What's the lighest one could get a barreled M98 (military or FN) action down to?

I had my eye on Kimber's new 280 AI in a synthetic stock (yes, I know you can't get a Mauser down that light), but was thinking how light could I build a 7x64 on a Mauser action. I thought that would be a slick mountain rifle.

I was thinking a 24" barrel, Lothar Walther has one that weight in around 2.6" pounds, and a blind magazine setup with an aluminum internal mag box.

Anything else that can be done to lighten the rifle?

What would be the weight of a M98 action without the standard steel trigger guard?

kreiger and others have have featherweight barrels at about 2 lbs. One of the winchester featherweight barrel profiles should shoot very well and is about 2 lbs 2 ounces. Several manufactures will make this profile if requested. I dont know how much you can save on the bottom metal, but you can save by carefully selecting a synthetic stock. I know that Brown has one that weighs 16 oz unfinished, about 20 oz finished.

quote:

Originally posted by bbell:
kreiger and others have have featherweight barrels at about 2 lbs. One of the winchester featherweight barrel profiles should shoot very well and is about 2 lbs 2 ounces. Several manufactures will make this profile if requested. I dont know how much you can save on the bottom metal, but you can save by carefully selecting a synthetic stock. I know that Brown has one that weighs 16 oz unfinished, about 20 oz finished.

I think I can get pretty light on a wood stock. No reason to do in a Mauser and use a synthetic stock!

I have a 1930's JP Sauer Mauser that has the lightest weight wood stock I have ever held - I need to weight it, but it is incredibly light. I plan to go the same route if I do this project - find a some light weight walnut (or another wood) and go extremely thin profile, probably thinner than my JP Sauer.

iirc 15.8 oz, action only

I saved this from a similar thread some years ago. It has about the lightest slimest bottom you can do on a Mauser:

1. Lightest synthetic stock you can find.
2. Shortest "featherweight" barrel you can live with.
3. Eliminate the bottom metal and go with an ADL style magazine configuration.

If you plan on a scope, a super light compact, aluminum bases and rings.

I had two of mine handy to weigh. The first is a converted M98 action. 16-20oz MPI stock a 24" Douglas barrel. #2 I believe. I cut the sheet metal box off of a M98 and used an ADL trigger guard. With a 3x9x40 Leupold it weighs 7#2oz unloaded.


The second is my wifes 7x57. A MKX barreled action cut to 22". High Tech blind stock M98 sheet metal box, adl trigger guard 3x9x40 Burris scope weighs 7# 4oz.

ok, who remembers the ultralight broomstick stock mauser that was on here? held 2 shells, tiniest stock...

quote:

Originally posted by 724wd:
ok, who remembers the ultralight broomstick stock mauser that was on here? held 2 shells, tiniest stock...

IIRC Marc Stokeld built it and posted pics, it was nice.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
I had two of mine handy to weigh. The first is a converted M98 action. 16-20oz MPI stock a 24" Douglas barrel. #2 I believe. I cut the sheet metal box off of a M98 and used an ADL trigger guard. With a 3x9x40 Leupold it weighs 7#2oz unloaded.


The second is my wifes 7x57. A MKX barreled action cut to 22". High Tech blind stock M98 sheet metal box, adl trigger guard 3x9x40 Burris scope weighs 7# 4oz.

Those are in my target range of weight with the scope. I'd planned on a Leupold 3-9x36 Ultralight, so that will save some additional ounces as well. The question will be how light can I get a wood stock.

I also planned on the Talley 2 piece aluminum bases - these are really light.

I was also wondering how much weight I could save (if it was meaningful) going from a standard bolt handle to a butter knife handle (plus they look slick).

What is the lighest trigger config out there? Timney>

All this that and the other thing to make lightness...yet what NONE of the rifles above has had done is?

Drill the end of the bloody bolt knob! As we "Brits" did on the (well most) Lee Enfield No5...although I had a late 1949 No 4 Mk I (and that's late for a No 4 Mk I) also with a drilled bolt knob.

quote:

I could save (if it was meaningful) going from a standard bolt handle to a butter knife handle (plus they look slick

What you will find is trying to remove metal from the action to have a significant impact on weight is very hard and expensive. Your guick and large impact are your stock 1-2# and barrel .5# or so. Anything else is fractions of ozs.

