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"Project Guns"

kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
Well about 2 years ago I got the itch to build a "Custom" Mauser, I bought a German 1940 DOU action complete for $125, the numbers don't match but I wasn't too concerned about that since I wasn't buying it for any significance anyway and it was kind of an impulse thing to start with. About 6 months after that I bought a bolt that had the handle cut and welded on at an angle that would allow the use of a scope. Then about a year ago I bought one of Boyd's Thumbhole stocks for it. Today I finally bought a 26" Douglass light varmint barrel (contour 5) in 22-250 ... Its still got some work to be done, like cutting the stock so the bolt handle will clear, low mount safety, drilled and tapped for scope mounts and some polishing to the receiver before having it blued ... then of course refinishing the trigger guard and floor-plate ... does it ever end? Will I get to shoot the darn thing in my lifetime?

Ahhh, just making conversation ... here's where I am now:



=================================
The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
... there are so darn many models to choose from!
kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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Comments

  • CAndres35CAndres35 Member Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    looksike you have a very very nice start. working on a project like this is probably as much fun as shooting it afterwards. so dont hurry ,take your time and do it the way you want!! i know i have a hard time not rushing to the finish when i get close and then i skip somthing i wanted and often its too late to go back . looks good! CARL
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  • RembrandtRembrandt Member Posts: 4,486 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Kimberkid, looks nice.....I've always wanted to do a Mauser project someday. Currently have a couple of projects in the works. One is a Winchester 52B ISU stock refinish complete with all the "Al Freeland" olympic hardware from the 1930-40's....other project just got sprayed last night...a beautiful Cherry laminated 10/22 stock with a very special autograph....wish I had the ability to post pictures. Keep us updated on your project gun.
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    kimberkid

    Looks great so far. Don't give up on it. About 5 years ago I got a bug up my * about customizing a Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 that I had. I finished a BEAUTIFUL walnut stock for it, cut the old safety off and installed a new bolt shroud/safety/trigger, drilled/tapped and mounted good optics on it. It is awsome! You wouldn't recognize it for what it was. And on top of it all it shoots like a dream.

    Lt the satisfied

    "We become what we habitually do. If we act rightly, we become upright men. If we habitually act wrongly, or weakly, we become weak and corrupt" - *ARISTOTLE*

    **Like Grandad used to say--"It'll feel better when it quits hurtin"
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very nice looking gun,Ive seen a few of these redone,But without a doubt that one gets the Blue Ribbon.



    Best!!

    Rugster
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Looks terrific Kimberkid. Don't you love those Boyd's stocks? Thumbholes are kind of a pain to carry for hunting deer and such, but I am guessing you are going to shoot varmints so it should be great! I am proud of you for doing a good job and mostly staying out of trouble for a change!
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  • Norman DogNorman Dog Member Posts: 470 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nice, Kimber, you have made it this far - it won't be long now.

    I have started at least five Mauser projects and only finished one - and that project only involved stockwork. My problem has been believing that I could do much of the hand work myself. Well, I am capable of doing some of it (polishing, stock inletting, wood finishing, minor metalwork, etc.) and I am probably capable of learning some more (except for the actual machining work), but I just have not had the time it takes for an amateur to accomplish all of these details and I haven't had the money available to hire someone else to do it. The money situation is changing, so I will probably get some of this work done in the near future - finally.

    I would not discourage anyone from pursuing a custom rifle, but I will point out that, before you commit to the project, you should know that there are plenty of firearms available that have many "custom" features straight from the factory at half the price you would pay a gunsmith for a hand-built one. Having said that, I think it would be nice to have a "one-of-a-kind" rifle built to my specifications and it would be real cool if i could say that I actually did some of the work.


    Reality bites, but it's real.

    WOOF.
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  • Norman DogNorman Dog Member Posts: 470 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, man. 43 years old. Maybe I'll have that custom .308 Mauser done before I'm 44.

    OK. I mentioned my Mauser projects above, here's the list:

    1. Interarms Mark X. Purchased a barreled action in .243 Winchester chambering from a wholesaler through Saxon Pig (when he had an FFL - that's how long ago it was). Then I purchased a walnut semi-inletted stock from Bishop and finished it myself without checkering. Installed Pachmayr recoil pad, bases, rings, and Simmons scope. Turned out to be a nice rifle that I traded a short time later.

    2. Custom .308. Action is a VZ24 Brno Mauser 98. Barrel is an Israeli surplus military model that was shortened to 18 inches and installed on action. Butter knife bolt handle welded on to bolt by gunsmith and left rough for me to finish. Stock is a Fajen Mannlicher style that was being cleared out by Navy Arms. I need to polish out the barreled action, finish bolt handle, install custom trigger, have sights installed, get metal blued, finish stock, and assemble.

    3. Model 95 Mauser Economy Scout Rifle. I got a M95 rifle chambered for 7x57 complete for $25 about 10 years ago. I had the barrel shortened to 16 1/2 inches and turned down. I then cut the stock back and removed the rear sight. A universal-fit scope rail will go on the sight block and I'll get an inexpensive, low-power shotgun scope for it. It should be a handy little rifle that will have a minimum of money into it.

    4. Short Action M98 Mexican Mauser. I just have the action. I have narrowed the chamberings to three: .350 Rem Mag, 7-08, .22-250. I am leaning heavily toward 7-08 and I have a line on a good 7mm barrel at a small price. I am planning on a 20" barrel length and I may go with the full-length stock. I may also go with double triggers. It will have a multi-leaf sight with a tip-off scope set-up. Wood will be moderately fancy and I may do the checkering myself if I am up to it at that time.

    5. Mystery Mauser. I have a M98 bare receiver that I was thinking of turning into a functional, but not pretty, rifle in .458 Win Mag. I am finding out that the prices of all those parts that will go into completing the receiver are more than buying a complete surplus rifle. So, I am not sure where this project will go.



    Reality bites, but it's real.

    WOOF.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks to all for your kind words, encouragement and wisdom.

    The projected final cost is going to be in the neighborhood of $625 plus opics, this includes having a gunsmith install, finish reaming and headspace the barrel and drill and tap the scope mount. I'm sure I could do these things, but the cost of the tools through Midway and renting a reamer is a little more than what my smith will charge to do it for me ... since I don't intend to do another, I'm undecided as to weather to do it myself. On the one hand, I could sell the tools when I'm done with them ... on the other, how long will it take me to "get a round toit"? I'm not in a big hurry and its not like I don't have anything else to shoot ... but still, its already been 2 years!

    Norman Dog - Happy Birthday! Getting old is hell, I'm closing in on 45 this year
    BTW - Do you install the barrels and scope mounts yourself? If so I might have a couple questions.

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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