Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Building rifle on G33/40 action!

Glad someone brought this thread back up. I had my first rifle built on a Springfield action in the 1960's. It changed several times over the years and was eventually sold. That was a big mistake, but I was hooked on rebuilt military rifles. I only messed up a couple though. I always tried to find one that was way down hill from collectable.

While I never really cared one way or the other for a G33/40, I have always liked the Mexican 1936. I think it is the best looking of all Mauser rifles and have had my eye out for a good one for years. I found it some years ago as a poorly done, halfway put together sporter. As Muledeer said, used ones are out there that someone else has taken the big bite on and if you are careful they can be very reasonable to re build. This one had a nice piece of wood that was shaped all wrong, the action metal was nice but the bore looked like the inside of an old chimney. Exactly what I was looking for. It made into the rifle I have wanted for years. I had it re barreled in 7mm Mauser and had the stock re shaped. The metal was cleaned up and cerakoted (for now). The action is slick as a ribbon and feeds the 7mm very smoothly. I'm still tossing around getting the checkering done on it or just leaving the wood as is. I might get a nice wraparound pattern on just the grip area.

One thing about this thread is that the topic is great, but there just aren't enough pictures....

Nice walnut!

Very nice stick.

No kidding, I miss his posts, talked to him on the phone a couple of times before cancer got him.

Is this not the action that is used on Phil Shoemakers 505 GIBBS ?

Beautiful rifle.

Personally I agree with the Mauser action needs to be in a nice piece of walnut crowd. Nothing against synthetic/fiberglass stocks. I have two customs built; both in 35 Whelen. Both will shoot under MOA. The one I had built was based on a Win70 action. Schneider heavy barrel and McMillan stock. The other I inherited. 1909 Argentine action in a nice walnut stock. Cost about the same total to build by the same 'smith but at least 10yrs apart. I built mine as a target rifle; yeah I'm loony like that but I like the cartridge. The other was built for hunting. Absolutely perfect for that. Reasonably light and comes to the shoulder perfectly. Push comes to shove I know which one would head out the door. The other would be the last one to ever leave. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.

I think right now is a great time to be looking for a good 98 action already in a walnut stock. That doesn't seem to be what the new generation is looking for and the "old pharts" (I'm getting there, but I'm not there quite yet!) that built them in the early 60's and 70's are turning them loose. Or their estate is turning them loose. I've seen several in the last few months on the internet that were worth a second look and I'm watching a couple of them right now. A couple of the ones I saw were the G33/40 actions that a nice custom had been built on. Couldn't build a new one for what it would take to buy one of them. Just have to study the pictures and know what you are looking at. Many of the sellers really don't know what they have.

My gun smith doesn't gouge me for that. He bends the bolt, removes the rear sight, installs a stronger firing pin spring, adds a Timney Trigger and a 3 position safety. nd screws in \the barrel of my choice and head spaces it for about $600. if I supply the barrel and the action.

That's some of my favorite looking wood. I like the shade and tone