Mauser grinding

13 July 2017, 04:15

lindy2

Mauser grinding

Question 1. How much can be ground off the front ring of a basic 98 Mauser action?

Question 2. Who is doing that kind of work on a piecemeal basis as opposed to only when a full metal job is being done?

13 July 2017, 18:42

Toomany Tools

Quite a lot of material can be ground off; a friend of mine, who's been a full-time rifle builder for over 30 years, has ground several Large-ring-small-thread Turk actions to small-ring dimensions for custom projects, and that's a lot of grinding. Most large-ring-large-thread actions take no more than .020" to clean and square. I haven't been asked to grind one in a long time but still have the capability.

13 July 2017, 19:46

dpcd

Tell us what your goal is; making the ring smaller, cleaning up pitting, removing markings, just making it true; what? Anyway, yes, John said, Mausers are very forgiving and can take a lot of metal removal and still be fine.

14 July 2017, 00:22

lindy2

The goal is to remove pitting and of course make the ring somewhat capable of tightly fitting a scope mount.

This is an FN Peruvian that has somewhat of a unique rear bridge so I don't want anything done to that, except to figure out how I can get a scope mount on there without changing the bridge.

Ultimate goal is .35 Whelen.

14 July 2017, 00:57

Ray B

An FN action was modified by CP Donnelly to the extent that there was no shoulder at the rear/bottom of the ring, tapered upward to where the space for the front scope base was left original. I'm not sure what that comes out to in terms of metal removed. It was chambered for a 257 Ackley and there was no problem that I'm aware of.

14 July 2017, 03:14

dpcd

That FN effectively gives you a 1.3 inch, small ring, large thread Mauser; not something I would do for any 55K psi cartridge.
Your Peruvian sounds like a straightforward thing.

14 July 2017, 05:20

Clemson

Just don't grind the serial number off. The ATF takes a dim view of that.

Bill Jacobs

14 July 2017, 06:02

richj

wonder how much metal was removed;

14 July 2017, 06:52

lindy2

quote:
Just don't grind the serial number off. The ATF takes a dim view of that

It seems like somebody, but I cannot remember who, told me that it was allowable to grind the number off so long as you put it back on someplace.

14 July 2017, 08:34

Toomany Tools

You can apply for a "variance" from the ATF; call and ask them.

14 July 2017, 10:33

Grenadier

A licensed gunsmith can re-cut/re-stamp/reposition the original serial number without ATF approval if it becomes illegible or obliterated. This is true even if the obliteration occurs in the process of gunsmithing or making a repair. There is no problem as long as it goes out with the same serial number it came in with and the marking adheres to ATF serial number marking specifications.

20 July 2017, 21:46

Utah Shotgunner

quote:
Originally posted by Grenadier:
A licensed gunsmith can re-cut/re-stamp/reposition the original serial number without ATF approval if it becomes illegible or obliterated. This is true even if the obliteration occurs in the process of gunsmithing or making a repair. There is no problem as long as it goes out with the same serial number it came in with and the marking adheres to ATF serial number marking specifications.

I do not doubt this happens, but I have been specifically told by the ATF (yeah, I know...) that this is not correct.

Must apply for a variance and have the work done by an 07 FFL.

26 July 2017, 17:52

D Humbarger

When the large ring small thread Turk is ground to small ring is rehardening required?

Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station

Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.

26 July 2017, 17:57

Toomany Tools

Not necessary to re harden after grinding.

28 July 2017, 07:38

D Humbarger

Thanks John. That's music to my ears.

Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station

Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.