KurtC, I grew up shooting remington 788's and savage 99's, so I'm so used to crappy triggers I almost can't shoot a good one I'm sure I'll own this rifle soon so I will post some pics and a report. It must be a pretty nice action since I see that FW Heym didn't make any low end rifles. I couldn't find this model on any of the western field cross references which are mostly low end guns made by savage or stevens etc. This must have been their high end super delux model. I'm attracted to oddball guns like a moth to a flame, but info like you have provided often keeps me from getting my arse burnt off.
Good shooting,
Weagle

WesternField is merely the import stamp, just like Stoeger imported Sako's at one time.

The 3-letter German code on the rifle should be EHM, as it was made by F.W. Heym around 1964. They made these rifles for a couple of years before Mauser contracted them to build the 2000 and 3000 series push-feeds. The model numbers are 724A full stock/flat bolt and 720B half stock/round bolt. There was also an African model with a 3/4 stock, but I forget the model number.

The action is not FN. It is unique in that it is the only Intermediate length commercial 98 action I know of. It even has a full C-ring breech. European rifles were in 7x57, and US imported versions were in .30-06. The bad news is that to get the .30-06 into an Intermediate action, Heym had to open up that beautiful magazine. You will find the front of the magazine has been cut on the sides and bent forward.

You will be tempted to bend the front of the mag back into place and rebarrel to 7x57. That is until you shoot it in .30-06. The barrel is match quality and will be a tack-driver if all is tight. Both 724A's that I had certainly were.

Yes, grab it, fast. It's almost certainly an ideal vehicle for a custom gun. I found a JC Higgins model 50, FN, 30-06, and dickered the pawn shop down to $185. Didn't know for sure what I had, until I got home. The FN action alone tends to go for $400. Even if it isn't FN, it should be an excellent action.

If it's from West Germany, it's not a FN (FN's were made in Belgum).
At any rate, it's a darn good price, grab it.

The trigger should be a standard 98, and works fine if you know how to shoot. Some clown may have replaced it with a Timney, though.



Also, the chambers seem to be match tight. Cheap ammo might not fit. FL sizing is a must if you reload.



One last note, the safety is the coveted FN style that is inletted into the shroud. It is not a knock-off.

at $200 it's a deal....grab it.

There is a rifle at a local shop that is stamped Western Field model 720b manufactured in West Germany. It is a 30.06 and appears to be a commercial FN mauser type action w/ military type shroud and left side buhler type low swing safety. Does anyone have any insight on this gun? I found one on gunsamerica for $700. I can get this one for a couple hundred bucks and it looks like a good action for a project. It also has some pretty cool bottom metal with a side swing release lever. None of the cross references I can find list this model.
Thanks,
Weagle

KurtC, Thanks, you have nailed it. The action looks exactly like the one in your pictures, including the safety and magazine release lever. The bottom metal almost looks like a reworked military piece with capture screws and a wide non-tapered trigger guard. The barrel looks very thin for a 30.06. I didn't really check out the trigger, do you know if it is adjustable?
Thanks to all for the info and opinions,
Weagle

Keep in mind that Heym, like most of Germany, was struggling in the post war years. Craftmanship was high, but they were competing with low end American rifles for sales.

The wood will look like crap, but it is nicely inletted. These rifles aren't listed in most references, because Monty Ward was merely the importer. They were made for such a short period that Heym doesn't ever remember making them. I'd really like to know the source of the actions, though. They are intermediate length like the FN24, Yugo 48, and Oberndorf C, I believe. The full C-ring and lack of thumb slot and charger hump intrigue me.

Here's a couple of pics. I mis stated the model # it says model 720AEHM and it is stamped FW Heym on the underside of the barrel.

Great looking rifle... even if it has a safety that WILL cut you thumb

jeffe

A couple more things I have found out. The proof marks are a West German eagle with an "N" under it and the second is a Munich proof house mark. The 763 after the proofs are for July 1963. The stock was apparently supplied to Heym by SILE. So far I haven't found a reference to this gun in any book but have found a few other examples and gotten great info from this and other web sites. Mine is the only one I've found stamped 720A the others have been stamped 720B. Ain't the web great.
Good shooting,
Weagle