Contemplating a new rifle

J

JackL

New member
... because there's always room for one more.

It's been at least a couple of years since I treated myself to a centerfire rifle, and now I want a light, handy bolt-action sporter. Of course there are plenty of those on the market. I'll probably have to go with a custom build, though, or at least some professionally done modifications, because as far as I know there are no factory rifles in current production that meet my criteria:

-- An M98 Mauser action, or a fairly close derivative thereof; say, perhaps, from a CZ, a Ruger M77, or a Remington 798 (in descending order of preference). Yes, I want a controlled round feed action, just because it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Within that category, I'm open to alternatives other than the ones listed here.

-- Did I mention light weight? It doesn't necessarily have to be Scout rifle light, but the closer, the better.

-- Stock material is somewhat negotiable, but I'd really prefer laminated wood regardless of how many "pukies" that might inspire. This in itself would probably prevent the rifle from technically meeting Scout specs. The desired chambering (see below) definitely would. In addition, I'm not sold on the Scout scope concept, although I haven't ruled it out entirely either.

-- Dark metal, as opposed to stainless. I've got some wiggle room on specific details of the finish, but for now let's assume blued by default.

-- Receiver--or aperture, or peep, or whatever you want to call 'em--sights are mandatory. Any conventionally mounted scope will be a good quality fixed-power model, probably 4x.

-- Here's what almost certainly rules out a factory rifle straight off the shelf: I want it in 7x57mm Mauser. Anyone inclined to call this fetishism is welcome to do so; the chambering is not negotiable. :D

Given the high average level of knowledge on this board, I'm very interested in suggestions from anyone who cares to offer them.

Thanks, folks!
 
I've had the chance to do some looking around now, and found an apparently decent place that sells a wide variety of commercial M98 actions. For what I want to do here, I've concluded that it makes the most sense to start with the bare action and spec everything else from as many sources as necessary (still going back and forth on laminated vs. synthetic for the stock).

Gotta say that Kimber 84L is totally droolworthy, and should work much better than their civilian-market pistols (Kimber made rifles first, IIRC). I'd seriously consider getting an 84-series in one of their offered chamberings and leaving it as-is ... one of these days. The same can be said for the Winchester M70 Featherweight, which I've actually played with in a gun store and found very appealing, and which has a reputation as a very nice field rifle.

The CZ 550 Series, including the Express, are among the best factory rifles available, but the Express is way too big 'n' beefy for what I have in mind on this build (think something closer to "Scout rifle" dimensions, but without the forward-mounted scope). On the other hand, if I were going for something like a .375 H&H, CZ would be the first--and most likely the only--place I'd look. Their 550 full-stock model is awfully tempting in the smallbore (i.e., .30 and below) range.

OK, time to start firing off phone calls and emails. Hopefully I'll have some results to post in a few months.
 
Have fun with your build, don't forget to post pics, as you go or when it is complete. I also have been looking at the Winchester M70, defiantly on the short list of firearms I need.
Paul
 
I want it in 7x57mm Mauser. Anyone inclined to call this fetishism is welcome to do so; the chambering is not negotiable.
Click to expand...

Feet - Floor 1
Latex and Leather - Floor 2
Perfect Cartridges - Floor 3

BTW: :barf: on the laminated stock; heavy. You are building a classic stalking rifle. Put some pretty walnut on there. Hog out butt stock material and fill with epoxy and styro beads if you really want to keep the weight down.

What barrel length are you contemplating?
 
fisherman66, as it happens, I haven't ruled out traditional wood. It certainly is the most visually attractive alternative! There's a lot of talk about its susceptibility to shifting zero in response to changes in temperature and humidity, but I can't help suspecting that the tendency is overstated. At any rate, I haven't seen too much of it in my other wood-stocked rifles. Furthermore, if I go from Florida to Idaho for a hunt, I'll be re-checking the zero before taking the rifle into the field anyway.

