interarms mark x 25-06

[scottbird]

I just purchased an InterArms mark x 25-06. It is stamped Manchester England. The man I bought it from still had the original receipt. He had it custom made with a full synthetic stock, and an 18" barrel. It has a Field and Stream 4-16x50 scope on it, he fired it only eleven times, I have fired it several, and it seems very accurate. I paid 200.00 for it. I am trying to find some history about it, but have not had any luck so far. Any help would be most appreciated. Thank you, and do you think I got a good deal?

 

[vaupet]

I have one in 270 win.

For most Interarms mark X-s the actions where made in former yugoslavie by Zastava on old machinery they bought of FN Herstal.

They are very good classic mauser 98 control round feed actions.

The rifles were finished in Birmingham.

 

[303tom]

You got a great deal, good luck with her.............

 

[meanmrmustard]

Mark Xs are awesome rifles. I use one in .223 for stand hunting here in MO. Very accurate rifles. Good find!

 

[sage5907]

Yes you got a good deal. As Vaupet said, the Mark X custom mauser commercial action was made in Yugoslavia by Zavodi Crvena Zastava. If you can find the book of Bolt Action Rifles by Frank de Haas the Mark X action features are explained on pages 187 and 188. BW

 

[Pit4Brains]

I can't tell you about the history of it but I can predict the future of it....If your willing to sell.

Nice score!

 

[Maverick223]

Excellent commercial Mauser action, I own a similar one (Whitworth Express, which is essentially the same action, in magnum form with a few upgrades) and it has become one of my favorites. Assuming that the condition is good, I'd say that you're looking at about a $400-500 rifle, so you did well. Now you just need to think about what to do about that 18in. bbl (it's a mite bit short to take advantage of the ballistics of a cartridge like the .25-06Rem.).

 

[MachIVshooter]

25-06. ..........18" barrel.

Oweee! The .25-06 needs 24"+ to really shine.

It should be a nice rifle, but I'd definitely rebarrel it to 24"-26"

 

[meanmrmustard]

Does anyone know if there is a replacement stock manufacturer for the mini mark x?

 

[Maverick223]

Does anyone know if there is a replacement stock manufacturer for the mini mark x?

I'm sure that there are others, but both Richards Microfit (99% inlet) and Boyds (semi-inlet) make one. I'm not sure about Fajen, but I doubt it as they have been focusing on the 10/22 market as of late. Personally I've had good experiences with Boyds (listed under the Remington 799), so that's likely the one that I would choose.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I'm sure that there are others, but both Richards Microfit (99% inlet) and Boyds (semi-inlet) make one. I'm not sure about Fajen, but I doubt it as they have been focusing on the 10/22 market as of late. Personally I've had good experiences with Boyds (listed under the Remington 799), so that's likely the one that I would choose.

Thanks Mav.

 

[Elkins45]

Oweee! The .25-06 needs 24"+ to really shine.

It should be a nice rifle, but I'd definitely rebarrel it to 24"-26"

Agreed. You're going to be blowing a LOT of unburned powder out the end of an 18" barrel in a 25-06.

That being said, $200 is a smoking deal on a classic action. I have a custom 257 Weatherby built on a commercial Mark X action and it's definitely a keeper.

 

[Maverick223]

No problem, Mr. Mustard.

As far as the bbl length goes, you may want to consider swapping for a different chambering if you decide to rebarrel. I know that the .25-06Rem. has garnered a bit of favor as of late, but I have never cared for any of the quarter bores (too much powder used on what is, IMO, a relatively ineffective/inefficient large game cartridge). Any '06 based cartridge would be a good choice and require little work to install.

 

[Kachok]

An 18" tube on a 25-06 is more of a really loud flame thrower then a rifle, replacing that with a 24-26" would be the first thing I would do.

 

[sage5907]

There have been four responses saying the rifle should be re-barreled. These people should remember that scottbird paid only $200 for the rifle. A new barrel would cost at least $500. He should shoot the rifle as is with good hearing protection and chuckle every time he nails the bullseye. His original investment of $200 plus $500 would almost buy a new Winchester Model 70 featherweight. BW

 

[Maverick223]

Unless you bought a target-grade barrel had some custom work performed (or perhaps had it chambered for an unusual cartridge), the new bbl shouldn't exceed $300.00 installed by a competent smith.

 

[scchokedaddy]

Interarms

Good buy!! Got one I bought 38 years ago from Kmart, and still going strong. Back then they were tagged as having mark X action and Sako barrel. Mine is in 308.

 

[sage5907]

Maverick, your $300 barrel price seems low unless you know something that I don't. The cheapest production barrel offered by Douglas is $274. They charge $45 for cutting a chamber and shipping would be about $10. So your looking at $329 just getting a barrel to your gunsmith that has the proper length and contour, threaded, polished, crowned and has the chamber cut. A gunsmith still has to remove the old barrel, headspace the new barrel, cut the extractor recess, blue the new barrel and adjust the stock inletting to accept the new barrel. A 3 hour job at $60 and hour sends the price to $500 in a hurry. BW

 

[rcmodel]

He had it custom made with a full synthetic stock

This sounds like a 18" Mannlicher stocked rifle to me.

