Thinking about a long term build on an FN mauser 98 commercial action - Help?

[LEADLUBBER]

So, If I get to build this one, I will likely have to sell another to get to it over time, so it will have to be "worth the squeeze"....


My goal is to create a poor-boy "express rifle" of sorts, with some artistic license here and there.

Here is what I need input on:

1. I need to determine a good caliber to go to that fits into my collection and possible needs or wants - I currently have the following rifle calibers ( not counting rimfires)- .22-250 in a custom P17 action, .270 Winchester in this FN commercial action, 7mm Rem Mag in a Mark X, .308 Winchester in a M70 CRF action.

I have family ties to the 7 mag rifle and the .308, and I just finished the re-build/update on the P17 in .22-250, so I don't want to mess with it as it is "done". The .270 is the only caliber that I see overlap from with the 7 mag and .308, and I am honestly just not excited about loading for it or messing with it since it is so close to others.

I am thinking I would like to use that great FN action from the .270 and stay with a .473 rim cartridge to keep the bolt simple, but go up in bore size to something with more "thump" from larger bullet weights than the 7mag or .308 can carry.

I am strongly considering a .35 Whelen chambering for this project for potential deer, Elk, Bear, Moose, Hog hunting, etc.

Thoughts? suggestions? help?



2. Barrel

I could use a blank that is completely smooth, and have it threaded for the receiver end, but, if it isn't much more, a short chambered blank would definitely make things easier and quicker. I like stainless for the durability and corrosion resistance. I think a very darkened gray stainless would be an incredibly serviceable rifle barrel and very tough.

Recommended length (I know it depends on the caliber and intent, but I like short to medium length barrels usually)?

I really like the express-style sights, but I don't know if they are available in stainless or not, if not, it steers me back to a barrel steel that can be blued easily, as I want this one to have some nice express sights. I will have to retain the ability to use a quick-detach scope mounting system of some type with a 30mm scope objective most likely.

Brands to research, sources to obtain, price ranges? It doesn't have to be a national benchrest champion barrel to start. I would like to be able to hit 1MOA as a functional hunting rifle.


3. Stock recommendations?

I love real claro or turkish walnut and sharp, hand-cut checkering and a leather covered buttpad, but, I know that adds a lot of $$$ to the end cost.

Thoughts on Walnut, Kevlar or polymer stocks? Boyds? others?
Who has that classic "express" stock shape?


I have lots of my own thoughts, but, I would like to hear from those with much more experience than I have with this.

Thanks to all in advance!

[RustyReel]

When I think "express rifle" I think 375 and up, anything smaller is just a rifle. But that's just me. Classic large bore British calibers are of course what an express rifle really needs, but more pratical calibers for me would be 375 and 416 Ruger, 458 Win Mag, 416 Taylor.....but again, that's just me.

[smithnframe]

If you’re interested I have a Shaw barrel chambered in 458 Winchester mag. PM me.

[jonp]

Check out my thread on the same thing from a few years ago http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...elen-or-338-06

Lots of great suggestions from the members here..

Agree with previous. An "Express" rifle to me is larger calibers in the 400 range and up. Shorter range power to knock something with teeth, claws and horns that wants to stomp you into the ground or eat you but you may be thinking of iron sights and short distance in a general larger caliber.

[beshears]

Always wanted a 9.3x62

[Rich/WIS]

Vote for the above, 9.3 X 62, or possibly a 35 Whelan standard or AI. Either can be loaded to really put a hurt on anything you hit with it. If you want to go a bit smaller in bore size there is also the 338-06 to consider, either in standard or AI. Bullets and molds are available for all three. Unless you are going after something bigger than you'll find on this continent any of the above will do nicely and not beat you to death (too badly).

[MarkW]

I know you're not gonna like this, but having been down a similar path before here's my thoughts- You have a working 270 that you are planning to cannibalize just for the action. If so, I'd suggest selling the rifle and buying the pieces you want for your new rifle. I won't say you'll be money ahead this way, but you will definitely be in a shallower hole.

How much of this work are you planning on doing yourself, most of it? Can you do the metalwork yourself, or at least some of it?

Since you are wanting an express rifle in your heart of hearts, my suggestion is to use your P17 action and just plan on building a true Express Rifle in 375 H&H. Unscrew that barrel and either sell it or if you have the ability rethread it for your mauser and either turn that into your 22-250 or if you can and the feed rails work as-is make that into a 22-250 & 270 switch barrel. For the P17, you can either open the bolt face up or swap it with a P14 bolt. (Either way keep the dogleg IMHO!). And of course if money is tight just pick one or two of yours to sell and buy someone else's unfinished express rifle project, as that's probably the cheapest way.

[Larry Gibson]

The 35 Whelen would be an excellent choice if not a lot of modification to the action is desired or if not wanting to by custom dies (as with a 375 or 400 Whelen for example).

A pre-threaded short chambered Shilen barrel from Brownell's will cost about what a blank and threading would cost anyway. I suggest the 14" twist. A rental finish reamer will work fine to headspace.

Sounds like a fun project.

