youngtrout

Hello, I had to ask one more question. I went and screwed the 338-06 barrel on a fn action, it threads about 1/3 of the way they really starts to bind. I was figuring that this was because of the 60 degree threads. I did not put it in a vise and turn it in (I'm planning on finishing the barrel first. I just wanted to ask those who have mounted these barrels if this is the norm. And if the barrel with thread up with some anti-seize and a proper wrench and vise and a touch of elbow grease. Thanks

good points,,,,,,,,,,,,,,kind of figured, just was wondering if someone had done the exact same thing, and had a couple pics appriciate it

I had asked this a while back but on the board and could not remember the feedback I bought a 338-06 ab and stock combo (thanks for the heads up guys) I once bought a corelite awhile back and just hated the grip area and in general it is a bit too blocky I was wondering if someone with more time than money or smarts could trim down the stock and then build it back up. My thought wa to grind down the problem areas, fill with foam then sand foam just right then use a fiberglass and resin patch over that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, anyone done anything close to this?? I'll most likely just make the stock look worse but thought I would ask "the board" first thanks

As always great information. I do like the 7x57, don't get me wrong, just trying to get a feel for other options. I guess I really hope this rifle will take a dall sheep one day, my brother and law lives in Anchorage and agreed to take me out if I get lucky in the draw. So in the back of my mind I was thinking of the light rifle (for mausers) and setteled on super trimmed walnut stock and the 7x57. I first choose it because of alot reading, O'conner mainly yes he was mainly a .270 fan but shot them some, and it was his wife favorite. So I think I will stick with my gut and stick with the 7x57 That all being said the numbers with the 280 ai are impressive, but maybe might be best saved for another project! Thanks again Sincerely Dave

I have been pouring over the loadbooks. From lyman my 243 round has a cup of 58000 they list the 139 grain bullet at 2700 and change with a cup of 43,000 I know the rifle is safe for higer pressures, where are good resources for higher pressure 7x57 rounds. It is not a compacted round, but along those same lines with the AI's more case capacity would this be a better choice. just trying to make heads or tails of this, thanks

z1r, you bring up great points. I am struggling making a decision because this rifle does mean a lot to me. Even though my grandfather gave me the rifle and told me to make something of it, It will be in his hands next fall and for that matter as long as he wants it. I love my personal .270, it's a great rifle, and caliber. The problem, if you can call it one, is to find a caliber that fits the same niche but different. (remember,,, varity?) I have already ordered a 7x57 barrel from er shaw, I kind of put them on hold a sec playing with this 7x57 ai idea. Only reason I entertained it was trying to get a touch more velocity out of it, but really loose the historic value of the caliber. Now I guess I'm just typing in my head. I will entertain any and all thoughts on the project! just need to make the call soon!, don't think I can stall them forever at shaw. thanks again!!

Thanks for the feed back fellas. Shaw does not chamber the 7x57 ai but will cut it if I get them a reamer and gauges. Does anyone know offhand what kind of speeds the ai will have over the normal 7x57? thanks again

Hello, I've been going back and forth on this, just can't make a decision. The rifle in question is a mark X rifle that was given to me by my grandfather, this rifle was my introduction to mausers, remind me to thank him for that. The original rifle was a .243, the first thing I did was give it a new stock, a fancy AA second from richards. I have recently sold the barrel (243 is a great caliber but it really fits a narrow niche, one that i have no use for) My grandfather is all for it, he just wants to see what I make of it. The caliber of choice is the old 7x57, I ordered a shaw barrel that should be here by christmas. My question is this, the action has a perfect bluing job, but I have a draw towards the matte finishes, the barrel will arrive polished but not blued. My first notion would be to put a nice rust blue on the action and barrel, but I feel bad about messing up a good blue job. (also I still need to learn to rust blue) What does everybody think about leaving the original blue on the action and matte bluing the barrel? Has anyone seen this??? the scope is a compact burris that is matte black. Hopefully this rifle will go to alaska in sept 06, sheep hunting with my brother in law (depending on the draw) so I really want to make it right. thanks for any imput, I just want some opinions of "what you would do"

horsefly, also well said. That shot I described on that elk at 400 yds (actually a paced 390) was a hayfield elk, she was standing still broadside, we had a solid rest, no wind and my friend practices out to this range on a regular basis. I don't recommend shots this far on elk but condions were good, I mainly wanted to illusrate the killing power of the lighter calibers, when placed correctly I can't tell you how many elk I've passed over 200-250 and normally shots I take are in that 80-170 range. thanks

