If you could put together a mauser action and good barrel in a boyd's laminate stock for about $200-300 more than a new ruger or reminton would it be worth it?? Or would it be better in the long run for accuracy and resale value to just buy a new factory rifle.
Thanks

Lets face it,most Mauser actions at this time are well,I don't know how to say this,but well used.I have tryed to sell a few of them and the offers were low.Thats the 98,I am talking about.So for resale I would go for the newer shining star actions!"I can feel the bullets hit me now"

If I had to bet my life on a rifle, I would take a well used M98 over any Remington!

For resale value go with the commercail rifles; but having said that I will buy all the nice 98s that i can afford!

I have come to the conclusion that there are only two types of rifles worth spending money on.

The Mannlicher-Schoenauer because of it's quality.
The Mauser 98 because of it's design.

Awhile back I picked up one of those new Brno 98's in .30-06 that EAA imported and sold for about $250. I cut the barrel back to 19" with a hacksaw and trued the "crown" on a belt sander. I then soldered on some take-off iron sights that were lying around.

Just using those iron sights, it shot cloverleafs at 100 meters using 220 gr Woodleighs. I would rather have that POS over anything made by Ruger or Remington.

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You know Grizz, I think it is just a matter of what you want. I like my Mausers and wouldnt trade them for any push feed, but the truth is that even Remingtons work.. I think that with with some effort and TLC a guy could even put a nice semi custom together from a Savage action and they sure arent lacking in the accuracy or strength Department.



After its all said and done, I think that finding a good buy on a JC Higgins or a M-70 makes the most sense if you want a good custom without the big price tag.

Hey Griz,

I really like custom rifles. All of mine are on Mauser type actions. I say type because I have a 30-06 on a Mark X commercial. The rest are 98s. I'm having a .405 caliber made on a Winchester P-14 which is a Mauser type. None of my rifles are wall hangers. I have hunting rifles that just happen to be beautiful. I have one British .303 (It's a Mk. something~)

Unfortunately, most people can't afford custom rifles. Which brings me to my main point. The gunsmith.

I am extremely fortunate in that I have 2 excellent gunsmiths. They work together and produce absolutely outstanding work. If you don't have access to that quality of workmanship don't waste you money.

On the other hand, if you would put the kind of money into a Remington actioned rifle that I've put into any of my rifles it would be as accurate and beautiful - providing you have a good gunsmith. As a matter of fact my one gunsmith really dislikes Mausers and loves Remingtons.

Like Wstrnhuntr said, it comes down to what you want and like. I know damned well whatever you shoot won't care what rifle the bullet that killed him came from. Everything else is you...

Enjoy your indecision while it lasts,

Smoker

Oh yeh, I forgot - the rifle I use most is .303 British - it is capable of shooting a one hole, three shot group and there is nothing custom about it - it's reliable and it kills quick.

I'd go with the Mauser, when I got my first big bore last year it was built on a Charles Daly Mauser action, I think they are the same as the old Mark X. With a 25" Douglas #5 contour barrel, Boyds JRS laminated stock, extra recoil lug, glass bedded, barrel mounted sling swivel and sights the total was under $600.

And don't let anyone tell you Mausers aren't accurate, this is the first day out to sight it in with factory Federals, shot at 50yds. off a high rest.

I don't have any pics uploaded but my first custom in 7x57, which I had built just a couple of years ago, was on a VZ24 action. Polished action, lugs lapped, action trued, 24" Douglas barrel, B&C black and gray composite stock ran around $800 and I think it's a real bargain. I've got some factory rifles also, things like a BLR in 300 Win, a Ruger 77RSI in 308, and Gr. III and IV BARS in '06 and 270, and a Dumoulin Mannlicher stocked rifle in 338 Win.

Even if you spend a couple of hundred more on the custom you can have exactly what you want. And trust me, when you try to sell your Remchester it's never worth anything anyway. They all depreciate horribly if you buy them new.

Griz,

I have asked myself the same question. Financially it is not the cost effective thing to do.

However, it is the best personal thing to do. I was debating to go the route of getting a Savage 16 or so in a 223 to have a walking varminter, truck rifle. I had the intention of shooting the crap out of it, and after 2 yrs sell it at the gun shop to be replaced by another one. Was even going to take off the factory stock and put on a Boyds and then put the factory stock back on when I traded it in.

As always I got side tracked. Having a rifle built for a nephew that will graduate high school and is off to one of the military academies in the fall, got me side tracked. I am having him a Enfield action built into a 6mm Rem, with a one in 7 twist, and a heavy sporter mag sized barrel on it. It will be engraved etc. with his name and graduation date.

This is a thousand times more rewarding than just a new rifle off of the rack for a diehard shooter. Now I have a Mauser action for $100.00 that is going to be earmarked to be a 22/250 with a one in 7 twist. It will be set up to shoot those 75 to 80 grain and even the rumored 90 grain bullets I have heard of for 22 caliber. It will get a Boyd's gray laminate stock, and I will probably do a Nikon or Weaver Grand Slam scope in 4.5 x 14 or the new Nikon Buckmaster in 6 x 18 with a target dot,, on top.

I just redid another winchester 22/.250 from the mid 80s I bought used. I had a Pac Nor 28 inch stainless steel barrel done by John Noveske here in Grants Pass, with a heavy sporter barrel on it also. Don't ask me why, but that rifle might as well be my shadow. You just even feel like carrying it around the house just to have it in your hands. Like the alcoholic that is trying to stop drinking, but he still carries an empty can of beer around, just to have it in his hand, to ease the craving.

However, once you fry the barrel, just order another one, like you would a new tire for the car or truck and do it all again.

I can shoot one deer and One elk person year here in Oregon.
Varmints, I can shoot as many as I can. Yeah I can't eat them, but the shooting them is the fun.

It is only the beginning of ground squirrel season, and in three outings now, I have probably wasted 400 plus of the little critters, and gone thru about 600 plus rounds of ammo. IN one month that is more action than a deer rifle will get in 2 lifetimes.

Do up a Mauser to your tastes and have a ball with it!!!
Wear out the barrel and for $300.00 do it again., and again, and again....


Cheers and Good shooting
Seafire

Anything you do custom will probably never return your money unless you could do all or most of the work yourself. It really comes down to what you want. I recently pick up my M70 in .404 jefferey. A box stock .416rem. would do everything I want a DG to do, but I just wanted a .404. I spent about $2000 + the scope (less than & better than a custom shop M70) but I like it & that's all that matters.

I like oddball calibers so custom or semi custom is the way I go. Nothing wrong w/ factory rifles, really for what you get they are a bargain, .

RedNeck,
if you are selling those worn out Mauser actions for cheap then, give me a hollar. I would be happy to take those "worn out old things" off of your hands anyday.

Of course I am a guy who makes a pretty decent income for where I live, and my vehicle of preference? MY 1988 Toyota 4 Runner. Instead of buying a new one, I had this one's engine re built and the tranny rebuilt and yeah, this summer she wil get a paint job. Even splurged and updated the rims and put 245/75 x 16 tires on it.

She only 16 yrs old and has a meer 460,000 miles on her. But that old gal has been a faithful, do anything, go anywhere truck for 16 yrs. Spent many a night in a sleeping bag in the back of it, on top of a mattress from an old 1977 VW camper I use to own.

Old rifles are like old Labs or Golden Retrievers. They are too good and too faithful to go to the happy hunting grounds.

Cheers and good shooting.
Seafire