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Re: Herters Rifle

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26 September 2004, 04:32
LE270
Re: Herters Rifle
I've never owned or even seen a Herters rifle, and I'm going totaly on memory here. But I did get and read -- "devour" would be a more accurate verb -- the Herters catalogs in my youth, and I seem to remember that they had both a J and a U rifle. I think one of those had a Mauser or Mauser-like action, and the other had what looked like an English -- possibly a BSA or other Birmingham-made -- action. I seem to remember someone writing about this somewhere on the Internet. As I remember, the English-type action cost a few dollars more and Herters recommended it to anyone who could afford the difference in cost.

Does this jog anyone's memory?
25 September 2004, 18:17
JBabcock
They also used FN 98 actions, it should say what kind of action it is on it somwhere. If it's an FN, it will say so on the left side of the receiver.

I'd prefer the FN 98 myself.
25 September 2004, 18:27
ALF
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25 September 2004, 18:56
M1Tanker
Quote:

Herters = Zastava = Mk X etc etc.

All the same rifle which is a FN Mauser action built under license by Zastava.



I would have to question that Zastave built all the Herters. One of my soldiers recently purchased one in 300 Win Mag. I was very impressed with the quality. The finish of all the metal work (both in and out of the action) was far superior to any Mark X or Interarms I have ever owned or seen for that matter. Also the bolt handle, safety, and trigger were all different. All the metal work is outstanding. What is interesting is that his action used the same bases as a Rem 700.

I have heard that Heym also made some of the Herters actions, along with FN.
25 September 2004, 19:28
ALF
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25 September 2004, 23:27
ErikD
Quote:

One of my soldiers recently purchased one in 300 Win Mag. I was very impressed with the quality.



I'm wondering if the Zastavas sold in North America is of a differant quality than the ones sold here in Scandinavia. Out of curiousity, I recently looked at several new ones at a gun shop together with a friend who used to be a gunsmith, and we were amazed over how rough the actions were. I can't remember having to use so much force on any action! It was as if it hadn't been polished in the slightest, and felt like I was pushing the bolt thru sandpaper. They were all the same too, so it wasn't just one "lemon". My friend commented that the ones Zastava made in the old days were far superiour to what we get up here today.

So the question is; is it likely that Zastava goes over the ones shipped to NA more thuroughly and that we get all the crappy ones?

Erik D.
26 September 2004, 05:22
John G
I, too, used to devour the magazine - some of the most outlandish ad copy you'll ever read! If I remember correctly, the J9 was an FN Mauser action, and the U9 was the British BSA action. Both were good guns. Way back in the mid 60's I bought a J9 action in 7X57 and my dad bought a 7 RemMag, but I don't remember if his was a J9 or a U9. Both of them were smooth, reliable actions and were plenty accurate with the right loads.
27 September 2004, 06:23
bglenn
CATALOG NO. 87 1977

HERTER'S MARK J9 CUSTOM MADE BARRELED ACTIONS
Completely hand polished and blued. Barrels are made of the most expensive, finest procurable quality ordnance barrel steel. They are 23 1/2" long. The taper is the newly discovered anti-barrel whip taper. The most accurate barrels possible to make. Radiused between lands and grooves for maximum velocity. Hammer forged. Precision gauged, chambered and head spaced. Proof fired and proof tested. No sights. Receiver drilled for Herter J9 mounts. Calibers available: 22-250, 25-06, 338 cal., 243, 6mm, 270, 308, 30-06, .264, 7mm mag., and .300 win. mag. Medium heavyy barrels also available in these calibers only: 22-250, 25-06, 243, and 6mm, 26" barrel length. Specify caliber on order.

SSM4 shpg. wt. 6 lbs. $123.98
SSM4A Sights installed 12.00

I have one and it looks like a mil. mauser with the browning bolt stop
26 September 2004, 17:33
systeme98
Lloyd, Herter's used the Heym " Mauser type" action to start with. It had a bolt stop affair similar to the Browning FN. They were not exactly smooth to operate, They also did use the BSA, but the only one's to cross my bench
did not use the P14,M 17 style long extractor. The bolt stop was a vertical pin in the trigger mechanism, not unlike the Weatherby Mk V system. Heym went on to develop what became the model 2000 sold by Mauser. At that point Herters went to Zastava. The first ones seem to be not unlike those sold as the VZ 500 and were the shorter bolt Yugo M48 type with an FN style bridge and bolt handle. As noted in the comments preceeding, the ad copy seemed to suggest that these were approved by no less than St Michael hisself from the Celestial Campus of God & Co.. The Herters BSA was actually a pretty fair rifle in that time frame.
26 September 2004, 17:41
ZERMEL
The 1971 Herter's catalog lists the U9 action as made in England. The J9 action has a FN look but it does not say where it is made. The J9 has a simple military type Mauser trigger while the U9 has micro adjustable trigger.
Some Herters delux rifles where fitted with Douglas premium barrels put together with their stock with many custom features. They were great buys all the actions were well made. Fred M.
27 September 2004, 02:09
irv
Herters production must have been spotty. DeHass said the
J9 was the worst commercial action he had ever seen.
Good Luck!
27 September 2004, 03:31
M1Tanker
Quote:

Lloyd, Herter's used the Heym " Mauser type" action to start with. It had a bolt stop affair similar to the Browning FN. They were not exactly smooth to operate,



The one my soldier has has the bolt stop you are talking about. (his was missing the bolt stop and trying to find a replacement hasnt been easy) I would have to agree about the spotty quality of Herters. While my soldiers is absolutely one of the finest 98 type actions I have ever seen, my Dad has a different style Herters that is pretty junky in comparison. You can see the tool marks inside the action and below the stockline. The workmanship isnt near as nice. Considering he only paid $125 it is still a darn good rifle for the money.
27 September 2004, 04:47
John G
Thos.,
". . . approved by . . . St Michael hisself from the Celestial Campus of God & Co."

Love that line!

ALL their ad copy was like that. After the gun purchase I bought a pair of the "World's Best" downhill skiis that "were used by all of the U.S. Ski Team." Well, the skiis behaved like two pieces of iron grating, and the "U.S. Ski Team" must have been from Upper Siberia, because the guys from the United States Team had never heard of them.
27 September 2004, 13:16
Bo-regard
Would any one know of a replacement synthetic stock for the BSA version? My PH in SA has a 7x57 BSA with a broken stock. I would like to find one for him and take it when I go back in May.
Thanks for any help.
Bill
27 September 2004, 16:03
hiredgun
George G has it right. The J9 was a Mauser type made in Checosolvika,(Sp) the U9 was a BSA action my in England. Hass is his book "Bolt Action Action Rifles" thought the J9 was poorly finished although he only inspected two of them. I have an original unfired J9 in 257 Roberts which appears reasonable. Some day I will get around to finishing it. If the price is right, I would buy another.