Taking Brown Precision numbers the 700 BDL long is 2#7oz going to ADL reduces the weight to 2#6.5oz. Going to a short action BDL only reduces it to 2#4oz and dropping all the way ot M7 is 2#2oz. Taking all the metal out between long and short only saved 3oz. A MKX action is 2#15oz. So drop that heavy heavy trigger guard, add a light barrel and stock and call it good.

I built a light weight 338wmag years ago and talked to Match Grade Arms http://www.mgarmsinc.com/ultra_light-new.html

If I remember it was going to run $1000-1500 for them to remove 3-4oz from my action. If you look at their site the vast majority of weight comes of via s thin barrel and 13oz kevlar stock.

I just got my "light one" from the smith. G33/40 with new bolt, blind magazine, Brown Kevlar "pounder" stock (be ready for some work!), medium decel. pad, really light barrel in 7X57(.560 muzzle at 22"), 3 position safety, S&K mounts (really nice, steel and light) with ultralight 3X9 Leupold. Weighed everything, changed my mind several times. It is a beautiful rifle, balances very well. Don't start on the Mauser in Plastic rant, please. All up it is 6 lbs 13 oz. Might save a little with a Mexican??? Maybe with some bolt machine work, but not much fat on Eleanor. The plans of 40 years, and she is just fine. Arthur Olds

I definitely want the best bang for the buck.

I had thought about a 7mm Mag is a light weight, 24" barrel, but figured the recoil would be to much and the barrel needed to be 26"

Hello

My 257 Roberts has a very slim 24" tube in the M70 Featherweight style (its actually a LW manufacture), slim walnut stock, with steel Leupold mounts and rings. Its a VZ-33 action (identical to a G33-40) and with a Meopta 4x up it weights 8 lbs 3 oz.

I have a 250 Savage on a Kurz action, 22" barrrel in the original Model B profile (in my opinion more practical and better looking than a F/W - but some would say an "aquired taste") and with talley mounts and a 4x36 Kahles its 7 lbs 3 oz. Stock is walnut, even slimmer than the 257. Both stock blanks were carefully chosen firstly for flow, then lightness and finally figure. Here in NZ we are a bit lucky, our local walnut is naturaly light, but has great hardness and small pores.

Both these actions are small ring, and thats where a good measure of the saving comes from, as has been pointed out to you in another post, the small ring action allows a really nice slim barrel profile in the reinforce area.

You might save a couple of ounces by doing a cut away of the mag box, or by using a synthetic stock, but just about anyone is better off looking at their waistline and loosing an ounce or even pound from there first ! (me included)

Small Ring 98s?

quote:

Originally posted by ArthurOlds:
I just got my "light one" from the smith. G33/40 with new bolt, blind magazine, Brown Kevlar "pounder" stock (be ready for some work!), medium decel. pad, really light barrel in 7X57(.560 muzzle at 22"), 3 position safety, S&K mounts (really nice, steel and light) with ultralight 3X9 Leupold. Weighed everything, changed my mind several times. It is a beautiful rifle, balances very well. Don't start on the Mauser in Plastic rant, please. All up it is 6 lbs 13 oz. Might save a little with a Mexican??? Maybe with some bolt machine work, but not much fat on Eleanor. The plans of 40 years, and she is just fine. Arthur Olds

very nice!!!!

Make an action out of aluminum and only shoot .22 LR's out of it.

What does one use for a sheet metal magazine box for a standard 98? Anyone know where to buy one?
Thanks,
Steve

How far can you go? Or how far should you go?

I have a shortened Kar 98 in .250 Sav., 4# 11.5 ounces, w/a very slender straight-grip English walnut stock and a 2.5 X compact scope in skeletonized steel mounts. Mark S. posted some photos for me here, a while back. But it is probably too trim. A dream to carry, but tough to shoot.

Ken

Here is a link to the orig. post & photos.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...761055541#5761055541

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What does one use for a sheet metal magazine box for a standard 98?

I picked up several at a gun show. The seller called them late war issue. As to where you can find one now I'm sorry I don't have a lead. Shouldn't be to hard to make from sheet metal or aluminum.

Some of the old side panel stocked '98 Mauser German guild rifles, typically with slim 60mm barrels, will easily weigh in at under 6.5 lbs., even with fully ribbed barrels.

I have a 1930's German 9.3x57. I plan to weigh it and go from there. It has a very light stock - that I believe I can make even lighter - and a full trigger guard. My goal is 7-7.5 pounds with a scope, so that would be around 6.5 pounds without a scope.

Stamped trigger guard:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ca...pid=6580&catid=11950

AH, I see that you know what I mean!

The Germans, whether using their own patterns or the prevailing British patterns of the day, really knew how to make a graceful rifle in the pre-WWI and pre-WWII days.

Rifles like the one below are beautifully proportioned and very light and handy.

quote:

Anything else that can be done to lighten the rifle?

Two of my Mausers have blind magazines and that's better than trying to skeletinize any bottom metal....just throw it away in total!!

Several of them have PAWS aluminum bottom metal (die cast aluminum) and I actually like them....not for the purist I admit....but functional.

The other weight saving things are shorter (22") #1 contour barrels with the shanks end shortened to the minimum.

Be watchful of recoil pads as they can add weight in a hurry...add only as needed.

Things like the one piece Talley scope bases and rings (aluminum again....cringe) are also on my list of things to do.

Pick the scope for weight more than anything.....I really appreciate Leupold's ultralight 3-9 X 33....and it's not a super high priced animal at a tad over $300 or so.

Be watchful of slings as well....some are substantially lighter than others....

Some folks don't like Claro walnut but it's never caused me any trouble in calibers such as 6.5 X 55 and typically Claro is quite a bit lighter than english or even American black

In short.....if one wants a barrel band, a NECG banded front sight, a quarter rib, a 1" thick decelerator, steel bases and rings, Bastogne wood, Blackburn bottom metal, #3 contours on a .308 caliber rifle.....well the price is paid in weight!

One doesn't have to give up "pretty" to make a light weight gun.....but he might have to alter his opinions as to what pretty is!...

I'll have to weigh one of my Mausers to see it's total weight with scope and sling.....I think it's well under 8 pounds fully decked out.

I think if I can get around to it I have two lightweight rifles planned. One in 9.3x62 and one in .257 roberts or 7x57. I will probably build one as a bare bones rifle and the other w/iron sights and "amenities". Problem being as mentioned above, that last fraction of an ounce costs the most.

My list includes the following for the bare bones:
Grind and re-profile action
No.1 contour round or oct barrel
Oberndorf hollow bolt handle
custom minimalist bases
re profiled rings
re profiled bottom metal

I'll have my stockmaker fit a skelaton grip cap and either a steel or horn buttplate.

Can I make 7lbs loaded with a scope? I doubt it, but that is what I am shooting for.

Maybe I'll build a cheapie first to experiment, I could use aluminum on that just to see what I can come up with.

8 lbs, sans sling and ammo.

I just weighed my 9.3x57 without the trigger guard installed - 5.6 pounds. And that's a large ring 98 with a 24" barrel.

It has front and rear iron sights and a buffalo horn buttplate.

So, I think going to a 25" barrel, Talley aluminum bases, a decent recoil pad (maybe a Limbsaver or just a thin hard rubber pad), a Leupold scope, and a light weight sling will put me just under 7 pounds.

I was interested in the many responses,lots of information.
I saw MR's post re: Original Mauser Sporters,and it peeked my interest,since I've owned some and handled lots of others.
I have no argument about their grace and lines ,but I've never considered them especially light weight,just nice handling.

I went out and retrieved my Truck Gun,an Obendorf Mauser Type B Pattern 80 in 7x57 which I am real familiar with.
My scales confirmed my thoughts as it it weighs in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. wearing its Horn butt and 23.6" Barrel. This was built on an "intermediate" length Commercial action in the 30's.

The rifle I have was made by JP Sauer (Anschutz) and has quite a bit slimmer stock than a factory Mauser and the wood is some species of extremely light weight walnut. The barrel 24" (including the threads in the action). It's .580" at the end and has a straight taper to .95" and then has a slight 1/8"+ step up that is 1.10" in diameter before going into the receiver.

It sounds like some of you guys need to hit the gym. FCOL, buy some 10 lb hand weights and jog around the block. Your 8 lb Mauser will feel like 2 lbs.

I've carried a Remington Sendero (bigger than a #5 barrel) and a 10 lb 375 H&H (without scope and ammo) up and down mountains in the US, across Alaska, and Africa (flat and up and down).

So I have no problem carrying any of these rifles, just want something different.