7X57 small ring mauser question

[normmatzen]

I am puzzled. I have a home built Savage 243 WIN bench rest rifle, an old Savage 110 30-06 that does 1 MOA. I piller bed it and glass bedded it as well as installed a Rifle Basik trigger and I have a K31 for fun vintage military shooting.
But, on a lark, I bought a $100 "Customized" Spanish Mauser. It was actually sporterized by Bubba! It didn't shoot a group at 25 yds as good as my old Hungarian copy of a 380 PPK!

So, I put a new pillar in the rear and skim bedded the action as well as tried to touch up the scope mounts. Well, took it out again today and it shoots no better than before. 5-6 inch groups at 25 yd and off paper at 100!

Any one have any ideas? The rifling looks a bit jagged, but isn't worn. 'Course I don't have a bore sight.

I am having a military 7X57 barrel put on a VZ24 action while I type and have a nice laminated stock for it, So, I think I'll sell the $100 special on gunbroker, where I got it! ???

 

[Kenny474]

Has the barrel been cut? If so how is the crown? Also, a lot of surplus ammo is corrosive, and a lot of the old rifles didn't get cleaned that well back in the day. So unless you get a look into the barrel with a scope and prove otherwise, it's probably pitted to death and worn out. If you slug the barrel you can get an idea of what true bore diameter is, and get an idea of how rough the barrel is.

Anyway, you got a decent Mauser action for $100. And if it's in decent shape that alone is worth what you paid. Find a cheap surplus take off barrel in good shape and make yourself a decent beater rifle. If you want to go all out, get a $80 synthetic sporter stock to go with it. Then you have a decent rifle for short money.
You could also try firelapping the barrel, as sometimes that will bring a little life back.

If you do decide to ship it, let me know and send me some pics. I might take it off your hands.

Are you sure you didn't buy it from GunBroken.com?

 

[butchlambert]

I may be interested also.
Butch

 

[Steve Blair]

Butch,
If you don't mind me asking; what do you do with old Mauser actions? I have noted you asking several times and know that these are not idle queries. Thanks, just curious.

 

[normmatzen]

Ya! GunBroken.com it is!

I may try touching up the crown as well as fire lapping it.

Thanks

 

[butchlambert]

I make toys out of them. The first is my small ring 7x57 Mexican mauser.

This one is my 1909 Argentine in 284.

This is my 458 Lott

This next one is my double square bridge Banner mauser in 9.3x62.

I have a couple more in the works. Where else can you buy a receiver for $75-$100 and spend up to $2000 on the receiver alone to bring it to custom standards?
Butch

 

[Kenny474]

Nice looking rifles Butch! I would like to do something similar, though not quite as elegant as what you have produced. I have always wanted to build a custom Mauser, but more for a rugged hunting rifle than a beautiful showpiece. I would be nervous to take those into the woods!

I have a "Bubbarized" K98 that was rebarreled to 25-06 years ago. I have been meaning to rework it and get a new stock, but I am nervous about it. My uncle has had it for 20 years and never fired it, so I don't know if the barrel has potential or if it's even safe. I should probably just check the headspace and go give it a rundown. I bought it because I wanted a 25-06, and really should get it to the range and see what it does.

Butch, is the small ring Mauser capable of handling the .338 Federal? I have another I can get cheap and the action is in good shape and untouched but the barrel is pitted badly. Will this work or should I look for a large ring?

 

[butchlambert]

I would definitely go with the large ring. It really is cheaper to build on a Remington than a mauser and the Remington will be more accurate. My experience with custom mausers are they are sold for $2000 and up or $395 and lower. The 284 that I pictured was $395 at the gunshow. The wood stock was redone and it was rustblued.
Butch

 

[Kenny474]

Butch, I am not looking for anything super special or stunningly accurate. I just love the design of the Mauser. What I was hoping for was to just rebarrel and restock the action and run with it. Though having never used a Mauser action before I am probably missing a bunch of necessary steps.

If I am getting ahead of myself and not thinking this through enough for it to work, which it seems I am, than I will probably just go with a rebarreled and restocked Steven's. I respect your opinion and believe you truly know far more than I. I am on a tight budget, and a Steven's will probably be my cheapest route to a .338 Fed. hunting rig.

Thanks Butch, I appreciate you taking the time to give me some advice. (evidently much needed)

 

[butchlambert]

The Stevens would be a great choice. With the Mauser you would have to buy a barrel and have it chambered for the 338. That in itself would be as much as the Stevens. You would either have to pay somebody to make it feed out of the magazine or do it yourself. The mauser military 2 stage triggers are not good for hunting. You can buy a replacement for what reworking the original would cost. You would need to address the straight bolt handle. All of this assumes that you have a good stock already. If I wanted a good hunting rifle, I would prowl the gunshows or buy new.
Butch

 

[Kenny474]

Thanks again Butch. I think the biggest issues I overlooked were feeding from the magazine and how much cost is truly involved. I guess I can sacrifice the Mauser's beauty for a Steven's and still end up with a nice product. I have already built a Steven's, so I know what I am getting myself into. I guess I need to start looking for a .308 to rebarrel.

thanks Butch.

 

[Steve Blair]

Beautiful work, Butch. It reminds of the old days when custom gunsmiths routinely crafted silk purses like yours from sow's ear actions. I understand that it is very labor intensive with mil surplus actions. Is it any better when starting with a commercial Mauser? There is something very nostalgic about a custom Mauser in a fine piece of walnut.

 

[butchlambert]

More downside than up on the commercials. They take about the same work and have less resale value than the milsurps.
Butch

 

[normmatzen]

Butch and all,

Thank you for the helpful inputs.

And, Your 7X57 Mexican is absolutely beautiful!

 

[davery25]

those are stunning. did you know what you were doing or did you just want to do it and 'wing it' while trying?

 

[Robert]

The Stevens would be a great choice. With the Mauser you would have to buy a barrel and have it chambered for the 338. That in itself would be as much as the Stevens. You would either have to pay somebody to make it feed out of the magazine or do it yourself. The mauser military 2 stage triggers are not good for hunting. You can buy a replacement for what reworking the original would cost. You would need to address the straight bolt handle. All of this assumes that you have a good stock already. If I wanted a good hunting rifle, I would prowl the gunshows or buy new.
Butch

'Chapeau' for your fine work on Mausers,Butch..

Have you ever considered a C.G X-Treme trigger on 98's?. The model exist and, f drmand is there, Tom wll probably consider it.
R.G.C

 

[shortgrass]

Nice looking rifles Butch! I would like to do something similar, though not quite as elegant as what you have produced. I have always wanted to build a custom Mauser, but more for a rugged hunting rifle than a beautiful showpiece. I would be nervous to take those into the woods!

Some of us build rifles like these,,,, and then hunt with them!

 

[250AI]

Butch, could you email or post some pictures of the Mexican 7x57? I have a Mexican action and looking for ideas on what to do with it. I'm old school and love Mauser's. Thanks nerosirrod@hotmail.com

 

[butchlambert]

The first picture on the first page of this thread is my Mexican. I do have more, but they are on a different computer.
Butch

 

[normmatzen]

I'm in the middle of building a 7X57 hunting rifle based on a VZ24 action, military 7X57 barrel cut to 24 inches and a microfit laminated stock. I had a gunsmith in Oregon barrel the action and I got the stock trimmed to fit the barrel and action, put an old scope on and went to the range and it shot about 1.5 MOA. This tickled me silly as the action was literally fastened into the stock with no real effort at all!

Now I have to get it blued, finish the stock, install the rear pillar and ben the action and recoil lug. I am sure it will be way good enough to hunt with.

I don't expect the quality of the Mexican above, but it will be all mine!