Sorry, had not seen the previous thread on this issue -- "Magazine Geometry"



In the current issue of Peterson's RifleShooter magazine, there is an article on the Mauser 98. It gives some history of Paul Mauser and his inventions and production of the rifles. It is all very positive and favorable.



There is an extensive section on the magazine design and its details. How each caliber had a custom designed magazine for it to ensure reliable feeding. It describes calculations based on cartridge headsize, shoulder size, and body length. Again, the whole article is very favorable.



The article implies that converting one caliber Mauser to another caliber would require changing the magazine box to ensure reliable controlled-feeding.



The implication is that a 7x57 Mauser rifle converted to 257 Ackley Improved could have serious magazine feeding issues unless the magazine dimensions were properly modified. The problem seems not limited to cartridge length but to magazine box width compared at various points along the length of the cartridge.



This may all be common knowledge to others (or complete garbage), but it was news to me. (I am not a gunsmith. I don't even turn scope mount screws.)



If I consider building a rifle on a Mauser 98, or a Montana 1999, will I have to specify the exact cartridge to get the right magazine ? I was under the simplistic notion that as long as cartridge headsize and cartridge length were the same, I could build any caliber on the Mauser 98.



How sensitive is this magazine box issue ?



Hammer

Hammer,
Go to page 4 of this forum. There is a long thread on this subject titled "Magazine Geometry". Mucho good info there.

Craigster,

Sorry, had not seen that thread.

Hammer

Are the mathematics and configuration issues described specific to Mauser actions or are they also applicable to push-feed actions ? Guess they are not applicable to straight-line feed magazines.

Hammer