I just got my nine three project put together. It's on a 98 Mauser action that I bought from a Fire member, posted earlier. It's late 40's, early 50's and already had swing safety, Canjar trigger and Oberndorf type, three panel bolt handle. I had Jim Kobe fit a 22", #3 Shilen and blue (400 polish) the barreled action. I bought a B&C Medalist stock from Brownells, glassed and free floated the barreled action.

I want to get a VX-3 2.5-8x36 with post/crosshair and CDS. On hand is a 4200 Elite 3-9x40 and a VX-III 2.5-8x36. I have Talley rings and bought Talley bases. Had to send them back as I couldn't mount the Leupold like I wanted without a front extension base, which Talley doesn't (to my knowledge) offer. The Oberndorf, rather straight handle, takes more ring height to clear the scope eyepiece.

After searching the Brownell's catalog, figuring ring heights for quite a while, I decided to go with the new style Weaver rings with screws on both sides. These mounts are strong, light, and although not QDs, make on and off a breeze with no loss of zero. They're not as pretty as Talley and others, but this is a working gun, not a show piece.

Here's a photo of the gun and both scopes, lined up as they go on the gun for right eye relief. You'll see the 4200, extending back more than the Leupy. The 4200 has a 3.3" ER, the Leupy, 4.5"/3.6".



I like McM's more than B&C's, but there is a wait and Brownell has these stocks in inventory. Here is a photo comparing an Ed Brown Damara with McM and the Mauser with B&C Medalist. Not much difference is shape, although the B&C may be a tad straighter.



Here are photos comparing my .338-284 Alpha Arms Alaskan with the Mauser and comparisons of the two rounds.

G]



One's fatter, one's longer. They both demand respect and have a lot going for them.

DF

Here's a better photo of the bolt handle.

BTW, I shortened the front extension base, so nothing overhangs the action opening. I re-cut the crossbar groove in the base so the rear of the front ring fits flush. With the 2.5-8x36, none of the front base is wasted.

DF

Great looking rifle DF. Classic bolt knob looks great as do the mods on the front base; an awesome package all the way around!

Great looking rifle, good luck with it!

Great looking rifle and great idea with the base and ring...Let us know how she shoots......I've had my eye on a 9.3x62 also recently.......they just seem to make sense....

Yep...good looking rifle DF, and you are right..it'll be Mo' betta with a 2.5-8 on it....

Good utility gun...

Don't think that rifle would be good for anything, send it this way and I'll take it off your hands!

Like that a lot! I'm gathering parts for my own 9.3. So far I have a a mark x action w/ old style BM, dakota 3 pos safety, talley bolt handle. Still need trigger, sights, bbl band, bbl & would like to do wood.

I played with the idea of sights, even had a NECG peep sight on hand to see how I liked it. The B&C Medalist has a straight comb, set up for scopes. I'd need a different style stock to incorporate iron sights. So for this project, I decided to go with a slick barrel.

The compromise is in the reticle and low powered glass for fast shooting. If I was going to hunt African DG, I'd want a bigger gun and for sure, express sights. This gun could see African plains game and for sure North American big game.

DF

I wish I could get by with a 2.5-8 on a long action--would have to seriously cut the stock to get it to work for me.

Looked at the 3x for a 9.3...maybe

I don't know why they have to make those short scopes. Mounting them is generally a PITA. Makes one wish for the old 50's and 60's vintage Weaver K series. Those scopes were clear, good glass until we got spoiled with newer, high resolution scopes. At least they were easy to mount and were tough.

DF

short actions I guess...maybe genetics--fewer of us have the penal servitude design.

may will just put a Lupy 3-9 on my 9.3 rather than a the new 3x20--larger FOV...

i've got a terrible twitch to buy/build a 9.3x62. the .35 whelen is phenomenal, but the weightlifting kraut sibling is one intersting hammer for sure.

I've never owned a .35 Whelen, but have read good stuff about it most of my life.

