Ok so I have about 12 barrels all new sitting in my Gun closet. Prob. 8 of them match grade or better the rest are wild cards because the companies that made them long ago went out of business pre-internet or no name is on those ones etc. I should say that with the naked eye all of these mystery barrels are straight and nicely machined.

Since I have so many barrels all of them new sitting around I hate to spend money on something that I do not already have since any money saved is going into the wood for the stalk.

So my oldest son is in the Army National Guard, Works 40-70 hours a week at a restaurant and is going to school full time and will graduate from college this year. He has not borrowed any money he is paying his own way. Very very proud of that kid. So this rifle is a surprise for him. Currently he has a Remington 308 Win PSS that he used for F-TR and am AR in 5.56.

Since he already has F-Class TR covered and a 5.56 AR I was thinking hunting? Something that can reach out and can take larger game in N. America but be built very light so he can carry it into the mountains on foot for elk and prong horn with out the need of a quad or a horse.

I have a NOS Military Mauser LR and was thinking about doing a 300WSM. I had considered doing a 284 Win but my match grade 7mm is 1:10 and only 1.100 at the large end and my other 7mm is an unknown brand only 25 inches long and 1:9 twist but is 1.250 on the large end. If it was for me I would do the mystery 7mm barrel since it looks great down the bore but since it is going to be a gift I want to make sure I do not give him a lemon.

99% of my barrels are heavy profiles for F-Class and Varmint shooting as in 7lbs. to 13lbs. just in the barrels. Since I want it to be a hunting rifle I only have that 25 inch long 7mm 1:9 twist which is about a #2 profile in CM not sure if it is 4150 or 4350 and a 28 inch long 30cal 1:8 twist that is about a #3 profile in 416R. As long as I use one of these two barrels I can afford to get AA Curly Maple or AAA Clario Walnut. I was hoping to find some Mesquite to do the stock in but it seems to either be in short supply right now or only exhibition grade is on hand and just a bit outside of what I want to pay just for the blank.

Since I have never adjusted the feed rails in an action before I will send this action and barrel out to a good gunsmith and I will shape the stock and inlet it myself.

The Mauser is a M48A Yugo from about 12 years ago It was fired 12 times and my friend removed the barrel to make it into a custom rifle but cancer got him and he gave it to me shortly before he passed away. I put 6 of those 12 shots through it and my friend the other 6.Oh I have milled bottom metal for it so the stamped pieces will not be used.

I will likely do the stock in something like a Monte Carlo or Maybe Winchester M70 Super grade kind of classic shape. I am likely to do non-swiveling African style sling swivels inletted into the wood or barrel band and inletted sling swivel at the other end. Checkering is an option but it depends on the wood. Nothing worse then paying for great looking wood and ruining the beautiful figure with checkering. If I decide to do checkering I would prob. stop at Semi-Fancy grade wood.


So I looking forward to hearing everyone's thought on this! The action will be trued completely before re-barreling.

I will pillar bed it first since it is a Mauser and then glass bed it.

Oh one thing I wanted to ask everyone since the 30 cal barrel is 1:8 28 inches long already profiled, polished and crowned but un-chambered and un-threaded should I get fancy with the reamer's? Since it is 28 inches in finished length and 1:8 twist conceivably this rifle could easily handle the heaviest of 30 cal bullets no problem. Should I spec. a custom neck and throat? My son does not reload but I do so it is not an issues for me to reload ammo for him as long as he lives in the same state.

I need to get started on it soon because I need to have rotatory cuff surgery in the coming months.


Thanks everyone for any input. I want to iron out any kinks before I get started and many minds make for quick work when looking for potential problems. I always tell my 3 boys that it is great to learn from your mistakes even better to learn from other's that have been their and done that already! LOL