For sale:

Commercial FN Mauser 98 action, 24” barrel 338-06 with 1-10” twist, 0.625” at muzzle ( no sights), bore is bright and shiny, Timney trigger, synthetic stock ( I think it is a Butler Creek), blued steel bottom metal with push button release ( not hinged, push button a slide floor plate rearward to release. Not Oberndorf style). Includes Lee full length die set with shell holder, and 1 box of .338” Winchester Silver Tip 250 grain bullets ( not loaded cartridges: bright and shiny, not corroded, in factory original box). Barrel is stamped “338-06”. No other markings on the barrel.

I do NOT know the pedigree of this rifle. Do NOT know barrel manufacturer. Do NOT know who did the chambering/fitting/gunsmithing. I believe the action has been reblued, due to comparison of stamping on receiver compared to my J.C. Higgins model 50 commercial FN action. Blue job is well-executed and is at least 95% (more likely 97+%). I do NOT know know if this was a J.C. Higgins Model 50/51 prior to this build, but it is a full length commercial FN m98 action, no thumb cut ( but that would be my guess, and only a guess). I have owned four J.C. Higgins m50/51 FN auctioned rifles. This one , and my 4 others are in the same s/n range: 12,000-14,000.

Rifle weighs 7 lbs 8 oz with scope bases, unloaded, no scope. The only thing “wrong” with it is that there are three scope base holes in the rear receiver. It came with Weaver aluminum 2-piece scope bases, with the rear base hole spacing of 0.5”. There are two hole spacing on these actions: 0.5” and ~0.7+”. I presume this rifle had the “more difficult to find rear scope base hole spacing” of 0.70+”, and a previous owner had a third hole drilled/tapped for the more commonly found 0.5” scope base. The rear Weaver base did not totally cover the third hole. I had a new set of blued steel Warne Maxima two-piece bases with the wider rear hole spacing, and mounted them. These bases accept “Weaver style” rings. The Warne bases are included. I may still have the original bases. If I find them, they will be included. Holes are 6-48 thread.

I have not fired this rifle. I have not formed any brass for it. I bought it due to a multi-decade long interest in the caliber, and found ness of commercial FN actions. Timney triggers breaks crisply at 2.75 lbs, without over-travel. (Beautiful trigger). Had right shoulder surgery, and have decided I’ll just use my 30-06 J.C. Higgins as my “big rifle.” A .338” 225 grain bullet at 2625+ FPS will yield 3500+ ft-lbs of muzzle energy.

The stock is very nice, and has a shadow line on the cheap piece. No markings, but it sure looks like the discontinued Butler Creek design.

Overall, a very nice rifle. First public “I’ll take it” gets it. PM email for pictures.

$650+ shipping ( about $35? In lower 48 USA). +$20 if have to ship FROM my FFL.

$650 shipped to lower 48. +$20 if has to be shipped from my FFL

Pictures of 338-06 FN m98 rifle

That's a good price for the whole works! I have one almost like it, and I can't think of why I would need another one?

Good luck with your sale,
Ken

Nice rifle!

Looks like a fiberglass stock, a Butler Creek is an injection molded stock

That's a Rimrock, Pacific Research or (later) Borden stock. No longer made for the 98. It is every bit as nice as a McMillan. Stock was designed by Jim Cloward. I have 2 . One is a 338-06 on a VZ-24 with FN bottom metal. Would bet the barrel is a Douglas from the shank contour.

Easily worth $1000. Fine custom rifle

I would buy it for the stock if I had a need. Best FG stock ever built for a Mauser

Yes, very nice!

Couple of comments which are intended to be constructive.

I would be pretty certain that the action is from a Higgins Model 50 due to the hole spacing on the rear bridge (mentioned) and the fact that the bottom metal has the hole drilled for the oem trigger pivot pin. That it comes from a Model 50 is a good thing IMHO.

Also, the stock is definitely not a Butler Creek, and I don't believe it is a Rimrock/ PR either. With all due respect to previous poster ( I know he is a mauser guy) the shape looks a little off and the checkering pattern is not like any Rimrock/PR I have ever seen.

My impression is that it may be either the McMillan Sako Classic pattern (commonly inletted for mausers) or a Bell and Carlson Medalist. Close-ups of the action area in-letting would be instructive and of course the B&C would have an aluminum chassis which should be evident. Either way, it looks like a high quality stock and a package more than worth the asking price!

The stock has front and rear pillars. It does NOT have an aluminum "stringer" bedding block chassis.

Thank you for the positive comments. She's a beauty.

I would guess McMillan with the shadow line cheek piece .

After looking again and comparing to my Borden, you are correct. Sorry. But still a very nice stock

Nice rifle.

I’ll take it.

DF

Tried to send PM, didn’t recognize your handle.

Send me a PM, we’ll see if that works.

DF

Just pm'd you with contact info.

Call if you have questions.

100% refund, less return shipping, if not as described.


SOLD, pending funds.

Thank you.

Got the PM

Curious why it didn’t work, me to you.

DF

I'm not sure this stock is a McM, doesn't fit their checkering pattern.

The closest I've found is AHR's fiberglass stock with Traditional Shadowline, which they do inlet for Mausers. Not sure. Doesn't look like a B&C Medalist, doesn't have the aluminum chassis. I sold a Mauser Medalist this past summer.

Check out this link. https://americanhuntingrifles.com/new-products/

DF

Compare this one with the photos posted. Check checkering pattern, cheek piece, shadow line, proportions, etc.

DF

I think it's a McMillan

Good snag though

Thanks.

And you may be right. It’ll do anyway.

DF

Great elk rifle

Agree.

We’ll see how it shoots, what it likes. I have a 3-9x40 Conquest with elevation turret ready for this gun. I have Weaver Med rings, in fact two styles to consider. Will post results.

DF

I have a load with good old H-380 and 210gr NPT's at a bughole accurate 2800 fps, if interested, shoot me a PM, Congrats on the new stick.

Thanks, gunner.

Will PM for that load.

I see 4320 and RL-15 as popular 338-06 powders, also see Big Game being used.

DF

DF,
Nice grab.

If I did not already have one with two more on the way. I would have seriously considered this package.

I have had very good luck Varget and 200-210gr bullets out of my previous 338-06 chambered rifles

My smith/FFL bud thinks this is an early Medalist before they used the aluminum chassis and I think he’s right. I recently sold a Mauser Medalist with aluminum chassis and this stock seems lighter. It’s 32 oz compared to a typical wood stock, usually 40-42 oz.

I was going to mount a 3-9x40 Conquest, but had a 2.5-10x50 Elite 4200 Firefly lying there already with med Weaver rings. It’s a triplex instead of a duplex, reticle glows after shining a light on it for a while. Heavy reticle, heavy bullets may be a good combo at dim light in the woods.

Total weight with big, heavy scope is 8#, 11 oz. Not bad.

Barrel thru Hawkeye looks good. This gun has not been shot that much. Sharp throat, clean rifling.

Look forward to working up loads.

DF

FWIW I spoke to this guy on a local site in Maine when it first came up. Nice fella to speak with and it definitely looked like a nice rifle. Wish I was right handed! God snag DF. Let us know how it shoots. Probably hell on about everything.

Yep. OP is a good guy, easy to deal with.

Even if he’s named “buttstock”

Ha!

DF