A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to come across a 98 Mauser action with the "FN" scroll banner on the front bridge. I married it up with some decent bottom metal, added a model 70-style safety and had the bolt bent....and there it sits. My original plan was to have it barreled in 9.3X62, but the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards .375 H&H. How big of a deal is it to convert a standard length 98 to fit a .375?

My first question, besides why the 375 H&H over the 9.3x62, would be what are the dimensions of the bottom metal you added?
A 9.3x62 would be the easiest, a .375 Ruger would be a little more difficult as you would have to open up the bolt face and extractor and possibly open the feed rails, and the 375 H&H would require opening the bolt face and extractor, a longer box, opening the rails and removing some feed ramp and bolt stop and ejector.
None of it is terribly difficult for someone who has experience.

458 Win is right , of course; could be done in 375 with the right work in the right hands. I'm a 375H&H fan but would be inclined to leave that fine old action as is and go 9.3x62.

I must be getting to be a sentimental slob, but avoid hacking at things like fine old FN actions and original pre 64 M70's....both are rare enough to be scarce and I like them the way they came from the factory anymore. Plenty of other stuff out there from which to whittle a 375H&H if we want.

A 9.3 should be a piece of cake.

As a user of the 9.3x62 since 2000 I would go that route without question. My 375 H&H is based upon the BRNO ZKK-602 action that it quite comfortably accepts so my choice.

OK. I can buy that. I guess I will stay on the 9.3 path. Who makes a 9.3 barrel?

Just about everyone worth buying from. Brux will make a you nice one if you prefer cut rifling. If you are ok with Button rifling then Lothar Walther makes a great barrel at a very good price.

If the bottom metal you have is currently correct for your action it will be too short for the H&H cartridge. You will either need to alter it, like FN did, or purchase new pupose made bottom metal. Duane Wiebe, Swift, and others make them.


I have an Interarms in 375 H&H. Great rifle but if I am building off a standard 98 action like your FN, I prefer either the 9,3x62 (my favorite) or the .375 Ruger. A properly built .375 H&H is an expensive proposition.

The 9,3x62 9 out of 10 times requires little or no modifactions to make them feed properly. But, because the case is wider at the shoulder, capacity is reduced from 5 rounds to 4. You can often regain the extra round by simply thinning the mag box walls at the shoulder so the rounds stack better. Its cheating but it works.

The .375 Ruger is almost as easy if you start with a Magnum boltface action. If not, you simply open the bolt face, adjust extractor and be prepared to contend with feed rail mods. I have built two Zastava actions into Rugers recently, one a .375 the other a .416, easy peasey. I started with a 7mm mag action for the .375 and for the .416 I used a .30-06. Start with a magnum, it will save you $$$$.

The 9,3x62 is by far the least expensive build if starting with an '06 boltface. Next would be the .375 Ruger, and in a distant 3rd place is the .375 H&H. All depends on your budget.

For fun, Mike can you show us some pics of the builds you referenced above?

Thanks!

Jeff

Jeff, Here you go.

The most recent 9,3x62 I finished. Not my usual build but the Owner lives in Alaska and wanted an all weather rifle. Built on a 1930's Banner model 98 action. Synthetic stock & Cerakote finish. Note the custom bases that were required to fit the side saddle scope base holes.





This one was built on another standard 98 action. Owner supplied the stock. 7.25 lbs as it sits. LW barrel.



This one is a .375 Ruger built off an H&R 7mm rem. Stock was retained and an ebony tip and recoil pad added along with a refinish of the stock. Pics were taken just after bluing but before the stock was refinished. Sadly, no pics with the refinished stock.


I liked the .375 Ruger so much I built myself a .416 Ruger off a Zastava z98 action shown here next to a Whitworth .375 H&H. Sights and stock are yet to come.

When I was working on my desire for a 375 H&H on a standard Model 98 action, I thought about having one built on a J. C. Higgins FN action that I had. In the end, for the reasons cited here, I shopped for a Whitworth. The expensive mods were already done at the factory. I'm glad I went that way.

do you have other pics of the wooden 9.3?

This is the only other pic I can find. It was taken prior to his reworking the stock.



I have decent pic here of a cz550 I gussied up.



What in particular are you wanting to see?

I've done quite a few 9,3x62's.

Oh, anything. I have always felt the whitworth 375 felt quite "right" in my hands. As close to a London made rifle as I have ever held except of course for a few London made C&H and H&H trade quality guns I've found here and there at my cabela's.

i've been a fan of your work ever since you put up a pic once of a 338-06 you did. a modern 318 wr in my book! you can post that one for us if you have any pics, too!

Here's the .338-06.




Thanks, glad you like the rifle. So did a customer of mine, he liked it enough to recently talk me out of it.

Bluefish,

The wood stocked one is mine. It's off getting checkered, so may be awhile before I can get more pics.

It's got a 23" LW #718 contour (one of the pre-threaded and pre-chambered barrels they offer). Makes for a really great handling rifle and makes my 375 H&H feel like a brick. With scope, sling and ammo, it's still under 9 pounds.



This is just the stock before finish was applied.

Sevens,

The rifle finished up quite nicely. Can't wait to see the final product after checkering. The stock wood was very dense, making for a hell for stout stock, one that will serve you well for a long time. A less dense stock would have resulted in a lighter rifle but this one balances well, points well, and is quite solid. It will be a pussycat to shoot too making for an extremely accurate rifle.

