Dear Craftsmen,

Ever since I've lurked on this forum I've been overly fascinated with everyone's obsession with the Mauser and clones. I'm hooked. My local gunshop has 4 firearms that are listed in the subject line. The price for the firearms are between $169 to $289 for the firearms. I've seem a lot higher prices and was concerned I was being taken vice would it even be wise to buy a couple of them!

Anyhoo, I would like to purchase my first action/firearm and turn it into my first custom. Since I'm notta gunsmith or afficionado per se' I know zip, zilch, notta other than after some reading, these actions seem to be ok. I'm looking at turning my custom into a 270 Win, 308 Win, or 30-06. I am at a loss as to what is good, better, best. Second, should these actions be heat treated like other threads have mentioned? The wood looks worse for the wear, but OK. The actions themselves are a little worn without much bluing left, but no noted pitting...however the floorplates leave a little to be desired except the custom model. It looks rather nice. I just don't know what to do or where to go. What else should I look for? I don't want to end up with a paper weight that I spent money on...at the same time I don't wanna spend a bazzilion on my first custom. And can someone also recommend a book?

Thaks in advance.

RenegadeRN

Not really enough info to make a solid recommendation. All three can be made into very nice rifles. I guess without knowing more I'd suggest whichever one will require the least work, as long as whatever's been done so far is what you want/like. Without seeing any of them I'd guess that would be the Argentine that's already custom, but maybe not.

As for heat treating...lots of opinions there. I personally subscribe to Mauser's original intent of soft on the inside and hard on the outside.

I think people are crazy to convert milsurp mausers to sporters, there is just so much work that must be done to the action to get it where it needs to be, it borders on insanity, plus many old mausers have been through some sort of rearseneling process along the way that monkeys with the action in an undiserable way. all the actions listed above where very very nice when built but is seems to me like they don't fit quite as tight etc after all these years, I think you would be much better off to start out with something that is much more complete to start out with, maybe get a FN mauser sporter, the JC higgins rifles are a good start, have someone put on a nice 3 pos saftey and restock the thing with a nice classic style piece of wood and be done with it.

check out what this guy did

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php...4/page/1#Post1402204

those huskys are also some of the nicest mausers ever made, tweak it with a few custom tricks and a nice piece of wood and your money ahead of the guys building rifles from old beat up VZ24's plus you will likely have a less worn tighter fitting action and possibly not even have to change out the barrel, of course thats JMO

I have re-done a few into milsurps and kept many more in milsurp trim. Personally, I would buy them all, keep the milsurps as milsurps and shoot / enjoy them that way, and re-do the custom 1909 to however you like it. Just make sure they didn't destroy it as they customized it by buffing the s**t out of it and rounding the corners, drilling a bunch of non-aligned holes into important parts, etc.

A picture speaks a thousand words, if you can get a couple of each and post them here.

The Husky idea is also very good, a nice solid base to start from with all of the $$$ work already done; to get done what a Husky comes with would probably cost you a few hundred dollars with most 'smiths (assuming you sent them a milsurp action).

Good luck & enjoy.

An original 1909 argentine hinged bottom metal is worth about $150 so keep that in mind when deciding which one is the better deal.

Weagle

If the 09 in 30-06 has the origional barrel, I would not consider that a plus. There were a batch of these that had the 7.65 barrel rechambered to 30-06. Not very accurate (.311 or so diameter vice the .308)by all accounts I have heard. (not experienced)

This is a very funny thread for a gunsmithing forum.

Thaine, your comment on the '09 is well taken, but... you're exactly wrong. If the '09 has an original Argie barrel, no compunctions at all at removing it.

Most of us, I suspect, have read Weagle's threads, and he's done very well by purchasing mediocre attempts at custom, just for the actions.

And cummins cowboy?

Who let you in the door?

This is the "Gunsmithing" forum, and a great many folks here spend a great deal of their own personal time, some a great deal of money, turning military Mausers into the most beautiful rifles in the world.

I hope you'd like to reconsider your "borders on insanity" remark.

Because you're speaking to a very tough crowd.

LOL.

flaco

N.B. Renegade? You're looking at three very nice rifles. Each of which is appropriate for a custom.

Still, you could do worse than take Weagle's advice.

quote:

but... you're exactly wrong.

Me !!! Never Ok maybe misguided. But then that's why I hang out here, too get put back on track
I wouldn't have a problem pulling the barrel either, I was just worried that since it had the "custom" tag, it might be bringing more than the barrel would add if it was a rechambered one vice a replacement. But at those prices why worry!

I appreciate everyone's comments. Honestly? I don't have a problem spend the funds to make a nice custom....but not TOO much. LOL! I've seen pix that are just breathtaking. That passion won me over.

Thaine? It was the "custom" tag that was the highest priced one. I see your point. Why spend the extra money when I could get the 'other' Argentine 1909 for less and replace that barrel. I think the thing to do is pick two of them and I'll have at two actions to work with. I can customize both of them. I was concerned with the idea that the actions weren't long enuff, of the bolt face had to be changed, or the magazine well would need to be altered in some way for one of those three caliber designs. Guess I just need to read more to decide. Thanks.

RenegadeRN

Converting the old military Mausers is a big project but there are some people that like big projects. If someone is in it to save money then it is the wrong game. I'm converting a couple of VZ-24's to sporters and I have tried to do all the work myself. It takes a lot of time and money. It also has been very rewarding to see the outcome so far. It keeps me out of the bars and occupies my time in a positive manner. It also teaches you your limitations as a "do it yourself" home gunsmith. At this point I'm trying to figure out how to mount iron sights without a sight installation fixture. There is more than just screwing or silver soldering the sights on the barrel. Sight height and location is a key to iron sights. I've checked and rechecked my math but there is always that bit if un-certainty involved, especially for the novas.
Which I am. The correct tools for each specific job is another problem for the novas. There is a good reason good gunsmiths get the money for the works of art they create and it is for a good reason. They earn it!

Well, I went back to the shop today and just on a whim had the shop owner remove some of the wood. Of course he was NONE too happy, but it paid off. There are a lot of pits on the couple rifles I looked at. I also tried to verify serial numbers for the barrel, stock, floorplates and bolts. Seems none of them matched, so as one poster here noted a lot of rearsenaling going on. I think I will hold off for the time being and look around a little more. Thankx.

RenegadeRN

Renegade-

Good call on the infamous "pitting below the woodline."

I wouldn't worry too much about matching numbers. Few bolts match on Vz24s, and you're gonna put on a new bolt handle anyway.

The prime advantage of matching numbers is that there's a good chance the bolt lugs will be sort of pre-lapped to the receiver.

Through use.

Now, if the "custom" was already drilled and tapped for mounts you wanted to use, and the trigger guard bow was nicely shaped, it might be a buy at $289.

And yep, count me among those that are passionate about building rifles.

From military Mausers.

LOL.

flaco

N.B. Nobody's gonna answer your question about heat treating. Best to read all the posts, and decide for yourself.

I was insane and had my smith build a .404 J on a 1909......................expensive and I would only do it once but I love the rifle and it's something I wanted to do once in my life.

My feelings on a 1909 project are if your going to do it go all out and do it in a classic chambering, here are some pics of my .404 J below, it may give you some ideas.