When the guys from Waffenfabrik Hein announced they were going to bring out a line of M98 pattern actions, I felt the urge to get on board early. There are pluses and minuses about being early, but the major benefit is having the opportunity to customize the specifications for at least one action. Over the course of a few discussions with Greg and Karl, we've settled on a design for my action that I'm calling the "Mexiruvian Double Squarebridge G.33/40".

The basic platform will be a G.33/40 clone with a few improvements selected from other Mauser patterns. It'll have a slightly extended front ring like the 1909 Peruvian actions, a shallow thumb cut like the Mexican Mauser, and double squarebridges like the Oberndorf commercial actions.

It'll have one of Ed LaPour's 3-position safeties and Blackburn bottom metal. We haven't settled on a trigger yet.

Do any of you have other ideas that we should consider? I don't want to stray too far from the original platform, but do want the best attributes of each of the Mauser iterations.

I'll be building a 270 Win on this action.

Sounds like a great idea.

Is this to be a one of a kind or can I have one too?

ForrestB, the only idea I can come up with is, I should pick it up when completed and meet Howard and Chic, to run a couple thousands rounds down the tube to make sure everything is perfect before final shipping to you. All I ask is a couple of days notice..

quote:

Originally posted by Howard:
Is this to be a one of a kind or can I have one too?

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned, but it's up to WFH to decide how many they want to build in their first run. Call Karl or Greg and see what they have to say.

Jimmy, you're all heart.

Sounds amazing...

Cocking piece? PLEASE!!

sounds just incredible... what's the butcher's bill on this one? Kidney? Liver? or the yard?

(sigh)... well, I'll call you monday and see

jeffe

Hmm, sounds fantastic I would want it to have a magazine that would allow 89mm COL like the ZG-47 and Brno m-21/22. It should be 100% M-98 compatible so it’s possible to change trigger, firing pin, springs, shroud, extractor etc. etc.

Naturally, I would also like to volunteer to test/evaluate an action, or two, before serial production is started- just to make sure there are no features that been missed, or needs to be changed

ForrestB, this is all your fault

Cheers
/JOHAN

I frequently blaim forrest for this stuff!!

make mine in 10.75x68...

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:

quote:

Originally posted by Howard:
Is this to be a one of a kind or can I have one too?

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned, but it's up to WFH to decide how many they want to build in their first run. Call Karl or Greg and see what they have to say.

Forrest, I am glad you said that ...I hope you do not mind me tagging along on your ideas.

Howard, if you ordered you would have #3 that is unless someone calls before you...

Forrest, do you know what scope mounts you are going to set this up for?

What is the price base for such a dream machine?

thumb cut reduces rigidity of action

Johan, I want a minimum dimension M98 suitable for a 3.34" COL (+/- 85mm). jjs' action is for a 404 Jeffery and will be a bit larger all the way around and would probably accomodate rounds up to 3.75" (+/- 95mm).

I agree about the desirability of 100% M98 compatibility; but I'd like a little tighter tolerances than were used on the military production runs.

jjs, for now I'm planning to use Talley rings unless I find something better.

quote:

thumb cut reduces rigidity of action

No doubt it does, but it has some utility and looks right to me. It would be easy (if not easier) to make the action without the thumb cut.

I'll let Karl or Greg answer the pricing questions.

quote:

Originally posted by vigillinus:
thumb cut reduces rigidity of action

Elimination of thumbcut would add negigible rigidity. Anyway you slice it the mauser is not a rigid action. That never seemed to stop mine from shooting very well though. Besides, after owning many commercial varients I can honestly say, make mine with a thumbcut. They just look wierd without one.

Forrest

Better (Nicer) than the Talleys would of course be the Burgess Mounts if you want quick release type mounts. Having owned a couple, I would go with a Blackburn Trigger. They work very well.

Goona have it engraved?

Who is goona do the stock?

Forrest,
It sounds really nice. Is Ted still building bottom metal? I have not heard a much from him on an order I have in for some metal work.

I am thinking of who you are going to have build the stock. Going to give Dowtin another try???

I'll let the experts decide on the specs. I will be getting what will be my only custom rifle built on one of these. My rifle will be a 30-06 with round bridges and open sights - still can do most thins except read continuously without glasses and I am comfortable with primitive sight options.

ForrestB,

Your description sounds like exactly what I have thinking. I like the Peruvian 09's long front ring and intermediate cartridge chamber length and the Mexican's shallow thumb cut.

I'm curious about a cetain detail of your concept.

Recall the overall length of the Peruvian 09 is the same as a standard action.

Are you extending the ring forward on the front end making the action longer (30/06 length) or are you extending the ring backward into the cartridge chamber cavity making it an "intermediate" length action ( 7x57 or 308 length)?

I just want two somewhat unique actions, one in left hand and one in right. They will be for my son and myself and made up identical. Most likely 270s with 22 inch barrels they will also have some minor engraving. Course they will be stocked by Customstox. Tyler my son is 10 now so that is perfect timing. By the time good ol Customstox gets his done he will be full grown and ready for it.

quote:

Originally posted by uwave:
Are you extending the ring forward on the front end making the action longer (30/06 length) or are you extending the ring backward into the cartridge chamber cavity making it an "intermediate" length action ( 7x57 or 308 length)?

On this action, the ring will extend forward. We'll keep the hole-spacing the same as a standard 98.

22WRF, I'll have very little engraving on this rifle - more of a "trim job" than anything ornate. Duane Wiebe will stock the rifle. I have a new 270 barrel from Ralf Martini that will go on this rifle. This is another one of those rifles that start with a barrel and I'm having to pull out all the stops to get the rest of the rifle as nice as the barrel.