You did a great job on the stock!

Thanks Mike. What about the other 338-06 with the octagon barrel that you were finishing up about the same time you were finishing mine? That one has a pretty stock on it as well. Can you post up any pics of that one?

It should have been done by now but I had some minor surgery on my arm, cancer scare. All better now and the doc gave me a clean bill of health. I am working toward finishing that one up.

Thanks.

zlr,

Nice work.

I agree with posters advising to use a round with a .473" case head in a std. Mauser action.

I have both the 9.3x62 and .375 H&H. There isn't enough difference to chop up a fine classic Mauser action, IMHO. Gunner500 shoots 320 gr. Woodleigh's in his 25", 9.3x62 Heym Mauser at 2,400 fps with RL-17. I report that to make this point, the 9.3x62 can be an impressive DG round, not leaving a whole lot on the table compared with the .375 H&H. (But, of course the H&H can be up loaded, too. And case capacity will win out every time.)

I picked up this 98 FN action, already with a lot of custom features and built a 9.3x62. An inexpensive but very solid stock is the B&C Medalist. Shilen makes a 9.3 barrel and when we were looking, offered the quickest turnaround time.





We turned that action into this 9.3x62.

Dirtfarmer,

What bases and rings are on that rifle? Looks like an extension front base. Are those Talley's?

Did you skim bed that Medalist or just "bolt her in"?

Yes, those are Talley QD's and the front is an extension base.

I did skim bed the Medalist. Don't know if it needed it, just makes me feel better...

You got a good eye for this stuff...

DF

All big bores Must have Open Sights!>That is a Must!Enjoy.

Thanks for the answer. Looks like it made up into a fine rifle!

As for my eye -- sometimes I pay attention!

Is your bottom metal 06 length or standard mauser length?

Standard Mauser.

DF

Sorry DF, was asking Mossyrock. Nice snag on the FN.

I mostly let the bottom metal be my guide as well, but do chop without any consternation...of course, my smitty is no hack...:)

Better to be satisfied with the choice than enduring the cognitive dissonance involved with cartridge remorse later...and action-wise for me, there is no substitute for fine old mausers...

FWIW, my advice to the OP is to do the action purchase justice by taking enough time in making sure of your cartridge selection decision, rather than worry about doing a little smithing on a commercial mauser action.

I agree with that statement.

Those fine classics don't need to be messed with, IMHO.

Go with what they were designed for.

DF

grinning...yeah, in a couple hundred years the museums will be curious as to why have to go to Louisiana to get a unadulterated example and there are none around the Great Lakes...

I wonder if anyone has produced more 375 H&H on 98 mausers than FN? One thing is for sure, you don't see any used Mark X 375 H&H for 400 bucks anymore...had a couple Browning 98s 375s go thru my hands with knockout wood....kinda regret that a little now...

We got some Cajuns and good food in Louisiana, too...

DF

must be why they decided to re-build New Orleans and start plowing Detroit under...

My wife is a French-Canukie Cajun derivative and it's been interesting...:)

I wouldn't recommend a trip to Louisiana, or New Orleans, looking for "purists" of any kind...

After all, this is the home of Laissez les bons temps rouler.

That said, this is just my opinion and what I would go with. No telling what these Cajuns would do with a pristine, vintage Mauser action. If it won't go in a gumbo, they may not do anything with it. Lot more shotguns than rifles down on the bayou. More rifles and Rednecks in North LA.

DF

It is a former FN military Mauser that I bought as a bare action. I lucked into a Mark X bottom metal, so we are talking standard length all the way. Right now, with the exception of the bottom metal, safety and bent bolt (which I will likely replace with a longer Oberndorf style), the action is pretty rough. Once I get the Husqvarna 9.3X57 and the Model 70 Featherweight off of my bench, this will likely be my next project. If nothing else, I will do some clean up and polishing and will likely replace the military trigger. Or, if I get ambitious, I will convert it to a single pull trigger and try to get it below its current ten pound pull weight.

That Husky 9.3x57 should be a sweet project. Not quite the bite of the 9.3x62, but a nice round, nonetheless.

Look forward to photos.

DF

Well, that Husky is kind of interesting. When I got it, the finish was very worn, but the bore was pristine. It wasn't drilled and tapped, so I elected to have an XS receiver sight installed instead. I also had it converted to cock-on-opening and had a model 70-style safety installed. I am just finishing up with the refinish. At some point in it's life, someone cut off the stock short. And I mean SHORT. I removed the pad that was on it, added two spacers and a 1" pad and brought it up to an even 13" LOP. Yeah...it was THAT short. Oddly enough, this rifle has a VERY nice stick of wood with very nice figure. Most of the checkering was gone when I got it, so I refinished the stock with a sanded-in finish. I SHOULD be able to put it together tonight. Maybe I will snap a few pics when I get it put together.

Is that you Tom???

Jim

Below is a picture of a .375 H&H on a commercial FN Mauser in a Brown Precision stock and light, 22" Shilen. As pictured, it went about 7.75 pounds. Now it has a Leuopold 2.5x and goes about 7.5 pounds. It feeds slick and balances like a nice shotgun. Other than a proclivity for eating scopes, probably my most perfect rifle, and I don't mind that an old Higgins FN got cut to get to this result:

well yeah...:)

Very good looking gun!

May I ask what exact colour this is?

Thank you!