i am thinking about building a custom mauser on a budget of about $700. i would like to use a 98k action and i might keep it in 8mm to avoid headspaceing. but i have a few questions.
1. set triggers? can you still get them
2. is a vz24 bolt as good as a 98k and do the barrels fit
3. are there any gunsmiths out there that can explain exactly what headspacing a short chambered barrel is
4. glass bedding and floating the barrel? will a mauser sink or float. i know mosins sink
5. where can i find a good mauser for a decent price or just the barreled reciever.
6.if i want to rebarrel it to 308win do i have to buy a new barrel or can i just send it off. also do i need a new bolt
7.where can i find a bolt like this 1 Guns For Sale : Curios & Relics - MAUSER - K98 Pre-WWII SPORTER 8x60mm, Dbl Set Triggers, Engraved, Claw Mnt Scope - Auction: 9508596 (Ends 01/10/2010, 1700 PST)
sorry for all the questions.
Some of the parts for a build like you describe are available from Brownells.As for building it for around $700 with the features you describe is probably unrealistic.The set triggers alone cost around $200 by themselves and require alterations to the trigger guard and receiver.The bolts such as pictured are custom made and I know of no source for ready made ones.I thought of doing this once but it was going to be extremely costly just gathering up all the parts and pieces to build not including the cost of buying a decent action or donor rifle.
Headspacing might not be a problem if you rebarrel to something like a .284, but if you are going to go thru the trouble of moding a mauser, then you might as well not cut corners and do it like you want it. I have used the Timney triggers, which are a far cry better than the original triggers, for both the 1895 and 98 mausers. Stocks are fairly varied in price, but getting a nice synthetic should not cost more than $100. Having your bolt polished and even have a new bolt handle attached should be under $200. Have it drilled and tapped and also get it refinished. This can set you back another $250 or more, depending on the finish. I would think you would end up spending something in the area of $1200 to have a finished product. Have you thought about doing much of the work yourself, as MidwayUSA sells a mauser video that does a fairly good job of showing you how to do this?
i would like to do as much of the work as possible i find it interesting. the only thing i would not do is the bolt handle and if i do need headspacing.
No, different action lengths. This is measured by the distance center-to-center of the front and rear trigger guard screws. Model 98 Mausers have three different lengths - this must be considered when getting a stock or changing the bolt.
The VZ24 action is the same size as a K98. The model 24 or 24/47 or model 48 (Yugo) are intermediate actions and are about 1/4" shorter. The VZ24 barrel is a bit different than the K98 but will interchange. The top hand guards are different.
Timney or Bold triggers are great additions. An Adams and Bennett barrel from Midway will run you about $80. They are short chambered but it isn't hard to hand ream the chamber to final head space. Fajen (Midway) makes a cheap synthetic stock for around $50. They aren't too bad. Boyds makes some nice looking laminate stocks for a reasonable price. D&T can be done yourself if you have a jig or a drill press. You can get your bolt handle forged or welded for around $50-75 if you shop around. If you do most of the work yourself, you can put a decent rifle together for around $400. The price can go way up depending on components you use and professional services employed.
Start with a VZ24 if you can find one. A K98 is also fine but tend to be more collectible and as such are more expensive. If you are going with an intermediate action, you will need to stick with 308 based or Xx55 or 57 based cases for length unless you do a lot of work.
You will need to buy or borrow some tools to do it yourself. An action wrench and barrel vise, head space gauges and a chamber reamer (can be rented), A scope jig or drill press, etc. If you are only doing one you can resell some of the tools to recoup some of your money.
Set triggers are expensive. Go with a Bold or Timney
Either bolt is fine barrels are similar but different profiles.
Head space is the measurement of chamber depth. Too short and your shell won't go in far enough, too long and the case will not be properly supported and may separate when fired. Head space is set by reaming the chamber with a finish reamer to the proper depth as established by the head space "go" and "no-go" gauges.
Bedding may help make your rifle shoot better, but isn't necessarily required. Free floating the barrel also may help accuracy.
Watch pawn shops for a butchered Mauser action. Other places are Century, SOG, and other distributors. They are not as cheap and plentiful as they were a few years ago.
You will need to get a different barrel for a 308. The bolt will be fine. Same bolt face for 308, 3006, 8x57.
There are several people on these boards who are very skilled at bolt work.
