A machinist friend has asked me to sell a M98 Mauser action that has been shortened. The workmanship is excellent. A 250/3000 cartridge is a good fit in the magazine. I would like to post pictures but I cant understand the process. I will be happy to send pictures via PM if requested.

You cannot directly post pictures on AR; it does not host pictures. You must open up a picture hosting service; most of us use IMGUR. It is free and real easy to use. Of course your pictures have to be on your computer, but if you have an Apple, they are.

OP is looking for a value for this action.

I'll take a stab at it. Given all of the cut weld and shape operations needed to accomplish that, I'd guess at least $500-$750.

hot damn do i ever like this i thought i was to dogone old to do anymore gun making but this could just do me in

Not bad. Did your friend do the work? I just wonder why they didn't follow through. Tough to evaluate this one without looking right at it in person.
Question: Is the rear bridge straight across the top? It looks to be overground to the rear. Is the extractor nice and smooth? Appears to have a rough spot. Camera distortion maybe?

Thanks everyone for the interest in this little action. I will talk to my friend and get some more information on it. I will also try and figure out how to work the picture hosting sites so I can post more pictures. My friend did tell me he was planing on making up an interrupted thread take down 7MM BR on this, he could not figure how to make the take down feature with the present receiver threading. He felt pressures would be too high for a bushed system.

This thread reminds me of an article by Jack Mitchell in his Riflesmithing book where one chapter shows the technique on shortening a M70 action (if my memory is correct). It intrigued me then and now it’s happening again.

Duane did one on a buggered g33-40 a while back, I think it's on his web page.

Tell your friend to study some original take downs; broach out half of the threads. he doesn't need a bushing, although Germany used them to install MG15 barrels onto Kar98Ks and they are fine. Not sure why he would need one though. The easiest takedowns just use full threads.
Someone asked about the rear bridge: only pic of it.

The rear bridge does look a bit funky.

Gentlemen, I asked the owner of the short action if he had any information on it. This is his reply: I have limited history on the short 98 action. It came from the Chicago Gun Center when it was at 3109 Armitage in Chicago. I have no idea what the base actions were. Maybe there were 10 actions shortened. This was done in the mid 1960's. There was a shooter who was a welder from Wis. Who would come into Chicago and do a bunch of welding jobs. Then go back to Wis. He shortened the actions and welded them back together. I made a welding fixture and did some of the machining on them. Hope this helps. Ken
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bobster:
I'll take a stab at it. Given all of the cut weld and shape operations needed to accomplish that, I'd guess at least $500-$750.[/QUOTE And... bluing acid priced at $5.00 a quart!

No scope holes, but drilled for a receiver sight. I wonder if it is long enough to accommodate a 358 win?

It's a decent start for a short actioned Mauser 98 project. At current shop rates you'll never make one of those happen for $750.
At $750. it's gift.
As for as a 358 win. likely a tight squeeze but 35 Remington probably. Couple that with a 20" barrel would make a neat compact rifle.

Mag box is 2.465; too short for 358 or 35 Rem. Looks like it was made specifically for the 22-250.

Or 250 Savage, maybe.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Mag box is 2.465; too short for 358 or 35 Rem. Looks like it was made specifically for the 22-250.

Could be interesting as a 6mm BR for hunting Varmints and deer.

It would be interesting to know if it is true Kurz length, ie. will custom bottom metal for a Kurz action fit?

Here are Kurz numbers:
Action OAL: 8.125
Receiver screw spacing: 7.225
Bolt body: 5.760
Magazine length: 2.725
Receiver ring: 1.3
Barrel threads: .980

So, if the magazine length is 2.465 as noted above, it is significantly shorter than a Kurz.

Yes, the Kurz was able to handle the 8x51, which is much longer than the 250.

Maybe I'm dense but where did you get the magazine length? I don't see it posted anywhere by the OP.

1st post by OP indicated 22-250 was a perfect fit to the mag. The 22-250 is 49mm vs the 8x51. Not much difference.

quote:

Originally posted by kda55:
Maybe I'm dense but where did you get the magazine length? I don't see it posted anywhere by the OP.

OP told me off line. Same place the pictures came from.
As for the 8x51 vs the 22-250; you forgot about the bullets. Case length is just one factor in the equation.

Folks, thanks for the interest in this little action. Tom has been helping me with these postings because I cannot figure out how to post pictures. The owner was going to build the rifle in a BR cartridge, that would have no problem in the magazine. The magazine will also accommodate a 22/250 or 250 Savage cartridge. The owner wants to sell it but I realize that it is an odd-ball. It would be a totally custom project.