How much can a smith easily open a Mauser action, just from the rear? 3.5"? And how easy is it (in terms of labor-hours), assuming a new box?
What about the Yugo's? (Same Q's.)
Thanks!

They can be cut to handle full-length magnums such as the .375 H&H.....it's a lot of work however, and in my opinion, not worth the effort.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

I do not recommend opening the Yugo 48 actions. Since it is .200" shorter to start with, there is no extra metal to remove.

Regarding a M 98 and the longer box. You said that you would be using a new box. That is the hard part IMHO. The smith will need a mill and a couple of carbide end mills to remachine the reciever. Also I would buy the action fixture that Midway sells. You are able to clamp the reciever upside down and hang on to it, to do the machine work.

Can not tell you time because everyone has their own speed, also due to the type of machine they have.

Jim Wisner

Lee Martin, I understand they can be opened quite a bit, but what I'm interested in is a safe max W/O touching the front of the action.

J Wisner, I don't understand what you're saying.
The Yugo handles 3.1" as-is, and the K98 handles ~3.3" as-is. The rear of the K98 can be milled back; why can't the Yugo?
Of course the Yugo will end up shorter than the K98.

Maybe the question is more complicated than I thought.
Anyone else?

Bwanna,

Is there a specific chambering you want to open a yugo up for?

A few years ago I looked at making 30-06 guards for the Yugo. It could barely be done. But at what cost. The front ramp can only be lengthen only so much. The the rear has to be opened the rest. This puts you almost into the safety lug recess with the rear of the box. Then you have to remachine the bolt stop to almost nothing.

They designed those actions for the 8x57 with no excess metal in the action. They work well for that length of cartidge. And now with the choice we have of cartidges, I would leave it the length it is.

Jim Wisner

Well, the original thought was, how easy is it to open up a Mauser? The 360 A-Square Short has a COL of 3.5" I think. Is this a big deal?
Then I thought, Hmm, wonder what the limit on the Yugo is?
I agree, there are lots of caliber choices for the 3.1" action. The 257 Weatherby and 257 Roberts are both a hair over 3.2" for instance.