This afternoon, I wandered into a local pawn shop, and there was a nice J C Higgins Belgian Mauser. Finish on the stock was peeling, but no big dings. Hmmm.... Belgian Mauser... 6.5x55 Pac Nor Mauser barrel just a week away from delivery... Yugo that I bought for the action is dang accurate as an 8mm... $180 changed hands, and so did the 30-06. The Belgian Mauser just seems like a more classy chassis for the Pac Nor.

So was that a real good deal, an OK, deal, or did I get skunked?

I think it was a good deal, but heck I can't balance a check book. I'd have paid that for it.

I would say you scored,, Shoot it with that 06 barrel to see how it groups. You might need another action for that 6.5 barrel

Absolute bargain!

Thank you all for your encouragement!

If I took it to the range, and it grouped well, I would be so conflicted about taking it apart, that I would never get the project done. Hmmm... could lead to an infinite collection of gun projects, couldn't it?

So this evening's project was sanding the stock, and refinishing it. It's walnut, and I'm just leaving it with a stain/oil finish. It looks great.

The metal was really gunky. We're not talking stored in cosmoline gunky, but everything seemed to have a yellow/brown sticky coat. Anyway, the receiver is now immaculate. The bolt guide rib needs slight buffing. The silly low scope safety is on the left side, but that can be fixed. Now, the action is very smooth. The bore cleaned up nicely... very shiny. The bluing is rubbed off the outside of the barrel in a few places, but that won't matter. Should bring a few bucks on ebay.

Pac Nor promised the new barrel June 14.

Now the problem is that I'm nearly broke, and have to pay the gunsmith for the barrel swap and new trigger and safety.

You got a FN 300 action. That left side safety is the quickest firing pin lifting safety of all. The end of the safety lever has to be bent down for use with a scope. I think the trigger mechanism is built the way it is to get around Winchester's patent on the model 70 trigger. You can get a good trigger pull with a stone.

Dave

The safety is one of the best ever designed, if you remove it, there are a few here who will want it. It will work with a scope.

The trigger, if still the original 2 piece, should be replaced. Throw it away.

I'm not sure the barrel you'll be getting from Pac-Nor will be better than the one already on the gun.

My first JC Higgins 30-06 was the also the lowest priced one, paid 275.00 for it. You got a deal.

Depending on the spacing of the rear scope mount holes, you may have to try and find mounts that are spaced wider than those usually made for a Commercial FN action.

Well, a little more cleaning and buffing today... starting to look pretty nice.

Thanks for the tip on the scope mounts. I'll check the spacing.

With a little polishing, and the right lube on the sear, the trigger is decent. But I still think it has a Timney in its future.

You guys have persuaded me that the left side safety is a good thing. It stays. Besides, I'm really broke now, and the $15 for the replacement is starting to be a factor.

Thief...... ....DJ

I never looked for different mounts. On 2 of the JC Higgins that I've had, the mounts were the normal spacing. The other 2 had wider spaced holes. I still have both of those and on the 270 I had another hole drilled. That rifle is probably the nicest rifle I've ever owned. It will consistently shoot most factory ammo into 3/4 inch groups. I shot a Spike Elk with it last year using Federal HE 140gr Trophy Bonded bullets.

If it was me, I'd leave the gun original, and not change the barrel. I did what you've done, refinished the stock and cleaned them up. I don't think the guns will ever be worth a bunch of money, but they are quite popular, and those who know what they are, will buy them when they see them.

They might not be the gun that a pre-64 Winchester is, but they aren't far behind in quality. Change the trigger, refinish the stock, mount a quality scope, and you've got a nice light classic rifle in your hands.

Consider the cost of having a military action turned into a rifle in the same condition, and you'll like that rifle more and more

"standard" spacing is .500 and .860 for aftermarket stuff., and lots of factory....

j

Oh, SI!! GOOD purchase! Those old FN actions are hard to beat, whether they say J.C. Higgins or Browning on them! Same-o same-o!!