I guess I'll chime in, even though the question seems answered. I live in Colorado and do a great deal of hunting and fishing. Of the 12 rifle elk hunters I know, there are 5 .270's, 2 7-08, 3 30-06's, a 300 win, and one 8 mag, I usually know when he has sighted it in, usually he has a nice shiner and a new pair of glasses, now its harder because he finally lightened up on magnification to get the proper clearence!!! the 3-9 leupold clearence is not enough! All of these hunters have taken a great number of elk, most with one shot. I mainly have hunted with the 270, 7-08 group. They would all have something to say about these rifles being too light for elk. I spotted a shot for my friend at a big cow last year at 400 yds with a 7-08, bullet hit in the center chest, she piled up in 10 yds, I've seen other kills with the lighter and heavier loads and see really no difference in killing ability. All of these hunter stress shot placement, and taking good percentage shots, with that I'm on my soapbox, shot placement is key, I'm tired of hearing about the guy with the cannon talking about his run-in with a bull and how he almost gotem, only to hear that he gut shot it, and gave up because he figured he was long gone (only to have a long drawn out death, count on that!) Or other close encounters that leave much to imagination of where or what those bullets hit! The country is pretty wide open in places, just because you see and can shoot at an elk at 500 yds or even 250 through cover does not mean you should. Sorry for the rant, I heard a couple of these stories a couple of days ago and realize that these hunters have traveled a long ways (some just from denver)and spent alot of money to hunt be that does not give you a free card when it comes to being an ethical hunter and taking ethical shots, okay, with that rant over. Okay the perfect elk rifle.............something over .277, accurate, accurate I mean being able to hit a pie plate at reasonable ranges, and most importantly and gun you feel comfortable shooting. I love my 270, but am planning a 338-06, varity is the spice of life

Well, I may have answered most of my questions, I just found the post by reverend recoil in the tips of the trade. I guess the couplr things not answerwed are plugging the bore and chamber, I guess what is used and also how much of the chamber do you plug, just the actual chamber or do we want to protect the lugs as well. thanks again

Hello, I am finally going to take the plunge and try my hand at rust bluing. I know the old archives had a ton of info but I don't think we have these anymore??? I guess I was wondering if there were anyother resources out there to assit me. So far I'm going to use the Pilkington rust blue. Some of my initial questions are, I would rather not use a bluing box, but I live in Colorado, I was wondering if I would get an even rust if I didn't use a box? Of course I'm going to start with small parts, to practice, but I was wondering about bluing the barrel and reciever separatly, it seems if they were screwed together you might effectively rust the action and barrel together. One last one, what does everybody use to plug the chamber? And are you just plugging the chamber? What about the lugs?? thanks for any advise you have about rust bluing.

Hey Z1R Can I ask about that straddle floorplate. Who makes those????? Or are they "custom" or homemade???????? looks really nice!

I was wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with the 7x57AI, I know the 7x57 as is is a good round but is the extra powder space worth it. Figuring you have to now fireform all the cases. Also, there does not seem to be much resources for reloading them,,,,,,any info on the pros and cons of the 7x57AI would be appriciated.

To answer the question on the feedrails, the action will still feed a 30/06 with no problem. What I focused the most on was the feed ramp and the front part of the rails, the action was rock hard so I really never removed too much metal. I spent most of my effort widening and lenghthening the triggerguard,,,,,so the action is a- okay for most rounds,,,,,,,right now I have to say the 35 whelen and the 338-06 or 338-06ai are leading the pack. As for the deer rifle, and the one I will finish first (ordering barrel next week) looks like the 7x57 might be the way to go. I agree, its a classy round with lots of history,,,,,,I love the 25/06 on paper though As for barrel length I was leaning towards the 24 inch barrel, even though I will add a bit of weight, I figure I'll get the most out of the round with it,,thoughts? Thanks for all the feedback, I just love talking mausers, especially when it will eventually end with a new toy!

Ya the 300 win started fin, everything seemed great, opened mag, did very minor work to feed rails, just could not get that last or first round to feed well, oh well, finally told myself to quite before I ruined an action. Yes I do have the bottom metal to the mark X. It was originally a .243, then a 22-250, figured I didn't need 3 22-250's soooo, Since the .243 really is a necked down 308 I figured the 7/08 would work fine but I guess I really do need to look into the 7x57 also The 338/06 is one I'm looking carefully at, also the 338/06AI, but I guess I'll have to look at the tables more carefully, thanks, other pets?

Hello, its been a bit since I posted, kind of got misplaced with the move and all! Just been reading all the posts, sure do mis the archives but enough about that, salt on wounds and such The reason I'm posting is I just want to talk about options with the 98's, I know the calibers are numerous but just wanted some feedback, I have my number 1 rifle that one I hunt with and a couple of actions just waiting to find barrels! My number 1 is a vz-24 with a 270 barrel, midweight, richards stock, weights in at 8 1/2 lbs, loaded, love the rifle, shoots tight groups and meets 80% of my needs. Now the fun part, I have a mark X action and a richards I have lightened to 20 ounces, I want to make this into a light weight medium sized game rifle. I am hopeful this might become a sheep rifle, my first thoughts was a 7/08, .270 I guess has already been taken, but I would love to hear others thoughts, 25/06, .308, the barrel would be an er shaw Next is a action donated from a 300 win project, (just finally gave up, I'm not talented enought to make the belted mag work,,,,,,,,,,so this one would want to be a large game rifle, I was thinking .35 whelen, 338/06, 8/06, even the 8x68 but opening up another bolt is something I want to avoid. so my question for this one is finding an un-belted mag. that will push a heavy bullet at a nice clip for shots up to 300 yds. I realized I have asked broad questions and may have just opened up a can full of worms but I guess that was my point, would love to hear about other number 1's, or pro and cons of calibers! glad to be back!!