Redoing My Custom Mauser

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Olympus

Olympus

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Several years back, I built a bench rifle from a Mauser M48 action with a .308 barrel. The stock I used is WAY to big and bulky and I never shoot the gun. Probably haven't put 50 rounds through it.

So instead of letting the gun continue to waste safe space, I was thinking of redoing it as a sporter. It would get a lot more use in this configuration. I'll order a new stock in a lighter sporter style.

The question is what to do with my barreled action. The barrel is a heavy bull profile so it will need to be turned down to a #1 contour, cut shorter, recrowned, and then reblued. But then I get to thinking that I've never really been enamored with 308 and I'd really like to change the barrel to a 6.5x55. But I'd really like to do this as cost-effective as possible.

So the options are:
1 - Keep the 308 barrel that's on the action now(Douglas) and have it turned down to #1 contour, cut shorter, recrowned, and reblued. Unknown cost. Or...

2 - Buy a Green Mountain barrel in 6.5x55 from Midway that is already the the correct contour, correct length, and already crowned and just have it blued to match the action. I believe this barrel is about $90.

What say ye High Roaders?
 
Or a third option is to buy a new Howa 1500 barreled action that is new for $345.
 
Your M48 is an ideal candidate for the 6.5x55 Swede, and if you make the conversion, you'll be a happy man. You won't be held to the pressure limits of the small ring loads that's prevalent, as the M48 is a solid intermediate M98 style action, as you well know.


NCsmitty
 
I talked to my gunsmith today and got an estimate on price for option 1. He said approximately $250 for that work.

So I'm thinking if it's going to cost $250 to convert the 308 barrel that I have, I may as well buy a precut and threaded 6.5x55 barrel for $90 and get the caliber that I really want.
 
Sell the target barrel on ebay, should more than fund the new barrel.
Love the 6.5x55, especially the Norma Alaskans.
 
I got the barrel ordered. Now to contact Richards Microfit and hope they don't screw up and make me wait twice as long for a stock like they did the last time.
 
Richards Microfit stock are nice if you don't believe the 95% finished part(more like 75% or less) and don't mind waiting several months for it to arrive. They do use very nice wood though.
 
My action was almost a perfect fit but the barrel channel was the width of a pencil. It was drilled too large for the action screws and had to be pillar bedded(not a bad thing I was going to do that anyway). The exterior looked like it had been hewn out with a broad ax. It eventually looked awesome but it took me many hours to get it that way. From now on,for me,it's Boyds Stocks all the way!
 
jimmyraythomason said:
My action was almost a perfect fit but the barrel channel was the width of a pencil. It was drilled too large for the action screws and had to be pillar bedded(not a bad thing I was going to do that anyway). The exterior looked like it had been hewn out with a broad ax. It eventually looked awesome but it took me many hours to get it that way. From now on,for me,it's Boyds Stocks all the way!
Click to expand...

They offer a #1 contour barrel channel at no charge so I'm going to request that.

I'm no stranger to sanding! :)

If Boyds had a stock for the intermediate M48 Mauser action, that's the way I would be going too.
 
If Boyds had a stock for the intermediate M48 Mauser action, that's the way I would be going too.
Click to expand...

They do, or at least two years ago they did. I have one of their gray/black laminate stocks on my converted M48. It required very minimal fitting and is an excellent value for the roughly $100 I spent.
 
I'll look again, but all I saw was for the standard 98 length action. Nothing for the M48.
 
Thanks. I actually figured out what I was doing wrong. I was selecting "Mauser" from the drop down box when they actually have a choice for "Yugoslavian" which then gave me the option for the M48. Huge find! Now I might be able to get this project finished in time for deer season!

I just can't decide on the stock I want. The gun will have a gorgeous high gloss bluing. I'm afraid the Walnut will be too plain Jane for the nice gloss bluing.
 
I just pulled the trigger on the stock purchase. I did a custom color choice of royal Jacaranda and also added checkering. Even with those options, it was still cheaper than buying from Richards. And I can still stick to my guns with boycotting Richards.
 
I just got the stock from Boyd's and it's a beauty. I actually did a special order and picked the royal Jacaranda laminate and also added checkering. The finished problem is super smooth and looks fantastic. I'm still waiting on my barreled action so we'll see how much in inletting needs to be done. I know I will have to cut the notch for the bolt handle and knob.
 
I used that color on a thumbhole stock I put on my 98 and love it. Even though mine slid right in with just a touch of sanding, I will be bedding it properly later. You will be happy with your purchase!
 
Just got my Mauser project finished. Hoping to sight it in tomorrow.

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