Some of us have discussed this at length.

We have reached a definitive conclusion.

The best action for building a fine custom rifle is the old military Krag 30/40 with the side loading magazine.

There is more noticable room for engraving than any other action.

The only constraint is selecting a suitable cartridge for the Krag and we all know the world is full of compromises.

Hammer

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
Some of us have discussed this at length.

We have reached a definitive conclusion.

The best action for building a fine custom rifle is the old military Krag 30/40 with the side loading magazine.

There is more noticable room for engraving than any other action.

The only constraint is selecting a suitable cartridge for the Krag and we all know the world is full of compromises.

Hammer

Well, to me the best action would be a Dakota 76 or similar.

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
Some of us have discussed this at length.

We have reached a definitive conclusion.

The best action for building a fine custom rifle is the old military Krag 30/40 with the side loading magazine.

hmmmmmmmmmm...........FNMauser.

Hey....good idea....I just happen to have one and it's for sale and since it's such a fine project action make me an offer!!!

Better yet, a Norwegian one! The Norwegian has two lugs (the guide rib bears as well as the front lug), and they are made from much better steel and properly heat-treated! They use rimless cases with a head size close enough to the Mauser/'o6 type case to be useable without alteration. Personally, I like the Krag magazine box arrangement!

Vapodog,

Tell me about it.

Hammer

El Deguello,

Thanks for the information on the Norwegian built Krag.

That might be the ticket.

Hammer

I suppose the Jap arisaka would also make a good base for a full blown .404 J

Tho the initial run will be short action only, small bolt face,308 bolt face, and mag boltface, Jerry Stiller's new 17-4 stainless Remington clone will be a great action. The raceways will be edm machined. They will have an Anschutz type bolt release and I think a pinned recoil lug. They are fully CNC from billet and the bolt handle, which is a little longer than Rem., are tig welded on. Remington triggers, stocks, and other acessories will fit right on. It will retail for $600. I have my barrel and reamer ready for my 300 SAUM. Butch

Hammer,
You need to get a full time job, you got way too much time to think on your hands, its starting to show....

I go with Hammer, have just had a .30-40 Krag completed by Jerry Fisher, his first, will try to post photos after 3/27 when I get back to the US, traveling now. As you may surmise, the rifle is beyond superlatives.

Well, the heck with your engraving... I got one of the genuine chrome-plated Krags from the American Legion post when they got busted by the state liquor cops for selling 3.2 beer to the color-guard kids... No more color-guard, and a big fine to pay, so... cheap Krags! It's stocked in a georgous piece of burl redwood found in the 'Trees of Mystery' parking lot a many years ago. It was tempting to turn it (the burl) into a coffee table, but i knew it would make a good rifle stock someday...

Best action for a custom rifle?

Granite Mountain double square bridge Mauser action. They come in all sizes for every cartridge you could want.

Best action to me would be a Farky, Frasier,
etc, or big Greener-Martini, nice looking, yet traditional looking guns.Anybody here have pics of that pair of Greeners from Australia
that was posted last year.I can't find them.Ed.

500grains

Is the Granite Mountain action a true mauser ?

I would take a nice mauser 98 over any other action.


Cheers
/ JOHAN

Mauser first and always..

quote:

Originally posted by JOHAN:
500grains

Is the Granite Mountain action a true mauser ?

I would take a nice mauser 98 over any other action.


Cheers
/ JOHAN

YES!

But, in the magnum configuration (416 Rigby, etc.), the Granite Mtn has a 0.750" bolt body diameter. However, trigger, bolt shroud, etc. are exchangeable with a military Mauser.

Why do we in the post-modern world always have to go for the latest fad (e.g., the 98 Mauser) instead of accepting an older, but perhaps less fashionable, alternative (e.g., the Krag or even the 95 Mauser) ?

The post-modern world always wants to reject anything with a little age as not as good as the latest invention.

What will happen to some of us when our children see us as older, not the latest, and therefore not acceptable.

Now, if we could get some gun manufacturer or custom maker to build a Krag sized for the Hornet and another one sized specifically for the Donaldson Wasp...

Hammer

While in reality not the best platform for "any" project, the Krag is indeed a beautiful, in both appearance and function, rifle. If what I have heard is right they aren't good for higher pressure rounds. I saw one in pictures chambered in 405 Win. that was just phenomenol, had gold inlay of a rhino on one side and I can't remember the rest.

I have also seen Jerry Fisher's, if it was one he had at ACGG 2 years ago. The bluing was deep and dark, the stock work flawless (of course) I definitely would like to have that one.

