I've always been intrigued with the design of the Mauser 66 rifle, with it's telescopic bolt system. They seem to be very well-made, if not a bit unusual in design. I've never owned one, but recently came into 2 of them, in 270 and 30-06. I'm impressed...smooth as glass and extremely well finished. These have EAW pivot mounts as well. Now to see what they'll do at the range.

They were underappreciated for a while and forgotten after the intro of newer models. There was a time you could buy one for $7-800 with a decent scope. That has changed...prices have really firmed up especially for the bigger calibers. very nice guns...great mechanics and I like how they 'fit".

Mauser 66 were really ahead of their time and have in several aspects served as models for the Blaser 93. Their finish was outstanding with lots of handwork involved. The rifle below in a 7x64 and carries a contemporary Swarovski Habicht 1,5-6x42 rail scope in a EAW swing-out mount.

In a world dominated by the traditional dual opposing front rotating bolt lugs bolting to a collar in the action this design was revolutionary !

Just as revolutionary as Mauser coming up with a design where the bolting lugs were moved from the rear the bolt to the front of the bolt !

Walther Gehmann who was the designer of this action was a expert shooter holding a number of world records.

His design was genius in that the bolt bolts directly to the rear of the barrel and the scope mounts to the barrel.

This arrangement negated a number of inherent weak links in the precision shooting chain of the Mauser M98 derived bolt and action.

Evidence of this apparent when this type of arrangement is compared head to head to traditional ( Mauser derivative) bolts. Rifles of this genre ie bolting directly to barrel is inherently far more precise.

The action in this construct has no inherent strength per se so that the action can be made from lighter alloys. The action acts only as a conduit and raceway for the bolt, it gives attachment to the magazine and trigger group.

A spin off of this construct is barrel modularity.

Other than a collectors curiosity i'm personally not that taken with the 66. I do not like their decocking safety system and though the bolt is short the action itself is wide and bulky! Compared to the sleek lines of a original Mauser this rifle is "heavy in the belly". It reminds me of a pregnant guppy. I have a example in the form of a 7mm Vom Hofe Super Express

6,5x68 Schüler ..125grain Nosler @ 3300 ft/sec...No fleas here..

A couple of years ago, our local gun store in Birmingham had one in .338 WM, first price was $2,500, then $1,400, then $800. I was tempted to buy it, nice rifle.

I had one customized by Gary Goudy, it was an absolutly awesome gun in every respect except it looks like a Mossberg...I sold it...I suppose Im just too traditional and too nostalgic..Based on sales and popularity I don't think Im alone in this..

It is a design that has always intrigued me and appeals more than the newer designs. However, I understand they had a couple of downsides that make me wonder if I'd want one for dangerous game.

The first is that the bolt handle is a little far forward, though at least your finger shouldn't get hit under recoil.

The second is that the distance the bolt comes back means recycling from the shoulder without lifting your head could be an extra-bloody business.

The advantage of being able to save weight and change barrels on safari is more fancied than real - if you are barrelled for plains game and a buffalo bowls up, you can't just put your hand out for the big one.

+1 sambarman! The Mauser Bros. revolutionized the bolt action by moving the bolt back so it could be cycled rapidly and the same company did the reverse years later. Go figure. The trigger in the 66 is horrible and there is no aftermarket available.

The 66 was an innovative and sturdy design. But if I were looking for a rifle for interchangeable barrels I'd go for a Sauer 202 or 404. The stock designs for both the Mauser 66 and the Sauers are not really my taste, but man do they shoot great.!!

I have the '06 base cartridge set.



There a guy that does a nice 1 piece base for them. Depending on your rifle the mount needs to be tweaked for bolt handle clearance.

These type of rifles are made more to "comply" with Euro rules about the number of rifle you can own, Switch barrel more then takedown.

The evolution from here was to use a v block instead of a semi circle to seat the barrel.

I could live with this bolt over the push/pull Blaser bolt.

The mag in this is fixed but much better than the plastic POS in the R93.

Kind of.

It really depends on where you live.

More of a concept of Germans are gadget and widget people. So this is how switch barrel firearms play into this. They also hold it in high esteem to have "fancy" impress the Joneses things that are considered to be of high quality.

Most European nations count a rifle barrel the same as a rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by DocEd:
+1 sambarman! The Mauser Bros. revolutionized the bolt action by moving the bolt back so it could be cycled rapidly and the same company did the reverse years later. Go figure. The trigger in the 66 is horrible and there is no aftermarket available.

Well DocEd.

Aftermarket triggers!. Well there is aftermarket triggers made for the Mauser 66.
I don´t know which Mauser 66 you have handled, but the settrigger I have on mine work great. Mausers single trigger works great.

I owned one with barrels in 6.5X68 and 8X68.

Neither was particularly accurate and the trigger was bloody awful.

Well jens poulsen, my customer brought me his rifle because of the inconsistent trigger pull. I looked everywhere I could think of for an after market trigger. There was not one to be found. This was 10 years ago so maybe, in the mean time, someone has produced a decent trigger. I wouldn't know as I have never seen another 66 Mauser since.

quote:

Originally posted by jens poulsen:
http://www.keidler-waffen.de/page4.php

I put all that stuff through Google Translate. Strangely, it seems there is a "Mauser 66 Shotgun". Ich weiss es nicht!

I gained no additional information from that site either.