I know most folks dismiss them as pretty much useless, but I've been thinking about a svelte fetherweight iron sighted stalking rifle.

I was leaning towards a 7br, as I have brass and dies, and 120's @ 2700 is the performance I'm after, but the only right way to do that is by shortening an action, and then the pressure is a bit too high for a small ring. I might still do that as a shortened yugo though.

Anyhow, I'm thikning about a small ring as a 7X57, loaded down to BR levels, with butterknife bolt handle, ghost ring rear site, and a slim splinter forend stock.

Whatcha think?

That would make a handy little rifle. I think for cartridges under 46,000 cup they are nice.

You should be able to easily build a 6.75 lb rifle.

Paul,
Jana's 708 is loaded with 100gr hornadys, at 2600fps and kills anything big enough to die.

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
a slim splinter forend stock.

When it comes to small rings, becareful what you wish for. If you load it wrong, you may end up with more than a splintered stock. Just kidding!

Pay the extra money, buy yourself a G.33/40 action, barrel it up in 7 x 57, and go hunting.

Malm, you crack me up...

Paul,
It sounds like a great project. What action do you plan on using? I've been thinking the same thing about a 96 swedish. Possibly with a mannlicher stock. (in 6.5X55 of course).
These small ring Mausers have been used for some insane ideas over the years, but your talking about using it for the caliber and loading (cartridge) it was designed for.

Here's a little mexican SR 98 over on allan's armory that's $235. Seems like it would make a pretty cool sporter.

http://allans-armory.com/aapictures.php?ItemId=MLG14


Weagle

If I was going to use a small ring action I would use either a G33/40 or a mexican as they have better gas handling capabilities and will handle higher pressure also. The G33/40 is even lighter than the mexican. Another action is the 1917 erfert 98A and it is standard length like the G33/40. The mexican is a shorter action.

Rad

I think Paul already has the action AND a plan.

Seems like a dream! Light, elegant, smoooooth.....
But Paul, Paul - BUTTERKNIFE bolt handle??????????

I consider the Mexican 98 a high pressure action. It is cock on open and features the third lug at the back of the bolt, it's a small ring action.

Do not use the 94,95,96 swedish small ring actions for high pressure loadings, They will set back.
SS

Speaking of small ring Mausers, I bought an odd one a couple of days ago. This one is a commercial Husqvarna in .30-06, which I think they called a 1640, with the long extractor. This one has the splinter forend with a 3/4 barrel band on the full length barrel (24" or so; not as short as their 'featherweight'), but it is still a very lightweight rifle.

What's obviously the original stock, is a very rich looking piece of walnut with a checkered butt instead of the usual butt plate. Does anyone know which variant this might be? Was it lower or higher on the scale of grades? The pretty wood makes me think 'higher', but the checkered butt puzzles me.

It appears almost unfired, judging by both the bore and the external condition.

quote:

Originally posted by Bent Fossdal:
Seems like a dream! Light, elegant, smoooooth.....
But Paul, Paul - BUTTERKNIFE bolt handle??????????

I put a butternife on a mdl 93 8mm years ago, and I liked it. I think on a cock on closing action it's not too bad.

I don't have an action yet, but was thinking about a mdl 93 or 95.

It'll have to be a round that doesn't have modern high pressure factory ammo, because I dunno what might happen to it in the future.

I shot a variety of chamberings in the contender over the years, so I'm familiar with less than herculian actions, and that they work fine so long as one loads appropriately.

Paul,
There's so much personal about a rifle project that it seems one should always build it "HIS WAY" regardless.....and it appears that you have a passion for a pre-98 small ring mauser.

Just about every option available has been posted here and of them I'd recommendstarting off with the Mexican if that fits your interest.

That said........there's a lot of darn good actions available to make a "svelte fetherweight iron sighted stalking rifle".....Not just Mausers.

One has to wonder just what the goal is.....the "svelte fetherweight iron sighted stalking rifle" or the small ring Mauser!

If the stalking rifle is the goal, may I suggest you look to Sako, Winchester, Remington, Interarms, and other commercial action as a basis for the rifle.

It's your money.....

Tumbleweed, Post your serial number on the swede site and SBHVA can tell you waht it is.

Does it have the bolt reliese that is just a little tab instead of the regular 98 reliese lever

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=41

I have a small ring '98 Mauser actioned German guild rifle that is just as you describe, except it's an 8x57mmJS and has a half round bolt knob.

It's one of the trimmest and quickest little rifles I have ever handled.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by HerrMesser:
If I was going to use a small ring action I would use either a G33/40 or a mexican as they have better gas handling capabilities and will handle higher pressure also. The G33/40 is even lighter than the mexican. Another action is the 1917 erfert 98A and it is standard length like the G33/40. The mexican is a shorter action.



How about a little heresy here? Why the small ring? Does a large ring of equal length weigh that much more?