8X57 conversion to .458 REM Mag. possible???

[Hairballusmaximus]

8X57 conversion to .458 Win Mag. possible???

I have a couple large ring 98 mausers in 8X57 and my smith says they are a great action to convert and I have been thinking for a while on what might be cool. I am now considering it after gunshow 'non-corrosive' ammo that WAS corrosive was fired through it and not properly cleaned. I know, I know,I had to 'ground' myself for a few months as punishment.

Anyway, I have no exp doing this but my smith said he would not charge labor just parts as long as I was not in a hurry. Is this a feasible conversion? Will the action handle the pressure? Will it have to be single shot or will the .458 Win mag fit the 'mag'? What other issues might we run into?

I have not talked to him since I came up with the idea of using the .458

I am open to any and all comments. I just thought if possible, that this would be a cool set up.

Hairball

 

[rcmodel]

You sure it isn't the .458 Winchester Mag you are asking about?

There is no .458 Remington Mag.

Anyway, the entire line of standard-length Winchester belted Magnums (.264, .300, .338, .458) were designed to work in standard length actions like the Model 70 Winchester, or your 98 Mauser.

A conversion would basically consist of a new barrel, and opening up the bolt-face to accept the larger belted magnum case-rim.

It might require some feed rail modification to get it feeding real slick, but if your gunsmith is capable of doing the conversion at all, he should be familiar with how to get it to feed.

rc

 

[Hairballusmaximus]

Thanx for the info Rcmodel, yeah I meant the win .458 mag, it was a LONG day and I wasnt thinking real clear.

Hairball

 

[jimmyraythomason]

A friend of mine has an Argentine M1909 chambered in .458 Win.mag. It is a BRUTE on both ends!

 

[whatnickname]

Convert large ring Mauser to .458 Winchester Magnum

You've hit on a fairly controversial subject with a fair number of very knowledgeable people coming down on both sides of the issue. The length of the action isn't the problem as some folks see it. The .458 was designed to work in standard length actions. The problem, depending on whom you talk to, is the amount of metal you have to remove from the rails of the action to accommodate the much larger diameter .458 and what that might do to the residual strength of the action. IMO Mauser actions, both large and small rings, are way stronger than many people give them credit for. That said I'm a bit cautious about things like this when I have skin in the game. Considering the types of uses for which the .458 was designed, my preference is to go with a commercial action that was designed to withstand the pressures and pounding that the .458 delivers. If you are determined to proceed with the project, my recommendation would be to have the action very carefully heat treated after the machine work is completed on the action.

 

[Hairballusmaximus]

I am not set in doing this. I have been thinking for a while what would be a cool round and just thought it might be cool to turn it into a cannon. I ended up with a 'jacked up' 7mm mauser from a guy at work because it was blowing cases apart. He had a hack sporterize it and they screwed it up, bad. Any way, my smith only charged me his cost + 10% on barrel and stock and no labor( took him about 9 months) and he made me the same offer on building another one, but suggested we do something different. If its not 100% safe and ok I am not going to do it. I have had enough motorcycle, jetski,4X4 and quad accidents and I am not going to add a gun accident to the list. I am not the most handsome fellow but a mauser bolt sticking out of my forehead will not impove my looks for sure!

How about the .450 marlin or the .444? should be much less strain on everything.

I also fixed the title.

 

[NCsmitty]

If your gunsmith is competent and confident about doing the conversion then have at it.
If the Mauser is a good model in good shape, it will handle about anything that will fit the action.

I only question the choice of caliber because of the continuing upward costs of components these days.

Unless you have other smaller caliber rifles, I would choose something that doesn't cost over a dollar a bullet to load and shoot, unless money is not a problem.
If you don't reload, the cheapest ammo for 458 Win Mag goes for $66 a box of 20 and goes up from there.

NCsmitty

 

[Hairballusmaximus]

I do reload and also cast my own. Cost was something I considered for a while but I didnt figure it would get shot all that often + casting and loading helps a lot.

 

[rcmodel]

How about the .450 marlin or the .444? should be much less strain on everything.

The 45-70 is a rimmed case, and not a good choice for a Mauser 98 action.

The .450 Marlin is a belted case, and might be made to work.

Anyway, I think the new would quickly wear off after you actually shoot a .458 Mag a couple of times with full power loads!

But if you already reload, you can tone it down to your recoil tolerance level.

rc