Mauser 98 bottom metal question

06 May 2007, 22:23

I have a sporterized Model 98 Mauser, which has the original bottom metal, blind magazine, and I would like to change it. Are there any reasonably priced options to change the bottom metal, or is one obliged to choose between $400 to $500 options such as Blackburn and Sunny Hill?

06 May 2007, 22:56

DMB

I just bought bottom metal for a Rem 700 SA from Matt Williams, and I believe he was getting ready to do Mausers too. I paid $150 for mine, polished and blued, and it looks very good.
He's located in Oregon.
Worth a check.

Don

06 May 2007, 22:58

hart

Blind magazine usually refers to no metal showing where the magazine is, only the trigger gard. If you are talking about relpacing standard military type bottom metal with a hinged unit, one can use the bottom metal from a 1909 Argentine Mauser. It just needs a new raised button on the lever in the trigger gard.

06 May 2007, 23:07

vapodog

I really like the P. A. W. S. from Brownells.....not so much because its beautiful but because it works and is extremely light weight...it's aluminum annodized. It's about $70 and works well.....again it's not everyone that likes aluminum.......but I like light weight!

06 May 2007, 23:20

ElCaballero

You can also get the triggerguard and bottom metal from a Mark X Interarms. These sell on Ebay for around $100 + or -

07 May 2007, 00:06

Snellstrom

Sarco has them for sale in Die cast steel with the hinged floorplate and a matte finish, easily polished and blued to match what you have $79. I've been looking for a nice one on E-bay for 5 months and all of them seem to be ridiculously priced, plain old Interarms mark X bottom metal for $130 to $160, too much for me.

07 May 2007, 00:31

Marc_Stokeld

you can often find the Mk X bottom metals on both Gunbroker and auctionarms and they usually take several trips through to fetch $100.

07 May 2007, 00:57

Joel/AK

Heres one on gunbrokers right now.

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=70942616

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Thus ends today's lesson in irony.

07 May 2007, 01:23

Wink

Thank you for all of the replies. I've got more options than I thought.

07 May 2007, 01:25

Don Slater

quote:
Originally posted by Wink:
I have a sporterized Model 98 Mauser, which has the original bottom metal, blind magazine, and I would like to change it. Are there any reasonably priced options to change the bottom metal, or is one obliged to choose between $400 to $500 options such as Blackburn and Sunny Hill?

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7988066

07 May 2007, 07:54

ForrestB

Wink,
Are you planning to use the stock that's currently on the rifle? If so, it might be a limiting factor in what you're able to use.

07 May 2007, 22:54

Wink

Forrest,

No, there is a slight crack in the stock at the pistol grip and a new stock will be part of the project. In fact, I figured I ought to look into the bottom metal options first, before I have it restocked.

07 May 2007, 22:59

richj

Wink

Get a guy to convert the original metal to hinged with an old style lever, then contour the loop a la shotgun style. Carmichael(sic) has a nice write up in his older "Gunsmithing" book.

Now if only Brownells had the lever in stock.

Rich

08 May 2007, 01:50

22WRF

quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
I really like the P. A. W. S. from Brownells.....not so much because its beautiful but because it works and is extremely light weight...it's aluminum annodized. It's about $70 and works well.....again it's not everyone that likes aluminum.......but I like light weight!

Vapo

You are a nice guy, but:

Wink

You can really make a nice looking unit by getting a 1909 Triggerguard and having a smith (or yourself if your good at it) thin down and round over the back of the guard just a bit and also narrow it just a bit, and then install a new button in the guard and install a Wisner straddle floorplate. YOu will have to pay about $100 for the triggerguard/box, $65.00 for the Winser straddle floorplate, and you can get a nice buttom for about $15. The button and the floorplate would have to be fitted. If done correctly they look really nice (try and find somebody that has a photo of one redone by Thomas Burgess).

08 May 2007, 01:56

Don Markey

quote:
Originally posted by richj:
Wink

Get a guy to convert the original metal to hinged with an old style lever, then contour the loop a la shotgun style. Carmichael(sic) has a nice write up in his older "Gunsmithing" book.

Now if only Brownells had the lever in stock.

