Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Herters J9, need advice.

A local pawn shop has a Herters J9, 7MM Rem. Mag, pristine condition for 369.00 with a cheap Simmons scope in Weaver rings. I don't want the scope or rings, and I don't need a 7 Mag since I have a good one. The question is, how much could I spend on the thing with the idea of making a 264 Win. Mag. out of it. I'm assuming that I could get them to remove the scope and reduce the price somewhat. It's a Yugoslavian Mauser action. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

In my opinion, they are just about identical in performance. I know you can use heaver bullets in the 7MM Mag. but the cases are almost identical except for bullet diameter. I wouldn't change it. It's a good rifle as is. Thanks...Bill.

If you can live with the stock and the action, I guess you could off the scope and maybe get it down to $300 which is probably reasonable.

However, I would be extremely careful about assuming it is a Yugoslavian action. I have only examined one Herters J-9. Upon removing it from the stock, the left side of the tang was clearly marked: Spain .

If, indeed, it is a Santa Barbara action, I would pass on it. I just don't think they come close to the quality of the Yugoslavian Mk-X. JMHO.

Grasshopper

I have the same rifle, and I'm interested in hearing some options also. My j-9 is definitly a yugo:

Weagle

I bought one in the eary 70's from the Herter's store in Waseca. It had a beautiful presentation grade stock and the blueing was impresive. It was a .243 Win and very accurate. Mine was a Yugoslavian action. I'd buy another! The only reason I got rid of it someone offerred way more than I thought it was worth.

erich

I also bought a Herter's J9 in .244 in the late 60s, made in Yugoslavia. It was a good shooter, but it wouldn't eject. I think, maybe, that the ejector was binding in the slot and wouldn't hit the shell base. The result was that the empty shell remained in the loading port and had to be manually tossed out.

wayne..,

Had a J9 in 6mm about 30yrs ago. It was and remains the most punishing rifle I ever owned (and I'm not very recoil sensitive). Shot 40rds from the bench trying to site in the sucker . Next morning, sore shoulder-black and blue. That's never happened before or since. Miserable stock design,I guess because the thing weighed close to 10lbs.scoped.

I've been thinking about what to do with mine. It's a 7 mag now but I checked it and it feeds 350 rem mags like butter. I'm thinking I might go that route.

Weagle