I think it might look a little funky with a new 26" barrel on it.

Anyway, the guy got the whole rifle for less then the action alone used to cost new many years ago.

Bee Happy, and if you want less muzzle blast, reload it with faster powder.

rc

 

[Maverick223]

Maverick, your $300 barrel price seems low unless you know something that I don't.

I just wouldn't put a particularly costly bbl on a sporting rifle. Something like this (actually I would go with this one, but that's immaterial) would be a pretty decent choice. They are chambered, threaded, and ready to finish chamber and blue. A friend of mine purchased one and while it isn't on par with a Krieger, Bartlein, et cetera, it has proven to be a pretty fair barrel for a sporting project...in other words I would use one myself in such a case.

This sounds like a 18" Mannlicher stocked rifle to me.

I doubt it, being a synthetic stock.

 

[MachIVshooter]

too much powder used on what is, IMO, a relatively ineffective/inefficient large game cartridge

There are countless game animals who's fate suggests otherwise.

If you personally don't like quarterbores, that's fine, but calling them ineffective and inefficient is just plain untrue. They're about perfect for medium game, and the larger ones (.25-06, .257 Weatherby) are fine for elk and other big game with proper bullet selection.

 

[Kachok]

I have seen many aftermarket barrels for my Savage for well under $150, good brands too.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/65...ory-contour-1-in-10-twist-24-chrome-moly-blue
I cannot imagine yours would cost much more.

 

[Maverick223]

There are countless game animals who's fate suggests otherwise.

If you personally don't like quarterbores, that's fine, but calling them ineffective and inefficient is just plain untrue. They're about perfect for medium game, and the larger ones (.25-06, .257 Weatherby) are fine for elk and other big game with proper bullet selection.

The same can be said for most any cartridge. Furthermore, i'm not saying that it won't get the job done, just pointing out that one can make a strong argument for other choices for someone that wants to hunt large game (the 6.5mm, .277cal., 7mm, and .30cal. have much more to offer IMO) and is considering rebarreling. The cartridge is horribly inefficient (whereas the .257Roberts isn't quite as bad in that respect and can perform nearly as well if a .25cal. is what your looking for), I don't see how you can argue otherwise, it just burns (or in the case of a short bbl, spews out the muzzle) too much powder for what you get in return.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I don't see how you can argue otherwise, it just burns (or in the case of a short bbl, spews out the muzzle) too much powder for what you get in return.

The simple formula I use for calculating cartridge efficiency when comparing those of different caliber is to use ft/lbs generated divided by powder grains used. I try to make it a more even playing field by using bullets at about the same point in the weight range for a given cartridge.

For instance, .243 Win, I'd use a 100 gr. bullet and average the powder charge required for max velocity. To compare that to the .25-06, I'd use 115 or 117 gr. bullets and average that load data. To throw in the .270, I'd use 140 grain bullets. I use the same barrel length whenever possible.

So, take your .243/100 gr. combo. In a 24" tube, it'll top out at ~3,100 FPS for ~2,100 FPE, and requires an average charge of ~43 grs. to do so. That's roughly 49 ft/lbs per grain.

Now take the .25-06 and a 117 gr. bullet in a 24" tube. This load also goes 3,100 FPS, generates 2,550 ft/lbs and and requires an average charge of ~52 grains. That's also ~49 ft/lbs per grain.

Now the .270/140 gr. An average charge of ~56 grs. will get you 3,000 FPS for 2,800 Ft/lbs. That's ~50 ft/lbs per grain.

Of course there's some latitude in the numbers that depend on a lot of things, but this does serve to demonstrate that the .25-06 is not really that inefficient. Fact is, any of the higher velocity cartridges in a given caliber will be less efficient than their smaller, slower counterparts. That's just the nature of the beast.

 

[Maverick223]

I think we are deviating from the purpose of the thread. Yes, all high velocity cartridges are inefficient, which is why I typically avoid them for large game hunting. Furthermore the energy makes little difference (other factors tend to be more important, such as cavitation/expansion volume in the wound) when it comes to effectiveness on game. Also the .25-06Rem. has a comparably poor trajectory/wind drift (for a med. range varminting?) due to the low BC projectiles available, so it just doesn't fill much of a role IMO. That said, it'll work if you really like it, and my intention was not to start a debate on the merits of most any cartridge (just throw out the idea that other choices are a viable option that should be explored for someone looking the re-bbl), so I'm going to leave this one alone and get back to the heart of the matter...the OP getting an outstanding deal on a very good Mauser action no matter what he decides to do with it.