I have a circa 1950's FN Mauser in 30'06 that I would like to change to a Big Bore . Preferrably
.375 or 416. Any ideas would be nice. Thanks in advance.

Good idea, open it in the rear, change the bolt stop, open the bolt face, do some rail work and chamber and install either a 375 or 416 Rem barrel..All early FN's were opened up to 375's and 404's....

A 416 Taylor ( 338 Win Mag necked up to .416 ) would fit nicely with a lot less expence. No magazine lengthening or ejector mod needed. It is a handloading only proposition though.

How about a, 500 Jeffrey?

Very interesting picture there Paul, those three angry men.

You know...that berm in the background...that, that looks like the Wabbit Cweek Wange!

Roger,

Yup, thats the one. I was getting in some practice for hunting those waskely wabbits!

376 steyr, 9,3x64, 416 taylor, 458 winchester... easist, 416 rem next one, but hel, if ou go that far, 470 capstick....

i've got 15 angrymen going to the range tomorrow... kwarteers, not wabbit

jeffe

Try the 9.3X64 Brenneke. You'll like it! 250 gr bullet at 2900 fps. Dynamite! Huntingtons just got in a shipment of HORNEBER 9.3X64 brass. I just received mine it's std Horneber High Quality stuff. Open the boltface slightly and change the barrel. pac-nor makes 9.3mm barrels. It's a super cartridge that suffers only from unavailability of brass from time to time.-Rob

Ah 375 and 416 aren't no big bore my friend. If you build your gun so it will chamber those three rounds from the above picture then you will have a true big bore. Good luck.

Robgunbuilder,
Will a 9.3x62 chamber clean up with a 64 reamer?? I havn't got the specs on the 64 anymore.???

Robgunbuilder : Lothar Walter sells a barrel already threaded & chambered in 9.3x64 for the M98 Mauser. The barrel comes 26.2 inches long so you have plenty to work with. Just headspace to your action & cut & crown the barrel to the length you want & you're on your way.

Ray : Yes you can clean up a 9.3x62 chamber with a 9.3x64 reamer. you might have to set the barrel back till the reamer pilot makes contact in the bore for support but that depends on the reamer. Some brands have longer pilots than others.


[ 02-08-2003, 18:38: Message edited by: Bear Claw ]

Keep the FN original and buy a vz24 for the conversion. Total cost with barrel will be around $400 if you don't get crazy with the stock.

I recommend a 470 capstick. It is the largest that will fit in a model 98 without the radical modifications needed to get a 500 jeffery to feed.

Ray- Bearclaw covered it perfectly. Yup it will work. My reamer was made by JGS and the one 9.3X64 I built impressed the heck out of me. I used an an FN action, which required only opening the boltface a little and some minor rail work. The box worked just fine as is. I used a Pac-Nor blank, Number 5 contour barrel and stuck a brake on the end of the tube. With Nosler 250 gr bullets it hit 2900FPS and shot multiple .75-1 inch groups. Very impressive, the velocity/energy of a .338 Ultramag/ 340 WBY and a bullet diameter closer to a 375 H&H all without a belt and in a package easily contained in a M98. My Only problem has been finding brass. I'll bet Huntingtons doesn't have this stuff for long!-Rob

DBKING

I would either choose a 9,3X62, 9,3X64 or a 404 Jeffery all are classics and very good rounds.

Stay away from the wildcats if you are planing to take the rifle to an exotic place were ammo is scarce

/ JOHAN

Paul H

don't try to fool more people to do the same shitty choice as you

A 450 rigby/458 lott would do just as good beside those 550 grainers in 458 would be real penetrators

/ JOHAN

Now, now, Johan, the man asked about standard FN actions and the .450 Rigby is too big for those. The Lott would be good but I agree with the choices of the 9.3's or the .404. No need to open up the action!

Has anyone else read Gregor Woods' Rifles for Africa yet? Very insiteful and well documented book! It is now out in trade edition (instead of the pricy boxed version) from Safari Press and I highly recommend it. If more of us listened to Gregor, this forum would have a lot fewer arguments. Of course that might make it a lot less fun. Still, y'all ought to get a copy and chew over what he has to say.

Oldsarge

I were refering to Paul H suggestion about the 500 Jeffery. You are right and statdard woul be a bit small too handle these cigarr sized cartridges