Mauser Project

[toolman]

Great thread, don't know how I've missed this one. I have a customers' 98 chambered in 9.3 in the shop right now. Talk about screwing up, I've been 'smithing for over 30 years and this gun came in for scope mounts. I had a bit break on the pilot hole, so I grabbed a carbide end mill to remove the broken bit. During all of this, my wife called and I had a customer come in, so I forgot to indicate the end mill and set the stop on the mill, resulting in punching the end mill all the way through the barrel shank into the chamber. My only option was to set the shoulder forward .1750 and rechamber it. Now the customer wants me to install a bolt handle on it and test fire it. The whole gun weighs about 6 lbs, has a very lightweight, fluted barrel, and is a cut down military stock, complete with steel buttplate. Needless to say, I'm NOT looking forward to the experience!
Yours is looking great and I'm looking forward to a range report.

 

[dulltool17]

Thanks, Guys, for the compliments!

Sniggler- I used HHS tooling at a round 80 RPM; didn't notice any difficulty in machining. Suppose if it were 416 SS I might have had a different experience. Your 96 is in the original 6.5 x 55? Great rifle!

Vlad- Only reason I want to secure it is I don't yet have a stock to put the action into. I'm not really concerned about the integrity of the action...good metal all around and no heat where it shouldn't have been. I just need to be able to keep it from flying around. The stock I'm getting (I hope) will have a 1" Pachmayr Decelerator pad, as I do value my shoulder.

Toolman- sorry about the mill incident...unfortunately, I happen to know just how much that costs to fix. I really wouldn't get overly excited about the bench test recoil...stick a couple of thicknesses of carpet between your shoulder and the gun...I did this once (actually twice) with a Ruger in 416 Rigby. I helped.....none. Got a lead sled?


I should get a few minutes this week to build a simple fixture to hold the barreled action for firing..hopefully head to the range this weekend or next.

 

[JeepsAndGuns]

Nice work. I too have a mauser project on the back burner. I have a turk mauser I am wanting to rebarrel in 308. I have a 30-06 barrel I want to cut down and re thread. But I am not yet to the point of being able to cut threads (still new to maching) I would like to be able to thread so I could make one of those facing mandrals. The turk mauser has a lip I would like to take off so I could use a standard mauser large ring stock.

 

[sniggler]

Thanks, Guys, for the compliments!

Sniggler- I used HHS tooling at a round 80 RPM; didn't notice any difficulty in machining. Suppose if it were 416 SS I might have had a different experience. Your 96 is in the original 6.5 x 55? Great rifle!

Yes my m96 is in 6.5x55.

 

[blaser.306]

I was just perusing some of the earlier posts with pics and noticed something I think to be an idea I will steal! Using plastic sleves over a mounted cutting tool, Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Something that is easy to do , and as everyone has found out injuries happen at the drop of a hat , almost always when doing something simple ( this measurement will only take a couple of seconds ) Measurement yes! trip to get stiches , not so much. Thanks for a great , simple idea.

 

[dulltool17]

I was just perusing some of the earlier posts with pics and noticed something I think to be an idea I will steal! Using plastic sleves over a mounted cutting tool, Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Something that is easy to do , and as everyone has found out injuries happen at the drop of a hat , almost always when doing something simple ( this measurement will only take a couple of seconds ) Measurement yes! trip to get stiches , not so much. Thanks for a great , simple idea.

You're quite welcome; good ideas are meant to be shared. After a half-dozen or so nicks in my fingers and hands, I suddenly realized I had a little bin labeled "nylon caps" over on my work bench. Now I put them over my end mills and other cutting tools. At last my hands get a chance to heal!

And yep- usually when taking the "quick measurement."

 

[dulltool17]

Allrighty, then! Got my sled worked out and took the Mauser to a range up in TN a couple of weeks ago (would have sooner, but work was pretty busy)

Fired 5 shots- first one with a long string attached to the trigger. Then I figured I had nothing whatever to worry about.

Everything worked flawlessly!

And Vlad- I clamped the sled to the shooting bench in 4 places- with each shot, it shifted rearward about an 1/8 inch- looks like recoil will be "brisk" but manageable.

Man has this been fun...now I just need a stock.......

Doug

 

[Rick Leslie]

Very nice. I can't wait to see what you do for a stock. And I like the 'sled'. Good thinking.