What to do with an old sporter(M98 Mauser)

[CrazyIrishman]

Hi guys,

I have a 50's vintage sporter built on a 98 Mauser action. The action was made at Oberndorf in 1934 and it has the Mauser banner on the front ring w/ the year. It also has the stripper clip guide and thumb cut-out. The trigger appears to be an old Timney. Bolt operation is smooth as glass. Excellent blue job.

The barrel is a Douglas XX dated 5 27 1957, cal. 22-250 w/ a varmit profile. (ironically,the day before I was born!)

The scope that came on it is a Leupold 8X w/ fine reticle and two piece mounts, both date from the 50's .

I have thought about replacing the stock should I have it rebarreled as it doesn't quite fit me. I'm having mixed feelings about it because its in pretty good shape overall. I usually go by the old adage "if it ain't broke,don't fix it"!

And lastly,my brother previously owned it but he never shot it. Now he's gone to the "happy hunting grounds". This alone has kept me from doing anything to it. OTOH it feels a little strange having a firearm that one doesn't use. A rare collectible I can understand.

Has anyone else been in this dilemma? Any thoughts would be appreciated.


Thanks,

CI

 

[Cosmoline]

I'd be inclined to leave it as is. Yes, it's been changed from the Oberndorf original, but it sounds like a very nice job was done and not just a hack and slash. I'd be tempted to just use it as an excuse to get into the 22-250.

 

[dakotasin]

stocks are pretty easy and inexpensive to modify to fit you. guess i'd start there - get the stock to fit.

unless the scope is too hard to see out of, or won't hold zero, or is the kind that requires windage and elevation adjustments to be carried out on the bases, i'd leave the scope as is. i would probably put new mounts on, however (talley lightweights - the ring is integral to the base, $43, or warnes - $20-ish for the rings and $15-ish for bases).

then go ahead and shoot it. probably shoots fantastic, and you are missing out on a real tackdriver! good luck w/ it, and do enjoy it. the 22-250 is a real sweetheart cartridge, and i think your brother knew that, too... so, even though he never shot it, there are some cartridges a man should just own a rifle so chambered on principle.

 

[Art Eatman]

"I have thought about replacing the stock...as it doesn't quite fit me."

Too long? Easy to shorten; either remove a thick butt pad and/or cut the stock as necessary. There is no worthwhile amount of recoil to a .22-250. Too short? Add a thicker butt pad and spacers if necessary.

One thing for sure: You have as good an action there as one could hope to buy. And the bolt-face will fit any of the common cartridges in the '06 "family".

, Art

 

[CrazyIrishman]

Thanks guys,I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Is there anything peculiar with the 22-250 cartridge? For instance, is it hard on the throat (throat erosion)or rifling,etc.... ?

The original 8X Leupold scope went back to the factory for a "check-up" ,seals checked etc, Due to it being an old design there's only so much that can be done to it. I had asked if the reticle could be changed since its a fine wire instead of duplex reticle. Can't be done.

I have another scope but it might be overkill for it. Its a Nikon Monarch 6.5-20 X 44mm with a duplex (NikoPlex)reticle.

What kind of range is this cartridge good for? BTW, the stock "fix" has been staring me in the face all the time too! Put a thicker pad on it! Now why didn't I think of it!LOL


Thanks again!

 

[dakotasin]

being hard on the throat is very relative. compared to a 30-30, yeah, the 22-250 is hard on throats. compared to a 220 swift, the 22-250 is easy... consider that i got my first 22-250 about 10 years ago, and it has seen many prairie dog shoots. it still isn't shot out.

another thing peculiar about the 22-250 is that when it is loaded w/ 52 grain matchkings and h-380, they are all quite accurate.

your nikon scope is the perfect magnification range for that gun. put it on!

range... well, anything the 223 can do, the 22-250 can do better. it gets more velocity than the 223, and is every bit as accurate. so, whatever you consider an effective range w/ the 223, be comfortable in knowing the 22-250 will do at least that much. i have killed prairie dogs to over 600 yards w/ one of my 22-250's, and have taken several coyotes in excess of 450 yards. i know of folks who shoot much better than i that say the 1000 yards is possible. i don't know about that - it is after all just a 22, which makes it quite susceptible to wind, but i'm sure somebody takes 'em to 1000...

 

[redneck2]

the 22-250 has typically been considered the ultimate varmint cartridge by some. About as much speed as you can get without cooking the barrel too quickly. They can be exceptionally acurate.

With the amount of powder relative to bullet/bore size, the barrels heat pretty fast. I'd keep shots to 1 per minute or longer. If you reload, I'd probably stick to mid-range loads if possible. Brass and barrels will last considerably longer.

Go to Varmint Al's website and get info on measuring chamber dimensions. If you've got a custom barrel, it may be chambered tight. If so, it may be particularly accurate.

I have a 6x18 Leupold on my Rem 700 22-250

 

[Mike Hull]

I have thought about replacing the stock should I have it rebarreled as it doesn't quite fit me. I'm having mixed feelings about it because its in pretty good shape overall. I usually go by the old adage "if it ain't broke,don't fix it"!

That question is a bit confusing.

If the stock is just wrong for you, restock it, but the barrel has nothing to do with fit.
If it shoots good, leave the barrel alone and get a stock you like, that feels good to you, and just enjoy the rifle.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have thought about replacing the stock should I have it rebarreled as it doesn't quite fit me. I'm having mixed feelings about it because its in pretty good shape overall. I usually go by the old adage "if it ain't broke,don't fix it"!

Get a nice drop-in stock from Corelite, Bell and Carlson or Boyds (about $70 to as high as you want to go from Midway www.midwayusa.com .) There's no law that says you have to throw the old stock away, and you can always put it back on and restore the rifle to original condition.

As for rebarelling, how does it shoot? If it shoots good, shoot it until it NEEDS rebarreling.