"Some sort of Mauser."

[Four Fingers of Death]

This is a Midland sporter which is basically a factory built sporter. I remember Midlands in the 70s and they were made on a commercial action and used a Springfield bolt. The story i was told was that the company bouight a warehouse full of Springfield bolts and built the rifle around it. I remember them having the Springfield cocking knob at the rear. This action doesn't have a thumb slot for stripper clip reloading like military Mausers.

This was obviously built around 'some sort of Mauser' to quote the guy in the gunshop. It is a nice rifle,chambered in 243 with an excellent barrel and a slick action, but is only about $150 cheaper than a new Ruger American or an Axis. The shop is trying to get a set of mounts to fit it at the moment. It is fitted with fold down commercial open sights.

The big lug seems to act more as a camming surface that a safety lug as there is almost a millimetre of clearance between it and the rear reciever ring. If the lugs failed no doubt it would stop rearward collapse.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/UNknown%20Mauser%20Sporter/20120810_162619.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/UNknown%20Mauser%20Sporter/20120810_162628.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/UNknown%20Mauser%20Sporter/20120810_162524.jpg

The little button/lever seems similar to a Winchester.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/UNknown%20Mauser%20Sporter/20120810_162720.jpg

A few more pics here:

http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/UNknown%20Mauser%20Sporter/

[Hardcast416taylor]

Mick, The rear reciever ring reminds me of a Brevex Mauser the way it is stepped. The cocking piece looks like a Mauser without the wing. They could have put on a more sleek piece like on a Mark X mauser while they were at it. The bolt looks like a Springfield with the large side bolt lug, and then there is that Winchester style take down button. They could have sanded the wood down a bit more at the rear tang/safety area. It almost appears to be hand cut checkering on a decent piece of walnut. My advice is to buy it and shoot it and always wonder about what the heck it started life as?Robert

[Four Fingers of Death]

It is a beautifully slick action as well, very tempting.

[UBER7MM]

I guess the real question is: "How badly do you need a 243 Win?"

[Four Fingers of Death]

I guess the real question is: "How badly do you need a 243 Win?"

Wellllllllllllllllllll, I have lots of rifles either side of the 243, but I do have 200 new cases, 40 once fired cases, 40x factory rounds, 600 Speer varmint bullets, 200 Highland (Privi Partisan I think) 100Gn SPs (I think I have a packet of 90Gn Jacketed bullets as well), a Lyman boolit mould (one of the old fashioned ones with the short nose and lots of lube grooves, can't remember the name at the moment) and a Lyman 243 sizing die. All I need I suppose are gas checks, but I suppose if I looked hard enough, I might even scrape up a packet of those, it wouldn't surprise me. lol.

[UBER7MM]

That's sounds like a pretty good "PRO" argument to me!

You can live without the thumb slot, right?

[Four Fingers of Death]

Yep! sounds like it sure nuf!

[220swiftfn]

Well, it's a frankengun alright..... The bolt is Springfield '03 all the way, the cocking knob has been turned down is all (assuming that it still has the 2 piece firing pin). The bolt shroud is also '03 made by (R) Remington. The bottom metal looks like 1909 Argentine Mauser...........


I wouldn't offer too much for it..........



Dan

[303Guy]

That's a rifle I would have a serious look at. In fact, if I had money to spare and that was offered to me I'd take it. It's probably worth something like a mid-range new factory sporter. But I am guessing!

[Four Fingers of Death]

They have $395 on it. A new Axis Edge is $550 odd and the Ruger American is about $550 as well.

I thought 03 at first, but the lackof a cocking knob and the bolt release are all wrong.

The story I heard in the 70s when the Midlands came out was that Parker Hale built the actions from new to match the milsurp Springer bolts they had. So I suppose if you are building the action fromscratch, there would be no need to duplicate the 03 style bolt release which I thiink would be more difficult to produce.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Here are a couple of links to similar rifles for sale:

http://www.northfloridashooting.com/images/P-H_Midland_30-06/P-H_Midland_2100.htm

http://www.gunsandtackleforsale.com/adverts/286

It is referred to as a Midland 2700. One of the rifles seems to have had the side lug on the bolt trimmed and the cocking piece tidyied up as well.

This rifle is like a mermaid on the rocks, luring me in, lol.

[220swiftfn]

Well, if she's reeling you in, who are we to tell you "no"???? If the price is in the ballpark of the others you found, why not, it's interesting if nothing else!!! (My comment was made thinking it was like the cobbled together monstrosities from Montgomery Ward?? or Sedgeley????? CRS..... I can "see" the add, just can't remember who it was from!!!!)



Dan

[303Guy]

Buy it! You can always regret it later - but you won't, I'm sure.

[Four Fingers of Death]

A few months ago I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. But a bit skint at the moment. I have already paid for but haven't picked it up yet, a new Remington 700SPS in 17remington Fireball ( these interest me, but I already have an Encore with a 17Ackley Improved and a 17HMR). If I passed that in for another $100 I could get the new Zustava 22Hornet that is there and the Midland.

Decisions,decisions.

[Mike H]

They are Parker Hales,new actions made to use Springfield bolts.

[EMC45]

You are already set up for the caliber......... DO IT!

[Four Fingers of Death]

The mould is a Loverin design. Couldn't think of the name for the love of me before.

[303Guy]

For the price difference I'd put the 22 Hornet on hold. It is a wonderful caliber and the cheapest to reload j-words for and with a know strong action (what 22 Hornet isn't?) then they can be loaded to an impressive velocity (for a hornet). But against the 17 Fireball, the hornet can wait a while. Although .... [smilie=1: It is difficult to cast for a 22 cal. So for cast or paper patched, I'd go for the 243 in "some sort of Mauser". It's a nice rifle and a nice calibre too! And kind of not so common.

[dualsport]

I'd get the CZ Hornet. Sounds like a pretty good price. But then I'm biased towards CZs.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I'd get the CZ Hornet. Sounds like a pretty good price. But then I'm biased towards CZs.

The Hornet is actually a Zustava. The CZ they have there is $1100+ dollars. It is old stock (been there forabout a year I suppose. They are selling forsome $1300+ in Sydney. Lovely rifle, butttttttt!!!!