I just Bought A Project……Opinions
- Thread starter jackieschmidt
- Start date
I am one of those "old gunsmiths" and for the first fifteen years of my career, I worked on a lot of Mausers. I still do.
A 1908 action from Oberndorff is a fine action. Just how the hardness compares to a 1908 from DWM, I cannot honestly say, but the DWM receivers are a little on the soft side. By the way, I seriously doubt that they have as much as forty points of carbon, beyond the case. The hard surface might run as high as eighty or better. The depth will vary. By the way, I have seen as many commercial FN's set back as any other. Usually, any action which set back had a reason for doing so and the reloading habits of the owner were usually front and center! It is common practice to have any receivers which are suspect re-treated.
Anyway, DWM's drill and tap easily. My 1935 Oberndorff was damn hard. Some of the VZ's were exceptionally hard as well. I use cobalt bits and HSS taps. I like to leave the clip charger hump and inlet the rear base into it. I just like the look of it.
For your rifle, I would be happy with a 30/06, but if the action has not had the mag lengthened, and the receiver been opened up for the '06, I would consider the 7x57. I like the 338/06; it's probably a better cartridge than my 35 Whelen, but the 35 is what I built and what I have
The only appropriate finish on a Mauser is bluing! It's OK to use a stainless barrel, but it really kind of clashes.
Your point regarding the bolt thrust of the WSM cartridges is right on. I would never chamber a Mauser for a WSM. I have seen Mausers opened up for some large cartridges, but these were low pressure rounds.
The old Browning stock is a decent American design and nice to use. It will work well. WH
A 1908 action from Oberndorff is a fine action. Just how the hardness compares to a 1908 from DWM, I cannot honestly say, but the DWM receivers are a little on the soft side. By the way, I seriously doubt that they have as much as forty points of carbon, beyond the case. The hard surface might run as high as eighty or better. The depth will vary. By the way, I have seen as many commercial FN's set back as any other. Usually, any action which set back had a reason for doing so and the reloading habits of the owner were usually front and center! It is common practice to have any receivers which are suspect re-treated.
Anyway, DWM's drill and tap easily. My 1935 Oberndorff was damn hard. Some of the VZ's were exceptionally hard as well. I use cobalt bits and HSS taps. I like to leave the clip charger hump and inlet the rear base into it. I just like the look of it.
For your rifle, I would be happy with a 30/06, but if the action has not had the mag lengthened, and the receiver been opened up for the '06, I would consider the 7x57. I like the 338/06; it's probably a better cartridge than my 35 Whelen, but the 35 is what I built and what I have
The only appropriate finish on a Mauser is bluing! It's OK to use a stainless barrel, but it really kind of clashes.
Your point regarding the bolt thrust of the WSM cartridges is right on. I would never chamber a Mauser for a WSM. I have seen Mausers opened up for some large cartridges, but these were low pressure rounds.
The old Browning stock is a decent American design and nice to use. It will work well. WH
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
loL, I don’t even hunt. I have several customs I have built that are “hunting rifles”, a 30/06 and a 308. One built on a vintage Rem 721, the other a late model Rem 700.
Why did I build them? My best answer is……..”because”.
This is going to work out great. The seller just happens to live in Falls City Texas. I will be in Corpus Christi Monday through Wednesday setting up a crew to align bore the Struts and Stern Tubes on a new boat. That is only a little over two hours from Falls City, so we have arranged to meet and do the deal.
shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
I quizzed the engineers at 2 heat treat plants that do black nitride treating, and both said that process (nitriding) is not suitable for case hardened, low carbon steel. Black nitride is only for alloy through hardening carbon steels, and some S.S.
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shortgrass
Silver $$ Contributor
That Browning FN stock will be inletted for commercial bottom metal. Military might not fill the 'hole' and leave substantial gaps.
Jackie, I'll lean ya toward a .270 Win.; 257 Roberts, or AI version; 7x57, or, AI version. Per Al Nyhus (post #14), I chambered a pair of 35 Whelen barrels for my Pal, Tom, which have exceeded our expectations. The better of the pair, on an older & trued 700 Rem., featuring a Wilson #4 contour barrel is a real 1/2 MOA rifle!
We had it out to THE RANCH last fall and Tom collected dope from a 200 Yd. zero, out to 500Yd., @ 50 Yd. increments (used IBS 600 Yd targets) - it delivered 1/2 MOA (4-shot groups) all the way. We were both surprised. That said, Tom will likely never even shoot over about 300. It was an interesting and fun project.
Still, I'm going to re-barrel my old Mauser (my first center-fire rifle, which my Dad gave me just prior to my 16th birthday), to 7x57 Ackley Imp. That rifle was a model "1935 Peruvian Mauser, Fabric National" - I believe in Belgium - and was originally a 30/06. At age 26, I had it barreled by Shilen, with a Hunter taper "select match" in .270 Win. That rifle, has always been a "shooter" - collected a lot of coyotes and mule deer, but finally, burned it out. The "classic" cartridges are just THAT - great performers all. RG
We had it out to THE RANCH last fall and Tom collected dope from a 200 Yd. zero, out to 500Yd., @ 50 Yd. increments (used IBS 600 Yd targets) - it delivered 1/2 MOA (4-shot groups) all the way. We were both surprised. That said, Tom will likely never even shoot over about 300. It was an interesting and fun project.
Still, I'm going to re-barrel my old Mauser (my first center-fire rifle, which my Dad gave me just prior to my 16th birthday), to 7x57 Ackley Imp. That rifle was a model "1935 Peruvian Mauser, Fabric National" - I believe in Belgium - and was originally a 30/06. At age 26, I had it barreled by Shilen, with a Hunter taper "select match" in .270 Win. That rifle, has always been a "shooter" - collected a lot of coyotes and mule deer, but finally, burned it out. The "classic" cartridges are just THAT - great performers all. RG
I built my 35 Whelen in 1986. Mostly because I had built one for a customer, really liked it, and decided to duplicate it for myself. I like the 35 Whelen for two reasons; it's a classic, and I can load light loads with 357 pistol bullets. A load with 8 grains of 700X, a square of toilet paper, and a 158 Speer, produces about 1200 fps and shoots half inch groups at 50 yds. This is the one advantage to the 35. WH
I’ve had it done
Always pleased with the results , especially the corrosion protection
Mausers weren’t that case hardened anyway
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
are the action screws in the same location? I would imagine the one under the recoil lug would be.
I’ll see how it all fits when I get the action.
with the 284, you kind of run into the same problem as with the WSM, that being, the larger case diameter induces more bolt thrust than the original .473 case at the same pressure.
I know shooters do it, and it might be just fine. But keeping the thought of 50,000 psi and below with the .473, you might be only able to shoot loads from a 284 diameter case at 45,000 To come up with the same bolt thrust.
I’m just thinking out loud, trying to look at it from a logical view considering the limitations that these vintage actions possess.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Jackie:
Knowing what you do for a living AND your abilities, be REAL interesting to see what you come up with.
Knowing what you do for a living AND your abilities, be REAL interesting to see what you come up with.
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