1909 Argentine Mauser -- Action Length vs Cartridge Length

[cooltouch]

I have a couple of 1909 Argentine actions that were built by DWM Berlin, based on the large-ring 98 design. I'm planning to build a pair of custom rifles on these actions and I've been debating what cartridge I should chamber each in. I'm close to finalizing my plans, which actually won't impact action length, but I've become curious about this subject, knowing what I do about the 1909's action length and at least one popular cartridge selection -- 30-06.

The 1909 action's length, as well as the length of the magazine, is almost exactly 3 inches. The 1909 was originally chambered in 7.65mm x 53 Argentine, which is also almost exactly 3 inches in length (76mm, or 2.99 inches). And the reason why I'm posting this note is because the 30-06 is about 3.34 inches in length. So what I'm wondering is, how does a 30-06 cartridge fit in a 3 inch long magazine well? Did the gunsmith somehow lengthen the action, magazine, and bolt to accept the longer cartridge length? Neglecting tempering issues, it seems extremely doubtful to me.

Me, I'd say it can't be done, but in my recent browsings I've come across several custom rifles based on 1909 action that were chambered in 30-06 and even one crazy loading in .458 Winchester. So, I gotta ask, how did the 'smiths do it?

 

[troy fairweather]

A factory 3006 will fit in the mag, any long then you lengthen the bottom metal and cut back the ramp. If I had two I'd build a 7x57 and a 9.3x62.

 

[Clemson]

Unaltered, a magazine I just measured is 3.31 inches. I lengthened the box to 3.346 with minor machining (putting a 270 Winchester on this one). If I need to make one longer, I weld in a new front wall and mill the old one out. I don't like to make the magazine longer than 3.4 inches, but that is long enough for many cartridges including those you mentioned.

 

[Jim Watson]

I remember the gunzines from when it was stylish to build a .280 Rem sporter on the 1909 action with its commercial style floor plate latch. The logic was that it did not require bolt face or magazine work, so more of your money and the gunsmith's time could go into making it look nice. And they were overloading the .280 to where they could say it was just as good as 7mm RM with bullets up to 150 grains. Even though that took forming cases out of WW .270 which were harder than RP brass.