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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mauser Discussion Forum

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Wanabebwana
.300 member


Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada
The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges.
      #224309 - 26/01/13 06:30 AM

The only action that I would consider for a "classic" bolt action rifle is the Mauser 98.
The standard length 98 is suitable for the .425 WR,9.3x62,9.3x64,and even the .404 Jeffrey (with minor weakening of the action behind the lower recoil lug). I do not think it inappropriate to consider the .416 Ruger or the excellent .375 Ruger for such a rifle.(.375 requires too much metal to be removed).
Genuine Magnum Mausers are not easy to find and even harder to finance.The Granite Mountain,and newly manufactured German Mausers are also out of reach of the average budget. The CZ 550 Magnum can handle a .505 Gibbs or even a .585 Nyati but it is not a true Mauser and the finish is average at best.
The trick is to find the best standard 98 action available and select a cartridge that suits the action as well as your requirements.(I will exclude wildcats from this debate).

The finest Mauser 98 action I have owned was an original 1920 Oberndorf in a Type B .30-06.
This one had the in the bow floor-plate release and the action was incredibly smooth.
Good military Mauser actions made in Germany, Austria,Czechoslovakia,are becoming hard to find.
Post war, 1946-47 FN produced hi quality Mauser 98 actions that were sold to other manufacturers such as Husqvarna. I had the opportunity to acquire a Husqvarna Hi-Power 9.3x62 with a true 98 action, thumb cut,rear bridge hump and clip slot. This action is among the finest I have ever handled and it has the advantage of having an original factory FN low bolt handle and no holes drilled for peep or scope sights. In 1948 such actions were modified to become the FN Deluxe action.

I own 5 Browning FN Safari Grade Hi-Power rifles in 7mm Rem.,.300 Win.,.375 H&H and .458 Win. All magnums.I prefer the 24" barrels and all have double cross-bolts and a barrel mounted recoil lug.These rifles use a sightly modified (bolt release)FN Supreme action. Some have steel trigger guard assemblies and some have the anodized aluminum which are not castings as they have the same milling marks as the steel ones.I also own a mint BRNO ZG47 .30-06 These are extremely fine guns but neither action has the vintage look of the 98.

My choice is the 47 FN manufactured 98 action.
Modifications: Single square bridge and straight down bolt handle.
Sunny hill drop box bottom metal with straddled floor-plate.
Caliber .404 Jeffrey.

Please let me know your thoughts on this posting.


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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3526
Loc: Colorado
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: Wanabebwana]
      #224327 - 26/01/13 12:00 PM

Wanabebwana, welcome to NitroExpress.
I agree that the only appropriate action for a classic big game safari rifle is the Mauser '98.
You might find that by sourcing a very clean FN action and adding the square bridge you may be right in genuine Oberndorf square bridge territory as far as money goes. Oberndorf actions are out there, just need to be patient and turn every stone you can think of. I too have a soft spot for square bridge actions but the standard round top action is the one Jeffery used for their early 404's (before the magnum actions became available).
In fact, if you plan on shaving the rear bridge as Jeffery did, you may want to stick with the regular round top action anyway.

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


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Wanabebwana
.300 member


Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: Huvius]
      #224330 - 26/01/13 12:40 PM

Thanks Huvius. You make a good point that could save me money and give me a closer copy of the original. I believe a lot of original Jeffreys used the military type trigger guard as well.Will do some research. FN actions are fairly easily available in Canada but Magnum Mausers are extremely rare. In 45 yrs I have come upon 1 Brevex and a few Empire ( Korean) but never an Oberndorf.Owners tend to sell to their friends or keep them as investments.

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casper50
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Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1344
Loc: Alaska
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: Wanabebwana]
      #224363 - 27/01/13 08:00 AM

Here's my .404 Jeffery by G. E. Lewis.













Edited by CptCurl (10/06/13 09:18 PM)


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Wanabebwana
.300 member


Reged: 11/01/13
Posts: 221
Loc: Canada
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: casper50]
      #224365 - 27/01/13 08:27 AM

Thanks Casper50
Where do you find these beautiful old guns?
Cordite suggests pre-war. Am I right to assume it was built on a WW1 military action?
Was the mag lengthened front only or was the rear wall thinned out as well?


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casper50
.400 member


Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1344
Loc: Alaska
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: Wanabebwana]
      #224368 - 27/01/13 08:53 AM

Front only. The front wall is completely gone. 3 sided only. As soon as I picked it up and shouldered it, it became my favorite rifle. Took it on my 8 dy float hunt for moose and griz last year but it didn't get to speak. It just feels so natural to carry it. It's only the second firearm that I will not sell. The only change that I've made is the bolt peep. Used another shroud and kept the original. I use the leave sights but looking through the peep means that I can actually see them.



Edited by CptCurl (10/06/13 09:18 PM)


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tophet1
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Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: casper50]
      #224371 - 27/01/13 10:22 AM

Also welcome Wanabebwana, to one of the more civilized forums on the www. You can't go wrong with the combination you listed.

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akriet
.224 member


Reged: 12/01/05
Posts: 31
Loc: in & of Dixie
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: tophet1]
      #224376 - 27/01/13 02:35 PM

Wanabebwana: Great rifle, thanks for sharing. A question, if I may, about the cocking piece peep sight: how is the 'adapter' with the female dovetail that takes the sight affixed to the cocking piece - soldered? I could sure use an adapter like that, do you know who made it? Thanks.

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casper50
.400 member


Reged: 18/10/07
Posts: 1344
Loc: Alaska
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: akriet]
      #224380 - 27/01/13 06:07 PM

The cocking piece is dovetailed. Thats the only modification to a stock piece.

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jsl3170
.224 member


Reged: 16/12/04
Posts: 48
Loc: Maine, USA
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: casper50]
      #224439 - 29/01/13 12:45 PM

Quick question: the Zastava is cut on FN machinery. Is it not, then basically a commercial FN? Some say the finish is not always the best but cannot a competent gunsmith remedy those issues and, if so, are we not then left with a good, commercial FN action to begin with?

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akriet
.224 member


Reged: 12/01/05
Posts: 31
Loc: in & of Dixie
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: jsl3170]
      #224477 - 30/01/13 02:27 AM

Casper: thanks for the info.

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mckinney
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Reged: 29/01/09
Posts: 1212
Loc: usa
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: casper50]
      #224482 - 30/01/13 05:12 AM

Casper, beautiful old rifle and I'd suggest leaving it just as it is, having suffered some remorse after having a couple of similar pieces restored. The restorations were well done, but I now prefer 'preservation' over restoration.

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John303
.300 member


Reged: 16/11/06
Posts: 243
Loc: Canada
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: mckinney]
      #224490 - 30/01/13 06:19 AM

Personally if it was me, going to make custom, which I believe you are saying
I would seriously consider a Vz-24 action. Not that scarce and is a military,
good metal, try to find a pre war if you can.
FWIW --- John.


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458Win
.333 member


Reged: 15/12/06
Posts: 340
Loc: Alaska
Re: The finest 98 action for Big Bore cartridges. [Re: jsl3170]
      #224530 - 31/01/13 02:25 AM

According to Speed's book , Zastava actually made rifles for Mauser in the early 1980's. So they actually qualify for inclusion.
While not always finished as nice a most of us now like - they are soundly built actions and smooth up quite well.

--------------------
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either never used one - or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com


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