The Accurate Reloading Forums
Blind Mag Mauser
10 March 2019, 06:29
ElCaballeroBlind Mag Mauser
I’m in the planning stage of building my latest “last” rifle. I can’t not use a Mauser action or in this case an FN commercial.
Anyway, trying to make a lighter weight 300 Win using a synthetic stock. A little different route than what most of my rifles look like. Since I’m going a non classic route I am considering a blind magazine. Might save a couple ounces and a few dollars. I would like to be able to get 4 down. I don’t think I’ll be losing anything except the ability to dump shells out of the bottom, and the more pleasing lines of a classic Mauser.
I looked back at some old posts but most of the pictures didn’t come up. Who’s done this and can you show me what yours looks like? Thoughts and opinions welcome.
10 March 2019, 06:34
Mike_Dettorre4 down may be tough in a 300 win mag blind mag
if trying to keep it trim.
Here is a 338-06 that holds 3 down
I agree with you about little loss of functionality. I rarely am In a hurry to unload my firearm.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
You can't get 4 mags down in a blind mag with a standard stock profile. Not an opinion.
If you didn't accomplish the mission with the first 4 shots, the 5th one won't help anyway.
10 March 2019, 10:11
ElCaballeroquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
You can't get 4 mags down in a blind mag with a standard stock profile. Not an opinion.
If you didn't accomplish the mission with the first 4 shots, the 5th one won't help anyway.
I agree it would have to be a special stock build.
10 March 2019, 18:50
nopride2A blind magazine make sense to me. In over 60 years of shooting I've never dumped cartridges out the bottom.
Dave
Me either; I can't fathom why guys get so excited and insist on having a hinged floor plate; the Military ones are fine for me; let them have the hinged ones. (Although I do have a lot of them)
I guess so when they load them wrong they can remove them faster, just don't do that.
Use a 1914/17 Enfield; no modifications required. I build on once with a blind mag.....
10 March 2019, 20:31
Mike_DettorreOn the blind magazine, I have seen a gunsmith write that they felt their customers were too incompetent to work the bolt 1/2 way to pick up the cartridge and then draw it back....
My comment on the above would not be very charitable.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
11 March 2019, 04:21
BobsterHere's an action:
http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/p14-...n-with-303-bolt.aspxquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Use a 1914/17 Enfield; no modifications required. I build on once with a blind mag.....
Wow, talk about 30 year old prices. I guess there is not much demand for them any more.
11 March 2019, 08:24
airgun1Wow is right! But with a hole drilled in the barrel, do you suppose these are reclaimed drill rifles with un-modified bolts installed?
PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor
11 March 2019, 11:22
Von GruffI built my 6.7x57 with a blind mag and think it was one of the best decisions I made for the build.
This was a another full build where I did all the stockwork myself and while it was initially going to be a 7x57 I changed horses and changed to the 6.5x57 and am really pleased I did.
For the interested or mildly curious this is the build thread.A bit long winded but there were interested followers
https://www.africahunting.com/...-ring-project.26236/Argun; I assume these are ex DP (Drill Purpose) rifles like we used to get 20 years ago; they were imported by the ton.
the actions were un altered, except that the letters DP were stamped on everything; but easy to remove.
Only the barrels were demilled and most of them I have are new bores. So you can cut off the end and use them for other things that don't need a big shank.
They had a hole drilled through the chambers, (and the stocks) and a pin welded in place. Bolts are unaltered, at least on the 25 I got. And most had matching bolts.
11 March 2019, 23:37
TREE 'EMKimber Montana has a blind magazine and synthetic stock. I believe it holds 4 down too. I’m not a fan of Kimber rifles but they have some good ideas.
All We Know Is All We Are
12 March 2019, 00:49
Doug Wquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Wow, talk about 30 year old prices. I guess there is not much demand for them any more.
I think the demand and prices, actual selling prices not asking prices are down and will continue so.
For most, it just is too cost prohibitive to pour a pile of money into milsurp, when off the shelf will do.
Not one of those 5 mex mausers on GB sold, and he stopped posting last I looked.
Very true; looks like that pile of scrap iron I have will just be for my own use. Five welded together might make a good boat anchor......you can picture it. Rope through the trigger guard of the upper one....
12 March 2019, 03:13
craigsterSuper nice rifle. Great thread on Africa Hunting.
13 March 2019, 02:33
Doug Wquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Very true; looks like that pile of scrap iron I have will just be for my own use. Five welded together might make a good boat anchor......you can picture it. Rope through the trigger guard of the upper one....
LOL
I got into commercial mausers 35? years ago.
A decent used FN, Husky, etc at a gunshop or pawnshop was $500.
Today a decent used one is,,,, $500.
Saw a decent commercial Husky 98, erroneously marked as a HVA, and the price was $499.
I passed, I have too many rifles already.
Subtract 35 years of inflation of about $200, and they are getting outright cheap.
18 March 2019, 05:24
Alec TorresI have had two rifles with blind magazines - a (now gone) 30-'06 that I had custom built, and currently a lightweight Dakota 76 in .257 Roberts. I strongly recommend a three position safety to lock the striker since you will have to work the bolt to remove the cartridges.
Overall, I like them and feel that you can lose a fair amount of weight by using a blind magazine design.
18 March 2019, 07:15
ElCaballeroquote:
Originally posted by Alec Torres:
I have had two rifles with blind magazines - a (now gone) 30-'06 that I had custom built, and currently a lightweight Dakota 76 in .257 Roberts. I strongly recommend a three position safety to lock the striker since you will have to work the bolt to remove the cartridges.
Overall, I like them and feel that you can lose a fair amount of weight by using a blind magazine design.
It will have a 3 position safety. However being a CRF Mauser you don’t have to actually close the bolt to be able to eject the rounds. The bolt design prevents the striker from falling unless it is closed.
23 March 2019, 21:58
AtkinsonA gunsmith should know that it can be damn near impossible to clear some jams without bottom metal..Some of you need to get out of the shop and go hunting more often..Ive seen this happen a few times on safari with clients. but if you insist I suggest you keep a claw hammer handy.
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
23 March 2019, 22:42
Duane Wiebe (CG&R)Ditto...never met a PH with a blind magazine bolt gun.
23 March 2019, 23:38
setters5Not everybody hunts dangerous game.

23 March 2019, 23:57
richjno mag box.. but not a magnum.
24 March 2019, 00:16
ElCaballeroquote:
Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Ditto...never met a PH with a blind magazine bolt gun.
That’s interesting. I got the idea from my Alaskan guide. He had epoxied his bottom metal shut and said his next rifle would be a blind mag.
24 March 2019, 05:16
Mike_DettorreHuh. My first trip to Zim...I saw two PHs with rifles that the bottom metal was screwed shut with a hex screw. I asked if they had hex keys with them. They said "Back at camp". Guess they weren't to concerned about clearing jams in any timely manner.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.