Rich

The levers are easy to make. Here's a write up I did for Mauser Central, if an ameture like me can do it anyone can.
-Don
http://www.mausercentral.com/hingedfloorplate.htm

08 May 2007, 05:12

richj

Don

Excellent.. thanks very much.

Rich

08 May 2007, 05:39

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by 22WRF:
Vapo

You are a nice guy, but:

22...yes I fully understand that most custom gun lovers don't appreciate the die cast aluminum floorplates!.....some folks get downright fussy about them.

On the other hand I build all my guns for hunting......I like them to be graceful and well finished and like pretty checkering too. I've posted several of them here and folks know exactly what I'm referring to!

I do make efforts to cut unnecessary costs and have even considered blind magazines in the Mausers!.....an option that gets revisited often but never elected! I'll go the extra mile for the 3-position safety as it has value to me....

That said, I have never been able to justify $400 bottom metal for a Mauser.....I get a hinged magazine for $70 and it's very light weight to boot....it functions well and looks good to me and fills my desire for a hunting rifle!

For those that are willing to shell out the extra for the Sunny Hill and Blackburn stuff, I salute you.....you too are getting it the way you like it!

08 May 2007, 06:49

ireload2

quote:
I have never been able to justify $400 bottom metal for a Mauser.

Especially when you can scrounge up a Sears or Monkey Wards FN with all steel hinged floor plate for the $400.

08 May 2007, 12:48

Wink

I just knew some of you had already thought about this and found some nice solutions. Uh oh, now I have to make up my mind.

08 May 2007, 13:57

Tentman

Hello Wink and others

I don't want to hijack a good thread, but could I ask if the Wisner Straddle plate, when fitted up to an appropiately modified bottom metal, would give the same effct as is achieved by the Fisher and Blackburn 30-06 shown in SDH's book "Custom Rifles in B & W"

I really like the rounded stock this bottom metal enables.

Cheers - Foster

09 May 2007, 04:02

tnekkcc

quote:
Originally posted by ireload2:
quote:
I have never been able to justify $400 bottom metal for a Mauser.

Especially when you can scrounge up a Sears or Monkey Wards FN with all steel hinged floor plate for the $400.

I have been seeing some Sears with the silly trigger safety on the side, but no thumb cut, and ok mag release for $300 at the last few WA gunshows, but have been unable to dicker any down to $250.

If I saw a Mauser with no thumb cut, 1909 type mag release, and M70 type safety, I would pay $400 just for the parts.

09 May 2007, 04:34

vapodog

quote:
If I saw a Mauser with no thumb cut, 1909 type mag release, and M70 type safety, I would pay $400 just for the parts.

If you got it for the $400 it'd be a steal as the owner probably had a grand in it!

09 May 2007, 04:42

.366torque

quote:
Commercial Hinged Trigger Guard Mauser 98

These are a great upgrade over the standard Mauser trigger guards. This particular model features the â€œInside the Bowâ€ release mechanism that allows much easier and safer removal of unfired rounds from the magazine. Magazine will easily handle 30-06 length cartridges or even the popular short magnums. This is the sought after finishing touch to a custom sporter rifle. These trigger guards are Investment Cast steel and can be polished or beaded and finished to match most any color. Fits all standard length Mauser 98 actions.

http://www.sporterexpress.com/v2/
Item #: 300-105
Availability: In Stock

Have a question? Ask us!

Our Price: $89.99
Shipping Weight: 1 lbs.

quote:
Contact Us

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09 May 2007, 06:16

D Humbarger

.366torque have you seen one of those guards yourself? Are they as good as they look?

09 May 2007, 06:31

.366torque

quote:
Originally posted by D Humbarger:
.366torque have you seen one of those guards yourself? Are they as good as they look?

Not yet. They won't ship to Canada!

09 May 2007, 08:38

Snellstrom

That is the same die cast (steel) bottom metal that Sarco is selling for $79.
I had one bad dealing with Sporter Express so I won't order from them again, however I must confess that they eventually refunded my money.

Personnaly I'm not much of a fan of the hinged bottom metal and would almost prefer an original military style with the non locking screw option.