Walnut is pretty, and I like myrtle in a blond wood. My .38-55 falling block has a myrtle stock on it; my CZ-527 is in maple. Hmmm. Maybe my BLR needs some walnut-stocked company. :)

I'm looking at a 20 to 22 inch barrel; somewhat short, but not pathologically so.

If I wind up doing a more Scout-like Mauser build, it'll be in 8x57, with a synthetic stock, and probably based on a military action--complete with stripper clip guide.

Can you tell I like the Mauser chamberings? I sold a beautiful Parker-Hale 7x57 years ago, and have been kicking myself ever since.
 
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My 20" 7x57 does not have an obnoxious bark. I do not like the 16" tube that Ruger put on some of their compact rifles. Well sealed walnut (or myrle, maple, mesquite, ect) should have very little shift in POI even moving from extreme humidity and temp.
 
Since you want the Mauser type action and want the rifle chambered in 7x57, Why not go right to the source. FN Mauser is still in business and they make some very beautiful rifles. Go to the Mauser site and check them out.
 
As far as I can tell from the Mauser website, they're not even building their newest model, the 03, in 7x57mm. 6.5x55, yeah, and even a 6.5x57 (huh? why?). Kinda sad in a way, but the market decides. Reckon I'm part of the market for custom and semi-custom builders ... But then I get to say "This one is mine, and there aren't many like it." :)

Oddly, if Mauser even have a list of calibers for the current production 98, that information seems cleverly concealed; furthermore, it seems a bit of a shame to buy a genuinely nice factory rifle like that and immediately start hacking it up to my specs.

If the current FNH USA website is representative of what they're offering under their own name these days, then more power to 'em but it's not for me. I will say that one of my good friends traded in an absolute pig of a SOCOM 16 for a FN PBR in .308, a superb rifle which he justifiably loves. It's just not what I'm looking for; I much prefer FN's Winchester M70.

I do appreciate the food for thought, though. Many thanks, folks!
 
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For a light sporter, nobody can beat my early-model Remington Model 7 in .260 with the 18.5" bbl. New models are just as light but carry a 20" bbl.
 
For your light sporter. :)

I've got nothing actually bad to say about the Model 7. Heck, for my purposes it comes closer than anything else Remington makes. In fact, if it came in a "Standard"-length CRF action, they'd have my undivided attention.

I'm not about to get into the interminable push-feed vs. CRF catfight that's probably been going on since 1898 at the latest. Both work; neither one is evil. I just prefer the latter strongly enough that it's a core criterion for my next rifle.

By the way, fisherman66, what do you have in 7x57mm? I'm really curious.
 
Jack, I have the Ruger #1 RSI. She is the bee's knees (but does not really meet your criteria for this rifle). Under a yard long and heavy enough for me to steady when slightly winded; it's great for sneak/still hunting or lazy stand hunting.

An intermediate length Mauser would be my donor for your project. Didn't Husky do a commercial one? How about birdseye Maple with a dark permanginate finish? We really have to stop meeting this way. I don't need or want another rifle. At least I didn't until I started posting on this thread.
 
Hey, that RSI is a neat little rifle! The only custom piece I've got (so far) is a Fenris Wolf I-series falling block, the action of which is sort of a cross between a High Wall and the old Stevens 4 1/2. I think Bill Ruger started the falling block renaissance pretty much single-handed when he gambled that there was a place in the market for a modern Farquharson/Fraser-ish type.

Tell ya what else: If Ruger would bring back the No. 3 I'd be all over one. Just not in .45-70; maybe in .303 British or ... ooh, 7.62x54R. Not to mention 7x57 ...

Anyway, yes, I believe Husky made quite a few intermediate-length Mauser actions. I've got a few friendly Merchants o' Death(TM) keeping an eye peeled for potential donor rifles for this project. If all else fails, I'm not above collecting pieces wherever I can find 'em.
 
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I don't dislike the #3, but I can't believe what collectors pay to own one. A 44mag would be a nifty little pig poker/walk-about-er.

NECG has some of the hardware to finish your project, including a peep built into bases.
 
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