commercial mauser action for a build?

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...e-receivers/30-06-length-action-prod1849.aspx

CZ 550

PM LAGS...he might have exactly what you're looking for.

@ swampcrawler.
I really think your best bet is to use a Yugo 24/47 or 48 receiver as your action.
Several reasons.
One , you can get them reasonably priced, and in VERY Good condition.
Two, They are a Mid Length action , that is better suited for the 6.5 x 55
Three, the Barrel Breeching is done in what is called a Safety Breech set up where there is more of the case head actually in the breech of the barrel.
Four, the rifles are still reasonably cheap, and most of the 98 aftermarket parts like Barrels, Safeties, triggers and bolt shrouds fit the yugo action.
Boyd's makes some nice stocks for the Yugo length action also and the receiver can be drilled and tapped for any type of Mauser style scope base you want to get.
I build lots of rifles on this action up to a 25-06 length, and have several in .308 and want to do one in 257 Roberts, 7mm-08 and 358 Winchester.
But I built some in .243 and 6mm already.
I just see no real advantage to using some $1000.00 action on a rifle like you want to build.
My 25-06 and .308's are shooting under 1" groups with Adams Bennet Barrels
And some of them shoot even better with a really good barrel.

@ Swampcrawler.
I have no problem finding the complete rifles in good working condition that have all the parts to start off with.
When you say to Clean them UP , you are probably talking about truing the bolt face, Lapping the Lugs, and truing the barrel threads to the line of the bolt.
Then there is having the bolt handle Turned Down for use with a scope by either Forging it over, or Welding on a new bolt handle.
Things like removing the Stripper Guided or Scrubbing the receiver of stampings ( Not the Serial Number ) is up to you and if you want to remove all signs that it had ever been a militaty rifle..
I have not Priced out this work recently, and currently do most of my own work, but have to farm out some of the machine work because I do not have a Lathe anymore.
But for the rifle you are describing that you want to build, I just cant see the cost of what you want to have done, exceeding the cost of a commercial receiver that would meet your minimum requirements.
But the Cleaning up I described is all the things you would want to do to a receiver to Blueprint it, Back to precision condition.
I feel it is up to you and if the surplus receiver is really in such a poor condition.
You did not mention if you are going to be doing any of the Work Yourself, or if you intend to have the whole thing built by someone else.

If you are going to have a custom built, then have you selected a shop near you to do the work.
It is nice to have it Locally Done if at all possible, and that way you can watch the progress.
Besides, it gives you a chance to build a Repour with the gunsmith, and make sure you are getting the rifle built the way You Want It , and not just HIS version of your rifle.

Could also look at Louisiana Precision, I know they have a good reputation over at the Sniper's Hide website. Good luck on your rifle!

I really think your best bet is to use a Yugo 24/47 or 48 receiver as your action.

Click to expand...

^^^This.

If you're going to stage the project over a fairly long time, you can cut down and refinish the stock, and clean up and use the military trigger until you can afford replacements.

In our neighborhood, whacking off the bolt handle and re-welding it, and drilling and tapping the receiver doesn't cost too much. Our local 'smith was in the Wehrmacht, and so is very happy when he gets to work on a Mauser.

Failing that, Zastava used to sell commercial actions through Numrich. But be careful: Check the length of the bottom metal vs. a military action. Some commercial actions have bottom metal 1/4" shorter than the military version.

@ Denton
The 1/4" shorter Bottom metal versions toy mentioned are the same length of action as the Yugos.
The Yugo will not fit a standard 98 stock, but the parts that go in the bolt and the receiver from a 98 will fit the Yugo reciver and Bolt Body.
Mainly the Yugo has a Shorter Receiver, a shorter Bolt Body, shorter Firing pin and spring as well as the extractor..
All the orher parts from a 98 work on the Yugo in either Military or Aftermarket parts like Triggers and such.
The 98 pre threaded barrels will fit the Yugo, and you have the option to Safety Breech the Barrel Up if you want to, but it is not Required.
But you can not make a Yugo into a .30-06 or .270 length.
But a standard 25-06 will work in te Yugo receiver and magazine due to the shorter LOA of the loaded cartridge

I agree that the intermediate actions will work well for 6.5x55 build, but replacement parts specific to the 24/47 and M48 may be harder to get.

