If you were building a .318, would you go with a classic Mauser action or simply rebarrel something like a CZ 550? I just looked up the barrels on the Lothar Walther USA site, and oh, baby, a mere $207 gets you a 25-inch chrome moly blank, .330 bore and 1:8.5 twist. Perfect!
One other question: standing express sights on a quarter rib, or save a bit and find a bolthead peep that clears the scope mounts?

Mauser with that LW barrel.

D: Hard to disagree! Oh I wish I had stashed some of those VZ-24s when they were selling for $89 a few years ago.

Mauser action with the express sights. I would have them on an island instead of a quarter rib though as it looks more traditional to me.

Yes, short forend, small ebony tip, 26" barrel, NECG Masterpiece sights, barrel band, red Old English pad, dark reddish oil finish.

What are you planning to use it for ?

Code: Deer, elk and black bear here, but mainly large plains game in Africa.

I am in the process of one as we speak! 1909 Argentine action w/ Oberndorf style bolt. LW Mauser Type A profile w/3 leaf island sight, barrel band and W.R. style front sight.
Lapour 3 position safety, and possibly.... a drop mag to match my .375 being built. Custom bases for Talley QR's also. I am quite fond of the .318 Express.

Lee, I'm dying with envy. A 1909 action could not possibly be mated with a better caliber. Please share photos when you can!

M98? But of course! LW barrel? What else! Now as to the sights . . . while folding leaves are classic and esthetically magnificent, older eyes suggest a vintage Williams peep.



I love this gun!

Sarge: A Williams or Lyman steel receiver sight is always a useful addition. Judging by the trigger guard sling ring hole, your action is military. May I ask which rifle "donated" it?
Boy, that thing looks like a true working classic!

George Gibbs 318 WR.

Original WR in 318 WR: The barrel of this gun is fried! Old corrosive primers!

Out of curiosity, how does that thing feel in the hands and how does it swing? I assume a 26" barrel?

All of my English Mausers have original long barrels and they swing and work well.

alf,

could you estimate the barrel contour size for me? i assume about a no 3 or thereabouts and perhaps about .615 @ 26"?

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Sarge: A Williams or Lyman steel receiver sight is always a useful addition. Judging by the trigger guard sling ring hole, your action is military. May I ask which rifle "donated" it?
Boy, that thing looks like a true working classic!

I suspect that it was a WWI surplus M98 Mauser that may have been obtained in bulk by the W. W. Greener company. Around 1939, or thereabouts, it was converted into what was referred to as the "African Game Park Warden" model. What adventures it had in Africa I wish I knew. However, I obtained it from Kynoch for, as I recall 225 pounds back around '02. I have had remarkable success with it on running hog, both California and Mozambique, and on bushbuck. Now that 200 gr. bullets are available so reasonably, it may become my go-to whitetail gun and I will certainly take it to British Columbia after a couple of black bear a year from this spring.

Alf, if you're tired of that WR with the fried barrel taking up valuable space in your gun safe, I'm sure I can find a corner to lean it in here at my place ...

Bill,

If you like the idea of an island with a leaf sight, why not consider mounting it closer to the muzzle. I remember Taylor talking (make that writing) about doing that as he got older and my 65 yr old eyes find I can pick up the front and rear leaf when they are so situated, while "conventional" spacing gives me fits and I opt for a peep. I just picked up a early 1900s Mauser sporter so set up and find they are easy to use.

Here is a WR with a bolt stop mounted peep so you don't have to drill and tap the Action.

Frank:

Wow that's nice. Is it a vintage part or what?

Gotta be. And certainly an interesting approach to the question. I'm not sure that it is as stable as an action mounted sight but ingenious? Oh, yeah!

It is indeed vintage. Lyman #35. The Rifle is an LT series WR takedown.

The island sight on the rifle reaches out to 600 yards. Ambitious.

It was very accurate but I sold it for funding another purchase.
Frank

That's exactly what I need for my 9.3 x 57.

Where can you get those sights? I assume they are no longer made?

Start with a Google search. It's amazing what minutia can be found floating around on the 'Net. I found a pair of left swing safeties and both my vintage peep sights that way.