How do you treat the rear tang?

Can it be filed down so that when the rifle is stocked, you're not left with a hump in the top of the grip and you don't have to cut a groove for the cocking piece?

That is exactly what is done.

When doing this it is important that the bolt sleeve fits well enough to properly guide the cocking piece. The groove that guides the striker maybe funnelled a bit to help. Normally this is not a problem but I've had a couple where the cocking piece wanted to ride up on the reduced tang. This has not been a problem on the good actions by the way. Regards, Bill

I did this and it turned out looking quite nice. Bill Leeper is right, about funnelling the rear of the channel for the cocking piece a little -- I haven't had the cocking piece jump out, but if you don't open up the slot a little, the front edge of the cocking piece is more likely to batter it as you close the bolt, making it look sloppy.

Todd

I do the same thing BUT to a much lesser degree. The Mauser 98 is what is refered to as a long tang action Vs the Win M70 & the Rem 700 which are short tang actions & therefore much stiffer that the long tang varity. Remember when you are streamline a Mauser 98 tang you are sacrificing rigidity for cosmedics. This is exactly why if you do this alteration it is esential that you retain that rear pillar Paul Mauser put there because he knew his long tang 98's needed it!

Doug

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NRA Life member

[This message has been edited by Bear Claw (edited 03-09-2002).]