Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters FN Mausers

Weagle, that looks remarkably like a Western Field mauser I have been trying to find info about! Is that a 2 position safety? Is the trigger guard short (a la Remingtion 700 ADL)? Where is it marked as an FN action? What is the Model # on the barrel? And last but not least, do you have any idea what stock would fit?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have thus far been unsuccessful at finding information about this rifle. I picked one up at a pawn shop with the intention of giving it to my dad, but it needs a new stock.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Stryker 60

Stryker, here is a link to a thread from a while back with some more info on the western field rifle.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads...true#Post406130

There are no FN markings on the action but apparently FW heym bought the actions and used their own barrels to make the rifles for US import by Montgomery Ward with the Western Field markings.

I'm still trying to find additional information.

Weagle

Thanks Much, weagle! That's more information than I've been able to obtain in over a year. A Heym barrelled FN mauser, I guess even with a broken stock I did ok for $200.

Stryker60

I'd give weagle $200 for that rifle right now!! $150 if it's a .30-06<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mike

These two threads were great! I would like to find one of the Western Field/Heym rifles to use for a .376 Steyr; the intermediate length would be perfect for this intermediate length cartridge.

Anybody see any laying around?

thanks...jim

Stryker, You might try one of the stocks made for the model 48 yugos. They may have the correct hole spacing and inletting but I'm not sure.

Look at this link for a some stocks that fit the intermediate lenght 48 mausers. http://www.sporterexpress.com/

Ready on the Right. I'm like you. I wish the rifle was anything but a 30.06 (7x57 comes to mind) but oh well I guess I'll pass on the buck fifty right now <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Did you ever do anything with the 1909 argentine?

Weagle

It's still ripening as we speak, I pulled the barrel and have the action on my computer desk too fondle occasionally. I have another rifle down at Roger Ferrell's getting some work done and I discussed some very preliminary ideas with him for the 09'
Mike

The H-ring Hunter Jim is talking about is a something to be aware of. The Inetrams M-98 actions have that same feature. If you get a case rupture, there is a straight line path for the gas right into the shooter's face.

I have seen that happen, the guy got powder residue all over his face. You wouold have to shoot an undersized case or have a rupture for it to be a problem.

Now the FN is an extremely smooth action and as long as you keep the H-ring in mind there won't be any problems.

However, the FN Wby's were not terribly accurate, prompting Roy to give us the Mk-5 action, carefully crafted factory ammo, and and accuracy guarantee. I believe all that was in response to all the issues involved in stuffing a big Wby case in a short M-98 action and then putting 3/4" of freebore in it.

HunterJim. I think the rifle at this link may be one of the intermediate FN actions. Not sure as I haven't asked any questions but it might be one to build your 376 steyer on.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=29823105

Good shooting,
Weagle

Weagle,
your intermediate mauser action sounds like the Herters HK3 or J9 model that was kicking around in the 60's and 70's. They were also sold as a Vz 500 action from a distributor in Calif. I have a couple and there are no indications that they were made by FN. Also Frank de Haas has them being made first in W. Germany then later on in Yugoslavia. Are there any markings on the underside of the action. Mine have two small square boxes with numbers in them and made in yugoslavia on the bottom right side front ring. Floorplate is the same as yours and so is the safety. Most of the actions out of FN in Belgium are very prominently marked even the military surplus. These are nice commercial Mauser 98 actions but not as smooth as a FN Supreme of that time period.
There are so many variations of mausers and this is just information I found on the intermediate length. Hope this helps.
Bob

Weagle,

Thanks for posting that link: the EHM code according to one source was assigned to Heym.

I will have to dig up my gunbroker.com log in and query the guy.

thanks again...jim

HunterJim, My rifle is stamped 720 A EHM and the sights, barrel contour and bottom metal look identical to the one that is being auctioned.

RJH, Thanks for the info. The action does not have any marks other than a west German proof before the serial #. (looks like an eagle). It does have a square with a 1 in it on one side of the recoil lug and a circle with a 2 in it on the other side.

Good shooting,
Weagle

Weagle,

The seller says it is a consigned gun with a buy-it now price of $450. That is more than I will pay though. I will put up a bid and we will see.

Thanks again...

jim

I've been out of the office for a few days. Thanks so much for the information and opinions!

Sincerely,
[bleep]

Just a note on the VZ500 action.
While they had a lever release as the rifle pictured above the several I had back in the 60s were not the same as the Herters action. Mine had a right hand saftey and also both had a butter-knife bolt handle. I bought mine from the Covina Gun room in Covina, Kalif. About 2yrs. ago I saw one for sale at a gun store here in town.

An interesting side note, a few years back the same gunshop had for sale a brand new Browning FN in the white with all the markings. They were sold only in Canada as an action.

It's amazing what Sears and Mont. Wards used to bring into this country for the basis of the guns they sold. I just put together a 25 Souper based on a Sako M57. When I bought the rifle it had a barrel marked Mont. Wards-- 308 Win., But the action only says Sako--M57. Pedro

Pedro,
I still have the 1966 Vz 500 brochure from the Gun Room in West Covina and everything you said rings true. I also have the butter-knife bolt handle action like yours. Also have one with the std. FN curved ball handle.Its amazing what stuff you hold onto after all these years. Reference material or Junk ! The Herter Mauser XK9 had the bolt stop / release like a Browning FN.
The Gun Room also called U.S. Rifle and Powder Co. had model A, B, C of these Vz 500 actions for $42.95 and barreled actions for 89.95 Complete stocks and a wide variety of engraving completed the package. Their big marketing ad was a forged receiver with the internal C-ring, not the post war commercial internal H-ring. So many different mausers styles that were available then. Thanks
Bob

About 40 yrs ago I traded a pre 64 Win in on a Husquavarna feather wieght. Both were in 270 Win. The Husquavarna was about 2lbs lighter than the Win., was easier to carry and shot way better. It had a little dinky stock with a schnabel forend that you could feel flexing when over the shoulder on the sling.
This was one of the rifles that I wish I had been smart enough to keep.

A stepson has a very minty Harrington & Richardson 30-06, which also appears to be an FN M98, so we can probably add that one to the Monkey Wards et al list of FN commercial M98 variants.

It has the same "H-cut" as the FN M98 action I built my Douglass-barreled 25-06 on many years ago. That one started life as a Columbian army rifle, so it has the clip charger cut.

Never even paid any attention to that extra cut in the FN, although I own several other M98s (Krauts and a VZ24), until someone mentioned it years ago on the internet.