Custom vz. 24 .30-06

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I recently purchased a customized Mauser (Czech vz. 24) re-barreled in .30-06. I'm having some feeding/mag issues that I hope I can get clarified. I'm finding mixed messages from web searches. Some folks say that this rifle should feed .30-06 just fine while others say that the mag is too small. To me, it makes sense that the 8mm mag would be too small since it's 7.92x57 vs. 7.62x63. Clearly the .30-06 don't quite fit in the internal mag for this rifle. As such, I can load 2 rounds without a problem (not 2+1, just 2). I've gotten it to work occasionally with 3, but it's not consistent.

Anyways, this is an issue with the mag size, correct? If so, where can I purchase a .30-06-sized mag for the vz. 24? There isn't enough room in the stock for one, but it looks like it would be easy enough to carve out a little extra space for a slightly larger mag. Would there be any problems I'm not seeing with doing this?

Thanks,

Therapist

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Specifically... Can I buy a .30-06 internal mag for the vz. 24?

 

[NCsmitty]

There's some info at this link, including a link to a '06 friendly trigger guard/magazine, that is as usual, not cheap, and it's aluminum. VZ-24's are quality made rifles, and I have one that was rebarreled to 6.5x55 Swede.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501308


NCsmitty

 

[25cschaefer]

Do the rounds fit in the magazine or will they just not feed out of the mag? If they fit in the box and just wont feed reliably there may be some modifications to the rails and or feed ramp that need to be done.

 

[slicksleeve]

For what its worth, I have a Turk Mauser that has been re-barreled to 30-06. I load 150 grain ballistic tips in it, (Groups great and kills deer even better). Any heavier in the Ballistic Tip bullets and they are too long to fit the magazine well. I suspect that a 180 grain bullet in something like a Sierra or a Core-Lokt would fit it, (I haven't tried them), but the Ballistic Tips are just too long.

 

[Jim Watson]

A guy here has an FN sporter .30-06. It even has the little notch in the receiver ring to clear spitzer bullets an it STILL won't accept maximum length rounds.

I would shop for ammo short enough to fit the magazine, or more likely just handload to suit rather than spend a lot on a new magazine.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I'm just using 150-grain surplus ball ammo.

I can put two into the mag, and they will both feed just fine. If I try to put 3 in, they get stuck.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...user-98-triggerguard-floorplate-prod9718.aspx 3006 floor plate from brownells

 

[morcey2]

I've got a 1909 that was reamed out to 30-06 and it has the exact same problem with M2 ball. It's just a bit too long to use. It loads great with most commercial ammo. I don't know how thick the front wall is on that one, but if you need a couple of thousandths (not likely), you could file a little off the inside of it. Otherwise, you could take it to a smith to extend it or buy an existing one that is purpose-built or already modified. The solution on mine is to convert it to 6mm Rem since it slugs at 0.313" and only shoots really heavy bullets well.

Matt

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Do you or anyone else know where to buy a purpose-built mag (or magwell, or whatever they're called) for .30-06? The one linked to in the thread linked above seems to be for an 8mm, what it already has.

I don't have it in front of me, but I doubt I can file enough out in order to fit the ammo that I have.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Oops, nevermind. I saw in the description that it's longer to accommodate .30-06.

Mine differs from the one for sale at the link in that the "mag well" is completely separate from the trigger guard. It is it's own part. Is it possible just to buy the mag well?

 

[morcey2]

Oops, nevermind. I saw in the description that it's longer to accommodate .30-06.

Mine differs from the one for sale at the link in that the "mag well" is completely separate from the trigger guard. It is it's own part. Is it possible just to buy the mag well?

Do you have a pic? It sounds like you've got an aftermarket trigger guard and magazine.

Matt

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I'll try to post a picture soon.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Pictures 1-4... These demonstrate that the "trigger guard" part is not the typical Mauser trigger guard. It's separate. There's no floorplate. The mag house just sits in the space carved out for it, and the actual trigger guard just goes into place, screwed into the action.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Pictures 5-8... Again, no floorplate. The spring just gets put into the space in the mag house (still don't know what to call that piece).

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Pictures 9-12... It's hard to tell for sure from these pictures, but these rounds are too long to fit "straight" into the piece. I know it was mentioned that the surplus stuff is longer than many other .30-06 bullets, but my preference is to find a way to make them fit rather than only purchasing shorter bullets. Part of the reason I went .30-06 was the availability of surplus ammo.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Pictures 13-16... Not a whole lot to say about these pictures, I suppose... Just giving a bigger pictures, I suppose.

For what it's worth, this thing shot like a dream (only loading 2 rounds at a time, of course). It's really the first rifle I've owned that will put the shots exactly where I want them, and I'm not even that great a shot. My hands shake, and I'm slightly recoil shy. But I was shooting 1/2-inch groups at 50 yards. Meant to do 100, too, but something else came up. Hope to do 100 and 300 next time.

 

[1KPerDay]

try some round nose soft point loads.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

try some round nose soft point loads.

I get that, but it doesn't solve the issue I want solved. I will pick some up, but I still want to make the changes that will allow it to shoot all .30-06.

 

[morcey2]

I'm not sure who made the stock, but it looks like you should be able to have a gunsmith extend the magazine box by 1/8" - 1/4" and you (theoretically) would be good to go. It would require a little bit of inletting at the front of the magazine box opening in the stock. The M2 have the longest OAL of any 30-06 that I've run into and I think that once they fit, everything else will also. I don't think you'll have any feeding issues as you can currently feed from the magazine.

If it had been a stamped magazine box, you probably could have just bent it strategically at the front and been fine, but not with a milled one.

Matt

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Would I be able to extend the magazine box with a file? Similarly with the inletting? Would there be anything in particular to watch out for? Is it more complex than it appears?

 

[Murphy4570]

Seems like you have yourself a single shot deer rifle. Don't miss on the first shot!


You might be able to make a magazine box and spring from a 30-06 rifle fit, maybe from an '03 Springfield perhaps? Those were based off of the Mauser, so it might be a fairly close fit.

 

[NCsmitty]

Would I be able to extend the magazine box with a file?

It is a DIY project if you have the tools and the aptitude to make it happen. The front of the mag box needs to basically maintain it's position due to the feed ramp position in the action. Material needs to be removed from the rear inside of the magazine box. A milling machine makes short work of the project, if you have access, but a file will do the job, eventually.
Do a Google search on the procedure, as there is info available.


NCsmitty

 

[Jim Watson]

You have what is known as a Blind Magazine, common on entry level and lightweight commercial hunting rifles, not usual for Mausers, even as part of a sporterizing job.

You could cut out the rear of the separate box and just let the caseheads back up against the well in the stock. This is not a change that can be accomplished with a little filing or even a light swipe with a mill.

CAUTION: I am not a gunsmith to go messing with such stuff. MY .30-06 is a Winchester.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I've e-mailed the store at which I bought the rifle to see if they will have their gunsmith fix the issue. If not, I'll figure something out.