I became interested in the nine three, reading about it on the Fire and elsewhere. They're pretty close, IMHO. Just depends on which way one wants to go. Hard to go wrong, either way.

The .338-06 is a good one. I like my .338-284, which is pretty close to the '06 version. Very accurate, hits hard, just like the nine three.

DF

Those are some fine lookin' rifles Dirtfarmer, them dang Louisiana hogs get to bothering ya to much, just holler and I'll pack up my 9.3 and be right there.

Gunner

We're not yet as bad off as those Texicans, regarding hogs. We're fighting hard to keep from ending up like them.

Those guys need help...

DF

10-roger........keep the pressure on 'em

Gunner

Interesting aside on the .338-284. I had an Alpha Arms std. grade in .270. I saw this gun in the Collectors Firearms listing. They'd had it a while and I convinced the dealer that he was going to have a real hard time selling a wildcat gun to anyone but a hard core gun nut/reloader like me. The Alpha Alaskan listed for a good bit more than the std. gun. The dealer agreed and we did a straight up swap. All was good until I discovered the .338 had a broken firing pin. It hadn't been fired but evidently had been snapped a bunch. Alpha went out of business years ago with no parts available. Because I liked the gun so much, I got gunmaker, James Flynn, to make a firing pin. Check him out on line, you'll be impressed.

James restores vintage, high end guns for clients all over the world and makes parts for H&H's, Purdy's, etc, so an Alpha Arms firing pin was no challenge for him. He made and properly hardened the new part, which is much better designed and made than the original. Because I grew up shooting with James, he took pity on the pricing and I came out OK.

DF

Forgot to add that the .338-284 was an Alpha Arms option back then and this gun is factory original. It is a neat design, the stock with aluminum bedding blocks. The action screws are before and behind the mag box, with the trigger group and tang floating. The receiver is a threaded tube and the bolt is fat with three lugs recessed, machined much like the Mark V Weatherby. The part that receives the lugs (lug recess) is screwed into the receiver, followed by the barrel and is jammed in place by the barrel. I guess this made manufacture easier, but I've not seen that set up on any other rifle. Seems to work.

Nice guns. Too bad Alpha Arms ceased to exist. They were located near Dallas.

DF

Well, all this 9.3 talk made me go out and buy a nice CZ 550 chambered in this great old round.....Thanks guys.....

Helluva deal BSA, if ya wanna shoot the heavies, I get an easy 2400 fps with the 320 Woodleigh's with RL-17, 1/2" gun at 100 using the 1.5-5 Leupold with the German #4 reticle.

Filed the rear express sight to be dead on at 50 yds prior to matte black cerakoting.

Gunner

Pictures.

DF

I didn't because you started this thread and didn't want to show off my new rifle on your thread.... ...but since you asked, here it is:

CZ 550 American 9.3x62 mauser w M8 4x leupy:


I really like it. So much that I just realized I have too many 30-06's and maybe 1 too many 308 win.....

Dang Gunner, that sounds nice. Do you have any pics of it??

PM sent BSA

Gunner

Can you post pictures?

DF

BSA,

Looks great. That 4X is mounted pretty far forward. Is the ER enough to get a good sight picture without stock crawling?

I'm guessing around 9# or so, all up...?

Have you shot it and what's that like?

DF

Hey DF, I just sent some pics to BSA, he can post 'em here if you dont mind me trashing up your thread.

Gunner

Gunner, have at it. More the merrier...

DF

Thanks, he said he'd post 'em shortly

Gunner

Here's gunners beautiful 9.3x62:

Thanks BSA, preshade it

Gunner

Nice wood. I'm sort of a John Deere man, too.

Guess we have a lot in common.

DF

Thanks DF, our good friend Karnis has worked majic on that stick of walnut, the rifle is a 60's Heym Mauser action with a 25" McGowen barrel, I sure like Mausers.

That old tractor is kind of a play purty, its an old '68 JD 5020 but has a 300 HP 619 cu in turbo diesel LOL, its a black smoke blowin' HOOT

Gunner

You must be into tractor pulls. Sounds like a real hot rod.

