Mauser 98 in 22-250, would a 243 work with this action?

[TheCZKid]

I've got a sporterized Mauser Mod 98, which was is currently chambered with a 22-250 barrel. I have a Howa 22-250 which I normally shoot, and it shoots more accurately than this Mauser.
I was considering re-barreling it for 243, because I've always wanted to own a 243, and have about 330 pieces of brass and a set of dies... The bolt should work for 243 case, the action I assume would accommodate the 243 cartridge length.
I just don't know much about Mauser actions, other than what I've been able to scrounge from Google searches. From what I can tell, the action is a large ring, standard action. It's in nice walnut stock with cheek comb. The current barrel appears to be a Douglas 23.5" with taper ending diameter about .62" The stock was glass bedded from the action all the way to the end of the stock... so it would be a bit of work to remove all that epoxy, but might be worth it.

If someone is good at telling me more about the factory and year. It's got the Waffenamt “280” marking, etc.

I'm wanting to get some input about this. The stock is really a hunting stock with a slim foregrip stock, so I'd likely use the rifle for hunting and varmint shooting. I'd like it to be an accurate rifle in the end (.5 moa or better), I just can't see going through the fuss and have it be just okay.

It's numbers matching, and the bolt was jeweled, the finish on the action is super nice. Nazi markings, think it was made 1939. Nice rifle, but I need a new toy to play with.

 

[Riesel]

You should be able to get this to feed and fire .243 Cartridges. It appears you will be reloading so I would keep and eye on pressure so as not to push this old action too far.
Nice rifle with nice markings, probably a bring back.

 

[STOMP442]

That's a sweet rifle and would make an excellent .243. I would spend the time and clean up the stock and bedding the way it needs to be and throw a Shilen #3 8 twist barrel on it. Those old Mausers can make excellent little rifles.

 

[Bill K]

It should handle either a 243 or 6mm CM, easy. Check with your local gunsmith or talk with Pacnor in Oregon.

 

[tobnpr]

The .308 based-case feeds well from the 98 action, and being pre-war metallurgy should be OK.
As mentioned, there's inspection needed when the barrel is pulled to check for excessive setback of the lug abutments. These receivers are case-hardened, not through-hardened like modern receivers. If the case hardening is worn through, setback occurs rapidly.

 

[TheCZKid]

That's a sweet rifle and would make an excellent .243. I would spend the time and clean up the stock and bedding the way it needs to be and throw a Shilen #3 8 twist barrel on it. Those old Mausers can make excellent little rifles.

Appreciate all the input. I'll have to take it to my local gunsmith and see what he recommends. Right now it sits in my gun safe and it seems a shame. I've only built AR's and am not experienced with bolt guns, and less so with older Mauser actions.

 

[Ggmac]

If it shot factory 22-250 with no extraction problems and bolt opening was easy , go for it . German factory ammo was high pressure stuff and many of these were made into magnums after the war . Ive got some , shot one at 1000 yds in Pa .
Beautiful 60s mauser . Have you had it out of the stock ? It looks like a build from Flaigs gunshop . They used alot of Douglas barrels .

 

[TheCZKid]

If it shot factory 22-250 with no extraction problems and bolt opening was easy , go for it . German factory ammo was high pressure stuff and many of these were made into magnums after the war . Ive got some , shot one at 1000 yds in Pa .
Beautiful 60s mauser . Have you had it out of the stock ? It looks like a build from Flaigs gunshop . They used alot of Douglas barrels .

The bolt opens fine with the 22-250. I don't recall if I've had it out of the stock... I also forgot to record or photograph the markings on the top front part of the action, when I changed out the scope mount base. A friend gave me the gun before he passed away, and I've just left it as it, partly out of respect and his memory. But if it just sits in the safe, that doesn't make sense now either.

From the tag he had on the rifle it says it was built by Ed Brary, not sure if that's correct. I couldn't find anything in Google searches about him. And I think it's a Douglas barrel, but it's got no markings on it. I figured the bedding going all the way down the barrel indicates it was done a pretty long time ago. Don't know when that was the popular method.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have had several Mausers (some in Parker Hale guise) in various calibres over the years. 243 would not be an issue - I had a 243 Ackley for a while (sold it) It will feed OK. - the AI was a bit tricky, but I solved the issue of the straighter case ducking at the front of the mag with a "space -filler" which supported the shoulder. Stick to a 10 twist decent barrel (Douglas, Pac-Nora, Criterion?) and 100g pills in a lightweight gun and improve the trigger with a Timney. At one time, I had a single shot P14 with a Howa barrel screwed on in 243 which shot quite well...but that's another story involving wrong powder in reloads...