Is a Mark X Mauser action worth $375, without a trigger? It has the in-the-bow floorplate release.

KB

That is high in my book. I picked up a 98% MKX 06 release in the bow with cheap scope this fall for around $325. Parted it out.

Seems like several people are parting them out, on Ebay or GB. I'm sure they are profiting from the butchery. They are doing the same with FN rifles too.

There ought to be a law against it, IMO.

KB

If you can find a beater, you can buy the rifle for that much.

Thanks guys. I just needed a little reality check to work up the strength to pass on something I didn't need anyway. I'm really amazed sometimes at how little money those actions/rifles bring nowadays. I think they are good actions, but by the time I get a decent safety and trigger on one, then I've got real money in it.

KB

You are right..Keep looking and you will find a complete rifle for less. I picked up a really nice older Mark X at a gun show last spring for 325.00.

It's a 270 with a very nice original stock, and it really shoots great. I had gotten it as a project rifle, but the way it shoots, I am just going to keep it as it is!

Z

Thats way high. Exspcially when you consider that if you dig around you can find JC Higgins FN rifles for that price.

You know, there is another issue/problem embedded in this discussion.

Suppose a guy wants a Mauser, fixed up somewhat to suit him. So, for example, he gets a good deal on a used MK X or Higgins or FN. He replaces the trigger, installs a three-position safety, and perhaps other "improvments". Later, he decides to sell the rifle, and can't get much more for it than the original purchase price - what he paid for the rifle before improvments. The rationale of course is that the potential buyer says he can buy such-and-such for $325, or whatever.

The situation is worse with sporter mil-surps.

Kinda makes me want to avoid Mausers.

It appears to me that the same isn't true, to the same degree, with other actions. For example, I've seen Ruger MKIIs gussied up and "improved" which bring fair prices acknowledging the value of the improvments. There are other examples. But with Mausers, the only thing I can think of that raises the resale value is a knock out good looking walnut handle. And then the stock will inevetably be valued at 1/2 to 1/3 of what it would cost to duplicate it.

KB

If getting back what you put in is important, avoid most all rifles.

There have been those times when I lucked out. Recently, I bought a whole rifle (not a Mauser) just for the action - actually for the receiver, bolt and trigger. I sold the other parts and after the dust settled, I have about $100 in a perfectly good action, no gunsmithing needed on the action, ready to accept a new barrel.

Maybe there was some skill in that, learned over time and experience, but it's certainly a good place to start a semi-custom rifle from.

KB

quote:

If getting back what you put in is important, avoid most all rifles

+1

If it is an issue keep the old safety trigger etc return to basics before you sell.

Is a MKX action with a new trigger and 3 position safety worth more than the same action with the factory trigger. Sure. Will you recover all your investment. Probably not.

I keep an old factory stock, shroud, trigger ect just to be able to return to factory std if needed.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

If getting back what you put in is important, avoid most all rifles

+1

Is a MKX action with a new trigger and 3 position safety worth more than the same action with the factory trigger. Sure. Will you recover all your investment. Probably not.

At this stage, I suppose it comes down to that I can stand only so much indulgence. I've got enough Mausers to satsify a lifetime, so I can let my heirs worry about market value. That's why I can pass on Mauser deals. It's gonna be challange enough to finish the projects I already have started.

KB

I'd pay that much for one factory modified for 375 H&H. The trigger is worth about a dime. Otherwise I agree with all of the above.

The mark X, JC Higgins, Sears, any of the FNs are getting pretty darn hard to find and I see lots of them for $500 to $600 or more..We're running out of Mausers I suspect..I try to pick up actions for under $350 these days, but its getting harder and harder or at least locally and I stay on GA and GI looking for bargains. I guess it would depend on how bad you needed one, if I have a gun to build I sure wouldn't let $25 or $50 make me turn one down. The Mark X would be my last choice as they are pretty rough and many are over polished. Mostly I'm looking for FNs or Mauser 98, but then so is everyone else..

what is amazing is that two years ago I was buying FNs, JC Higgins FN, Sears FNs for $165. for the whole rifle..Go figure.

Ditto on your comments, Ray, except that I have been paying about the same for various Mauser actions for several years now. The FNs and such seem to have increased a little, but the MK Xs not.

Considering how rapidly they seem to be parted out, I'm surprised that the market hasn't exceeded the supply already, and caused the prices to go up. Some day it will.

I've had many Mauser actions, and big plans for each of them, but it has always seemed like pushing a rope to get them to completion. Meanwhile, othere projects have reached completion - one by one, until now I have about all the rifles I can shoot, and most of the Mausers are still just an assembly of parts - waiting.

Funny thing too is that the completed rifles have come in at much less expense than the completion of a similarly appointed Mauser, and have a higher resale value too.

For examples, I have five or six good commercial Mauser actions set aside, and they have been for years, on which I had plans to make such as a 6.5x55, 7x57, 8x57, 280, 35 Whelen, and perhaps others. Meanwhile deals came along on CZ 550 medium rifles or actions, and now I have one in all those cartridges except the 280, but it's a 7x64 instead. All tweeked, bedded, etc., plus one more in progress.

Should I now duplicate them in a Mauser? I think not, if I want to be practical.

KB

Why don't you just bite the bullet and buy yourself a .223 which you have been dreaming and drooling to have? Then you can have educated input in discussions of such and not have to rely on your keyboard drivel.

Not a rifle but perhaps the same principle. The son of the owner of a local bicycle shop buys a very expensive--several $K bicycle every year. After he rides them a year he parts them out and says he gets much more than if he sold them as complete bicycle.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
After he rides them a year he parts them out and says he gets much more than if he sold them as complete bicycle.

That's the first thing you've written in a long time that makes sense. How long did it take, and how many other post have you read, before that bright idea occurred?

Hey, ya wanta buy some Mauser parts?

BTW, I forgot to mention one of the reasons I have little need for the 223. My youngest brother described the awful event he had once with a charging armadillo, and all my brother had was a mini-14 to defend himself with. It was pretty scary.

KB

Yes, we can see some yearly price creep these days, and I expect it to continue. My own view is that if you see something you want, Ray is spot on about not letting a few bucks stop you. I have missed at least three that I rather wanted in the past year because I dithered.

That said, prices do seem to fluctuate some on a seasonal basis. This time of the year seems to be a little better than others.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
The mark X, JC Higgins, Sears, any of the FNs are getting pretty darn hard to find and I see lots of them for $500 to $600 or more..We're running out of Mausers I suspect..I try to pick up actions for under $350 these days, but its getting harder and harder or at least locally and I stay on GA and GI looking for bargains. I guess it would depend on how bad you needed one, if I have a gun to build I sure wouldn't let $25 or $50 make me turn one down. The Mark X would be my last choice as they are pretty rough and many are over polished. Mostly I'm looking for FNs or Mauser 98, but then so is everyone else..

what is amazing is that two years ago I was buying FNs, JC Higgins FN, Sears FNs for $165. for the whole rifle..Go figure.

quote:

Originally posted by Anjin:
prices do seem to fluctuate some on a seasonal basis. This time of the year seems to be a little better than others.

Better for whom, the buyer or seller?

KB

300-400 depending

There is a Mark X in 270 for sale in my area for $249

Dang, hard to say no to that.

quote:

There is a Mark X in 270 for sale in my area for $249

Why in the heck is it still for sale?