Kinda goes with the Mauser...

DF

edited for spelling.

That the stock I worked over? Haven't seen it assembled.

Ooops, just saw yer post.

Here's a pic of the stock up close:

Hey Thanks Karnis, Yessir, thats the one you done, dang I like those big red pads.

Gunner

No tractor pulls yet DF, but I'm sure it would do a fine job, the man i got it from said it had a 16 paddle? pulling clutch in it, has dual 20.5 - 38 Firestone radials on back LOL

Gunner

Them tires would mash a bunch of tomato plants...

Horsepower in spades, not much of a garden tractor...

DF

LOL but I do have fun chasin' calves and Wifeys horse around the pasture with it, every time I start that beast they all look and come runnin up ready to play.

Gunner

NICE...!

As always, Karnis strikes again.

Karnis, where did you find that Avatar photo? That dude must have been last runner up in a "pretty contest".

DF

Hey DF,

what were the NECG peep sights like?
I considered getting the weaver style mounted one for my 9.3x62.
The rifle in consideration is the one pictured below in the signature line.


I really like the NECG CZ550 style peep, and wish I could get one like that mounted on the Sauer.

Cheers,
Troy (AL)

The weak link on the 5020s was the deferential (Unless My Memory has gone south again), or perhaps the rear axles. Anyway, the standard engines had enough go to break them! They could be beefed up a la 5030. Have fun, jack

Troy,

NICE GUN!

The one I had was for Weaver bases and my 9.3x62 Mauser project. The stock I used, the B&C Medalist, was too straight for open sights, so I returned the NECG peep.

I'm working on a .404 J. and have a lead on a used Safari CZ. Those come with nice express sights. If I had a gun with the right stock set up and just a front ramp/sight, I'd get another NECG peep. For safari use, you'd have to keep it in your pocket and mount it in the field, which should be no problem.

They're well built and solid.

DF

Troy,

Forgot to ask about Sauer bases. From the photo, they look like Weaver bases. NECG makes several versions of their peep sight for different bases.

It looks like your express rear sight may be in the way for peep sight use, unless it can be removed. Check on line and give NECG a call.

DF

Dood, my wife took that picture of me.

and that was 20 years ago

Nope. Here's the pic twenty years ago. Hadn't done the face lift yet either.

Man, you got it bad. Hope it's not catching...

DF

LOL, I have always thought you had the funniest avatars Karnis........ya know theres people around here that look just like that.

Gunner

Yeah Gunner,

Kinda like those candid snap shots from various Wal-Mart's around the country that get circulated on line from time to time.

It's a "cultural series" sorta thing...

And the scary part, those people actually exist...

DF

Yes, and they breed and meet us head on at 65 MPH on the Hi-Way

Gunner

IIRC, it was the PTO shaft. It would break and was very expensive to repair, had to tear into the transmission. The 5020 wasn't one of JD's finest efforts, was heavy and clunky as I recall hearing.

But, the way you've got that 5030 powered up, it should be a beast for sure. BTW, what kind of engine?

DF

DF were you askin me about the engine or jt402?

Gunner

Not to turn this into a tractor thread but to my knowledge JD didnt make a 5030, the usual next step up in power was a 6030, and its engine at factory specs was rated at 175 HP.

My tractor is a 1968 5020 with 4" axels, its built like a tank and its original 514 cu in naturally aspirated diesel engine was a 133 hp dog, the tractor was very sluggish.

With the 4" axels, dual 38" rears and 16 paddle pulling clutch the 619 cu in turbo diesel at 300 HP is on permanent vacation around here spinnin a 20' batwing hog

Gunner

We can make this thread anything we want...

I was trying to remember the 5020 JD details I heard and that was a while back.

You're jogging my memory. That model was under powered and too heavy for the HP. It was the 4010 that broke PTO shafts and that problem was corrected with the 4020. Got my info crossed up.

Post a picture of that monster if you can.

