Mauser Mark X - What to Do With It?

[Kestrel]

I picked up a Mauser Mark X earlier this year. It's in pristine condition, but is in a Ramline stock. It's in .243 caliber and has an adjustable trigger. It's super clean.

I actually bought it on a whim, with the idea of having a .308 barrel put on it, replacing the stock and maybe replacing the trigger with something like a Timney and with a better safety.

My question is this: Are these guns even worth putting this much money into? Would I be better off just selling it and getting something that is closer to this configuration from the start?

Thanks for any help,
Steve

 

[rbernie]

I'll buy it off you.

 

[Al Thompson]

What do you want to use it for?

Bunches of us really like that action. I'm with rbernie there.

 

[rbernie]

Here's a slightly mo' better response:

To have it rebarreled, you'll need to budget $300 or so - no less than $200 for the barrel itself (and possibly more than that if you get a good one or want it in stainless steel) and the rest for the labor and finishing required to install the barrel. A Timney featherweight will set you back another $50 plus the labor to fit it. The low safety will set you back $35 + fitting. A new finished walnut stock in 95% fitted condition will set you back no less than $150 and can run as high as $300 for a good one, plus the labor needed to inlet the forearm for the new barrel countour. if you're willing to do the final fitting and the finish work yourself, you can get the stock cost down to less than $150. Of course, when you're done with all of this you'll have a custom rifle that's hopefully the way you like it but which you'll STILL be able to sell for no more than $350-$400.

On the other hand, you can buy a Ruger 77MkII (a controlled-round-feed Mauser-copy) in 308 for $500 brand new, or a Superior Grade Charles Daly import of the exact same rifle that you have (Zastava-produced Mauser design), with a walnut stock and chambered in 308 and all that jazz, for around $500 brand new

The moral here is that it's almost ALWAYS cheaper to buy what you want than to try to make it out of something else. If you like the MarkX and like the caliber - keep it. If you have no desire for a 243, you'll likely be better off selling it and using the cash to help finance the purchase of what you DO want.

This coming from the guy who just did exactly as described above and dropped more into a Mauser rebuild than it would have taken to buy a new Ruger 77MkII or Chuckie. :banghead:

 

[Kestrel]

rbernie,

You make a strong argument. It's probably foolish for me to try to make it into something I wanted at the cost it would take to do so.

I don't really have a need for a .243, I just bought it because I've heard good things about them. I bought it on a whim, thinking about converting it to .308.

What are they worth? This is the only one I've seen in a gun shop, myself, that's why I bought it. I think I will get rid of it. Thanks for your replies. It helped with the decision. (Many times I regret selling a gun and was afraid I might make a mistake in selling this one.)

Thanks,
Steve

 

[rbernie]

An Interarms Mark X in 243 would go for around $250-$350 (depending on how clean it is) in the shops that I frequent in the DFW area. Scope and/or scope mounts/rings would add a bit, but generally scopes don't add much value relative to their cost. The last one that I saw in a local shop was, in fact, a 243 with a walnut sporter stock, new buttpad, Timney trigger, and an inexpensive Simmons scope - it went for $325.

There's one for sale now on AuctionArms web site in 308 with a Nikon 3x9-40 scope that is starting at $500. If he gets it, I'd be really surprised. On GunBroker, there's one in 7MM Mauser that's $300 with finish issues and a cheap Tasco scope, one in 270 with a synthetic stock and a camo paint job on the action/barrel for $328, and then a bunch sitting on GunBroker at around $500 that'll never move.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mannlicher]

Mark X is a well made rifle. Use it as it is, or change the caliber, barrel, stock, or whatever.

 

[rbernie]

Mark X is a well made rifle.

Of course it is. What I've been trying to communicate is that it would be cheaper for SteveW13 to sell his 243 and buy a Charles Daly version in 308 for far less than what he'd spend to rebarrel and restock his.