I'm looking to have a couple of custom working-grade rifles built on Mauser 98 actions. I want to use the original military issue type action with the wing safety and the issue floorplate.

Are there any that are preferred for this type rifle? Any to avoid? Samco has Persian M98/29 as NIB for a decent price. Thoughts on this particular action?

Thoughts and recommendations for type and source would be appreciated. Thanks.

Alot depends on caliber. If you want a 7 x 57 then if you can find one a G.33/40 or VZ-33 is ideal. If you want larger calibers, including magnum calibers, probably a 1935 Mauser Banner model such as the 1935 Brazilian or Chilean Mauser would be great. In addition, the 1909 Argentine and the 1908 Brazilian (identical except for bottom metal) are both great, although you need to determine whether you will want them re case hardened.



Also recommended would be the VZ-24.



AS far as avoiding any, I guess the best advise would be to make a deal whereby you can have your smith check out the action and if he/she doesn't approve of it you can send it back.



Blue

My choice would be a commercial FN Deluxe or Supreme, little gunsmithing required (maybe a new trigger or M-70 safety, but not really necessary), economical (around $200-$350), fairly plentiful (J.C. Higgins, Monkey Wards, etc., etc.) and no finer quality. There are several fine quality military 98s but to bring any military Mauser up to basic custom standards requires a lot of expensive gunsmithing. The only military Mauser action I would consider would be a banner Oberndorf marked model for an open sight English style express rifle.

The best mauser?
That would be the fn's sold by penny's and sears (weren't the wards and western auto's winchesters?)

the "problem" with milsurp actions are that you will spend time/money to get them to the same level as a new win 70 classic. While this is satisfiying, it can be counter productive.

the best bang for the buck mauser is the vz-24... get all you can

jeffe

I like the 1935 Chilean, especially if you favor the 7X57 cartridge. The magazine box and follower are of the correct dimensions for that particular round, plus the receiver and bolt are hard enough as they come, and the action is extremely well-made and finished. You get the "most for the least" with that specific Mauser in my opinion........

AD

Thanks for the responses.

One rifle will be in 308 and the other in 9.3x62.

It's not a caliber debate, I know the pros and cons of both. I like having fewer rather than more calibers in the ammo locker and I've settled on these (among others). I know I can get a shorter action for the 308, but I want the wing safety and original bottom metal for this particular project.

Any sources of VZ and 1935 Chilean actions?

Thanks again for the feedback.

Gentlemen

ZG-47 or Brno m-21 are very nice but hard to find in USA.

VZ-24 and the Argentines are my military favorites.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Presently all of mine are 1935 Chilean Mausers...

Oops, I have a Searcy bolt gun on a Mauser sq. bridge action in 416 Rem and I don't know what it was originally..It may be a Vektor action..

If you are going to do a 308 you might also want to check into a YUGO Model 48 which is an ideal size for the 308.

As far as finding a 1935 action, they are scarce and rather expensive. Maybe 4-500 for an action, and you might have to buy a whole rifle to get the action. I would try calling Sarco and other surplus dealers and ask them about thier "private stashes".

09 aregenines are readily available and can be had for about $300. benefit there is the nicer bottom metal.

All in all, if I were building a 9.3 I would get an 09 Argentine, have it annealed, machined, and then recarburized
(case hardened) and have the original box filed out at both ends to fit the cartridge.

Others, of course, may have differing opinions.

Blue

If you are going to grind the front ring and remove the crest, then any piece of crap will do. Once you've ground it up, you and no one else will ever be able to tell what action you used, so it won't make any difference between a Chilean, Brazilian or La Coruna.

Blue,
Just one question, a yes/no one...

have YOU ever BUILT a rifle?

Jeffe

Jeff



I would say the more appropriate question would be "have you put together a rifle", as that is what most people do as most don't make or build their own actions, etc.



Many years ago I worked when I was a teenager I worked for a gunsmith and helped put together many of them, although I didn't do the machine work. I did a lot of sanding, helped with blueing, did silver soldering of iron sights, fit recoil pads, polished metal, some inletting (I remember pretty dirty hands from inletting black), some stock finishing, some crude welding of bolt handles, filing,etc. Watched a lot of barrels be installed (mostly Douglas, some E.R. Shaw). Mostly military mausers, but definitely not up to the standards of today's custom builders.



(in fact, I can distinctly remember when my "boss" purchased 4 or 5 g.33/40 rifles for I think somewhere around $50 or $60 each) and I also remember very well driving down to Don Allen's in Northfield to buy some stock blanks, and also taking some actions to Twin City Heat Treat to have them heat treated (which is a place I would not use today). I also remember visiting Mark Lee's shop on a few occasions and watching him do his rust blue so I could learn how to do it.)



(In case you need to know, I have also had a series 7 license, CPA license, and attorney license, and also did extensive professional photography. And I proudly served my country for a few years in the U.S. Navy).





Blue

Blue,
You make a pretty good point, the Yugo and the 1909s are nice actions and readily available..as are the 24s...

So, then the short answer is NO, you haven't
right?

we've all ahd lots of life experinces.. which is not totally relevant to the topic at hand.

have a nice day
jeffe

Jeff



If you mean have I totally put together a rifle and did every bit the work, you are correct, the short answer is no.



However, I have owned a lot of mauser actions in my time, including 09s, G33s, VZ24s, Yugos, a Banner or two, and a couple of FN military. So when this fellow asked about an opinon on military actions I didn't think that one needed to have totally put together a rifle in order to answer. I think that those who have used Mauser action rifles, or worked with them, or worked with the calibers that the gentleman is asking about, would all be well qualified to offer an opinion.



Have a nice day yourself!



Blue

Jimmy

What are you doing up so early in the morning? I didn't think we would see you until some time this afternoon.

I like that laughing figure you have. Where did you find it.

blue

blue, I woke up with gas and you were the firsrt thing that came to mind

Just right click on the image and add to favorites

Jimmy



Well, its nice to know that somebody of your stature and station in life is thinking of me.



Blue

I think the persian, was one of the finest military mausers ever made, people argue how great the swedes are but that don't have the updates that a true 98 has. The vz24 and the persian are pretty much the same action with the perisan usually in better shape and not jacked with by some 3rd world countries' rearseneling process. plan on more work with a military action, but a persian or a vz24 is right there with the best of what germany had to offer. I actually like the czech mausers better than the k98's. Also I think the 09 argie would prolly be the best because the bottom metal is better. I have a 98/22 that I bought on one of SOG's specails a few months back for 58$ it would make a great something or other maybe one day.

For that 308 find yourself a Yugo in really good condition and install a hinged floorplate from a 93 Spanish Mauser.



Its a shorter action then the other '98's and better suited for a 308, besides the fact that Yugos are probably the only Mauser that can be easily found in like new condition for about $100.00.