mauser action convertion
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Many a post WWII Mauser was converted to all sorts of cartridges, from those based on the original mauser case, to cartridges based on the '06 case, to short belted magnums, to who knows what all.
So there is little doubt that it can be done. However, at what cost.... Persian mausers are generally more pricey than other milsurp '98s to begin with, and that will just add to the cost of any conversion. Then opening up the bolt face, feed rails, and so on, keeps bringing up the cost. You have standard costs like bending the bolt handle, drill & tap receiver, new trigger, new stock.... you get the idea.
Considering all the work that needs to be done on an old Mauser, you might think of starting with a cheaper one, like a Turk or a Yugo. After all just about everything but the receiver is tossed, and the receivers generally need to be worked on and refinished. So ugly doesn't cost much more to start with.
Just my thoughts. I have a Turk that I am going to sporterize, and a Swede that I am going to leave alone because it shoots good and looks decent already.
So there is little doubt that it can be done. However, at what cost.... Persian mausers are generally more pricey than other milsurp '98s to begin with, and that will just add to the cost of any conversion. Then opening up the bolt face, feed rails, and so on, keeps bringing up the cost. You have standard costs like bending the bolt handle, drill & tap receiver, new trigger, new stock.... you get the idea.
Considering all the work that needs to be done on an old Mauser, you might think of starting with a cheaper one, like a Turk or a Yugo. After all just about everything but the receiver is tossed, and the receivers generally need to be worked on and refinished. So ugly doesn't cost much more to start with.
Just my thoughts. I have a Turk that I am going to sporterize, and a Swede that I am going to leave alone because it shoots good and looks decent already.
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282 Posts
I think you'd be happier with the 9.3x62 Mauser. It would feed a lot nicer. Power is probably better as well. If you found a commercial FN 98 to start with you'd be about 300, 400 bucks ahead. I just had the local gunsmith figure the price for me on a conversion for a mint 98/22 BRNO. Just the metal work alone will be a cool $1000.00. That's for everything...except the stock. The little things on a military conversion add up...
9.3 X 62
Joel B ,,,, hi. it funny you mentioned the old round . that calibre is one i have been thinking about also... would one consider it a 250 yd. elk gun or if the shot presented its self could you streach it to say300 yd. + with good rest or do i live in a dream world ...thanks call me farmer 45 ( might - need - deep - pockets - before - i'm - done )
Joel B ,,,, hi. it funny you mentioned the old round . that calibre is one i have been thinking about also... would one consider it a 250 yd. elk gun or if the shot presented its self could you streach it to say300 yd. + with good rest or do i live in a dream world ...thanks call me farmer 45 ( might - need - deep - pockets - before - i'm - done )
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282 Posts
I don't have any experience with it myself, but you could get one in a very nice Mauser style action in the current CZ 550 American. I have heard nothing but praise for those rifles. The ones I have handled were very nice. The 9.3x62 is probably like a 35 Whelen improved power wise. Again I'm only repeating what I have read, I don't have any experience with the cartridge. Go read this article at African Hunter,
http://www.african-hunter.com/the_9_3_x_62_mauser.htm
Also on the main page there is an article about the 376. The cartridge sounds great, it just may be hard to get it to feed right. The mauser actions, 98's, were designed for the 8x57 Mauser. The magazine was designed specifically for that cartridge, unless it was a magnum action. You can get the 30-06 size cartridges to feed great, but when you start getting too far away from the original dimensions of the 8x57 you can run into problems. There were Mauser actions that were shorter and actions that were longer. But they are expensive if you can find them. The ones available today are generally like the vz 24 in size. I had a 340 Weatherby made up quite a few years ago on a FN military, what a money pit. And it never did feed right, and it only held 2 cartridges in the magazine. It can be done, but only by a highly skilled gunsmith. And that means money, lots of it.
http://www.african-hunter.com/the_9_3_x_62_mauser.htm
Also on the main page there is an article about the 376. The cartridge sounds great, it just may be hard to get it to feed right. The mauser actions, 98's, were designed for the 8x57 Mauser. The magazine was designed specifically for that cartridge, unless it was a magnum action. You can get the 30-06 size cartridges to feed great, but when you start getting too far away from the original dimensions of the 8x57 you can run into problems. There were Mauser actions that were shorter and actions that were longer. But they are expensive if you can find them. The ones available today are generally like the vz 24 in size. I had a 340 Weatherby made up quite a few years ago on a FN military, what a money pit. And it never did feed right, and it only held 2 cartridges in the magazine. It can be done, but only by a highly skilled gunsmith. And that means money, lots of it.
