03 June 2013, 21:02
customboltCenturion M98 action hardness.
What's the word from the wise on these LR Centurion Mauser actions? Seems to be similar to the Santa Barbara action minus the spain on the side of the tang and Centurion and the address is on the side of the magazine box. Any recommendations on maximum caliber or pressure? Is the hardness on these actions consistent? Thanks to any and all. Sorry to tug on your apron with this. I know many of you are swamped with work.
As has been stated before; hardness on Mausers is somewhat academic; it depends on when it was made and from what materials. It is only important that the locking lug recesses be correct; either hard enough or tough enough to withstand the back thrust. And it is practically impossible to measure hardness there. As for experience with them, I admit to having none. But I have not heard of any problems with any caliber that will fit into a LR 98 action.
08 June 2013, 22:48
customboltquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
As has been stated before; hardness on Mausers is somewhat academic; it depends on when it was made and from what materials. It is only important that the locking lug recesses be correct; either hard enough or tough enough to withstand the back thrust. And it is practically impossible to measure hardness there. As for experience with them, I admit to having none. But I have not heard of any problems with any caliber that will fit into a LR 98 action.
Thanks dpcd. I heard talk of lug set-back due to improper hardening on some commercial actions. Yet so far I've not seen any evidence of anyone having actually experienced lug set-back. So, seems to me that no bad news is good news.
09 June 2013, 00:24
sliversI have seen set-back on a DWM chambered up in .264 Win. Mag. Had to push forward on the bolt handle while lifting at the same time to open it. Common sense said something was wrong. Dismounted the barrel from the action and sure enough, cratered lug abutments. Never have seen any of the 'commercial' actions with that problem. Doesn't mean it can't happen, though. I'd limit any of the Mauser design actions to the .30/06 & .308 class of cartridges. Although, many have been opened up for the standard length magnum actions, like the .300 Win. Mag. & 7mm Rem. Mag. Modern made actions (like the Rem. 700 & Win. 70) are just too easy to come by.
It's not the design; the pre WW1 DWM you saw (and I have seen 2 myself) was not case hardened deep enough in the lug seats. Later actions do not exhibit this problem; at some point Mauser stopped pack hardening and started dipping in carburizing salt; possibly cyanide. I do not agree with the suggestion to limit the 98 Mauser to only 06 class. Too much history that shows otherwise.
09 June 2013, 18:56
customboltquote:
Originally posted by slivers:
I have seen set-back on a DWM chambered up in .264 Win. Mag. Had to push forward on the bolt handle while lifting at the same time to open it. Common sense said something was wrong. Dismounted the barrel from the action and sure enough, cratered lug abutments. Never have seen any of the 'commercial' actions with that problem. Doesn't mean it can't happen, though. I'd limit any of the Mauser design actions to the .30/06 & .308 class of cartridges. Although, many have been opened up for the standard length magnum actions, like the .300 Win. Mag. & 7mm Rem. Mag. Modern made actions (like the Rem. 700 & Win. 70) are just too easy to come by.
Model of the failed DWM please?
09 June 2013, 22:00
sliversIt was a 1909 Argentine. The owner was 'bummed' when I told him there was no fix for that problem, short of a different action. I bought the bottom metal off that rifle for $40. That was over 20 years ago. Only Mausers I do now are for myself. Too many novice shooters want to turn 'um into "super mags".
Yes, it is the 1909 Argentines which are most likely to be soft in the lug area. I still use them but not for HP rounds. I have never seen any later receiver set back with any magnum rounds. At least they are not brittle and explode like the 1903 Springfields did.
10 June 2013, 01:58
customboltWow! I wouldn't have guessed an DWM '09 Argy. I would have guessed the Argentine built version. or the '08 Brazilian. Thanks. CB