Here is your chance to help me out a lot! I am trying to design the right rifle for my extra-tall build and what I typically hunt. The caliber will be in the 7mmX57 Muaser or 6.5mmX55 Swedish range. The barrel will be long at 25 inches and in a Lothar Walther #1500.

What action would you use? The below actions are ones I have been considering. This rifle will see many miles of the Coastal Mountain in California.

-Global Trading Mauser 98
-CZ 550
-BRNO Mauser 98
-Charles Daly
-Husqvarna 46 (Mauser 96)
-Husqvarna 146 (Mauser 98)
-Another action you think would be the best.

I want to try and keep the initial action purchase under $500.

HELP!!!!!!

as long as you are going to do a "standard" round, get a squarebridge mauser

http://www.legacysports.com/product/index.htm

457 msrp

jeffe

I wish I had a picture of one of the Global actions that I could see better than the photo on the Legacy page?

Dan

Add the

MODEL 1999 MONTANA ACTIONS

to my list for review

I'd use a commercial FN or a 1910 Mexican for either of those calibers.

My suggestion would be a Pre-64 M70 or M70 Classic. fla3006's choice of a FN would also be right up there. Another option would be to use the new Kimber 84 Long Action . You would have an action big enough for what you want but still a lot trimmer than any of the others. But you would be into it quite a bit more for the donor action. It would be pretty though.

I have two custom rifles on the Legacy action, one in 7x64 and one in 9.3x62. Duane Wiebe did the gunsmithing, and recontoured the receiver to take Warne rings. I love the 7x64, Duane is not yet finished with the 9.3x62, but it will be a twin to the 7x62.

Duane feels that the legacy is a great action for the money that needs very little extra work to make up into a first class custom rifle.

jeffeosso: since you "recomend" global trading action. Do you have any first hand knowledge about them?

Is there alot of work to make them work properly?
What stocks can be inletted for them?

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
I'd use a commercial FN or a 1910 Mexican for either of those calibers.

Another vote for the commercial FN action.

The legacy must have come along ways since I bought mine. It needs a lot of tweeking to make it work well. I have barreled mine and will need some work to get it functioning right.

333 OKH,

I grew up hunting blacktail deer in Monterey County, mostly on the coast side. I understand those conditions.

I shot my first deer with a 6.5X55 from a Sweedish Mauser.

All of these actions I think build into a heavier rifle than you need.

Now a days, I would call Melvin Forbes at New Ultra Light Arms, and have him build one of his rifles in your choice of caliber. You will carry this rifle way more than you shoot it.

jim

I´d go with the BRNO 98 or the Husky 98, both are good for what you´re planning.

The BRNO is getting tricky to get out of the Czech Republic. They will only sell with a barrel attached, and I need BATF permits. So far they are working up a price for one with double set triggers in 7mm or 6.5mm

The final form of the rifle you are developing is dependent upon the animals you will be hunting. If it is a mountain rifle to be used at long range, I'd give some thought to the 6.5 over the 7mm because the 6.5 will have marginally better ballistics.

With a 25 inch barrel, you should get excellent performance out of the 6.5. I'd look for the lightest combination if I were humping it up and down hill. The original M38 (M96) Swede would be a good action. With 125 Partitions or 140 Remington PSP you could deal with most anything you'll find in CA. Kudude

Originally it was to be a 6.5X54mm Mannlicher Schoenauer because I have an old 1903 locked away, and I have the dies, but I like finding 140 grain factory loads as well as larger 155-156 grain loads. The long ones kind of take you back in hisotry, and they are awesome on pigs.

I really am liking the Global and the BRNO with thier classic Mauser looks, but I like having all of your diverse opinions.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976554454.htm

Use it as is, or rebarrel to 7X57.

Is that Parker Hale a FN or another maker like the Spanish guns? Just wondering.

Parker Hale used many of the Spanish made
Santa Barbara actions. I have one and it is a
"C" ring action while my FN is double
broached.

This is a good rifle at a very good price.

Try this one. It has a bit more information.

http://www.auctionarms.co,/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7038188

Get yourself a JC higgins m-50, it's got a good FN action in it. They legacy is rough, and has at least 250.00 worth of polish time in it. Run as fast as you can from the legacy action. The higgins fn is a great economical platform for you to launch your project.
Timan

OK. FN from Sears it is!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41164557

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41161257
Timan,

I take it you don't like the Santa Barbara either? I'd be curious as to why? Is there
something I should know?

Please don't leave me ignorant!

funny you mention these. I just looked them up.

I also have a few Husqvarna 96s on line that are being offered to me for the project. i actually love these little actions, but I am not sure I want to invest all the money for a custom rifle on a little 1896 Mauser action?

No, you don't! They are nice little actions, but
you really want a good 1898 when real money is involved!

Well it is getting down to a few. I am really only looking for 98s.

The BRNO 98 is a hassle to get into the US with the BATF form 6 and the language barrier. I really like the action, and they will custom barrel it to my specs, plus I get double triggers. I am concerned about the tolerances on this action if it follows old military specs.

Still interested in the 1999 Montana action, but know little about them or their barrels?

Global 98 from Legacy Arms seem to be the one I am leaning towards. I like the old Mauser square bridge look and it seems to be a good action with very little work needed to get it going.

