Hello, I am looking at a 458 win mag in a FN Safari rifle. I do not belive this is a Browning version, I think it is genuine FN. I was inspecting it today and noticed it had a deep bolt face, small claw and a small stud (ejector) in the bolt face. I have done a little reading on the net tonight and aparrently FN had a thing going with Sako and FN used both actions.
All parts are proof marked 'PV' along with a crest. The serial number starts with B followed by 5 numbers. Saftey is to the right rear of the bolt and operates in a foward and back motion. Fold down rear sight, hooded front sight and no engraving. Not a salt stock as per the Browings.
Very light fast pointing rifle and comfortable to boot!
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of rifle? Any comment both for or against, or any history would be great.

Thanks in advance

Stu

It is not a Sako action.

Come on guys, some one must be a FN enthuasit (sp)

I have a fifties mauser that I got from Tip Burns. It's marked Jefferson, but it's a FN action. The trigger is marked Sako. I guess these were hybrids of some sort in which sako took FN actions and added their trigger. Some of these were the basis of my rifle which was apparently barreled and stocked in the US. Bob

The Sako #4 trigger (the standard trigger for the L461, L579, and L61R actions) was used by FN on some of its actions. The Sako trigger was designed to fit the Mauser action. I changed out an older non-Sako trigger on an FN Mauser with a Sako trigger just recently.

However, just because FN used a trigger outsouced from Sako, don't confuse the two manufacturers. Sako purchased FN Mausers to build "long" caliber rifles before Sako started manufacturing its own "long" action around 1962, the L61R. After the Sako L61R was introduced, Sako used no more FN actions.

Browning High Power bolt action rifles (Safari, Medallion, & Olympian) were made by FN. They used the FN action for all calibers initially, but the "short" and "medium" calibers were switched to the modified round-top Sako actions: L461 for .222 & .222 Mag, and L579 for .22-250, .243, .308, and .284. These "Browning"-branded rifles were the only Sako-actioned rifles FN ever "made" (I think all the metal was outsourced to Sako and FN just stocked them). FN never, to my knowledge, sold a rifle using any action other than the two short Sako actions, and then never under its own name. All "long" cartridge rifles (7x57 or longer) made by FN used one of their own improved Mauser actions (FN 400, FN Supreme, etc.)

Browning did sell a FN action rifle that used a small extractor and ejector pin mounted in the bolt for a very short time. A friend had two in 7mm Rem I believe but I've only seen one Browning rifle in Russels a few years ago. This was a 7mm Rem also.


Glenn

Thanks a bunch guys. It really surprised me to find a 'push feed' type bolt in the rifle? I mistakenly thought the rifle would have the classic mauser looking bolt (98) with the big claw.
Any comment on the rifle / action? I would like to take the rifle to Zim in the near future.
Cheers
Stu

I believe that I saw some information in this book on these FN actions . https://store.bluebookinc.com/Firearms/Default.aspx

Go to the library and check the firearms section. You might just find out more.

I have only ever seen one and mentioned this to Victor . He said that he had two of them at one time and he seemed to like them for hunting then . He is quite particular in what firearms that he shoots and I took this to mean that they were fine rifles.

Glenn

The earliest Browning FN actioned -version featured the" long extractor" (Mauser Claw) and later a plunger extractor model reffered to as "short extractor" models. The long extractor models seem to get the most attention from collectors.

The 458 was built fairly light makes a nice carry rifle.

HBH

Cheers guys, Stonewall, I will take your advice it is appreciated. I concur with Victor in that the fit, feel and point of the rifle suggests a good thing.
HBH, I believe you are right in the action style though I think this rifle may never have been sent to Browning and is european by birth. The serial number which is prefixed with B is different (from what I have read so far) to those numbers found on the Brownings. All very interesting though...
Yes the rifle is light, about 9 lb inc 1.5 x 5 Leupold and mounts. By my estimation a good carry rifle.
Stu