I was lucky enough to acquire a full length Mauser, a Czech made VZ-24, that I had fitted with a F-54 A&B barrel in a 1in9" twist, and it is a sweet shooting rifle. The full length action allows me to seat the bullets out and still fit the magazine. Being a robust model 98, I'm not limited to small ring 6.5x55 pressure limits.


NCsmitty

@ NC Smitty
That is the thing I like about the Yugo.
You have the strength of the Large Ring mauser and the shorter length of the Small Ring action.
I have not had any problems finding any parts for the Yugo that are Yugo Specific like bolts and such.
But when was the last time you tried to find parts for a Zestava or CZ ?

And the only reason I needed to find Yugo parts, was to build custom parts for other rifles, or replace a rusted or Bubba'ed part for someone else.

I'm going to offer a contrary opinion and say you should check Armslist or Gunbroker for an Interarms Mark X or a JC Higgins Model 50, which is a really nice FN commercial 98 action. You save yourself the expense of having to modify the bolt handle and safety. You also get nicer bottom metal and maybe even a decent stock. Initial cost might be higher, but you probably end up ahead in the end.

The JC Higgins model 50 is an outstanding choice, if you can find one. That was the year that they bought their rifles from FN.

I found one in a pawn shop, and did not have any idea what it was. The JC Higgins label really didn't sound too promising, and neither I nor the pawn shop owner knew what that funny oval FN logo on the side was. So I offered $150 and got it for that. It didn't take too long to figure out that I had just had an incredibly lucky day. Then, I sold the barrel for $80, for a net cost of $70 for the action. It now wears a Pac-Nor 6.5x55 barrel.

This is in stock at Bud's. The stainless is in stock and you can backorder the same number in blued carbon steel.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716007207

I built a 250-3000 Savage on a Yugo M48 action about 10 years ago. Back then the entire Yugo rifle cost me $99. In hindsight, I think if I had it to do over, I would go with a commercial receiver versus a military one. The machine marks, stamped parts and other markings give the rifle a unique yet cheap feel, even though I spent a decent chunk of change on the finished product.

It shoots well, which is the most important, but like others have said, I had to buy a special "intermediate" stock from Boyds to fit the receiver.

FWIW, I had ER Shaw do all the work. Took several months from until I got it back. That was circa 2005-2006. I had them forge and polish the bolt too, which turned out very nice.

The J C Higgins action is a Very good choice also.
But I have not seen any for years.
But I have found lots of Take Off Barrels and stocks from where others have built their custom rifles on these rifles.
I pick up the take off parts and use them for some of my Semi Custom Sporters.

ooo

http://www.k-var.com/shop/ZM808-181.html

Add a set of irons and you're good to go

LGS, can a 7x57 be built on this Yugo action? All I can find locally are Mauser actions in very poor to poor condition and I want to build a pair of father/daughter rifles in 7x57.

Thanks Darryle

What do you consider " Poor condition "
Remember, if you are going to build a Custom Rifle, whe action only needs to be Mechanicly Sound, as long as it is not all pitted where it can not be Scrubbed out like the stampings.
The Bolt face is the only part that I really worry about, that it is not all major cratered from leaking primers.
The Lugs will probably get lapped before you set the barrel and headspace.
You don't care about the Barrel or the stock or if the Bolt is all shiney.
I have picked up complete Yugo rifles in the last two years for under $100.00 because they had bad barrels or the stocks were trashed.
They are now good shooting .308's and one is in 8x57 with a Husqvarna barrel.

I used a VZ24 for a similar build in .275 Rigby about 10 years ago and have been very happy with it over the years. Mine also has a 24" sporter weight barrel and I used a B&C stock.