I bought one of those Legacy mausers. The safety was junk. Had a real mushy feel to it, you couldn't tell when it was engaged and when it wasn't. The floorplate didn't have a good fit to it, a lot side to side play in it. No commonly avalible rings will fit it so plan on having the "bridges" re-machined to accept rings. Also I would plan on changing the trigger. When I would adjust mine to an acceptable pull I coudn't get the play out of it. It's also ruff as a corn cob. You'll need to do a lot of polishing to get it smooth. These are neat little actions, just don't buy the thing thinking you're screw a barrel on it and have a "nice" rifle. I sold mine and moved on.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by 333_OKH:
Here is your chance to help me out a lot! I am trying to design the right rifle for my extra-tall build and what I typically hunt. The caliber will be in the 7mmX57 Muaser or 6.5mmX55 Swedish range. The barrel will be long at 25 inches and in a Lothar Walther #1500.

It is going to be classy that's for sure. Love your caliber choices.

I like the FN Commercial actions.

Don Slater,

Re Santa Barbara action, Frank de Haas (or possibly Wayne van Zwoll, more's the pity) commented on them in the 4th edition of "Bolt Action Rifles." Opinions appeared a bit mixed, saying in one place they appeared to be a direct unmarked copy of the Centurion acion, about which there was some quesion about the heat treating, and in others the Santa Barbara was suitable for a custom rifle, given much smoothing. (pg 343).

Jaywalker

quote:

Originally posted by 333_OKH:
Still interested in the 1999 Montana action, but know little about them or their barrels?

From what I understand, the 1999 action is a good action (I think Serengeti uses them for their custom guns), BUT I hear that a lot of time goes into smoothing them up to get them where they need to be. I bet you'd have $700-$800 in it before it was up to par. They're cast actions and have A LOT of rough places. However, they're marketed to be "inexpensive with potential" you could say. Seems to me like there are better ways to go, but that's the way I see it.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeghhhh!

This is getting complicated! I like both the Montana, and the Global, but I cannot decide. There is about $50 between the two??????

I have a couple of questions about the legacy actions. Are they cast or forged? I would also heed Chic's advice on this, he knows more than a thing or two about guns. His flag would be enough to get me doing some serious homework before I commited dollars.

I am going to run a novel concept buy you, why not just look around and find a new model 70 Winchester CRF. Here is a link to one for sale:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41363766

Then strip it out and sell all the parts you don't need. I would sell the stock, the barrel, and maybe even the floorplate.

That would get you into a new action for $400 or so. Then replace the MIM extractor, with a Williams, floorplate if you desire, rebarrel it, and get into stockwork. This is a solid option, good parts, and if done right would be an excellent rifle.

I am not sure why these aren't seriously considered for custom projects more often, they might be a little disappointing in the stock out of the box form but as a basis for starting a custom build these are good parts.

The bonus in my method is you get a shooting rifle, then start pulling it apart as finances and time dictate.

Of your original choices this is a much better route than a CD or a CZ for a custom gun.

I am a little above your $550 mark but 50 bucks on a custom rifle is chump change, if your worried about that amount don't start a custom.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:
Don Slater,

Re Santa Barbara action, Frank de Haas (or possibly Wayne van Zwoll, more's the pity) commented on them in the 4th edition of "Bolt Action Rifles." Opinions appeared a bit mixed, saying in one place they appeared to be a direct unmarked copy of the Centurion acion, about which there was some quesion about the heat treating, and in others the Santa Barbara was suitable for a custom rifle, given much smoothing. (pg 343).

Jaywalker

I think the smoothing part was account of the
Santa Barbara action having a stainless bolt
which causes more drag than a properly hardened
carbon steel bolt would.

Personally, I don't like the bolt handle on the
original stainless bolt anyway, and replaced mine with a quality military mauser bolt, which
has a new handle welded on by Dennis Olson.

I have and like a the FN, but my Parker Hale
action has that sexy "C" ring! I just like
the "C" ring better? ANAL? Probably!

nt to be ingnorant, but what is the 'c' ring?

quote:

Originally posted by 333_OKH:
nt to be ingnorant, but what is the 'c' ring?

when you take the barrel off a german 98, there's an internal face that stops the barrel, one side is cut, making it look like a C... on some FNs, this is cut on both sides, therefore an H

jeffe

Gottcha

I am working a deal with the BRNO people to have a BRNO 98 made with a 660mm [26inch] barrel in 6.5mm Swedish. I will havew to see what they say. This might be a better route than these actions like the Montana and the Global.

Any other ideas?

I just noticed that there isnt a single person voting for the CZ550/ WHY?

Probasbly cause if you want a CZ in a 6.5x55 just buy one and your done. No fuss no muss.

OBTW,

Look here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41411562

If the price doesn't run up much on this its a good start on a custom rifle.

Although I thought mousers were cats.

Another good start:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41164557

schromf---

Thanks forthe help. I have looked at those rifles and may bid on them.

As far as the CZ goes. I cannot buy a rifle and be done with it. I need a 15 1/4 inch LOP and a longer forearm for my rifles because I am so tall. I am tired of trying to make a factory rifle work. They just don't.

333_OKH
I have a 6.5x55 project going right now and I am cheap! I have used the M48 action on a 308 and now this 6.5x55, it might just be something else to look into being the actions are reasonable and can be readily found. I like to find the ones that the numbers don't match, your gonna have to lap in the bolt lugs anyway and I don't feel like I am killing to much history. Just another idea to kick around. Later,

Kirk