DF

I sent Karnis some pics of my 9.3 this morning because the ones here turned out to small to see, if he posts them large you can see a good bit of that beast as the rifle is sitting on its right steer tire.

Gunner

dang I thought more of the tractor showed in one of those pics

But Thank You just the same Karnis.

Gunner

Which scope rings?

DF

DF, runnin steel Warne bases and Burris QD rings, they are very quick to the express irons.

Gunner

How do the Burris QD's compare with Warne QD's?

DF

They are alot slimmer and trimmer, also somewhat lighter, I dont think the soft recoiling 9.3 would require the forged Warnes, I run those on my 505 Gibbs chunkin 600 grainers at 2400+ FPS.

Gunner

Warnes are heavier, but they may be MIM instead of forged. Seems I remember reading they make the Leupold QD rings, too. They both have that same powder coat or whatever the coating is and that little steel cross pin that keeps falling out while trying to put the rings together.

I'll have to check out the Burris. Easy to take on and off?

DF

Yessir easy on and off, IIRC the Warnes are available in Sintered steel and Forged.

Gunner

Had to chop some off so as to focus on the reefle.

DF: little pricier but you might consider Talley QD's. They are skookum.

Here they is on my Mejicanomouser in .275 Rigby:

10-4 on the photo-chop, and thats one sexy messkin'

Gunner

+1 on that rifle. Cool rig and great stock work.

BTW, who did the wood..??

I tried Talley bases, but they wouldn't work with the short 2.5-8x36 scope and the full length FN. Talley doesn't offer an extension front base. So, I'm stuck with a Weaver compatible set of rings. I'm not a Burris fan, but their Weaver compatible QD's may be the best I can do for trim and light QD's.

I have Talley's on other guns and like them a bunch.

DF

Karnis... this is a fine stock and I will be pm'ing soon on this.. Best. Dai

I refinished it, fit the grip cap and pad and fixed a couple of other things if that's what you were asking. I can't remember where Gunner picked it up.

How about an extension hose clamp?

Great idea, Karnis.

I'll get one at ACE Hdw. after the holiday. Will post pictures...

Have a good one...

DF

Hey DF,

thanks for the reply. Sorry for the delay.
The rear sight on my Sauer is removable, so wouldn't pose a problem at all. More worried about the height of the peep, and whether it fits with the stock shape.
The bases on this rifle are Warnes.
Also had Warne QD rings for the scope, but don't think too much of the pair I have.
I now have some Weaver rings on it with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 x 40.

Has worked really well with the .270 barrel in it.








Next trip out, I'm hoping to have the 9.3 barrel in it.
Just need to consider a projectile for the thinner skinned quarry I intend to pursue with it (Think Red and Fallow deer)
Any suggestions on suitable projectiles for this would be greatly appreciated.

I'll be contacting NECG soon to organise a peep for the weaver bases too.

Cheers,
Troy

Nice...!

Keep us posted on the 9.3. What loads are you going to use?

DF

Cross referencing the VX-6 1-6x24 scope that ended up on the Mauser 9.3x62.

DF

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/6634130/3

You sure having a hard time picking a scope for that rifle arn't you........I thought you were going with that 1.75-6 leupold (or whatever that was you just bought). I'm sure it will shoot good and work for everything that walks with just about any kind of scope you put on it......Let us know how she works out and post a pic after you decide which scope you are going to throw on it.....What you going to do with the 1.75x6 now???

Yeah, you're observations are quite accurate.

I tried several scopes but when I put this one on the gun everything just "came together". The height for perfect eye alignment was there using low QD Warnes that I already had. The brightness and very forgiving eye box sold me on leaving this scope on this gun.

The German #4 and Fire Dot at 1X power makes for very fast target acquisition and steady aiming. The 6X and CDS should be perfect for longer shots.

The other scopes just didn't measure up to this one. The VX-3 1.75-6x36 would make a great backup scope or may end up on another rifle. That's a nice problem to have...

DF