Re: a Mauser action and new build?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with building a lights out Mauser. I have had several, and all of them shot lights out.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Good Stock?</span>
McMillian builds stocks with a Mauser inlet.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Good Trigger?</span>
Timney makes an excellent trigger.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Lock Time issues?</span>
As stated above, not that .0002 seconds effects the average shooter. If your shooting at anything other than movers, which, in a hunting situation is far more frequent that in a range gun, if you have good follow through after the trigger pull is a non issue. This can be taken care of with the Tubb kit, as stated above.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">What about that ugly bolt knob (military mausers)</span>
Dakota Bolt know, among dozens of others, or get a jig and heat sink, and bend it yourself.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Bases? How about a 20MOA base?</span>
Several manufactures make them, including EGW, or you can get a blank if it is already tapped to something else, there really was not any standard for 1 peice rings, but you can drill a blank base to fit what ever bolt pattern you have.
<span style="text-decoration: line-through">Trueing up a Mauser Receiver?</span>
I would say that most Mauser Actions, that are from the pre WWII eara are true work of arts. Back in the day, there were no CNC machines, and lathes to hold .0002 accuracy. These actions were all built by hand, fitted by hand, and were done absolutely correct. Compared to modern assembly line actions, it is my opinion, that craftsmanship smokes the new stuff. This is evident if you have ever looked at timing on new Remington actions/Savage actions the list goes on and on. Actions just are not built this way anymore.
People will question this statement, but look at watches for instance. Some of the greatest craftsmen of all time, and time pieces that they created were magnificent works of art, far before the advent of CNC or other modern equipment. They were all built and fitted and timed by hand by people who handed this knowledge down from father to son. This wasnt just a persons 9-5 back then, it was their craft.
Mausers did get sloppy around WWII when the Germans demanded rush to turn out sticks that when boom with the sole purpose of sending rounds down range. With a little Mauser research, you can determine when these are, generally post 1941 German Mausers and Yugoslovian Mausers of the same time frame. However, any gunsmith that can true a Remington 700 can preform the same tasks on a Mauser, from which Remington borrowed the core design.
The major weakness with old Mausers is the steel from which they were built. Not all Mausers used weak steel, but it is highly reccomended to not build high pressure rounds on them. Research can show what is recommended for mauser builds.
Then we come to the Swedish small ring Mauser. The finest Mausers ever built....PERIOD. Sweden was a neutral country, and never massed produced anything because they needed it or they were going to get their balls handed to them. These folks used the highest quality steel, the best and most talented people, and took immense pride in the rifles their country used to defend themselves. Each on is a master piece, I own several currently, and have had dozens over the years, all shot less than MOA with open sights. I never had the heart to dill and tap one for a scope. Sweden knew what they were doing too, chambering the 6.5x55 in 1896, with a 1/8 twist barrel, they were squared away. I can not tell you how many times I have went into a Gander MT. or the like stores looking for 6.5 bullets, way before the modern 6.5 craze, and being told "We don't carry that foreign stuff", "You should get yourself a good 7MM". I laugh my ass off, then say a prayer for them. 6.5x55 SWEDE is making a huge come back, because the people who know, use it, and shock the hell out of the people who think they know.
I currently have a .243 with a Shillen barrel, this gun was built for the sole purpose of busting wood chucks on the farm, because I happen to get a killer deal on a Pre WWII Brno, and had a Shillen blank. I had a local smith True the action, which he said didn't need it, so he just lapped the lugs and squared the bolt face. I picked up a MCM A2 off the hide, and it is currently getting the inlet done up by 30calsniper. This gun shoots lights out, as good as my 6.5x47 Pierce or my .308 GAP. But it is not built for long range, because of the the slow 1/12 twist, but loves 75gr and 85gr Sierra Match Kings, and I would have no issues or concerns taking a deer out to 600 yards with it.
Bottom metal is the only issue that is not readily available. However, military bottom metal can be modified to run M1A1 mags, as you can find in the gun smithing section here.
A lot of the rhetoric about Mausers don't make good guns is bull shit from people who have read it from people who have posted it who don't know shit from shine and are content reposting garbage that they have read or hear with NO experience, like so much you read around forums these days.
Build your custom on a Mauser. Get a good barrel, have a smith do it who knows what he is doing, and you are not shorting yourself at all.
Get information from the source, not folks who "have heard". There are lots of good Mauser forums out there, and with a little research, you can find quality smiths who specialize in Mausers, and all the components you would need to be on par with any other rifle out there.
If the Mauser sucked so bad, every current modern bolt action rifle would not be based off it.
My .02 worth.