There is a company out of Germany I think that is making the best Mauser actions (if you are going magnum length) and a duplicate of a fantastic single shot, but their name I am not sure of offhand, and my notes at home are still packed from the move. But I'll see if I can't find them. I dont' want to guess as there are so many waffen this and hein that I could easily be mistaken.

Red

Hammer,

Have you ever posted under the name "Big Mortie?" just wondering......

No, all my post have been under Hammer.

When this post was started, I thought it was for a laugh. The really funny part is that you are serious.

Dago Red: could it be Hartmann & Weiss?. They make some of the better (and more expensive) rifles nowadays.

I'm with Chic. Come on guys this is supposed to be funny. Now the SMLE thats a classic action to start with. That magazine just begs for engraving etc. etc.

quote:

Now, if we could get some gun manufacturer or custom maker to build a Krag sized for the Hornet and another one sized specifically for the Donaldson Wasp...

Hammer which one of these would be the best for the .218 bee? Talk about a fine varmint rifle. You could take the hood of the mag box and link the .218 Bee ammo on a belt. Dang that'd be one fine rifle. See if you can get us one in stainless and synthetic two. I see this thing get’in used a lot and in the worst of conditions.

Shawn

I have been collecting pre-war American custom rifles for more years than I would like to admit. Some of the nicest I have seen were made on the Krag action, you need to see one made by Gibbs, Shelhamer, Fisher or G&H. I am a little bias on the subject, when I came to Alaska almost forty years ago I hunted with a custom krag equipped with a Lyman Alaskan in a G&H side mount and to this day I still thing it would make a fine hunting rifle. Mark, you need to write that article on custom Krags. MP

Well, since were being serious and all, I think the rem 710 is the finest action you can build a custom out of.





Custom boat anchor that is!

z1r,

There is no place for engraving on a Rem 710.

Hammer

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
z1r,

There is no place for engraving on a Rem 710.

Hammer

Sure there is. Hot stamp that plastic stock.

Bluetick,

Think that a 218 Mashburn Bee on a Krag would be just great.

Prefer the standard Bee in a Marlin lever action myself.

Hammer

customstox,

How many stocks have you done for Savage 110's?

I personally prefer the Winchester-Hotchkiss bolt rifle.

It antedates the Krag and has a nice tubular magazine for use with my favorite DG cartridge, the .45-70.

Winchester Model 70 Pre 64

I considered it the utmost refinement of the Mauser action, and the first choice of many wanting custom rifles.

Roland

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
Why do we in the post-modern world always have to go for the latest fad
Hammer

yeah.. what's up with all this CARTRIDGE and PRIMER.... and Jacketed bullets anyway?

if a rock for an igintion was good enough for Richard II, then it ought to be good enough now....

best action for a custom?

the answer, as always is "it depends"
jeffe

You know, I am reconsidering.

I took my Model 1898 arsenal cut-down to carbine length Krag-Jorgensen rifle out of the safe tonight and really looked at her again for the first time in a long time.

The machine work on that rifle is amazingly, incredibly good. That magazine is as complicated and foolproof a mechanism as any I have ever seen. That incredible, 2,000 yard adjustable blade, with flip up aperture, rear sight is a thing of beauty.

I even like the arsenal installed, barrel band mounted, Springfield Model 1903 front sight.

Pretty much the only problem is that you're limited to the .30 US Government, a/k/a .30-40, because the magazine won't work with anything else. Although Frank De Haas wrote that he saw it adapted to a .35-40 wildcat and even the .444 Marlin.

Hammer, I'm with you on this one. I'll stick with the Krag and for caliber, I'll even stick with the .30-40. But I don't need any more custom work. The US government already took care of that.

Now, I should know more about this Krag, because Im from Norway, but sadly I dont.

Im wondering, I was watching some guys dealing with one of these rifles. Very nice. You could single load it with the magazine full, and when you need it, just turn a hinge, and you have a full magazine.

If this is such a nice action, why dosnt anybody try to make it stronger? To handle the modern calibers? Would there be a big market for it? I dont know, but how much would I have to charge a custom smith to make one for me??

for the gentlemenly look, the mauser action of some sort. For the strict performance and high tech feel,..Nesika, Bat, or Stolle actions would be my choice. YMMV

How about a modern reproduction of a Newton, But with an M-70 trigger instead of double set triggers.
Timan

Yes the Granite mountain Mauser 98 or the Prechtyl 98 with original safety ! i dont think anyone has ever really improved on the original 98 in 107 years !bit like an old dodge powerwagon, old!! but still GOOD !!!