New Mauser Project

[ggshoots]

Well I have been thinking about an old school project and now its getting ready to start. It will be a Small ring Mexican Mauser, Full stock, custom shroud with side safety, Canjar trigger, chambered in 7mm-08AI. I will also customize my bottom metal for trap door. I will rust blue everything. I know plenty of people would say why a Mauser? There's better triggers than Canjar, and better calibers than 7mm-08AI and why a full stock?

1. I have had many custom Mauser rifles over the years and I realize value doesn't hold much nowadays but I do like them. My youngest son also does appreciate them so in the end this will be a hunting rifle for him some day.
2. The Mexican small ring Mauser has a good reputation for quality and good one to build on.
3. I love full stocks and since I will build it, its mainly time, I have some nice walnut and curly maple sitting. It will have a thin curly maple strip down the middle and Walnut outer with carbon fiber matt in between layers. Not sure about checkering as I have a little neuropathy in my hands and don't know if I want to take that on.
4. I have always wanted to find an old Canjar and have one laying on the bench now for it.
5. 7MM-08AI is non negotiable. Love it and Ackley cartridges, only other thoughts were 257Rob AI. It will be mainly for deer, antelope but 200yds and in Elk and Moose if I ever get to do that again. 12yrs of cancer, 4 transplants, radiation and around 250 chemo treatments have kind of impacted that. Lol

My questions and request for suggestions.
1. Does anyone have any experience with full stock design they really like for this type of rifle? pics would be great.
2. What barrel contour would you suggest. Really would only be focused on first round impact with second round follow up so fairly light weight. Probably get a Shilin blank from Brownells, right down the road from me.
3. Trying to decide on trap door lever style release on the floor plate or trigger guard style.

I will do most of the stock on the mill, have a duplicator but for one off this will be easier. I'm also planning on milling the hump off the rear of the action, trying to decide on leaving the front ring markings or milling them smooth. I will build a metal end cap for the stock. Probably thin rubber butt pad. I have rings and may use a 3.5x10 Leupold I have. Planning on a little more vertical in the grip and higher comb then many of the old full stocks but building it to fit me. I have also put carbon arrow shafts in forends of stocks and bedded them in, this combined with carbon fiber matting should really beef the stock forend up.

Any thoughts or suggestions? There are some guys on here that I'm sure have plenty of experience with old Mausers. The barrel profile is one of the real decisions for me. I would like to keep total weight down to around 9 1/2lbs or less with scope.
My action complete with bottom metal is 3lbs 2oz but will loose a little weight.
Stock will vary to get balance.
Barrel?
Scope and rings 2ish?
What work would you do on the action? I plan on truing the bolt face and receiver as well as a little work on the rails and milling the top of the action front and rear ring. Do you bush the bolt on these? I haven't shot this action. Have 2 small ring Mexican and a Lg ring but for action size and weight want to stay with the small ring.

Thank you for any ideas or comments. I will get some pics of components on but just had a surgery yesterday and my wife wont let me go to my basement shop today. You would think after 35 years I would have her trained better. Lol

Glenn

 

[jackieschmidt]

A while back I did a Mauser project. I did a complete write up here on accurateshooter.
Here is the link.

Thread 'I just Bought A Project……Opinions'

Sep 19, 2023

I have been wanting to build a “classic” Mauser hunting rifle for some time. I guess I am trying to relive my youth, as the very first custom I ever built back in the ‘70’s was based on a commercial Santa Barbara Mauser.

So this action has been in our classifieds for some time. I know it is as old as Methuselah, but it looks solid and not abused. Since it is an actual German manufactured piece, I figure the steel used was at the very least good for that era. I can take it over to Lone Star Heat Treating and have a Rockwell C test done, just to see. I could also take a little off of an...

• jackieschmidt
• Replies: 195
• Forum: Gun Project Questions & Gunsmithing

• 

 

[mike mccormick]

Aren't the small ring mausers supposed to be kept under 50k psi??

 

[ggshoots]

Yes I remember that, as a matter of fact I was going to go in and buy that and saw you had already gotten it. I will read back through your build.
As far as strength a lot of the early Mausers may have varied but I believe these Mexican made 98 Mausers were of good quality and tested to fairly high strengths. Some of the well known builders have said you can feel comfortable running anything below the large magnums in them.

