What is the typical price range for a very good condition FN Belgium '98 action (complete with bottom metal and FN adjustable trigger)? Thanks.

Mike, my experience has been that they sell for almost as much as a complete rifle built on one. For example, there are a lot of Husqvarna and J.C. Higgins rifles on true FN actions that sell for $350 to $450 depending on which iteration (steel or aluminum bottom metal). By the time you sell the barrel and stock on eBay, you are usually below the cost of a bare action.

OTOH, a true Belgian FN complete rifle goes for somewhat more even though the action is identical.

Thanks for the feedback Harry.

Mike

I've bought complete rifles for as little as $250.

Look around and go to the gunshows. There's quite a few around and for the money they're a fine action.

I have just 4 FNs. All were complete rifles and got hell of a good deal on each. They all are in such good condition , 2 are mint.

I got 2 off gunbroker so I was just happy to get the action. But they turned out to have nice clean accurate barrels so I wont even think of tearing them down.

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they turned out to have nice clean accurate barrels so I wont even think of tearing them down.

I know, I bought one from a poster on AR and it's such a good shooter that I just can't bring myself to take the barrel off either.

I intended it to be a 338-06 and that thing is still spitting out 30 cal bullets.

I think it all depends on whether your buying or selling. when your buying they are worth $250, but I can never seem to get anyone who bought one for that price to sell me one for that price.

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Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

they turned out to have nice clean accurate barrels so I wont even think of tearing them down.

I know, I bought one from a poster on AR and it's such a good shooter that I just can't bring myself to take the barrel off either.

I intended it to be a 338-06 and that thing is still spitting out 30 cal bullets.

Yeah kinda sad I cant find one that needs a barrel. I wanted to build a 338-06 or 9.3 also. Damn! The real poor ones i have seen the sellers want more money for them. Too much.

It's been my experience that a complete rifle that has maybe been bubba'd a bit will be less money thatn a good barreled action, maybe as cheap as an action. That said, I bought one in .338-06 and .338 WM within the last year for about $425 apiece. I shot a 1 in 5-shot group with the .338 Mag last weekend at 200 yards, not 100.

the trick I have found is to look for ads that people don't know what they have. IE "JC Higgins 30-06 $175.00" (this one is in my safe
and I agree with the bubbad commment earlier that works great in pawn shops.

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Originally posted by idahoelk101:
the trick I have found is to look for ads that people don't know what they have. IE "JC Higgins 30-06 $175.00" (this one is in my safe
and I agree with the bubbad commment earlier that works great in pawn shops.

Just be sure that J.C. Higgins isn't one of the later ones made on push feed Winchester M70s. IIRC, they were a Model 53. Ugly as sin but they shot well. I used the one I had as a trruck gun and loaner until somebody talked me out of it.
The ons you want are trhe J.C. Higgins M50s. They came in .270 Win. and 30-06. No, none of mine are up for sale.
Paul B.

Also watch on the Higgins, some are drilled for a bastard scope base, rather than the standard FN pattern.

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Originally posted by jstevens:
Also watch on the Higgins, some are drilled for a bastard scope base, rather than the standard FN pattern.

This is rather easily overcome. But, a good warning to someone wanting a plug & play action.