Would enjoy reading input from folks on ideas for a carry-friendly, shooter-friendly Mauser in either 6.5x55 or 7x57 for a lady hunter. Have a couple of pristine 1909s one of which could form the basis of the project. Thank you!

Sporter or milsurp ?

For a 6.5x55 I would stick with the 96 action, modified to cock on opening. Everything is set up to work correctly and the small ring action makes a very nice light sporter.

Well, beginning with a military action I suppose at that is what I have on hand.

Small ring, large ring, Swede, intermediate length, std length ?
Watcha got ?

Custom? What is your budget?

1909 Argentine is what I have.

bluefish;
Good evening to you sir, I trust this last Monday in November finds you well.

Way back in the day I had a thread called "Mauser on a Diet" which though the photos are now gone for still gives sorta the gist of how I built my current "walking around gun".

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt.../3660460/98-mauser-on-a-diet#Post3660460

Since that initial build, I ended up unscrewing the .270 Featherweight barrel and had a gunsmith up the valley make a near new Swede military barrel fit into my '98 action.



The total weight loaded now is 7lbs 4oz.

The build sheet list is more or less:
- commercial between the wars 98 action
- Swede military barrel original contour 21"
- Wildcat Composites stock
- FN extractor
- Timney trigger
- 2.5 oz bottom metal
- Timney Beuhler safety
- Wolff blitzschnell mainspring
- Glue on recoil pad - less than 1 oz.
- vanilla Weaver bases
- ugly but light Bushnell split rings
- Boonie Packer rifle sling

Anyway as always there's a bunch of dirt roads heading into Mecca, but this was one and it was truly mine. It fits me really well and is an absolute pleasure to pack around the local mountains.

Good luck with your project whichever way you decide and all the best to you as we head into winter.

Dwayne

Thank you, Dwayne. Good when a project comes to be! I appreciate input from the folks. Will keep posted.

I wouldn't screw with them, leave them as is and purchase an early Brno ZKK 600 series in the required cartridge...make sure to get the one with the pop-up rear sight and do away with that damned set trigger.

And make sure you get one with the rounded fore-end (60's).


This trigger



This stock




That with the pop-up rear sight and possibly a bolt safety would be extremely difficult to beat.

I may have a line on a BRNO 21 in 7x57. We shall see.

You won't regret it, but be aware that the double trigger and long grip will be a pain for a lady with smallish hands.


On the bright side, if it doesn't fit the lady then you inherit it.

As an aside I just received one of these (large for 21) in the mail yesterday, I intend to replace the synthetic grip-cap on my model 21...they shrink over time.

I purchased 1000, 2500, and 3000 grit emery today so that I can get in to the job when we get back from Queensland.

Link.

Well, carry-friendly and shooter-friendly are generally oxymoronic but some of the higher end composite stocks might fit the bill. Stock fit to the shooter is important for dealing with recoil. Lightweight rifles will be harder to shoot well in most hunting situations without a bipod/tripod. I suspect recoil in either cartridge shooting identical bullet weights at comparable velocities would be about the same.

Slightly better ballistic coefficient with the 6.5 x 55. 7 x 57 ammo perhaps more readily available.

The 1909 action would be fine for either cartridge but will require bolt handle alteration, drill and tap for scope bases, and a Buehler or M70 style replacement safety. The 09 trigger might be reworked to single stage and lighter pull than milspec, but a Timney or Dayton Traister trigger might be the best way to a 3-4 lb crisp trigger. Weld on a new low bolt handle rather than forge the original handle. Forged handles are too short, may not clear the scope well, and do not look as nice.

My most recent Mauser sporter conversion has a 24" Brownells 6.5 x 55 barrel installed on a VZ24 M98 action similar to the 1909 which seems to shoot very well. This conversion has a secondhand Bell and Carlson glass stock, low cost bolt alteration(no longer available), and I drilled and tapped the base holes with a Brownells jig, and installed a low safety and Timney trigger myself. I'm holding off on reblueing or cerakote pending repeatability of good accuracy from the first set of handloads.

Brownell's barrel $100, barrel install $100-150, weld low bolt handle ?$100, drill and tap scope base holes ?$50+, install low safety ?$50+, timney trigger $80, inexpensive stock $150, reblue $100. Premium barrel $300-400 and better stock $300+. With the exception of the barrel one might be able to save a few dollars shopping the gun shows or DIY so you can see why some might suggest just buying a Ruger American or TC Compass in 6.5 Creedmoor...or a used CZ, Ruger M77, M70.

1909’s are great, and you shouldn’t have to have the action hardened for either of those rounds. I’ve seen a few 98 rifles where the magazine has been shortened a bit, permitting one less round, and a blind magazine is another weight saving option. I don’t know if you want a wood or synthetic stock? Wayne York can install one of his Pendleton composite stocks to a barreled action, if you go the synthetic route. If you want wood, I’d have DPCD do it all.

Why not use the 7.65 argentine round it is a ballistic twin to the 308 win. Load it down with .311-.312 150 gr bullets. I have hunted with this combination. With great results

Subscribed. Similar question here, bluefish