulated.

You can have one imported by a licensed importer, or any licensed dealer can do "occasional" importations.

Processing time on import applications is 8+ weeks, call ATF Imports Branch for more info.

John