.376 steyr
hi , first thanks Joel B for 9.3 site i have it bookmarked.....and yes the steyr .376 sounds too good to be true... case length 2.362" , overall length loaded 3.110" water cap. of case 78.4 grs. rim .496 " max.width .507 ... first look was american rifleman march 2000 .... then rifleshooter july/august 2001 ....hope your day is going well farmer 45
hi , first thanks Joel B for 9.3 site i have it bookmarked.....and yes the steyr .376 sounds too good to be true... case length 2.362" , overall length loaded 3.110" water cap. of case 78.4 grs. rim .496 " max.width .507 ... first look was american rifleman march 2000 .... then rifleshooter july/august 2001 ....hope your day is going well farmer 45
98 rebuild
I also believe that you would be happier staying away from some old war relic not that there is anything wrong with the 98 except to turn it into a modern sporter you will sink some definite green into it. I recently built a 338-06 and found , in research, there better ways. I bought a used Savage 110 with an acceptible scope for well under $300. Bought an Adams & Bennet barrel and had a local gunsmith screw them together and for under $400 had the whole package.
I also believe that you would be happier staying away from some old war relic not that there is anything wrong with the 98 except to turn it into a modern sporter you will sink some definite green into it. I recently built a 338-06 and found , in research, there better ways. I bought a used Savage 110 with an acceptible scope for well under $300. Bought an Adams & Bennet barrel and had a local gunsmith screw them together and for under $400 had the whole package.
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204 Posts
Question for Joel B.
I also have a 98/29 Persian Mauser barreled action. I've been kicking around the idea for a while of having it built into a .358 Norma Magnum, some day. My question is, are the 30-06 length magnums also difficult to get to feed correctly? I don't want to waste hundreds of dollars paying someone to get it to feed
I knew from experience that any custom work (including a standard sporterizing job) was not cheap; however if it's going to cost a couple thousand dollars I think I'd rather go the same route as duane and re-barrel a .300 or .338 Win Mag.
I also have a 98/29 Persian Mauser barreled action. I've been kicking around the idea for a while of having it built into a .358 Norma Magnum, some day. My question is, are the 30-06 length magnums also difficult to get to feed correctly? I don't want to waste hundreds of dollars paying someone to get it to feed
I knew from experience that any custom work (including a standard sporterizing job) was not cheap; however if it's going to cost a couple thousand dollars I think I'd rather go the same route as duane and re-barrel a .300 or .338 Win Mag.
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282 Posts
I've rolled that idea around in my head as well. I love my JC Higgins (FN 98 action) and would like to have a 338 done on a 98 style as well. But to do a military can be expensive. Here's what I've been thinking. I know that Interarms made 7mm Rem mags on their 98's, saw one the other day. They were asking 279.00 for it. I was thinking about offering 250.00 If they went for it, I'd have a modern 98 style action thats already had the work done, then I'd just have to re-barrel. Pac-Nor sells barrels turned to most factory contours, including Interarms Mark X's, so I could use the original stock. The action should feed the 338 fine, the 358 Norma as well. They are all the same case design. I know some say the Interarms weren't has high quality as the FN's, but for what I want it for, it be perfect. Sure would be alot cheaper than converting the military 98. Eventually I could get a Bell and Carlson stock for it as well. They make them for the Interarms Mark X's.
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204 Posts
Joel B-
After reading your comments about the Interarms Mark X I did some looking around. Charles Daly is going to be importing them as soon as some import tariff problems are straightened out. They are made by Zastava in Yugoslavia and are supposed to be the exact same action. They offer stainless or carbon steel versions and can be purchased as a complete rifle, barreled action, or just the action. Maybe one of these in a stainless .300 Win Mag length action would be just the thing to build that .358 Norma Mag.
I sure hope that the quality of these actions will be good; as I'm sure the war was not very good for Yugoslavia's industries.
After reading your comments about the Interarms Mark X I did some looking around. Charles Daly is going to be importing them as soon as some import tariff problems are straightened out. They are made by Zastava in Yugoslavia and are supposed to be the exact same action. They offer stainless or carbon steel versions and can be purchased as a complete rifle, barreled action, or just the action. Maybe one of these in a stainless .300 Win Mag length action would be just the thing to build that .358 Norma Mag.
I sure hope that the quality of these actions will be good; as I'm sure the war was not very good for Yugoslavia's industries.
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204 Posts
I think I'll just wait for the Charles Daley Stainless actions to come in. Or maybe buy a field grade stainless rifle in .300 Win Mag and just have it re-barreled. That should be the most cost effective way to build a .358 Norma Mag.
Let's hope these import problems get straightened out.
Let's hope these import problems get straightened out.
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