I'd like to build either of the above chamberings (with tendancies toward the 7x57). I'd like to end up with something along the lines a Model 70- i.e. CRF, 3-pos. safety, etc- but i'm not enamored of the M70 featherweight and the classic doesn't come in the right chambering. Other "wants" include a 24" bbl, and a intermediate length (.308 class) action. So do I buy a featherweight and throw away/ebay the stock and BBL- find a Mauser M48 action and build it up from there, or order all this stuff from the Montana Rifleman (although i'm not a fan of investment cast actions either). I'm not a gunsmith so I'd end up having to work with a 'smith on the more technical aspects. thanks for any thoughts on the subject.

Check these out. Screw on a barrel and get a stock.

welcome John.
here's my thoughts...

There's about 10 ways to do this... and i'll try to cover a couple

1: decide on the caliber. it will make a slight difference in the way you go.

2: scope/ no scope

3: price range

it is a false economy to think you can start with a mauser, rebarrel, trigger, blue, and smith it, AND restock it, and come out cheaper than starting with a win model 70.

side note, MRC... i would advise that investment cast vs machined from billet will have no net net impact for a first custom.

if you don't like the featherweight (which part) I'll assume it's the stock.

You could get that in the caliber of your choice, restock (your TOTAL choice on price range - from 60 bucks to 3000 --boyds' stock to chic's)

and sell the original stock from 75 to 125 on ebay

so, 600 for the model 70, call it 200 for the stock, and 200 more for checkering
1000

M98...
100 for an action
200 for a barrel
250 for chamber/headspace/drillnTap/bend bolt handle/trigger and safety install
150 for bluing
50 for a trigger
200 for a safety
400 (same) for stock
1350

jeffe



cheap route
buy a 7x57 mauser, have a smith set it back and recut the chamber or a full rebarrel, restock, replace trigger,,,,

Thanks for the input- those '98 actions look interesting.

I'm leaning to a 7 x57, it would be scoped. Price range I dunno' thinking 1000+/- if it gets more than that I'll just have to take my time and not do it all at once. thats ok.

i didn't like the featherweight for a few reasons- I thought the barrel contour was butt ugly (I looked a 6.5 x 55 swede at the local sporting goods store) I do not like the sharp shoulder machined into the bbl- also don't like the stock. I do like the classics esp. the supergrades- If I could order a supergrade in a 7 x 57 w/o calling the custom shop I'd be happy, happy, happy. I thought about re-barrelling a classic- but your into the long action if you do that.

Didn't figure the mauser route would be cheap- but I didn't really have good idea of what i'd be getting myself into- cost or time wise.

If you hadn't noticed, I tend to do things the hard way

Another option is a CZ 550 that's already available in 7x57 for under $500, and use it as a base to customize to your preferences.

Refinish the stock, find a 3 position safety, Talley rings and have a smith tune it up.

All for under $1000 probably.

quote:

Originally posted by john h:
i'm not a fan of investment cast actions

Is that based on some factual knowledge about their metallurgy, or something else?

I would certainly go with the 7x57, it will perform circles around the 7-08 which lacks the powder space to compete with the 7x57..Unless you intend to only use factory ammo then the 7-08 competes...

I use only H414, I load beyound book max because the books are allowing for the 95 and 96 Mausers plus I cut a long throat in mine...., Have it chambered to take the long 175 gr. Nosler spt. bullet set out of fit in the 06 length magazine..the throat should match the magazine....The jump that the 130 Speer or 120 gr. Sierra has to make has never effected accuracy in my 7x57s..all were 1x9 twists...this is the way I have all mine set up, and all Commercial Brno 21 and 22s are set the same way...

I'd go with the 7x57 also, I had one built a couple of years ago on a VZ24 action, Douglas 24" barrel, B&C composite stock and finished in KG Gunkote. I used a gunsmith over near Atlanta and I think his current price is around $900 for the same rifle today. I don't load mine as hot as I could, around 2600-2700 fps with 154 gr. Hornady and the S&B factory 173 gr. load does about 2450 in my rifle. It's accurate enough, and puts down everything I've shot with it.

Just another thought. Look at a Kimber 84 in 7-08. About the only major thing on your want list that's not there is a 24" barrel. With what I see them selling for, even if you put on a new barrel you'd still be around $1000. They are small, light and with the addition of some sights would have a classic look.
I would agree heartly with Jeffe about using a Mauser. I just built up a 6.5x55 on an M-48 and just the parts/action/stock with me doing the work is pushing $700. Not complaining because it was a winter project but the economics are with buying something that already has the goodies because they do add up.

If it's just the barrel you don't like, get any old M70 fwt in 243, 308, whatever and have a barrel put on (chambered in 7mm Mauser, of course!) That stock design could stand a bit bigger barrel contour without hurting the eye (though M70 groupies may scoff.)
The easy route would be find said M70, ship to Pac-Nor and they send it back for some $300 or whatever, ready to rock.
If you don't need a spankin' new gun, you could find one for ~$500 and have money left for the scope.

Do you not like ruger 77 rifles?Also i would get a 270winchester if you want a light recoiling rifle or the 7mm-08 and never look back.the 7x57 is nice but the others are really just as good in my opinion.you can get the old rugers pretty cheap..........

Forgot to ask,Would a 257 roberts pre 64 winchester action work for what you want,be built into a 7x57?

Thanks for all the input- I just need to figure out if I just want a rifle- or if I want a project then a rifle

In a previous life I worked in the aerospace industry as a structural engineer- we used a lot of high tech materials - including investment cast complex pieces- They generally compared ok with forgings for strength - but were much worse in terms of fatigue and ductility. Castings are also harder to inspect for, and more prone to internal flaws. Fracture toughness in a casting sucks because of the low ductility. Actions may be so over-designed that these "problems" with castings are not significant to safety or durability.

Right now, I'd be tempted to pusue a re-barrel on a m70(Oh-I don't like alloy floor plates either ). I don't know the specifics of the pre-64 .257 action/bolt but i'd think that would work- if the pre-64's wen't worth their weight in gold today. (My father has a 1949 .270 M7O supergrade - drool!) But a project mauser sounds fun too.

my current project gun is restocking a M5$ .270 carbine whose original stock was badly checkered and thinned by someone and resulted in a split from the recoil lug along the grain to the waist on the oposite side of the stock.

john

Heck John,
rebarrel that 54 to 280 and call it a day!!

jeffe

Actually, after I bedded the action in the new stock blank I took it to the range. shot about a 1 moa group with 55gr of IMR 4350 and 130 gr nosler BT. It does have a tendancy to shoot left about 1.5" on the first shot out of a clean bbl. The bluing is about 65% and the old Leupold Mountaineer scope show its age. The only two problems I can really find with it are that 1.) whoever mounted the scope got the the rear weaver mount about .020 offset and slightly out of angular alignment with the centerline. Also the seer (sp?) really drags on the bolt body so the action feels bound up (unless you pull the trigger while you close the bolt and release the trigger before you rotate the bolt)

John,
nothing to build.. it's DONE

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2711043/m/787107932

jeffe