Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A Young Lady's First Build

So I got a project inside a project. I did enough horse trading to get an action. I turned right around and handed it too my girlfriend. She, in turn, wants to build her own rifle. She is going to do all the work herself with mine, and my FFL's guidance. It is a 1946 vintage La Coruna. She wants to keep the locking screw type bottom metal. I believe she wants to go a small step further and cut off/weld on a new bolt handle instead of forging.

Questions
One piece or 2 piece scope base?
Keep it machine off the charging hump?
Keep or tig weld and machine smooth all markings except S/N

Finally, what caliber? She is 5'5" and 120lb. Something easily available, light recoiling, and accurate. We're leaning toward the 7-08

Hmmm, need pictures of girlfriends build

I think 7-08 would be nice, one I have never tried, but I would like one.
My late brother and I always just heated bolt and bent and shaped it.
I do like taking the hump off, sometimes it is nice to just make a working rifle and not worry about cosmetics.
As for bases I use both, some say one piece is better as it can help strengthen the action.

I was thinking one piece too.

I don't have any build appropriate for the campfire pics

I strongly suggest you take your questions to Mauser Central.

http://www.mausercentral.com/index.htm

The gunsmiths there are the reigning experts on the ins and outs of Mauser actions. They will probably bring up many questions you have yet to ask.

I forget,is that a 98, or 95 mauser?
If its a 95,I would go with a lower pressure round,like a 6.5 x 55 mouser.
If its a 98,I would do the 7-08,very light recoil with the 120 gr bullet, but still excellent for deer.

As to caliber I would suggest .250-3000 or .257 Roberts with a 22" barrel contoured like a winchester M/70 featherweight, both are proven deer rounds with light recoil especially with 87 grain bullets. I have always used one piece scope mounts, Redfield or Leupold are excellent, a 2-7x Leupold would be my scope of choice.

6.5x55.

This.

"Something easily available, light recoiling, and accurate."


I would lean either 257 Roberts or 7x57 t'were it me.

7x08 can be a bit sharp recoil in a light rifle. Thats all I have to add.

Wife is 5 lighter and 1 shorter than yours... she has shot everything up to 460 wtyb and 50 bmg....

Shoots up to 300 mags all the time.

Although most deer are 300/221 or 308.

Deer only, or are bigger game in the mix?

A 6.5 Creedmoor could be interesting.

Deer would be biggest. She's shot .300wm, .458wm and 45-70. She dislocated her shoulder awhile back and it's not really healed all that well. I have a single stage RCBS press so I could teach her to reload as well.

6.5x55 would be good. The Spanish is a 98 Large Ring. I know we have a 7-08 reamer, I think we have a .257bob reamer. Not sure about the 6.5x55.

I like the redfield 1pc base, and either a bold or Timney trigger, and a low swing safety. If she really wants, we'll go with the Dakota m70 style 3 position.

6mm Remington

Reloading can take the 7x08 to any level you want going downwards..... you could go to 1500 fps and use varmint bullets...

You can't take a 243 or such up past what it is.

Though I haven't seen much over the years I oculd not have killed with a 223...

Fun project. I have much love for the .257 Roberts and love seeing them in an old classic action. That said, the 7x57 is another fine choice and won't be something you'll have issues with feeding.

7x57 or 6.5x55

Since you already have a 7-08 reamer that's what i'd choose.

I would, however, check around some Mauser experts to determine pressure maximums just to be on the safe side...

Otherwise, 7-08 can be loaded down to nice, comfortable levels up to a fairly authoritative SA cartridge.

Does everything the 7x57 does with easier to locate brass.

I have R.A. Walsh's book, as well as Jerry Kunhausen's. One of the 2 has a recommended cartridge list for each type of action (95, 96, 98). At the shop now we have a .300wm Mauser, a .458wm Mauser and a .45-70 Mauser. We just screwed together a .308, .45acp, and , 7.62x39.

I don't see pressures being a problem, but then again, it's not for me. So far, the 6.5x55, 7-08, and 7x57 are top choices. It'll be ultimately her decision.

Good article for anyone with the same question as me.
https://www.gunandgame.com/threads/6-5x55-swede-or-the-7mm-08.50650/