So I'm building a custom Mauser...

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blue_ridge

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I've got a G33/40 action, a decent trigger, bottom metal and safety. I intend to buy a barrel blank and find a decent smith to:

thread and chamber the barrel
install new bolt handle
true the action, bolt face, threads etc.

I will buy a stock blank of decent walnut and inlet it myself (for the first time), install the barrel and head-space, glass bed the action, blue the barrel and action


I'm trying to decide on the best combination of weight, balance, chambering etc. for what will hopefully be my pride and joy, all around hunting rifle. I have plenty of rifles, so it's not that this has to be my "do everything" rifle. But I want to build a classic rifle that is a joy to carry and to shoot, is accurate, capable for deer, wild boar, maybe some varmints.

I've narrowed it down to:

#2 or #3 contour barrel (.600-.630 dia. muzzle)

6.5x55, 7x57, 257 Roberts, 280

20", 22" or 24" barrel

On the one hand, 257 Roberts would be fine for deer, great for varmints, less recoil and fit the whole idea of a light/quick pointing rifle.

On the other hand, if I went with a 7x57 or 280, I could also inlcude the possibility of an elk hunt to the list, would be exceptional for deer/hogs etc.
6.5x55 might be the best of all worlds.

I'm down to splitting personal hairs here. I'm leaning towards a light, quick pointing 20-22" rifle which really lends itself to the lighter weight G33/40.

But I could go for more of a true big game rifle, with 24" medium weight sporter barrel and classic lines in 7x57 or 280? Or more of a walking varminter in 257 Roberts or 6.5x55? Fun to think about anyway.

What's your classic, custom Mauser configuration?
 
blue_ridge said:
I've got a G33/40 action, a decent trigger, bottom metal and safety. I intend to buy a barrel blank and find a decent smith to:

thread and chamber the barrel
install new bolt handle
true the action, bolt face, threads etc.

I will buy a stock blank of decent walnut and inlet it myself (for the first time), install the barrel and head-space, glass bed the action, blue the barrel and action


I'm trying to decide on the best combination of weight, balance, chambering etc. for what will hopefully be my pride and joy, all around hunting rifle. I have plenty of rifles, so it's not that this has to be my "do everything" rifle. But I want to build a classic rifle that is a joy to carry and to shoot, is accurate, capable for deer, wild boar, maybe some varmints.

I've narrowed it down to:

#2 or #3 contour barrel (.600-.630 dia. muzzle)

6.5x55, 7x57, 257 Roberts, 280

20", 22" or 24" barrel

On the one hand, 257 Roberts would be fine for deer, great for varmints, less recoil and fit the whole idea of a light/quick pointing rifle.

On the other hand, if I went with a 7x57 or 280, I could also inlcude the possibility of an elk hunt to the list, would be exceptional for deer/hogs etc.
6.5x55 might be the best of all worlds.

I'm down to splitting personal hairs here. I'm leaning towards a light, quick pointing 20-22" rifle which really lends itself to the lighter weight G33/40.

But I could go for more of a true big game rifle, with 24" medium weight sporter barrel and classic lines in 7x57 or 280? Or more of a walking varminter in 257 Roberts or 6.5x55? Fun to think about anyway.

What's your classic, custom Mauser configuration?
Click to expand...
I vote 6.5x55 for caliber.
 
I would also vote 6.5 X 55. My brother-in-law used a Mauser for a NRA bolt action rifle course we took years ago. He built one nice and very accurate rifle. If you plan to have a smith thread and chamber the barrel that should leave the smith also installing the barrel as the finish reaming will need done to get the head space.

Ron
 
I just happen to be building a similar combination, so I thought I'd drop a note to let you know there are others with similar mindsets.
Actually I'm putting together one rifle, and modifying another. My Sillouette rifle is a Nazi rifle with a 26" 7.62x57 barrel on it that I'm replacing with a 6.5x57 Improved tube. There's not a LOT of difference between this and the 6.5x55, but I prefer the Improved chamber to (hopefully) improve the throat-life while using the gun as a target rifle. My barrel is a 26" for the balance I get when I shoot the 10-shot strings and my muzzle diameter is .660". I'd recommend a slightly smaller (about .575") tube of about 22". It seems to me to be easier to carry and swing.
The scope on MY rifle is a 20X, but I'm partial to a smaller scope on my hunting rifle, so I think a fixed 4X, or maybe a 2x-7x variable should suffice. You can see well enough through either to shoot as far as you need, to beyond 300yds.
There in nothing wrong with a 7x57 Mauser, and up 'til the last minute, was a possibility on my new hunting rifle. That rifle is an FN with a 24" (.550" muzzle) .270 barrel with a 4X on top. I sure like those M98s.
Maybe I'll bump into you out in the field.
Have fun,
Gene
 
You have selected some nice calibers for your custom Mauser. I have several and really enjoy them. If I had to make a choice I would go one of two different ways.

If you don't reload, go for the 257 Roberts. With the right bullet and proper shot placement it will take elk at moderate ranges.

If you reload, then the 7x57 would be my choice due to it versatility. However the 6.5x55 Swede is right on its heels. You won't go wrong with either.

While you are at it I would go for the 22 inch barrel and if you are concerned about velocity and aren't hindered by the extra length, go for the 24 inch. You can always have it shortened.

