Mauser 25/06 Re-do

[Old Dog Man]

I just finished a re-do on my VZ24 Mauser 98 in 25-06 cal. I built it in 1974 and it had some bumps and scrapes from usage over the years, and the barrel needed to be replaced. I installed a Douglas PG., AG.,24" #4 contour barrel with target crown, I always recut the crown when installing a new barrel. Sent the barreled action out to be blued, and started working on the stock, removed all the old finish along with any nicks or scratches that it had and refinished with hand rubbed oil (Pro-Custom) which is a tung oil and poly mix. I wanted it to look like it did when I first built it, my daughter shot her first deer with it in 79 and she say's it's her's when im gone. Can't argue with that. The recoil pad is a Hi-Viz X-coil it has a jell center which is very soft and absorbs recoil very good. The stock is a Roberts that was popular when I first built it, but they are no longer in business. The scope is a 6.5X20 Simmons with mil-dots, my old eyes need all the help they can get. The action is glass-bedded and the barrel is floated back to the recoil lug. Scope rings lapped, crosshairs leveled, and bore-sighted. Now need to load-up some test loads and go to the range. It will probably like the loads I was using in the other barrel. Have to break it in and go from there. Nothing else to do but enjoy. Al

 

[NCsmitty]

Real nice redo, Old Dog Man, it's a familiar old friend with new wings. Enjoy and let us know how it shoots.


NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

Nice!
I like the old school roll-over cheek piece!!

Bet you got sore fingers hand sanding that sucker!!

rc

 

[Old Dog Man]

Mauser Re-do targets

Loaded some test loads this morning and took it to the range, looks like it likes the 100gr. Sierra bullets and 4350 powder. Using Rem. 9 1/2 primers, it's shooting the same load the old barrel did. It does not like the Noz. 110gr. with 52 gr. of 4350, according to the Noz. manual that is too hot by about 2gr. so I'll have to load some more lighter for that one. I think the rifle will out shoot me, as I'm not the shooter I used to be. Got the copper remover (Bore-Tech) soaking the bore now, it was not fouled as much as I expected since I didn't do a break-in before I took it to the range. I can tell when all the copper is removed using my borescope, handiest tool I've got. The 4th group is with loads I had loaded for the other barrel, I was surprised they fit in the chamber since I only neck sized them. Al

 

[Clark]

Nice looking stock and bolt handle.

I built a 257RAI Mauser 10 years ago.
The groups I got in many trips to the range, 5 shots at 100 yards:
72 & 75 gr .75" average
87 gr .8" average
100 gr 1" average
115 & 117 gr 1.2" average

To get those group averages I had to use a 40X scope, shoot when there was no wind, and I cleaned the Copper out of the Lothar Walther factory lapped bore every ~20 rounds.
What powder I used never had any effect at 100 yards.

 

[nutwit]

Brought back old memories for me. While in gunsmith school in NC in 1979 I would assemble a mauser action 26" med/heavy douglas barrel custom rifle in 25-06. Rollover cheek and all. I do not think it has 30 rounds out of it. I made it for my dad and it never was shoot much.
I think the barrel is still good!!!!!!!!
I will be at my dads in a couple weeks and may get a couple pics.

nutwit

 

[sage5907]

Old Man Dog, great rifle! You did an excellent job. Us old guys really appreciate a rifle like that. The first 25-06 I owned was build on a Mauser DeLuxe action with a No. 4 Douglas 27 inch barrel. Really smooth and shot great. I liked the way the floorplate opened. The Next one was on a FN Supreme action with a No. 3 24 inch Douglas barrel. Still have it and it shoots great. I also have a Winchester pre 64 Model 70 with a featherweight taper 24 inch Douglas barrel. You hear all this hype about other barrel makers but the Douglas premium grade air guaged barrel is hard to beat. One thing I have noticed about a 25-06 is that my rifles always liked flat base bullets better than boattails. Don't know why. I hope you have many years enjoying your new toy. BW