[Old School Big Bore]

If Rheinland/Troup can get their thumbs out and actually make some barrels, their .450 Bushmaster barrel makes a great hog rifle and with the Savage-style barrel lock ring is a fairly easy installation. I have a sporterized M98 waiting for them to get some barrels ready so I can sell my .450 AR upper and concentrate on the caliber in a bolt gun.
You may read up on them if you're not familiar with them. I'm also looking for a beater SMLE to convert with one of their .45 ACP kits.
Ed <><

[444ttd]

a 9.3x57 mauser with 275gr wfn gc boolits(http://bullshop.weebly.com/bullets.html) and some 4895 at 100 yards.


husqvarna m46 in 9.3x57


they made a m146 which is a 98 mauser.

i like blued barrel. i had a ss barrel but it got sold.

http://rifle-stocks.com/ richards makes a fine wolverine 98 mauser gun stock, but you have to sand and finish it. i'm almost done with the 98 mauser stock, all that left is rubbing out the finish(lin speed oil) with pumice and rotten stone. i'd go with black walnut grade aa fancy.

[Uncle Grinch]

Yep... no question. Got to be a 9.3 in either a 57 or 62 length.

[dverna]

How a rifle looks is a personal choice. Express sights are not something I would want.

I would chamber it in .35 Whelen if cost was important, but I will never shoot anything larger or more dangerous than an elk or large black bear.

IMHO, a used .375 H&H might be a better option if you want to some day hunt Alaska or Africa.

[LEADLUBBER]

Excellent suggestions and thoughts by many here, and I really appreciate it.

As for caliber - I do agree that a true express rifle needs to be .375+ caliber..... I guess one of my main concerns was the cost and difficulty of the bolt face modification for a caliber with something besides the .473 face and extractor claw tuning.

The .35 Whelen was a way to get into a larger bore caliber with a .473 rim that seems to be quite versatile and has factory loaded ammo available if the rifle does eventually go down the road to a new home, or even passed on to my Son. He may not be as into reloading as I am, and I don't want him to have a useless thunderstick in the safe that was his dad's "custom loads only gun".


It is likely that I will never get to leave the continent to hunt for anything, so plinking, target shooting, and hunting for things on North America will be the most likely use.


I have a very close friend who has a nice lathe and mill and he isn't afraid to play with a gun to help me. I am pretty good with some lathe and milling use and metalwork, but some does get over my head.


As to MarkW's thoughts, I really appreciate the insight, and I agree, I would probably be better off to just sell this entire rifle and start with components, and that is not something I will say is impossible either. My other idea is that I could sell all but the action and trigger on this one and recoup some of the same money. The stock isn't that special, but it and the barrel is in good shape and so it could be sold for a bit.

The P17 I have was already down the road as a re-do on an old custom build from a long time ago that was built by one of the first shooters of the .22-250, it has a nice custom stock and a very stumpy barrel..... So I really couldn't bring myself to start all over on it just for the action.

I surely would be money ahead to just sell the stock .270 and add some money to buy a pre-built custom gun that someone else spent a ton of $$$ on. The question is, would it be built worth a flip or just junk that I had to re-do.

Then, I should think about just buying a used factory gun in a bigger chambering that seems to sell for pretty cheap compared to all these costs of a custom gun...

[samari46]

Either 338/06 or 375/06 with a heavy magnum weight barrel in chrome moly since you are contemplating using express sights mounted on the barrel. But would suggest getting the receiver
D&T for scope mounts and receiver sights. But install plug screws in the 6 holes. This way you have the best of both worlds and a lot easier to have the receiver done before the barrel is installed. Frank

[RustyReel]

After re-reading your OP I would suggest you sell the .270 and BOLO for an Interarms Whitworth Express rifle. They ARE the poor man's Express Rifle. They were available in .375 H&H and .458 Win Mag and usually go for about a grand. I picked up one last year for a little over 800 shipped and transferred. Probably the cheapest route to get to an express rifle and unless the one you build is really, really nice it will hold it's value better.

If you want to use your current action your could buy a new stripped bolt with a magnum bolt face from one of those auction sites and then sell your stripped bolt in the same place. May break even, or close, on that transaction.

I like Mauser sporters and I like 375 and 45 cal rifles. I have built a couple, but I am very happy with my Withworth Express find.

[LEADLUBBER]

I will likely go the route of selling the .270 win FN complete rifle and look into the whitworth route or something in that class.

Thanks for keeping me sane in my thoughts!

[koger]

I just looked at a nice 9.3x57 at Simspons Ltd, with iron sights and scope, express type sights, weaver mounts, and a cheap scope. They are asking $450 with an excellent bore, grafs has brass and bullets in stock, the Norma brass is pricey, but they have some real deals on bullets. For about $600, total, dies, brass, bullets and you could be in business. I am seriously considering buying one myself.

[BigEyeBob]

318 Westley Richards on a 98 action is what Im thinking of. A 375 x2 1/2 " Flanged Nitro Express on a no1-Mk3 is my next project . The 318 has been on my mind for some time.

[444ttd]

I just looked at a nice 9.3x57 at Simspons Ltd, with iron sights and scope, express type sights, weaver mounts, and a cheap scope. They are asking $450 with an excellent bore, grafs has brass and bullets in stock, the Norma brass is pricey, but they have some real deals on bullets. For about $600, total, dies, brass, bullets and you could be in business. I am seriously considering buying one myself.

buy it!!!! use 8x57 brass and neck it up to 9.3. its a little short(like .01ish") but the rifle doesn't care. the bull shop has a 275gr wfn gc (https://bullshop.weebly.com/-36-cali...t-bullets.html) and it really slays deer.

100 yards/bench 275gr wfn gc and 4895

[Graybeard96]

If you want a Express Rifle Caliber, why not go for the 9.3*64 Brenneke which is the King of all 9.3s

Cheers