I'm looking for a surplus Mauser action for a 460 Wby short (2") with a BMG bullet seated on top of it.

http://members.amaonline.com/firepower/html/50bmd.htm

I am hopeing to find one that will feed a round from the mag, but due to the belt & width of the 460 Wby parent case, this might not be possible. The action need not be 'pretty' or have a 3-pos saftey.

My questions are:
1) Is there a surplus mauser action that will feed this round from the mag?
2) If there isn't an action that will feed a round from the mag, what action would work best for a single shot Mauser.
3) What Mauser action has a bolt big enough for the .582" boltface needed? Is there any I should stay away from?

I'm looking for an 'inexpensive' action that needs the least amount of cleanup (pre bent bolt, nice finish, smoothest trigger) for a plinker project. Thanks, BMG

The work involved in making it feed reliably from the magazene will be extensive, and expensive. That said, if you want a repeater, you are going to have to pay for it, and I'd start with a good action. In fact, I'd start with a CZ 550 416 rigby action, as it might work with minimal modifications, and would be much less exspensive then modifying even a free mil surp mauser.

If you're just going single shot, and large ring, large thread mauser would work. The turk mausers are a large ring, but use a small ring barrel shank, which is too small in dia for such a large round. I'd look for a VZ or CZ 24.

This is an interesting cartridge and worthy of a decent action. I honestly wouldn't trust a standard mauser action with a .583-.590 boltface to take any pressures anywhere near 60000 psi. The bolt thrust will exceed the design parameters and you will probably rapidly get receiver locking lug setback. I have been told by very reliable sources that most of the old .416 Rigby's had receiver failures and this cartridge operated at very low pressures. This was due to the bolt thrust. If you load your rounds very lightly you might get away with it at least for awhile.
If it were me, I would do it on a CZ550 mag action. This way there is no issue of action strength and you could load those 850 gr Bore riders out to feed through the mag box. Neat IDEA! It will have a trajectory like a 45-70 but will penetrate anything-Rob

Robgunbuilder,
You are saying that a large ring, large thread Mauser action will not work? I have seen many surplus Mausers built into 30-06 & 308 which are a lot higher pressure than the 8mm mauser round. Granted the 50 BMD has a larger rim diameter, but it is also a straight case which I think should lower pressures along with matching the powder to the bullet.

The reason I AM looking into an inexpensive single shot Mauser is because in a few years I DO want to go with a .510/460 2" BMD repeater. However, I really don't want to go to the expense of a CZ 550 Mag right now. My smith is currently assembleing (spoke with him wed) my .510/460 Wby Long as I type, however, this 50 BMD really interests me.

I am looking at a K98 with a sporterized stock so all that would need to be done to the metal would be to rebarrel & open the boltface. From what I've heard, this is a very strong action. Is the VZ-24 stronger? CZ-24?

If not, what about a 'modern' barreled action in 30-06 (Mark X, Howa M-1500, Ruger MkII, Savage) rechambered & boltface opened?

BMG-The Military M98 is a fine action for a short cartridge with a boltface for a 30-06,308, even a 9.3X64 etc. The Military/commercial M98 is not a great action for a high pressure magnum.Even the FN 's were noted for receiver bolt lug set back when Weatherby was making 300 wby's out of them 30 years ago. This is exactly why Weatherby designed their stronger/larger actions! A M70 long action can be opened up to .590 and while many are loathe to do so, so can a Rem 700. A Cheap 1917 Enfield can definately take the gaff and would be great for your project
! While a great many people have Magnumized the M98, If they have fired enough rounds thru them they often develop bolt lug set-back. The first sign of which is significant difficulty in opening the bolt after firing. It can get much much worse. These actions were designed after all for the 8mm Mauser. I've had this happen on a VZ-24 that I built into a .338 Win Mag and I know many others who have seen the same thing. This is with a .532 boltface.
As I understood you, you want to build essentially a 500 A2- short which will require a .590 boltface unless you intend to rebate the rim.
This increase in bolt-thrust is considered to be too much for a Mauser. As I've said it was done on the old .416 Rigby's which were low pressure rounds and nearly all eventually failed. My issue is that unless you load very light, you will be re-creating this scenario with the 500 A2-short. It's not a question about will things fit as I don't see why they won't mechanically.
I know how you feel, as I've thought about this before myself, but based on what I know about this action, I just would not push it this far. Particularily since the cost of getting the work done will ultimately run close to a new CZ550. Why wind up in a marginal situation if you don't have too.
With that said I'd be only too happy to have you prove me wrong! -Rob

Ok, Ok it was hard to do - but I'm waveing the white flag of realization. I'm not a smith, that is why I ask you guys. Thank you for the 'dont go there' info.

If I do the project, I'll probably use a Rem 700. If I get the BDL in .375UM, will it feed the rounds from the mag or will it be a single shot?

There is certainly enough room in a Rem 700 for a single shot and enough strength to handle the 500 A2-Short. You will need a sako extractor though! I don't know if there would be enough room left between the rails for a 460 WBY case (albeit shortened) to feed from the box. The 375 RUM action will be long enough, but the box is built for a 404 Jeff case. and the 460 is wider in both the body and at the belt. However, I have heard of guys who have built 30-378's on Rem 700's but have never seen one myself. The general consensus is don't do it.However, I personally don't see a problem with a 500A2 short on the Rem 700 and it would be unique!.
Yesterday, I was working on my CZ550 in 500 A2 to improve the feeding and honestly, due to the belt, there isn't alot of rail left when your done even on this big action! You should see what I had to do to get a 585 NYATI to feed! I'll look at a Rem 700 and let you know if it looks feasible to me.
I still think the best answer is a 1917 Enfield action. They are nearly as cheap as Mausers at the gun shows and since your cartridge length isn't an issue, should be pretty straight foreward to open the bolt and rails.You can buy a cheap mag box from Numrich and grind away till it feeds. There is also absolutely no question about its strength!-Rob

Color me stupid, but wouldn't a Sako TRG-S in 30-378 with a simple rebarrel job work?
The boltface, extractor, rails, feeding, and magazine are already set up and the action & bedding can easily handle the pressure & recoil. Right?

Robgunbuilder

I believe you are mistaken on the idea of the old 416 Rigbys not holding up . For example , there was a write up in Rifle magazine a while back on the Rigby built rifle owned by pro hunter Harry Selby . It was built on an opened up military M 98 action . It held up so well and he shot it so many years , the rifling was nearly completly smooth and bullets were tumbling at close range , so he had Rigby rebarrel the gun and it is still in service today .

Aside from that , I believe most Rigbys were built on commercial true magnum length 98 actions and were of adequate size for the job.

The reason some FN built Weatherbys have failed is because the actions were improperly opened up towards the front , leaving too little metal supporting the bottom locking lug .

Which m 98 action did you use for the failed .338 ? My opinion is , if you choose a VZ 24 or German M98 , or FN from the late Twenties or the Thirties , they will work OK for magnum cartridges , as the steel was much improved from the WW 1 vintage rifles .

I agree the 1917 Enfield would be a good choice for a magnum rifle , but they are pretty scarse and run alot more money than Mausers in these parts. You didn't mention it , but as would avoid the Eddystone versions , as they have a reputation for improper heat treatment and cracked receiver rings .......

sdgunslinger- I agree with most of your post, except that the two 416 Rigbys I've see on Military M98's were opened up so far in front to get that large cartridge in, that it was scary! Neither appeared to have been used alot either! I thought about doing this myself just to see what it would take and after talking to John Ricks about it deceided this was a very bad idea! The need to open up the action in front is exactly the reason, I won't go there even for a .375 H&H length cartridge. I know others have done so and it SEEMS OK, but as you said a true magnum length action is the better decision! There is so little bottom lug steel left that the set-back problem is exacerbated. You can't take enough metal out of the rear and need at least .150 in front.
The action I had fail was a VZ-24 probably of the 1930's vintage and not re-heat treated and after a bunch of stiff( but not excessive) loads it exhibited definate set-back
Perhaps if I can find it I'll post some pictures.
I agree on the 1917 Enfields and only use Winchesters myself. Out here at the gun shows no-one seems to want them and you can ususally find a nicely converted one for&200-$300 bucks. I have one now being converted to a 470 MBOGO.-Rob