To add these 2 small rings are marked 1935 so would be Mexican 1910 actions made in the manufacturing plant Mexica built to do their own Mausers. Previously they had imported whatever from whomever. From what I understand they were very well built and are fairly highly regarded for builds.

Edit: sorry I said the actions were marked 1935, I meant 1931.

 

[DGP4]

Richards Microfit has sporter stock styles for Model 98 Mausers that you can order with a long mannlicher forearm.

 

[ggshoots]

Jackie read through your Mauser build, wrote a number of reminders on my build notes. I think you did that through one of my bad cancer times so missed the finish. It turned out very nice.

DGP4 I have looked at the Richards and wouldn't be apposed to it but want to do a multilayered laminate to keep that forend straight and strong. This way I figure I can float the barrel and keep it from ever being a problem in the future. I guess that is just my thinking right or wrong.

I guess I should also mention. I use to be caught up in my guns being perfect but it made me crazy if something would get a mark on it or one of my friends didnt give it the care I expected. I changed my way of thinking years ago. This will be built as a rifle intended to go hunting. I want my son and hopefully grandchildren to take this out and use it. If it gets scratched hopefully that will be a reminder of a hunting trip.

 

[pintopete]

Glenn, I think you’ve covered most things that would be a concern or issue. Jackie covered a lot of detail in his project. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but when I look at converting a Mauser for sporting or target use, these are my thoughts and challenges:

Safety
Trigger
Scope mounts or sighting
Bolt handle
Bolt shroud
Condition of action (corrosion ?)
Remember, hardening is thin (adequate until corroded or ground off)
Gunsmith (not all are willing, or skilled with Mausers)
Feeding of cartridge
Bedding (a bit different)
Cartridge choice (pressure & safety)

Re-sale - not a concern because going into this you know you may get 1/2 back on a sale, maybe.

That may be it on my list.
Good luck with your project!
Best regards, Peter.

 

[std7mag]

Sounds like a good plan!

The one thing that I believe you are getting wrong is the designation.
Typically the large ring Mausers are 98's.
The small ring Mausers are 96's.
This is really only relevant for things like the barrel and stock.

Hoosier Gun Works has a good listing of what is what.

Hoosier Gun Works

Hoosier Gun Works, Dealing in 200,000 gun parts, 2,000 gun stocks, 4,000 magazines, 500 barrels. Military and commercial.

hoosiergunworks.com

If you're scoping it, you may have to bend the bolt for clearance.
Also there is the drilling and tapping for the base.

I prefer that the s/n of the bolt match the action. Less potential for slop.

The Dakota 3 position safety is nice but requires some work.

As for barrel....
Mauser actions are on the heavy side.
On my daughter's build with a large ring, I went with a 22" sporter barrel and is wearing a Boyds AT-One stock.
With EGW one piece base, Vortex Viper rings, Sightron 4-12X40 scope and nylon sling she's at 9.5lbs.

My large ring commercial Mauser I used a 1.5 contour, 24" barrel and composite B&C stock, and same optics setup weighs in at 10lbs.

If you're planning on full length bedding, according to the conversation that I had with Melvin Forbes, you are going to want an exceptionally stiff stock.

 

[ggshoots]

These are referred to as a 98 small ring Mauser. They have the 3rd safety lug and guide rail on the bolt body.

I will make the forend very stiff but usually wrap the entire barrel with tape when putting bedding material in the barrel area to keep a gap.

 

[butchlambert]

These are referred to as a 98 small ring Mauser. They have the 3rd safety lug and guide rail on the bolt body.

I will make the forend very stiff but usually wrap the entire barrel with tape when putting bedding material in the barrel area to keep a gap.

One of my favorite customs is a Mexican in 275 Mauser or some call it 7x57. Mine has double square bridges and a Shilen octagon barrel. I would like to post a photo but this forum is not friendly about my photos. I sent you a PM.

 

[Will Henry]

I think the Canjar is a superb trigger. I like to leave the markings on the ring, in most cases. I built a full length stock on a Husqvarna couple years back, which I thought came out quite well. If I ever have it back in the shop, or if I make another I'll take some pics. WH