cryo-treating?

[PolarPanda]

I am considering buying an original mauser action, serial number is low, 6XXX
I have heard that the mauser actions were not heat treated and can occasionally come apart. Would cryo treating the action improve on the survivability of it? TIA, Polar

 

[jungle]

Mausers were heat treated, although they are case hardened rather than through hardened like modern actions. No treatment required, and unlikely to "come apart" when loaded to the pressure limits of the original chambering.

Cryo treatments really come under the heading of stress relief and wouldn't really help in this case.

If in doubt tell us the actual rifle/caliber/action type/ state seal/proofmark and date with photos and I'm sure you will get a more comprehensive answer, don't forget to include your intended caliber and use. They can make decent hunting rifles, but if you are looking for a tack driver it's probably best to look elsewhere.

 

[PolarPanda]

I have not quite decided on the exact cabiler yet. .308 at the largest, but I am still in the process of eliminating other options. As far as tack driver or hunting rifle, I am more just thinking about this for my first build. I am no proffesional gun smith, but it has been proven that the local people that claim to be smiths, well, lets just say they have proven to be incompitent.

 

[jungle]

Looks pretty rough. Obvious replacement of bolt release and screw. Missing extractor.Pits, dents,dings and mung.
Have you thought about a Remington 700 used with a rebarrel and restock?

I can't tell much from the pics, but some Mausers have had problems with a steady diet of .308, if you are going to put a lot of work or money into it you may want to start with something nicer. Lots of used Mausers out there in way better shape if thats what you want.

 

[PolarPanda]

Yes,
after i go through a few others, and get to a level I think is proficient, a rem 700 + Shilen + McMillan + Unertl BV20 + (a fer other little parts) will be my tack driver

the mauser is a potential for a learning build. Its less then $100 so if it turns to total crap, its not a big loss.

 

[dfaugh]

Its less then $100 so if it turns to total crap, its not a big loss.

Yikes! Seriously, you can buy complete Mausers, in MUCH better shape for under $100. It LOOKs to be a small ring (can't be 100% sure from pictures) which means you REALLY don't wanna use most modern (high-pressure) calibers in it. And with all the pittiing, etc. I'd be scared (and I don't scare easily) to put that upside my face and touch one off...

I've built an 8mm from a small ring action/barrel (fine as long as you use low-medium power handloads, and most commercial ammo) and working (almost done) on a VZ-24 (large ring) in 8mm-06 AI.

If you REALLLY wanna try this, remember that eBay and the gun auctions sites are your friends....I scrounged alot of pieces for both mine, and have less that $200 in each of them. Had it cost me much more than that, I would've bought a new gun.

 

[PolarPanda]

dfaugh, my problem is this, I am stationed on the east coast, NC to be more specific. Since May, when I decided I wanted to start on a mauser, none of the gun stores or pawn shops in my area have had any mausers, whether original or commercial, that were reasonable for a build. I did find one nearly new Charles Daily, but it was overpriced by a few hundred IMO ($779.95). I am out here on the west coast for a few weeks. I have found several mauser actions out here, the one in the pic, happens to be the best in shape of all of them. But then, I am dealing with the fact that I am not a resident of Wash or Oregon. The action pictured, is in Idaho. My father lives in Idaho. He can/will buy it and give it to me if I decide to go with it. I am unfamiliar with auction sites. I have used ebay before, but I thought you could not buy/sell guns on ebay. If you know of good/better mauser actions for sale for a reasonable price, please point me in the right direction. thx