Chic, I talked to Blackburn a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like he really is back in business (for now at least). He has 375 HH boxes for M98s and 416 Rem boxes for M98 in the works now. I don't know what's next on the schedule. Luckily I have a set of bottom metal for this rifle already. You can rest easy knowing Dowtin won't be working on this rifle.

Mehul, why not have a low single squarebridge action? That would be a great look for an unscoped rifle. I think a plain round top Mauser action would look naked without either the charger hump or a single squarebridge.

Forrest,

Yes, a single square bridge would also be very nice. I have been collecting pictures here as well as on NE.com to slowly come up with something that I think would be ideal. That's why I keep bugging members on both forums for pictures of their guns. When you're going to have only one custom rifle in your life, it suddenly becomes a matter of greater importance than selecting a wife.

Thank you for your suggestion. I can;t wait for Karl and Greg to start offering their actions so that I could start working to realise my dreams.

Best wishes and good hunting!

Allegedly Ted is finishing up a run of 404J boxes in the proverbial "three weeks." I may go pick it up in person, and look around the shop.

Forrest,
With the double bridges you could have an EAW system built in. That would be reasonably low profile. IIRC, your barrel has a top rib, ne c'est pas? A claw mount would look quite classic.

LD

Forrest,

Have you considered using a Recknagel trigger?

I listen to Howard and JimmyD and all I hear is blah blah blah blah blah

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB

I have a new 270 barrel from Ralf Martini that will go on this rifle. This is another one of those rifles that start with a barrel and I'm having to pull out all the stops to get the rest of the rifle as nice as the barrel.

Forrest,

Without much trouble, is it possible for you to post a picture of your Ralf Martini barrel?

I for one would really appreciate taking a look at of their barrels....

Thanks,

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by alvinmack:
I listen to Howard and JimmyD and all I hear is blah blah blah blah blah

you get the rock dents pounded out of your boats hull yet? me thinks there must have been some blah blah blah going on when that little mishap occured........LOL

Jim, Duane has the barrel. I'll ask him to send me a couple of photos. It's octagon to round with a quarter rib that drops to a full length rib. It's a classic Ralf Martini design.

Eric, I haven't really thought about the Recknagel trigger but that's a good option.

LD, I like claw mounts on bigger guns, but I don't want to spend the money they cost for the little utility they would provide on a 270. For sure, they look good.

Yep,

A lot easier (&cheaper) to install on a 416 Rigby than on a 270! Since it was your money, I felt good about spending it.

Any update on the action? Any changes to the prototype?

quote:

Originally posted by vigillinus:
thumb cut reduces rigidity of action

Lack of thumbcut on the mauser action elevates rigidity from wet noodle to al dente. Despite the lack of rigidity in Mausers I have yet to have one not shoot MOA or better. And, as people are so fond of saying around here, that's plenty good for a hunting gun, lol.

No thumb cut for me, regardless of rigidity. The rarest, most valuable old commercial Oberndorfs are those w/o thumb cuts.

quote:

Do any of you have other ideas that we should consider?

bolt knob shape....Sphere, pear or egg?
Pear for me ala Peruvian 1909.

Bolt handle shape? Oberndorf

No scope please.
Espcially no double ugly, Hubble sized, boat anchor heavy German optic with the hideous reticles.

Make the firing pin out of titanium for lightness or out of Nitronic 60 for its non galling properties.


Ditch the front square bridge in favor of a nice matted surface or crest.

Machine an integral mount base on the barrel reinforce.

Full length matted integral rib and chunk the octagon black powder look.

Stamp the caliber on the bottom of the barrel also.

So did WFH get geared up for these actions or not?

The thumb cut may not be much of a negative - as another poster has said, 98s are floppy with or without. But where is the plus? Unless you intend iron sights only and stripper clips to hold off a horde of charging whatevers. In fact for the fun of it I have an M70 pre64 clipslot action that some day I will make into something with a swingover mount so I can quickload in 1920s Camp Perry style. Maybe against infuriated peccaries or wolves chasing the horsedrawn sledge in January in Siberia.

Come on Somebody, lets see some photos of this thing.

The last report I got was that WFH was planning to have a prototype at the Dallas Safari Club show next month. We'll all find out in a few weeks.

I wonder how closely WFH's action will be to those made years ago by Pete Grisel to emulate the G.33/40 action.

Forrest, are you going to specify that yours has the lightning cuts and G.33/40 engraved on the receiver?

quote:

But where is the plus? Unless you intend iron sights only

Try hunting in cold weather especially with reciever sight. Loading is much, much easier. If you have not tryed it you will not know what I mean. It has nothing to do with stripped clips for me it has to do with having room for my thumb.
On the other hand for the opposite try loading a scoped M91 Mauser.

I suspect the guys using a dangerous game rifle with iron sights prefer to have the thumb cut.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Forrest, are you going to specify that yours has the lightning cuts and G.33/40 engraved on the receiver?

I'd like the lightening cuts. I haven't decided yet between leaving the action unmarked or having it engraved "Mexiruvian G.33/07". Which would you prefer on a high class rifle?

bump

bump again...

Hows the Waffen Hein "Mexiruvian Double Squarebridge G.33/40" coming along?

Any pics yet?

Regards,
Dave

I really don't know how things are progressing right now. I saw a partially machined receiver (not mine) at the DSC and I saw a CAD drawing of some bottom metal last week. I guess Greg and Karl will give us all a progress report on their Mauser clone when they get close to the finish line.