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Can anyone tell me the best mauser to use for a custom rifle build and a good place to locate one? Looking to have either 338/06, 9.3x62, or 375h&h.
Thanks
Mark

Depending on your $$$$$ availability, I would choose the Brno ZG-47 for the 9.3, I have two orginals so chambered now in good synthetic stocks and they just ROCK, I also have a gorgeous ZG action from a "beater" 9.3, in case I can afford to build another one.

The .338-06, a Brno 21/22 series small ring action is my first choice, a HVA with steel BM is my second. I prefer Mod. 70 type safeties on all of these.

If, you cannot find or afford the above, I would go with a FN "C-ring" action for the 9.3 and the HVA for the .338. These ARE oit there and you should get one for $400.00ish in fine condition.

I have owned a .375H&H in a Browning Safari Grade and I do not care for this round in Mausers...and, yes, I KNOW all about what can be done, etc.

For that, I would go with a Winny Classic with the Duane Weibe retro mag box, spring and follower for a 4+1 capacity and with minor mods,done by a GOOD smith, I would take this over any other action for H&H-length cartridges. Again, I own all of these, this is not just speculation.

Thanks for the info I will look into it. I have a win m70 classic 375 and really like it. But I have been reading a lot about the old African hunters and want to build an express style rifle. Thinking along the lines of a Mauser. My Winchester is stainless with McMillan featherweight stock and I wanted something more traditional.

I'm a fan of the FN actions.......more than anything, due to availability and price. Most all of mine are '50s actions with the H-ring action. I have one early '48 FN C-ring action that is the smoothest of all. 2 are Huskies, 1 is a Sako, 2 are J C Higgins, and 2 are Firearms International. Also at one time I owned an early Weatherby on an FN.

All of this to say that what ever FN you do find should work extremely well for your purpose.

That sounds like an Ideal 375H&H set up to me, but I guess not the traditional look you're going for. If you decide to sell it, it should go fast in the classifieds here.

Mine is built on a VZ 24. Persian contract and 1909 Argentine are also excellent.

I have one built on a very nice and somewhat rare "Mexican" action. It's a Short action large ring FN designed around the 7x57. It's about 3/8" - 1/2" shorter than the standard K98 action. I have my gun chambered for the 284win.









Another nice action is the Model 38 swede action. great metallurgy, trim, and strong enough for 308/30-06 cartridges.

For the ultimate express rifle,like others have said it just depends how much money you have. Two ways to go,using a Mauser clone action,which would probably be a action made by GMA in Arizona,a Satterlee made by Stuart in Deadwood South Dakota, or a european clone made in Germany by Prechtl or FZH.

GMA is going to be about 3500.00 and will not feed straight from the box and require finishing by your riflesmth. The Satterlee will feed straight from the box and be about 98 pct finished,but Satterlee delivery times have been spotty and long times for delivery. Both are excellent actions.

You can contact Montana Rifle (MRC) as they make Mauser hybrids also. Another source is Wayne at AHR who specialises in custom CZ actions and rifles.

You can expect to spend a minimum of 10K to 12K on a fine Mauser rifle done right. Whether going with a clone or an original M98 Mauser action that has been reworked for the specific cartridge.

For the 375 Holland I used a model 70. I would use a M98 on anything smaller and for Express I used the actions below.

2 Satterlee magnum Mauser actions 416 & 450 Rigby

Not to say there aren't other options like buying a 375 Whitwoth or
going with something like this....

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=335977592

Building one from scratch on a mauser makes a fine rifle if it is done by a knowledgeable builder and you bring a shift pot full of money.

I found a pretty nice 1924 Mexican Mauser in my area if anyone
is interested shoot me a PM.

price?

Sorry, $399.99, bolt is not matching but the numbers are very
close.

Mark,

Check out Harald Wolf's magazine at hataritimes.com. He is a gunsmith and big game hunter and has excellent articles in his magazines and ads from the big guns" in Europe for their products.

For example:

http://hataritimes.com/crs/files/leseprobe_e_1.7.pdf

jim

Thanks for all the info guys

Does anybody have any info about the 1909 argentine actions?

The Argentine 1909 is a standard length Mauser action, which means it is a bit short for a longer cartridge such as the 375 H&H Magnum. There is some dispute about whether it might be a bit on the soft side for a Magnum cartridge but if it is in good condition it should be fine for a 30-06 based cartridge. Its main attractions are its outstanding workmanship, perhaps the best of any pre-WW I military Mauser action and equal to its commercial Mauser counterpart, and its magazine plate release which is in the trigger bow - the only standard military Mauser action which had this feature.

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

Shod

What about a Zastava commercial Mauser pattern rifle aka Interarms MkX?

The actions are less than 400 bucks new down here so they may well be cheaper in the US.

I admire you Mauser purists but 3500 bucks for an action.... phew!

The Swede can make a nice trim rifle. My 7x57.







The Erfurt can make a trim one to. My 8x57.



Not cheap to have built but not too bad when bought second hand.