Mauser .243 Rebarrel

.22guy · 10-07-2006, 07:52 PM

Hey all,
I'm considering getting a M24/47, with non-matching numbers and rebarreling it to .243. Also maybe adding a scope, new stock (sythetic?) and a bipod. I want to try to make it a good varmint rifle, on the cheap. Plus it will be a really fun project.

Has anyone done this, or any Mauser rebarrel? What should I know before I undertake such a project? My friend was telling me I would have to ream the bolt. How hard is that? Any advice/words of wisdom are appreciated. Thanks,

Russ

Big Dog · 10-08-2006, 09:12 AM

This should be a fairly easy project. I would suggest ordering the Brownell's catalog. They have all you will need. A new barrel in .243 is available, and any good gunsmith can install it. Stocks, hardware - all is there.
"Turn the bolt" . . . shouldn't be necessary - the case head diameter of the 8mm Mauser is the same as .243 (and .308/.30-06). All the gunny will need to do is a proper head-spacing and finish reaming of the chamber. You may want to put a spacer in the magazine box - this was done by the Spanish when they converted their M43 Mausers to the FR8 using .308Win. The .308 works fine with the Mauser bolt, and the .243 is simply a necked-down .308.

Be nice to see the final product, if you do build it!

.22guy · 10-08-2006, 04:51 PM

OK, that doesn't sound too bad. Earlier today, my buddy told me he knows of someone that would do the barrel, headspaced, reamed and everything for 165. I guess I want to do it, but I'm a little worried I'll mess it up and end up blowing my head off or something.....

What do you think would be a better caliber for ground squirrels and the occasional rabbit, .243 or .22-250?

Big Dog · 10-08-2006, 05:07 PM

I would favor the .22-250 for small varmints, but that's largely personal bias. I used to have a nice Ruger M77 in .22-250, that was a laser.

Nowadays, I would go with the .243, as it makes a good deer rifle too. Better 'bang for the buck'. If that $165 includes the price of the barrel, it's a good deal.

.22guy · 10-08-2006, 11:05 PM

OK, I think I might go with .22-250. I doubt I'll be taking any deer with it. Maybe I'll do both!

What would be a good scope setup?

Anyone besides Big Dog know anything about this?

MountaineerWVa · 10-09-2006, 09:23 AM

I would also go with the 243,The 22-250 is over kill for squirrel anyways.The 243s are great for varmits and whitetail.
As far as a good value in a sporting scope I like the Bushnell sportsman.They have multicoated lenses not just fully coated like a lot of other low priced scopes.I've had 3-9x40 on my 270 for several years and I love it.I paid around 50 or 60 dollars for it and it's as good a hunting scope as any of my more expensive ones .Sad thing is I think their made in China.

lefty o · 10-09-2006, 11:12 AM

i'm currently building a k98 in 22-250. my advice is, save your money and buy a factory built rifle. figure the cost of the donor mauser, new barrel, decent trigger, new stock, bending the bolt handle, cost of labor(if you do it yourself, cost of tools). cheaper to buy brand new.

MountaineerWVa · 10-09-2006, 04:06 PM

Lefty is right,If your goal is just owning a good 22-250 you would be better off buying a savage or even a single shot New England..A lot of folks have the blocks & jigs for reforging the bolt and can drill and tap one theirselfs,But buying a stock, a barrel,and having it installed & properly head spaced is the killer..But if it's your hobby,or you just love Mausers then Go for it!! ....Good Luck

.22guy · 10-09-2006, 04:14 PM

That's a good point guys. Maybe I will just go with a Savage or New England. How about Rossi? They make singles in .223, 243 and I believe .22-250. My dealer can get them below cost.

Hijacking my own thread here.

10-07-2006, 07:52 PM	#1
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,158	Mauser .243 Rebarrel Hey all, I'm considering getting a M24/47, with non-matching numbers and rebarreling it to .243. Also maybe adding a scope, new stock (sythetic?) and a bipod. I want to try to make it a good varmint rifle, on the cheap. Plus it will be a really fun project. Has anyone done this, or any Mauser rebarrel? What should I know before I undertake such a project? My friend was telling me I would have to ream the bolt. How hard is that? Any advice/words of wisdom are appreciated. Thanks, Russ __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

10-08-2006, 09:12 AM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	This should be a fairly easy project. I would suggest ordering the Brownell's catalog. They have all you will need. A new barrel in .243 is available, and any good gunsmith can install it. Stocks, hardware - all is there. "Turn the bolt" . . . shouldn't be necessary - the case head diameter of the 8mm Mauser is the same as .243 (and .308/.30-06). All the gunny will need to do is a proper head-spacing and finish reaming of the chamber. You may want to put a spacer in the magazine box - this was done by the Spanish when they converted their M43 Mausers to the FR8 using .308Win. The .308 works fine with the Mauser bolt, and the .243 is simply a necked-down .308. Be nice to see the final product, if you do build it! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

10-08-2006, 04:51 PM	#3
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,158	OK, that doesn't sound too bad. Earlier today, my buddy told me he knows of someone that would do the barrel, headspaced, reamed and everything for 165. I guess I want to do it, but I'm a little worried I'll mess it up and end up blowing my head off or something..... What do you think would be a better caliber for ground squirrels and the occasional rabbit, .243 or .22-250? __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

10-08-2006, 05:07 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	I would favor the .22-250 for small varmints, but that's largely personal bias. I used to have a nice Ruger M77 in .22-250, that was a laser. Nowadays, I would go with the .243, as it makes a good deer rifle too. Better 'bang for the buck'. If that $165 includes the price of the barrel, it's a good deal. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

10-08-2006, 11:05 PM	#5
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,158	OK, I think I might go with .22-250. I doubt I'll be taking any deer with it. Maybe I'll do both! What would be a good scope setup? Anyone besides Big Dog know anything about this? __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

10-09-2006, 09:23 AM	#6
MountaineerWVa Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson County, W.Va. Posts: 88 Images: 3	I would also go with the 243,The 22-250 is over kill for squirrel anyways.The 243s are great for varmits and whitetail. As far as a good value in a sporting scope I like the Bushnell sportsman.They have multicoated lenses not just fully coated like a lot of other low priced scopes.I've had 3-9x40 on my 270 for several years and I love it.I paid around 50 or 60 dollars for it and it's as good a hunting scope as any of my more expensive ones .Sad thing is I think their made in China.

10-09-2006, 11:12 AM	#7
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,807	i'm currently building a k98 in 22-250. my advice is, save your money and buy a factory built rifle. figure the cost of the donor mauser, new barrel, decent trigger, new stock, bending the bolt handle, cost of labor(if you do it yourself, cost of tools). cheaper to buy brand new.

10-09-2006, 04:06 PM	#8
MountaineerWVa Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jackson County, W.Va. Posts: 88 Images: 3	Lefty is right,If your goal is just owning a good 22-250 you would be better off buying a savage or even a single shot New England..A lot of folks have the blocks & jigs for reforging the bolt and can drill and tap one theirselfs,But buying a stock, a barrel,and having it installed & properly head spaced is the killer..But if it's your hobby,or you just love Mausers then Go for it!! ....Good Luck

10-09-2006, 04:14 PM	#9
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,158	That's a good point guys. Maybe I will just go with a Savage or New England. How about Rossi? They make singles in .223, 243 and I believe .22-250. My dealer can get them below cost. Hijacking my own thread here. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy