6MM AI?

[Pyscodog]

I recently bought a Mauser that was chambered in 6MM AI. The price was just to good to pass on. After a few days of removing black spray paint and sanding the stock, it has a very nicely figured walnut stock. Action is a Firearms International, which I'm told is a good action.The rifle was supposed (?) to have a Shilen barrel and a Timney trigger. It does have a Timney but as far as Shilen tube, who knows?? Its varmint contour and 26" long. A heavy rifle for sure. My main concern is the throat is so long every bullet I have tried falls out of the case mouth before reaching the lands. Best I can tell, the barrel is a 12 twist so heavy bullets may be a problem. 80's are the heaviest bullet I have tried so far and accuracy is barely in the one inch size. So, my question is, should I pay to have the barrel set back with a shorter throat, spend more money and have a new barrel installed or send it down the road? Mauser built rifles are hard to peddle around here so if I spend much more on it I had better plan on keeping it. Its a beautiful Mauser now but it just don't shoot to suit me. Thoughts???

 

[Ccrider]

Get a new barrel that suits your fancy or sell it.

 

[Kurz]

Action is a Firearms International, which I'm told is a good action.

Firearms International was an importer/assembler of European actions, barrels, triggers and complete rifles. Many of the actions were one of three variations manufactured by FN in Belgium or standard Sako actions from Finland.

Musketeer (inexpensive)
FN400 (plain, simple but nicely finished, better than above)
Supreme (more luxurious in fit and finish)

it has a very nicely figured walnut stock.

Not unusual. Barreled actions were imported for distribution in the U.S. and Canada where stocks were made to fit. Bishop was used frequently as a supplier/assembler of the barreled actions into stocks.

Personally, I have no use for a 1:12" twist barrel with an extra long throat. I would rebarrel with an appropriate twist rate for the cartridge you choose with hunting length/weight bullets. Skip the varmint concept and make this into a nice hunting rifle. If you don't want to make this investment, sell the rifle so someone else can make use of it.

Enjoy!

 

[Pyscodog]

Would setting it back possibly improve accuracy? I think it might shoot if it didn't have to jump the bullets so far. Just thinking out loud. I'm thinking it must have a some what decent barrel. It doesn't copper foul and it cleans really easy and just eyeballing, the barrel looks good.

 

[sundance]

Have you borescoped the barrel to see if is worth saving? If it is in good shape I would have it rechambered. I shot many prairie dogs with 6 ackleys and 70 grain Sierra hollow points with that twist.

 

[Pyscodog]

I went Saturday to see about getting it scoped but the guy wasn't there. He'll be back on Monday so I planned on going back then and having him take a look at it. That's kinda where I'm at now, wondering if I'm fighting a long throat or shot out barrel. If the barrels good, I may just try having it set back. If its toast, well I guess I'll have to think about that a while longer.

 

[sundance]

Hope it turns out to be a Shilen barrel that just needs rechambering.

 

[Pyscodog]

Well, turns out my barrel is toast. Throat is gone and lots of fire cracking. Not exactly the news I wanted to hear but thats the way my luck runs. Any suggestions? Any barrels for sale?

 

[Siko12]

It would be nice to see a pics.

 

[Pyscodog]

It would be nice to see a pics.

I'm computer challenged. I never have learned how. LOL need a kid to show me.

 

[sundance]

At least you can pick the short action caliber you want now. I always did like my 6 ackleys though.
Or is it a long action?

 

[Pyscodog]

Its a long action.

 

[expiper]

sell it,,,,Roger

 

[WyleWD]

Sell it. Or put a different barrel on it depending upon what you want to do with it. WD

 

[DaveTooley]

I like a 6AI. Shot my first one out on Rock Chucks. 12 twist shooting Fowler 80 bullets. At altitude it was an honest 800 yd. gun. It's on a Shilen DGA BR rifle so when I rebarreled I went 243 AI.

 

[Siko12]

I'm computer challenged. I never have learned how. LOL need a kid to show me.

I know how it is, Thank God my son love all the tech things. He got all sorts of parts of phone and computers, Righting jibberish programs on the computer, It almost feels like he is an alien from outta space. Over the years he has been teaching me a few things. Unable to grab it all but i try.

 

[Pyscodog]

I ordered a prefit barrel today. Its an ER Shaw 25-06 in a light varmint contour. Prefits for Mouser's used to be easy to find but not anymore and I was wanting a some what "quick fix". It was cheap and my smith feels like he sold me a bum rifle so he's head spacing and fitting for free. I have dies and brass already and 25-06 is a great round as well. Maybe I can get some of my friends to teach me how to post pictures while I waiting on my barrel. LOL!

 

[tj66]

Sounds like you got taken care of. Should be nice shooter when done. 25-06 is a great round

 

[expiper]

your gunsmith sounds like a great guy,,,,most would say "you knew it was USED!!!"....stik with him,,,send him some business ,,,,,Roger

 

[Pyscodog]

Ernie (my smith) is a great guy. He's a very "Old School" gunsmith and he is old. LOL! If he can't get the part, he will make it. He's also a very good friend. We shoot together quite often. He had bought this rifle to help another club member buy a new shotgun and had only had it a few days. All he did was check head space and confirmed it was good to go. After a little haggling, he sold it to me. He hadn't even looked through the barrel but we all know the naked eye will lie to you. I took it to another friend with a Hawkeye and confirmed the throat was gone and had some fire cracking as well. My thoughts were why mess with it, just replace the barrel. Not knowing the actual condition of the barrel, after I told him he said he felt bad about selling me a rifle with a bad barrel and he would do the install for free. Nothings ever free, he'll get even somewhere down the road. LOL, he always does. But he's my friend and I don't mind. Good friends are hard to come by these days.