The old boy I'm trying to talk out of some reloading equipment from came by today. He thought a 45 colt lyman T type shellholder would fit the 45-90. (I told him it wouldn't, it didn't) Anyway, he saw my Interarms Mark X 243 and proceeded to say that it was a Whitworth? I know it's a Mauser action, but past that I don't know a whole lot about it. He said he thought it was rare as most were long actions, but since he thought the 45 colt shellholder would fit the 45-90, I kinda took it with a grain of salt. Anyone know anything about older Interarms?

Hi,

I have an Interarms mauser, reciever ring is stamped on the left side "Mark X" and the recoil pad has "Whitworth" molded in.

I believe that Interarms imported a number of models with slight variations and names, but all basically a 98 reciever made in Yugoslavia (should be able to see that stamped on the receiver below the stock line).

Now - long vs. short actions. I haven't seen one chambered in .243, so he might have a point there. If you measure the distance, center to center, between the action screws, that should determine if it's long or short. Mine is 7 7/8", so presumably that's a standard or 'long' action (.458 Win in this case).

My Brownell's catalog doesn't show any separate listings for one-piece scope bases for a 'short-action' mark X - in fact it's usually the same part number for the Browning FN commercial mausers, Mark X, and J.C. Higgins. I did see one listing for a mini-Mark X, but I thought those were chambered in the really small stuff like .223?

Measure the distance between the action screws and that will probably help shed some light on the subject.

I'll give it a measure and get back to you on here. Thanks for the reply, Mike...Baggsy

Mike, I'm thinking the 'action screws' you're talking about are the screw on top of the receiver where the scope would go? It's about 5 1/2 inches between the outside screws. Is this what you're measuring against?

Ah, no, the screws on the bottom. One behind the trigger guard, and one that goes up into the recoil lug in front of the magazine. Sorry for not making that clear.

I actually had one of the Mark X Mausers in .243. It was, like I believe all Mark X's to be, a standard length Mauser action. Nice little rifle and shot pretty well - well enough for my favorite nephew to appreciate it enough that it is his today. Even the Mark X for the .375 H & H is a standard length action cut away so the long cartridge will feed. Ed

The "Whitworth" variation of an Interarms Mark X Mauser was from the Zastava Works in Yugoslavia, like all the other MarkXs. I have one in .243 too. They were supposedly finished by "Whitworth" in England, for which Interarms tacked on a significant price increase, for what I do not know, but they are nice Mausers

LLS

The "Whitworth" variation of an Interarms Mark X Mauser was from the Zastava Works in Yugoslavia, like all the other MarkXs. I have one in .243 too. They were supposedly finished by "Whitworth" in England, for which Interarms tacked on a significant price increase, for what I do not know, but they are nice Mausers

LLS

The attached should answer the questions addressed in this thread. And yes, the .243 and the 30-06 use the same action. The .223 is built on the Mini-Mark X action. I have the Marquis Mannlicher Style Carbine in 30-06. It is a very well made and nicely finished rifle; metal and wood. Some commercial mauser actions, like the Santa Barbara, are fabricated from a steel casting. The Mark X is machined from a solid steel forging.