I would like to pick one up for a donor action and I have no idea what a reasonable price would be for a rifle in decent condition. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
crl

It all depends whether its complete or not, and what the condition is. Anymore if you see them on an auction site the complete rifles that have matching bolt handles are going for a minimum of $250.00. And then of course you have ffl fees and shipping fees.

the good news is also the bad news.....there isn't a lot of them out there.....but then again there really isn't a lot of folks looking for them either.

The cost of making a custom from a 1909 Argentine (DWM only) is so high that the actual cost of the action is actually irrelevant.....$150-$250....in the end it really don't make much difference.

I just sold one with a Timney trigger for $150 and the store down the street has one on hold.....marked $125......

If you really want to do this and you find a mint action for $250 grab it....it's not a bad deal at all.

The worst thing one does making a custom like this is to get cheap on everything.....It's still an expensive gun when it's done!!

quote:

vapodog: The worst thing one does making a custom like this is to get cheap on everything.....It's still an expensive gun when it's done!

Ditto. The component costs are a fraction of the total cost of a good quality custom job, unless you do the work yourself. The incremental cost of using top quality components doesn't add that much.

You build a gun from a 1909 or other military m98 because thats what you WANT and you like the classic look that they give. If you do one it needs to be done right with top smiths and top draw components all the way or otherwise you may as well buy a M70, MK11, Cz550 and use that........................practicality and good value are not reasons to choose a 1909 DWM for a custom rifle IMHO.

Keep your pressures down if you must. Soft steel isn't my idea of a good choice with all the other good 98 Mausers out there.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Keep your pressures down if you must. Soft steel isn't my idea of a good choice with all the other good 98 Mausers out there.

Just where are all of those good 98 mausers out there?

Originally posted by 22WRF:

[/QUOTE]Just where are all of those good 98 mausers out there?[/QUOTE]

The supply of good 98's is finite. Sooner or later there will be very few left. Model A Fords used to be a dime a dozen. Not any more.

quote:

Just where are all of those good 98 mausers out there?

Look at Samco Global they have BRNO 98/29 actions for $185 in the select grades. Not soft like the 09's so there is no pressure heat treating issues.

I would try to preserve the crest these are very nice.

I have 2 pristine 98/29's,and 2 VZ 24's that are in outstanding condition. I picked them up a few years ago just because you never know when you might want to build a nice rifle...

All of them came from Big 5 and I paid next to nothing for them. I wish I had purchased more of them when they were available.

I prefer modern actions to start with though.

quote:

22WRF: Just where are all of those good 98 mausers out there?

Gun shows & the web, where I bought all these project actions within the last year: