A local gunsmith is building guns on m98 actions. How do these actions compare in quality to one built by dakota or another manufacturer?

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don't cuss farmers and ranchers with your mouth full

Kind of depends on the gunsmith. - Dan

I would say he is good smith. I have seen his work and it is very nice. He also says all the right things about what he does. For this let's say he is one of the best. What do you think.

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don't cuss farmers and ranchers with your mouth full

The 98 Mauser is the action that all the rest are compared to. thats always a good sign..My favorite action of all...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Well, assuming you're right about the 'smith, they make great rifles. As Ray says, the Mauser is pretty much what everything else aspires to. They're are some '98 actions to stay away from (late war production, Chinese knock-offs, maybe some others I don't know about), but a good action can be built into a beautiful rifle. - Dan

If the links work, here are some pic's of rifles that I have built on Mauser actions. Both were built ny the same smith. The top is a .30 Gibbs with Shilen CM barrel. Finished length with brake is about 26". Very nice rifle that shoots great.

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/DanB/30Gibbs2.jpg

This rifle (below) is one that was just finished. It is a 6.5-06 with Shilen SS SM barrel, finished length is 28 7/8" and 1.3" diameter (1 in 9" twist). Load development is in process but it shows promise. It has printed many a good many groups in the .2's with a few dipping into the .0's and .1's. It likes 120gr to 129gr bullets and is not particularly fond of anything lighter than 107gr.

http://photos.imageevent.com/17encore/dansstuff/websize/Dustyqus%20toy-2.JPG

Brownells has Dakota actios for around $1000 to $1600. You can build a very nice rifle on an old mauser for around or even less than that. If you have to have a new mauser action, they also sell CZ550 actions for less than $600. I guess it depends on if you want to see the old mauser markings on your custom rifle. I've been kinda partial to the VZ-24 actios and the crest on the front ring. There is just something about a classic.

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From my cold, dead hands!
Thanks Chuck!