Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Cutting Mauser Actions

I posted this over on AR as well, wondering what you all think?

I was pondering the possibility of cutting two FN Commercial Mauser 98 actions into two parts; the cut on the first action being closer to the front ring, and then cutting the second action closer to the rear ring. Then proceeding to mate the front of action number 1 to the rear of action number 2 and vice versa. (also modifying the bolts/extractors accordingly) Thus making a LR Kurz action as well as a LR Magnum Action, and being able to use corresponding aftermarket bottom metal.

There are better ways to get a short action as well as a magnum action, and I'm certainly not trying to dispute that fact. I merely think it would be neat to have a matched pair rifles in say a .250 savage and .375 H&H with actions that match the cartridge length. (I have a long action .22-250 that shoots brilliantly but the miss use of space is rather irritating.)

I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, and I've seen shortened Mausers before, but have any of you undertaken a project like this? What was the cost of the cut and switch? I figure you could look around and find two suitable actions for 1000 USD and if it cost less than 2-3k for the change you'd be miles ahead of trying to buy a pair of originals.

This might just be a pipe dream, but I'm interested nonetheless.

Thanks,

John

It's been done in the past, I have a gunsmithing book that showed a mdl 70 being cut down to make a short action.

The key would be finding a smith willing to tackle the project. Most smiths nowadays seem to be more parts swappers than metal smiths. I have no doubt there are several guild members fully up to the project, but they don't work for cheap.

All things are possible with time, money and desire.

Most Mauser actions are just mild steel, so the welding part really wouldn't be tough. It could be welded with literally any kind of welding process because since you don't have to control the heat because everything will have to be re-heat treated. So the actual welding is easy.

Making the fixture to do the welding is where you run into money. You will need a custom heat sink to run down the center of the two pieces to keep everything concentric, and to minimize warping...there is always warping when you weld steel. Then after the weld, there will be a good deal of file work to make sure the bolt still slides easy, and the outside all blends in.

Then you have to do the bolt. Same thing, you want a fixture that will keep warping to an absolute minimum.

And of course, all will have to be re-heat treated when done.

Would be a cool project, but it wouldn't be cheap. I know a gent who could do it, but it would depend on if he has the time.

I think I could do it, but I'd rather practice on one of my guns than practice on a customer's gun.

I came close to buying such a piece in 250 Savage from a 'smith I used to use in Conroe Texas. As noted, a lot of work to get it all right. This gent had done just that.

I have a couple VZ24 actions cut and swapped for a 6mmBR and a 338LM.

Clark

The stuff you have never ceases to amaze me.

^ a kurz LR would no doubt be the way to build a compact hunter in say 7.92x33... Thanks for bringing this up.