Unless you are set up to install and headspace your Mauser, I would pay the gunsmith to do it. The Mauser has two points of contact, one on the barrell shoulder and the other on the inner C ring where the face of the chamber bumps up to it. You will pay more for the tools than it would cost to pay someone else to install and properly headspace.

Check out the forums on www.mausercentral.com for more info.

Good luck and don't forget the safety upgrade. Go for either the 3-position or if cost is an issue, try the 2-position side swing.
 
These 'mauser' projects are a waste of money to me.

They result it a plain rifle with no checkering, ordinary wood, amateur fitting.

Usually the safety is only a trigger safety.

I have a few mausers and don't want another.

pix655331540.gif

$1,850.00
 
I had a similar rifle built in 7x57 (actually .275 Rigby) with a 24" sporter contour barrel and have never felt like it was too long. Mine is on a VZ24 action, Douglas barrel, and I put it in a composite stock.

275_Rigby.jpg

I've been very happy with it, so that's what I recommend.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I will probably take the advice to have a good smith install and headspace.

I'm intrigued by Nevmarick's suggestion for a 22" tube at about 0.575 dia. That sounds like a fairly whippy featherweight barrel. Wonder if it might potentially be a finicky barrel. I might check a gun show for an example of something similar just so I could hold one and see how it feels.
 
.284 bullets

I'm partial to the 7mm bullets, great ballistic coefficient and a wide variety of bullets: from 120 grns to 170 grns - the light to mid weights favor the 7x57 mauser(in my opinion)due to powder capacity, and midweight to heavys in the .280 Rem. I own both; 1-.280 Rem and 2-7mm mausers(vintage Spanish mausers)
Both are capable from coyotes to elk & black bear. To truly achieve the versatility and potential of these two rounds you need to reload. As well as the .257 Rob or the 6.5x55 Swede; if I was not interested in elk or bear I would not feel under gunned with either of those two.
 
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You have good taste. Both 7x57 and 6.5x55 would be excellent. I am biased as. 6.5x55 fan who believes that the 140 gr interlocked bullets will serve for black bear and elk but I also like the old fashioned 160 gr RaN although it is a shorter range bullet. I never hunted moose in Sweden, only deer, but the Swedes take Moose (called aelg) with the 6.5x55 although they are smaller than NA moose. Anyway, both great choices.
 
I do reload, and will tailor loads for this rifle.

I'm leaning towards 6.5x55 for it's versatility, great bullet selection, light recoil etc. Might even consider the Ackley improved version.
 
I love my Mauser sporters!

A couple of my custom 30.06s built on FN Mauser actions. Top is a Colombian Model 50 using a Husqvarna barrel made in Sweden. Bottom is also a Colombian Model 50 but uses the factore step barrel. Both have Boyd's Bold Optima triggers set @2lbs. I built both from surplus and did all of the work from barrel instalation and headspacing to bluing to stock finishing.
 
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My bud in Florida is finishing up his 98 Mauser as we speak.(text?)He got the action from me last deer season and is almost ready to take it to the range.He built it in the 6.5X55 Ackley.He has been posting his progress,and screwups on AR 15.com.He used a Shilen short chambered barrel,an old Fajen walnut stock I bought years ago,and is doing his own bluing,tapering,and chamber finishing.It's looking pretty good and might be worth a look.I'd post a link if I knew how.
 
Your 33/40 action is prized especially for it's light weight: semms that weighing it down with a heavy barrel seems an awful waste. If you want a varmint rifle or a range shooter, you're better off using a common 98,not a scarce lightweight.
IMHO
 
Ed, I agree. That's why I intend to put a lightweight barrel on it. The heaviest I'm considering is a #3 contour with about a 0.630 muzzle. But I'm looking for good balance too. So far, of the rifles I've held and shouldered, the ones that seem light and well balanced are somewhere between 22-24" with muzzles around 0.600".

But I'm open to any advice about this type of rifle and how it might be best balanced. Right now i do plan on scoping the rifle but am worried about the extra weight and how it might affect balance.
 
i would go with around a 20-22" barrel no larger than .600" at the muzzel in 7mm mauser or 6.5x55.
what bottom metal are you using?
on the scope a fixed leupold 4 or 6X is just about right
 
Right now I've got a box and floor plate of unknown origins (no spring or follower). I need to settle on that stuff before I start shaping and inletting my stock.
 
i think a 33/40 action deserves some really nice bottom metal such as wiebe, blackburn or at the least argie 1909 with a straddle floorplate if you don't want to drop $400+ for top of the line BM.
also what style stock are you planning on using?
 
I've got some decent bottom metal, which has the push button at the rear of floor plate. I'm considering splurging on Blackburn's aluminum for the trigger guard/floor plate release and less weight.

I will shape and inlet my own stock out of a blank. Looking at Bastogne and Claro walnut.

Also leaning towards a Krieger Chrome Moly barrel in #2 contour.
 
unless they started offering aluminum since swift took over blackburn i think its only available in steel. their small bow oberndorf looks good on light weight builds.
ptg's aluminum mauser bottom metal should be available in another month or two and should come in under $150
 
those are ok, i bought one a couple years ago and fit of the floorplate to the triggerguard was a little to sloppy for my taste. i had to redrill the pivot hinge and install a slightly larger pin to tighten it up. i still wasn't happy with the overall qualty of the part and ended up selling it on ebay for about the same as i paid.
i think i's wait to see how the ptg guards look before settling on one of the p.a.w.s. guards, the ptg guards will be sold through midway.
 
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