I have a short (21") .257 Roberts barrel for a large ring Mauser. I am thinking about putting it on an M48 receiver and buying a semi-inletted Mannlicher stock for it.

What general pitfalls should I watch out for?
What barrel length would you recommend? I can make it anything from 21" to 18"
What forend tip do you like?
How far should the barrel protrude from the end of the forend tip?
What relatively inexpensive iron sights should I look at? The rifle will be scoped, but I don't like the looks of a full length stock on a bare barrel.

Thanks in advance.

Clemson

Clemson,
I would make the barrel under 20" and most likely at 19. I would also look at the contour of the barrel you have. If it is too thick, either turn it down or get a different one and start over with a thin barrel. Most full stocked rifles do not shoot tiny groups but you can do a few things to help it along. Use a milling machine or a drill press with some guides and makes a series of cuts with a ball end mill in the bottom of the barrel channel, leaving about 3/16" of wood at the bottom. It will weaken any influence the stock may have on the barrel.

Normally a metal end cap is used on a full stock. It is metal and holds the barrel to the stock. They do not have to be as elaborate as the following one but you will get the idea.





There is very little protrusion of the barrel beyond the cap.

Check Brownells for a front and rear sight. I agree that they look better with them. I would suggest a detachable scope mounting system of some kind or another. Leupold's will work on a budget.

Mybe Forrest can post his and you can see what the ultimate one (in my mind) looks like.

This is ForrestB's 7x57. I keep dreaming each night that my mannlicher will grow up to look like this one.

Here is a pic of my Siamese Mauser 30/40 with Mannlicher stock. Barrel is 18".

Chic,

Do you have thoughts on what an appropriate muzzle diameter for a 20" .257 cal. barrel would be? I was actually considering a barrel about 0.60" for my own 257 Roberts Mannlicher project. Sounds like that may be a little heavier than what you're recommending.

cheers,

- stu

Hi Clemson-

I'm with Customstox on the short barrel length.

In terms of the tip, I have the Jon Speed Mauser Sporters book, and it turns out that some of the early full stocked Mausers had a small ebony tip, with just the implication of a schnabel.

These looked very good to me.

Were I you, I'd avoid a barrel band front sight. Someone here posted one recently--on a full stocked rifle--and the treatment did nothing for the barrel band sight or the rifle.

Just a regular ramp, I'd say.

Good luck with your project. It sounds like fun.

flaco

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
This is ForrestB's 7x57. I keep dreaming each night that my mannlicher will grow up to look like this one.

Yeah....that´s the real McCoy....to bad it has a John Q Citizen safety(hahaha)...
Beautiful classic lines with a prober drop on the stock.

Stu,
I am reverse engineering the rifle I am going to build. If you can believe this, I am starting with the end cap and making the gun because of it. I got it from Maurice Ottmar and it is just begging to become a rifle. The little peak at the bottom is a dead nuts match for the pointed skelton grip caps so that is the basic theme for the gun and the diameter is .600".

quote:

Originally posted by Customstox:
Stu,
I am reverse engineering the rifle I am going to build. If you can believe this, I am starting with the end cap and making the gun because of it. I got it from Maurice Ottmar and it is just begging to become a rifle. The little peak at the bottom is a dead nuts match for the pointed skelton grip caps so that is the basic theme for the gun and the diameter is .600".

Sounds super nice. Have you decided on what action to use?


- stu

I have a very clean 1910 Mexican small ring that I will likely use on this rifle. The caliber is still a bit up in the air, but likely a 7x57 or a .257 Roberts.

Chic,
Where did you get that metal end cap from? and can you get different styles? have many customers looking for them.

Thanks,
Tim