I have just acquired a Model 1935 Mauser Oberndorf action that is in excellent condition; it has the Mauser logo on the rear bridge, Mauser Oberndorf and some other words on the left side, and a Braziian star stamping on the front bridge. The entire action - bottom metal, bolt, and everything is not quite but almost as new/perfect. My question - what is the biggest caliber that I can build with this action ? I'd like a .404, but what would have to be altered to do this ? Also, what other suggestions for caliber selection would you recommend ? Lastly, please recommend who I should send the action to for bolt-bending and the necessary prep work. Thanks for your input.

Yes a .404 would work you just need a smith who can do the work. With a gem like that thats the way I would opt....I am having my .404 built on a 1909 but halfway through a action the same as yours came up and I wish I could have had my .404 on that...alas it was not to be.

I'd go with Chic Worthing, Scott Green (www.idahorifleman.com), Michael Ullman (www.frontiergunsmithing.com) or Tom Burgess if he is still taking on projects. Or Stephen Dodd Hughes or Roger Kehr or some of the other first class gunsmiths who post on AR. Or check with the American Custom Gun Guild. I'd surface grind the Brazilian stamp off the receiver, leave the other Mauser markings. Great action for an open-sight express-style rifle. You'll need new bottom metal, Blackburn, Sunny Hill, London Guns, etc.

Thats what my action is on my 416, and I have had a couple of 404s on that action...Dennis Olson and Jack Belk did my metal work..Scott Green is a super smith as stated above, I saw some of his work at Dallas SCI this year, very impressive.....Customstocks work is excellent and he has displayed some impressive rifles on this forum..Jim Brockman in Gooding Idaho has done some excellent work for me, as has John Ricks who also posts on this forum...so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a capable gun builder...

Here's some of Scott's work, taken at the Dallas Safari show:





Michael Ullman:

Frank:

To answer your question about the biggest factory round that you can build on a standard large-ring Mauser 98, I would say a .500 Jefferey, though a .404 is a lot more pleasant to shoot. If you are willing to spend the money, one of the best gunsmiths around for the type of work you are talking about is Duane Wiebe. He can be reached at (530) 344-1357. I can personally attest to Duane's work, and in believe that it would be very hard to find a better craftsman for either wood or metal work.

Dave

Guild members have to pass strict tests which includes the presentation and judging of their work before they are admitted to the group. There are two ways to use their services. Members can qualify and then "specialize" in stocks, engraving, metal work?? or any combination of the three.

Kind of like being your own general contractor,, you can choose someone to build your barreled action and another to do the stock work, and/or engraving, or find a smith who is a member of the guild in more than one of the disiplines.

My favorite member is Roger Ferrell who can be reached at rogersgunworks@yahoo.com . He lives in the Atlanta area and he has built me two beautiful rifles at very reasonable prices. He does both the metal work and the stock making, to include checkering. He can arrange for engraving with another Guild member.

All of the other suggested fellows are great. I might suggest that you take a look at the work of several 'smiths before you shell out several grand. You can find the Guild on line and see who is near you if you wish, or you could go to their convention and take your action with you, leaving it with your choice. I believe they meet right before SCI, so you could kill two birds with one stone.

BTW, I have a .404 on a 1909 action and it works just wonderfully. Make sure you get a "drop box" magazine so you can stuff a bunch of ammo in the rifle. It is very practical and it gives the rifle a real classic look. Most folks use Blackburn models.

10,75x68

I think that the 404 is a good choice. Cool. If the front markings are the same as the shooting stars on the 08 Brazilian I would keep them. I like some of those crests and if they are in great shape and it is an open sighted only gun I would try to preserve them. that is just me.

May I suggest you get a copy of the ACGG book on custom rifles? It gives worksheets for keeping track of what you are doing, or want done, guidelines and suggestions. Different approaches to it. Etc. For instance, do you want to contract all the work with the different craftsman? Pick somebody who does complete rifles? Or pick somebody who does a portion but will coordinate the rest for you? These are all important items to consider. (in my case my preferred metalsmith doesn't do ANY stockwork, or engraving. Not to mention some of the other stuff I want to try myself).

It is called "Realizing Your Dream A Client's Guide to Building a Custom Gun". Available through www.acgg.org for $20, well spent.

Red

As loud-n-boomer says. Wiebe is a top tier gunmaker. You won't find many better.IMHO

Frank- my Oben is a 7 Mashburn Super, if you need a smith to do the work I'd get a hold of.

Burgess (Montana)
Echols (Utah)
Similian (colorado)

Good luck and let us know what way you go.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz