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Which Mauser is the strongest / most desirable

Ive got it my head that I want to build a 9.3 x 62 and I want to build it on a Mauser action. I was curious as to which one to keep an eye out for. I've got Remington's and Shilen and BAT and various newer style actions but I want to build a nostalgic style old big game / Africa rifle. No plastic. All wood and steel. Thanks for any help
 
I built my hunting rifle (7X57) on a VZ-24 action. That is essentially a Mod. 98 action made in Brno and is supposedly the best of all the military M98 actions.
I cannot say this is absolute truth, but information I obtained by perusing the Mauser sites on line.
 
If I was going to build another Mauser action rifle it would be on the currently available Commercial action, such as CZ or a couple others. They are built using modern steel and are considerably stronger than the Military type actions.
However with that said, there is nothing wrong with using the older military actions. You just have to keep pressure down in the 55,000 psi area or lower.
I personally used a New condition 1909 Argentine military Mauser action to build my 280 AI on.
 
CZs are among the most highly regarded. You can't just say "K98" and assume you mean just one thing. There are a lot of quality variations in K98s, depending on exactly when they were made. For consistent high quality of manufacture, I might look hard at the '96 Swedes as they were never under the pressure to produce while being bombed. Although it doesn't have all the features of the K98, I'm still particularly fond of my Swede M1938. DeHaas has a lot to say on the subject of Mausers in Bolt Action Rifles. I think it's still a good read.
 
I have a German military 98 sporterized by an English firm some time in the 70s. I found it languishing on the discount rack of a gun store in SoCal. It has had several barrels on it - 2 30-06 where it had no problem taming factory and hand loaded rounds while burning out both barrels, and the current 9.3x62 (re-bored from one of the '06 barrels by Delta Gun Shop/Clearwater Boring). Again, no issue with at or near maximum loads there either. Stay with European 98 actions and you should be good. When in doubt ask a gunsmith to look it over. The 96 actions are smaller and NOT able to handle the modern pressures some were re-barreled to (the original Kimber company used to offer them in .308-class cartridges and my understanding was that it did not work out well).
Mitchell's Mausers may be able to help you. The concept of using CZ actions is a good one - keep it in mind.
 
I have a Single shot FN. Mauser I've had since 1970 it's a 7mm-300 Weatherby. I'm thinking with all the good bullet and powder I may give it a try! So if you can find one get it.

Joe Salt
 
Having any mil surp Mauser re-case hardened by a heat treating firm familiar with that sort of work is cheap when compared to the rest of the costs for a quality wood stocked build. I've used Blanchard Metal Processing in the past. There's another that'll do Mausers, but I can't recall the name of the company, at this moment.
 
I have two 9.3x62 Mausers

A Husqvarna using an FN commercial action, it was well used but I took it to South Africa on a plains game hunt. The lodge manager asked what rifle I brought ( darn Americans with fancy rifles) I told him a 9.3mm Mauser. He got a big smile saying "That is what I use." I was his instant friend.
It worked as well as the stories about it.

Second is a CZ, like new. Got it at the gunshow, the dealer said he had it at a bunch of shows and I was the first not to drop it like a hot potato when I saw the caliber.

The CZ magazine is considerably longer than the FN. I load TSX in it seated way out.

Mark
To answer question is thread subject, Brevex. It is the best , priced too high, impossible to find.
 
The post WW2 FN Herstal 98 actions are good. Some are epoxy painted which is hard to remove, but are a nice action to use on a custom rig. Their quality is as good as anything out there ex-military.
 
Looks nice, give us a better picture of the stock. The fitting looks fantastic.

Thanks Bigblueandgoldie. Dad let me start off using his rifle in 1983. 30 years later he passed away and I decided to freshen it up a bit. Richards microfit extra fancy walnut, bluing, jeweled the bolt and had his name engraved on th floor plate. Took me a month to fit the stock the way I wanted. Finished in procustom oil and polished out to 1500 grit then buffed with meguires 205. Checkered and back out to the woods for another 30 years!
Here are some pics (I hope)
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e, post: 36687378, member: 1296323"]Looks nice, give us a better picture of the stock. The fitting looks fantastic.



Thanks Bigblueandgoldie. Dad let me start off using his rifle in 1983. 30 years later he passed away and I decided to freshen it up a bit. Richards microfit extra fancy walnut, bluing, jeweled the bolt and had his name engraved on th floor plate. Took me a month to fit the stock the way I wanted. Finished in procustom oil and polished out to 1500 grit then buffed with meguires 205. Checkered and back out to the woods for another 30 years!
Here are some pics (I hope)
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View attachment 973260 View attachment 973261View attachment 973262
View attachment 973263 View attachment 973264 View attachment 973265[/QUOTE]
image.jpeg
image.jpeg

If you would like any help, suggestions or guidance at all with your project feel free to contact me. I'd be glad to help.
 
the commercial FN actions are good

+1 on commercial FN actions. Very well made, modern steel, no bolt handle work needed, factory drilled and tapped for scope bases (except the very earliest postwar ones), triggerguards don't have locking screw holes that you have to weld up and machine back down. Several manufacturers used their actions after WWII, plus actions only were sold here up until the late 70's, so a lot of them around.
 
I have to recant my earlier post about the Swedish Mausers. They are certainly not what I would pick for an elephant cartridge like a 9.3x62. It's just that whenever the subject of Mausers comes up I want to wax poetic on the virtues of my favorite turnbolt action.
 

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