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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Mannlicher Discussion forum & Archive

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pinotguy
.275 member

Reged: 03/02/07
Posts: 57
Loc: CO

Mannlicher-style stock question . . .
#80326 - 11/06/07 10:24 AM

Folks,

I've been thinking recently about building a "carbine" size rifle. As I've been searching for ideas, I began to wonder whether a Mannlicher stock combined with a straight, English-style grip would be feasible. (Think of a fine English double shotgun.) So far I have yet to see this type of configuration so that leads me to believe that this may not be the best set-up for a rifle.

FWIW, I was considering the following:

- Standard length commercial Mauser 98 action.
- 20" Pac-Nor bbl., #3 contour.
- 6.5x57 Mauser as my first choice, 6.5x54 M-S as second.

Bottom line: Would that straight grip be too inherently weak, even if the rifle is chambered in a fairly low pressure cartridge? (Please correct me, but from I can tell both the 6.5 Mauser and 6.5 M-S are considered relatively low pressure.) I also think that proper stock blank selection would play a role.

Thanks in advance for any input.

P.S. Is there a certain type of walnut (claro, bastogne, english) that has more inherent strength than other species? Of course, grain structure and figure will factor in as well.

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9.3x57
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Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5521
Loc: United States

Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: pinotguy]
#80329 - 11/06/07 11:04 AM

Regarding your stock design, there was an article some years ago in Gun Digest that outlined ultralight straight-stocked rifles {not fullstock however}. I will look for it as I think I have it somewhere. Point is, there is no technical reason you couldn't do what you want to do.

My only question would be the action type desired. I highly respect and enjoy the 98 action but it is heavy and not particularly sleek, and for what you are describing another option, a better option in my opinion, would be a small-ring Swedish 96/46 or even better yet a "strengthened" 46, either of which I think would be very nice {the latter of which I think would be perfect}, as would the Swedish/Norwegian 6.5x55 for a chambering, though the other 6.5 cartridges you describe are really superb in their own right.

I own a Husqvarna Model 46 {96-type action, built 1942} with original HVA peep sight in 9.3x57 that weighs 5 1/2 lbs on my fish scale and is an absolute delight to carry and very easy to shoot due to some stock mods I made to it. Even with the 24 inch barrel the thing is an ultralight and the best bearhounding gun I can imagine. Your rifle concept sounds like a dandy and I see no reason why you couldn't put in walnut and steel what you describe in cybertype!

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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pinotguy
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Reged: 03/02/07
Posts: 57
Loc: CO

Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: 9.3x57]
#80332 - 11/06/07 11:33 AM

9.3x57,

Yeah, I was somewhat concerned with the "ungainliness" of the 98 action. To be truthful, weight wasn't my primary concern with this project. Rather, my main focus was form, shape, and feasibility; especially with the stock design. However, I hadn't even thought about using a small-ring Mauser until you mentioned it. I will definitely look into that as an alternative. To your knowledge, were there any small-ring Mauser actions made in the "commercial" format? I am anti-thumb notch big time and consider that feature as a deal breaker.

I am a big fan of the 6.5 Swede - it's a great cartridge. But I had something a little more obscure in mind, so I think I'll stick to the 6.5x57.

The more I think about it, a "hog-back" Mannlicher stock with a straight grip sounds really cool - certainly something you wouldn't see everyday.

Thanks for the insight.

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9.3x57
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Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5521
Loc: United States

Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: pinotguy]
#80336 - 11/06/07 12:37 PM

The best action type I can think of in terms of sleekness and trimness would be the "strengthened 46"-type Husqvarna. I have one, a Model 640 in 8x57. It is a commercial action with no thumbcut. Other actions like the Husky 1900 exist and would make fine light carbines also. Think of the later Husqvarna actions {1900 etc} as ultra refinements of the original small-ring Model 96 military Mauser action and you will be on the right track.

The "strengthened 46" is a relatively rare and unique Husqvarna action that is essentially a 96 action without the thumbcut. Mine still has a stripper clip notch. With a trim bolt handle as you envision, it sounds like a winner to me. I do believe you can find one through Allan's Armory or maybe Simpson's if you like it. Both the 46 and strengthened 46 are small-ring two-lug actions {no 3rd safety lug}.

Let's see if I can post these pix:

Here is the top view of a strengthened 46:

Here are three Husky's:

Top: 5 1/2 lb M46 9.3x57 {commercial 96-type action, built 1942} with original HVA peep sight.

Center: Strengthened M46 8x57 {built 1946}. Note sleek unbroken lines of the action.

Bottom: M146 9.3x57 {built 1940}.

All stocks have been modified for left hand shooting. Both 9.3's sported stocks with knife-edge, sharp combs and alot of castoff and I modified them to allow comfortable left shoulder shooting. The 640 {strengthened 46} I did so and left a bit of hog's back in it.

For a super-light carbine, an original HVA peep rear sight would make perfect sense. Here's one:

By all means, document the progress of your project here so we can see it!

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

Edited by CptCurl (18/05/09 09:45 PM)

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pinotguy
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Reged: 03/02/07
Posts: 57
Loc: CO

Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: 9.3x57]
#80337 - 11/06/07 12:50 PM

9.3x57,

Those are great looking rifles. I like the calibers too. I'm a big fan of the metrics and am always interested in seeing rifles chambered in those cartridges. I really like the fact that some of the Swedish Mausers do not have the thumb cut and the stripper clip notch doesn't bother me.

I don't like to get too far ahead of myself, but this build may be a ways off. Most of my energy these days is focused on an 8x68S build. However, the stock idea kept bugging me so I thought I'd pose the question. I will start trying to acquire the necessary components for this though, and when the time comes, I will try to document its progress.

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AzGuy
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Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: Prescott, Arizona, USA

Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: pinotguy]
#80338 - 11/06/07 01:00 PM

Quote:

9.3x57,

The more I think about it, a "hog-back" Mannlicher stock with a straight grip sounds really cool - certainly something you wouldn't see everyday.

Thanks for the insight.

Excuse me, but that sounds like one UGLY rifle...... go for it if you like it!!!

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9.3x57
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Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5521
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Re: Mannlicher-style stock question . . . [Re: AzGuy]
#80355 - 11/06/07 11:00 PM

Quote:

Quote:

9.3x57,

The more I think about it, a "hog-back" Mannlicher stock with a straight grip sounds really cool - certainly something you wouldn't see everyday.

Thanks for the insight.

Excuse me, but that sounds like one UGLY rifle...... go for it if you like it!!!

I'm not sure I really like the picture in my mind of a straight-grip stock with a pig's spine either, but so many other things in wood and metal have surprised me in the past that I never like to say never. Bluntly put, I have no idea what our gunsmith friend's skills are but as a "cobbler" myself I'm always interested in other's brainstorms. Heck, the thing could turn out to be a cob or a real beauty. It's not my labor, but I'd sure be interested in what might make it to the firing line some day. And I know from past projects of my own {knifemaking}, sometimes ideas sit and stir in the gut until they are put into reality in steel and only after that do I really know what validity they had in the first place.

Personally, I wouldn't want a straight grip rifle of any sort as I barely tolerate the straight grip on my chopped Swede M38 carbine, but to each his own. Having said that, the extremely delicate straight grip guns pictured in that GD article were so unique I have to say they really caught my eye. Who'da thunk it...

--------------------
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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