I was just working on rebarrelling a mauser action which had been drilled and tapped sometime previous.
A note to those who are going to drill and tap their own or to those 'smiths who don't know any better; The rear screw hole for the front base goes AHEAD of the locking lug seat! Not right on the seat. Perhaps it makes little difference since the slot in the lug is there in the middle anyway but it's wrong! Regards, Bill.

Bill this is an excellent post. Just maybe it will save a mil-surp rifle or two from being butchered. I can't count the number of rifles that I have seen that have been screwed up because if improper location of that hole.

At least they weren't off center. I bought a used Santa Barbra 270 that the rear base holes were off center a full 1/16". That guy or (gal) must have had a hard night of drinking before they showed up for work that morning! It must have come from the factory that way.

Good point, Bill, for bringing this out. I have seen many a poorly drilled Mauser and several beautiful old M70's that were made in the days prior to drilling & tapping. A lot of folks don't have a clue on setup and where to put the holes. I have passed up many an action because it was drilled & tapped by others.

An interesting note, I have a Olympic Ultra Mag action with the rear hole on the front bridge dead centered in the receiver lug!!! Even the factory folks sometimes get confused. My recommendation on Ultra Mags, is to order the action not drilled and tapped. Two more reasons for this: One, the holes are 6-48, sort of useless for a big bore, and two, who wants holes in a bridge on a rifle that may be iron sights only or have the bridges machined for Talley's or similar mounts????