How much can one expect to pay as a total,to have an m98 reciever & bolt:
-cut and welded to a shorter length
-finished back to original surface finish.
- re heatreated
- custom length firing pin
(above work is required all to the highest quality)

the bottom metal and follower are already planned for, so are not required to be included in the above cost.

I'd imagine you'd be looking at a minimum of $1000, and there are darn few smiths that tackle such worth.

A few years ago I asked Ron Lampert what he would charge (this was a specialty of his) and he quoted me $500 for the labor plus the cost of heat treating. I didn't take him up on it and now I wish I would have.

I have since toyed with the idea of buying a controlled feed M 70 in the WSSM calibers and having somebody weld a bead line around the rim of the bolt so that it would work with the .250 Savage Cartridge. That would really be a neat little gun wouldn't it.

Buy a Mexican Short action !

1500.. when would you like it?
jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
1500.. when would you like it?
jeffe

Jeffe

You are full of you know what.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
Jeffe

You are full of you know what.

generally!!

LOL
jeffe

Ed LaPour will do it. His latest price sheet says from $900.00 to $1400.00.

Says he will shorten my Kimber 89 for $1100.00.
Still considering doing just that after handling
a so-called short Winchester classic and a so-called short MRC 1999.

Waiting on Matt Williams to unveil his action first.

here you go Don, all done up and ready for the hunt.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=41746623

Pretty darn close 22WRF!

I really want a 7mm-08 though. And I'm a fairly
short,(5' 10") FAT little guy,(227 lbs) 13 3/4" lop IS TOO MUCH FOR ME!

The work you describe will run about $2500 out of Steve Heilmann's shop.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Slater:
Pretty darn close 22WRF!

I really want a 7mm-08 though. And I'm a fairly
short,(5' 10") FAT little guy,(227 lbs) 13 3/4" lop IS TOO MUCH FOR ME!

Don

have you ever heard of a tool called a saw?

Why not use the medium length Yugo Mauser action?

No drilling or blasting needed.

ZM

Woodjack

I started this very same project about 4 years ago. I also built some tooling to do the job. I took two turkish mausers and cut both, I used Turks because of thier price and the fact that they are common as dirt. I did get both actions welded back together making a mini and a magnum. I never got around to modifying the bolt and firing pins. If you watch your welds and don't make a mess, its not extremely hard to clean up. After screwing with it for a couple of weeks, I decided I'd better get to work on customer guns, or I was gonna starve to death.

After I got the idea to do this, I posted on this forum asking for help. A fellow poster named Doug Humbarger ("bear claw" back then)mailed me some pages out of a magazine documenting how to do this. That info was very helpful and almost showed how to do it step by step. Its not a job thats out of any competent gunsmiths league, it is just so labor intensive, most smiths don't want that kind of work occupying thier time.

In answer to your question, I would suspect if you put an hourly wage on this kind of job you are easily looking at $2000.

Chad

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
How much can one expect to pay as a total,to have an m98 reciever & bolt:
-cut and welded to a shorter length
-finished back to original surface finish.
- re heatreated
- custom length firing pin
(above work is required all to the highest quality)

the bottom metal and follower are already planned for, so are not required to be included in the above cost.

It would be cheaper to buy a factory short action then go from there.van

By the way, the old book, Riflesmithing, by Jack Mitchell, has a chapter dedicated to shortening actions. He shows pictures of one that Joe Reid did for Sterling Davenport, although he used a Pre-64 Winchester rather than a mauser.

Also, there are two older Rifle magazines that togtehter have an article on shortening an action. The articles were written by Roy Dunlap. One of them is in the isse Number 9 back in May-June of 1970. He also used a Model 70 Winchester.

I love shortened actions, as they are truly custom. For those who complain about the cost, hell, look at the other hair-brained things typed on this board every day. I did some quick calcualtions and found it to be roughly 3.07% practical. The rest is "just because I want to!" And what better reason does a free man need?

I would expect to pay at least $1500 for the labor. David Chritsman has shortend some great looking actions 318-878-1395

marc,
i don't know if you were expounding your pholosophy or not, but i agree with it. i have worked on hotrods and guns for thirty five years. i don't understand why some of the stuff is done, but if it is safe and you want it ,then you are free to do it or have it done.

merry christmas,
max

I did the same as Sooner,cutting and welding 2 mausers at different places,making a long and a short. I did the bolts and firing pins at the same time but the mag. boxes are still sitting on the shelf untouched. Took awhile but not real difficult.Firing pin striker springs etc. need to be dealt with. I intended to barrel these 22 Cheetah and 375 Weatherby.I have the barrels here but don't seem to have the ambition.Mark

Sooner and 35404

I would love to see some close up photos of those actions if you are able to post them.