The Mark X, Charles Daily, Remington 798, the Yugo made commercial Mausers, are not too bad right out of the box; but, if we were easily satisfied, we wouldn’t need forums like AR.

What upgrades (out of the catalog) would you make to a MK X in the garage or basement before you have saved up enough to send it off to a good gunsmith.

If the action is going to a smith eventually, do nothing to it!

Terry

tc1's about right. they could use a better trigger (or at least a good stone job) and a M70 style safety (i really hate to see trigger block safeties on a mauser type)....probably just me, but i don't trust 'em one bit. both couldbe done at home but as long as it's is going to a smith, letting him do them assures they will work good.

quote:

Originally posted by merlinron:
tc1's about right. they could use a better trigger (or at least a good stone job) and a M70 style safety (i really hate to see trigger block safeties on a mauser type)....probably just me, but i don't trust 'em one bit. both couldbe done at home but as long as it's is going to a smith, letting him do them assures they will work good.

Definately start collecting the parts you want the finished rifle to have. My point was to leave the files and stones in the tool box.

Terry

Good points TC1 & merlinron but kind of kills the discussion so lets reword it:

upgrades would you want done either by you or a gunsmith?

like 3 psn safety, barrel band, etc

Along with a 3-P safety and trigger job, I'd make sure to have a new bolt handle and a surface grind and polish to remove the ugly signage posted all over the action. If you've got a later version, the bottom metal needs to be converted to inside the bow release, or just swapped out for a nicer unit. More polishing of the internals, set-up the feeding for the cartridge you wish to use, custom scope bases, recontouring of the rear tang, then you're good to go!


cheers,
- stu

Would you add an after-market trigger or have gunssmith tune the one that came with it?

Definately buy another trigger.

Ditto on changing the trigger. It's not worth the energy it takes to shatter it with a hammer!
I changed the bolt handle and added a M70 style safety to mine as well.

Which trigger would you recommend Timney, NECG, other?

I had no issues with the triggers once the gunsmith worked on them.

Clearly others feel differently.

Take it to the tool shed. Slick it up with sandpaper, emery cloth, then valve grinding compound. Adjust the trigger if it needs it.

Fire one hundred rounds of your chosen loads. If it feeds them all, shoots well, and does not crack your knuckles (front swivel or scope), or dump the rounds on the ground, what more can a man ask?

My only problem was the front swivel stud. I took it off and put on an Uncle Mikes barrel band.

Of course if you got the money and WANT something, Why not?

quote:

Originally posted by Abob:
Which trigger would you recommend Timney, NECG, other?

Blackburn Steel

What cosmetic changes, if any, would you make

I know there are some who don't like the look of the bolt handle

I have a 338/06 that I have just about finished, hope to blue it this weekend, I've owned this rifle for 15 years and thought it was time for a few changes. I restocked it, recontoured the barrel, straddle floorplate and put a timney trigger with a side safe on it.
The only thing I would or should have done is put a new bolt handle on it!