I am no expert, but I did just research some of this for a J.C. Higgins M50.
Safety:
- A three-position safety would be nice, but not as much as people seem to demand it. A two-position safety is actually fine operationally as far as safety. It is easy enough to safely unload a controlled feed rifle (like a Mauser), even one having a blind magazine, because you never have to close the bolt as you run the rounds into and out of the chamber. When starting to unload, you are “vulnerable” for only a few seconds when you switch off the safety to open the bolt on the chambered round. If you are concerned you gun is going to fire then, you have a major problem you need to address. In fact, if the rifle is working as it should, you should be able to safely unload even a push feed, blind-magazine rifle, one where you have to close the bolt on each round. Even so, I admit I prefer controlled feed actions. In all cases, regardless of the gun involved, muzzle awareness will prevent an accidental discharge from becoming a tragedy.
- You may want the capability to disassemble the bolt without tools. You might be willing to live with one that requires the rim of a cartridge, possibly even a cartridge rim and a coin, but the fewer tools, the better.
- For a low mounted scope, you basically have three choice:
1. Buehler “low swing” style. These are two-position safeties. They are the least expensive.
a. Buehler – This is an old brand that I don’t think is made any longer.
b. Timney – This is enough of a copy of the Buehler, that it is called “Buehler style.” I think it is the best one as far as ease of installation.
c. Dayton Traister – This is a bit less expensive than the Timney, but not enough to matter. The reason to consider this one is I think it may allow the scope to be mounted lower than the Timney will allow.
2. Side swing style – These are two-position, but will operate with the same motion as a three-position when going from fully safe to fire. They are actually kits, so you can have one installed in your shroud, or buy one already done, shroud and all (My choice, since if the guy messes up the shroud, it is his problem. And unless you are doing it yourself, you are paying someone else to fit it. So, pay the guy who is already set up, who has done a bunch of them, and knows the tricks.) An interesting thing is that while I don’t like the looks of these as much as the M70 style three-position ones, I have seen picture of at least two different VERY expensive David Miller Mauser rifles that appear to use this type of safety. These were SUPER expensive custom rifles, so I expect there was a reason other than economy that caused Miller to use this style of safety. I suppose he could have been too proud to use a part from another maker of the three-position safeties, but I wouldn’t think so.
a. Wisner – I personally like the look of these more than the Glen Chapman, and some people say they are a better design that is also easier to install.
b. Glen Chapman
c. PME? – I think this is the same company as the Wisner?
I think you can find one installed in a shroud for $110 to $130.
3. Model 70 style three-position - One of this style may be required if you want to be able to disassemble the bolt without tools, and this can be a very good feature to have.
a. Dakota Arms – This one is from a company that builds good rifles. It is about $150 from Brownell’s.
b. Pacific Tool & Guage – Some knowledgable people think this is the same as the Dakota, meaning Dakota makes it for Pacific Tool & Guage or the other way around.
c. Gentry - It is about $190 from Brownell’s. Some say the Gentry can be loose on some bolts, but not usually on good quality guns. Presumably, it wouldn’t be loose on an FN.
d. New England Custom Guns (NECG) – Is this actually a Recknagle? I don't know. $220 from Midway.
e. Ed LaPour – Not sure how much, but I bet it is at least $250.
f. Stuart Satterlee - $250, according to his website.
The last two are well regarded builders of custom rifles, and Satterlee actually builds actions from scratch.
Hope this helps.
Gun Doc
Last edited by GunDoc7; 03/19/15.
