I have a very nice 98 Mauser action that was made by FN. I would like to make it into an African heavy rifle. The problem is that I'm not sure what cartrige to chamber it for. It isn't a magnum length action or the like and I already have a .375 H&H, so I'm thinking of something with a .416 bore or larger. Wildcats of various kinds don't scare me although I am very aware that lost ammunition can be a problem with them. I want something that feeds reliably and isn't finicky even in the high temperatures of Africa. I'm open to any suggestions, so give me your thoughts.

Bigbore+ FN mauser+ammo availability= 458 win mag

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a 416 Taylor.

A 404 Jeffery would fit the bill.

According to most of my knowledgable gunsmith friends the 404 and the 375 are currently considered a bit too long for standard Mausers, even though it has been done many times. The 500 Jeffery is a possiblilty but my choice -suprise,suprise - would be the standard 458. It is a classic in it's own right and the more I use other big bores the more impressed I am with the 458.

Another vote for the .458 Win mag. If you want something shooting slightly flatter, .416 wildcats, even though I would then ratehr open up the action slightly for Remington's version. All in all, you would be very well served with a "common" .458 hunting the heavies in Africa.

Lighthorse,
9,3x62 or 64 ...

458, you gunsmithing friends have opinions, which are not "incorrect", but fit their choices as to what THEY will make in a mauser. There's ZERO more bolt thrust from a 458 lott than a 458 win.

I don't prefer to hack up an m98, but there's TONS litterly millions, of 98 mausers either altered or made to accept 3.65" rounds.

your friends are correct, for their shops, that they would prefer not to cut one up

jeffe

if a wildcat is an option, why not make a 416 RUM? The Lott is the easy choice, and I am having a Whitworth 458WM converted as we type. 460G&A, 470 Capstick, 458RUM, 470RUM...? Lots of pleasant choices to ponder. Maybe even a 500RUM? There is something for Jeff to think about.

Rich

458wm is the way to go. 500 grains at 2040 is enough and the 458wm can do more than 100fps better than that. Ammunition is easy to come by if you need it because yours went missing or whatever.

Since you already have the 375H&H then a 416 is redundant in my view.

When you go with your 458wm and your 375H&H you will have all of your bases covered and a back up DG rifle to boot.

JPK

Lighthorse,

Hatari publisher and gunsmith Harald Wolf built a very nice takedown .458 Win Mag on an Argentine Mauser a few years back, and wrote it up for the magazine. Of course he took it hunting too.

jim

Not an answer to your question, but another question I would consider before deciding:

"Is it still illegal in some African countries to import handloaded ammunition?"

If the Answer is "Yes", then since the rifle is intended for possible use in Africa, I would pick something for which factory loaded and correctly headstamped ammo is available.

Probably something like the .376 Steyr, the9.3x64, another .375 H&H (not an unlikely conversion with many custom gunsmiths), or most likely, the .458 Winchester.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
A 404 Jeffery would fit the bill.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Not an answer to your question, but another question I would consider before deciding:

"Is it still illegal in some African countries to import handloaded ammunition?"

If the Answer is "Yes", then since the rifle is intended for possible use in Africa, I would pick something for which factory loaded and correctly headstamped ammo is available.

As far as I know, it has never been illegal to import handloaded ammo into any African country I've been in! In fact, I've never taken factory loaded ammo into Africa, as I only shoot handloads.

With something like a 416 Taylor,(a wildcat) the cases are made from 458 Win Mag cases, so would be head stamped for a legal Dangerous game cartridge. There is nothing, I'm aware of, on the books about headstamping on the cartridge. That will only come from some customs man who doesn't understand rifles/ammo. They will not un-seal a box of ammo to check the caliber if it is printed on the outside of the box. Use translucent plastic ammo boxes, so they can count the rounds without opening the box. Make your own lables on your computer, and print them out with the cal designation, and number of cartridges, then take clear postal tape, and with the label under it, go around the box top, and bottom sealing the box of ammo! I have never had them open a box of ammo. The only problem I had was, the customs man in Zambia wanting to know why I was takeing empty cases back home with me! The concept of re-loading was lost on him! Don't worry about the headstamp.

The 416 Taylor would be a very nice round in the 98 FN, and IMO, a better, and more versitile round than the 458 Win Mag!