^+100 thank you now all i need to do is locate a cheap vz24. im thinking about going gun hunting and looking for a poorly sporter vz or 98k and try to save it. im still in the dark about reaming the head space. i dont know what tools it takes or what skill but am vary willing to learn. would it b best to bring it to a gun smith so i dont screw it up??
You can find some cheap Turkish Mausers out there. If you plan on keeping the 8mm barrel that could be a cheap start. I got a Adams and Bennett barrel from midway in 308 and it is a good shooter . If you think you want 308 you might consider finding someone who is a dealer with century and get one of the Isreali 308 mausers. They cost a little more but when you figure how much the barrel and gunsmithing cost it is close to the same in the end. Timney triggers are nice. I bought one of the adujustable ones and you can set it to the trigger pull you like. You can buy a second from Richards Microfit Gunstocks. The price on the seconds are prety good. Even the price on some of the regular ones arn't bad.
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Setting the headspace isn't all that difficult.
You will need a finish chamber reamer and headspace gauges specific for your caliber. You will need a tap handle and a 3/8" drive socket extension about 8" long. You will need some means of holding the barreled action vertically with the barrel down. You will need a couple cans of brake cleaner and a bore mop that will fit the chamber. You will need some cutting fluid.
1) Set the action barrel pointing down into a coffee can or such.
2) Strip your bolt. Set the "Go" headspace gauge into the chamber and attempt to close the bolt. Take note of the bolt position. It should not come close to closing on a short chambered barrel. Take everything out.
3) Carefuly insert the reamer with the socket extension backwards and attached to the tap wrench into the chamber. Holding pressure straight down and making sure you don't push to the sides, turn the tap wrench clockwise only. Use cutting fluid.
After just a few turns, clean the chamber of chips with the brake cleaner and bore mop and check your headspace again as in step 2. Make sure the chamber is clean. A chip will throw off your reading. Compressed air helps too. Clean the chips off the reamer as well.
4) Repeat until bolt is close to closing. At this point only turn the tap about 1 turn at a time until the bolt will just close on the "Go" gauge.
5) now insert the "No-Go" gauge. The bolt should not close. If it does, you will need to set the barrel back a bit and start over.
That last turn will cut more than you think. Go slow and check often.
Setting the barrel back means shortening the treaded section and the shoulder a bit to shorten the chamber.
The VZ24 and K98 bolts are the same size and will interchange, but you will need to check the headspace whenever you swap bolts. All full length 98 bolts are basically the same. Intermediate bolts will not fit a full length action.
if your looking at a cheap mauser, JG has K98s again for 350. the one I got from them last year was in great shape with a morrior bore, but its hit and miss and you can always call for the 10$ hand select. just a thought.
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Go to surplusrifle.com. In the left column select the CZ BRNO VZ24. Read up on the VZ. In the right column on the VZ24 page there are some links to Mauser conversion projects. One article is a 2 part story and further down there is another project. Read these. Surf that web site by looking at other Mauser links and stories. You will learn a bunch.
Also go to wikipedia and read up on these Mausers. just put 'wiki vz24' in your URL line and the first link that comes up is to the wiki article. Again, surf wiki for gun info.
A short chambered barrel is one where the chamber is given to you deliberately too short for use with the expectation that you will get a gunsmith to lengthen it correctly for proper headspacing. Gunsmiths are trained to do this and while the directions above can work you are running a big risk by doing it yourself.
My VZ24 in on the brown truck for delivery today. I got it for $173, delivered, from SOG. Mine is 7x57 which is an excellent hunting cartridge so depending on the bore I may not have to change out the barrel.
I have a C&R license so that makes it easier to acquire these older firearms. If you don't have one, or don't know what it is, go to the Curio and Relic forum and read up there.
K80, there is a licensed gunsmith in Oregon named Mark Skaggs and he has a website at Skaggsgunsmithing.com. His website shows the prices he charges for work and may provide you with some info for mauser work. Over the last 4 years, I've used him a number of times to do rebarreling and other work on mauser type rifles and I've always been satisfied with his pricing and quality of work. Think he will rebarrel any mauser for about $170 + shipping (about $40 for to and from him) The $170 price includes him obtaining a new barrel (probably an A&B brand short chambered barrel) and doing the finishing chambering as well as properly fitting the barrel and etc. Think he will forge (reshape) a straight bolt handle for around $55 or install a new bolt handle, but the price varies for brand of handle he'll use.
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i really like open sights.. mojo or peep sights?
