Jeremy

I just measured the inside of the magazine and it is 3.200".

I have decided to take up a new challenge of sorts. Last year I bought 2 Type 99 Arisaka barreled actions for $20 and set of RCBS 7.7 x 58mm dies for $35. Since then I have acquired a complete bolt, trigger group, extractor, bolt stop and a trigger guard. I have been able to marry all of these parts to one barreled action. It is an early war action from the Kokura arsenal and the barrel is crome lined with clear strong rifling. I slugged the barrel and it is a solid .312 but the chamber is very long. So long it is .041 over and shows no evidence of throat erosion. Now I have a decision to make re-chamber it or make ammo to fit the chamber. Either way will be acceptable to me. If I re-chamber it I have considered 30-06. I need a finish reamer and finding a donor sizing die and changing the de-capping pin from a .308 to a .312 basically having a 7.7 - 06. The metric conversion for 30-06 is 7.62 x 63 mm. Since the chamber is as long as it is and I'll have to make brass from 30-06 cases to fit the chamber anyway. It seems to me to be a better idea to just to re-chamber it. What do you all think? This is a picture of the action and barrel on a cherry blank that I bought a couple weeks ago.

Nice machine. I'd sure like to have one someday. A love for the game is something that I have. Besides I was taught in order to use power tools you must learn to do things by hand first. Don't get me wrong I do have a full shop with power tools that I could very easily use to turn out a stock. I just don't want to. I want stick to my discipline and learn the old ways that aren't taught anymore. I'm in no hurry.

I will. I need to make a stock carving and holding fixture first. Because this hobby is getting serious now. Please bear in mind this will be my first ones from a blank. So it will be a learning experience for me too. I have only worked with re-finishing used and semi in-letted stocks up until now. Any tips from others who have done this kind of work will be welcomed.

I don't at the moment. Thanks for asking. I have 2 more complete actions ready for stocks and barrels. I just need to pick the chambering's and style of stocks to whittle from the blanks I have on hand. One is a cherry blank and the other is a laminated blank I made from walnut and birch.

Now I see. Thank you for the picture and the perfect explanation. So in summary they will fit just with some minor modifications. That is good to know if I ever find myself in a pinch.

Sweet!!! That is nice to know and answers my original question very clearly. However it leads me to the next question. How exactly is the 1903 Springfield extractor altered to fit an 1893 or 1895 bolt? I'm sure that I could've answered that question myself if I had taken more of the mans time that was kind enough to allow me to perform the swing test at the gun show last year when I initially wrote this thread.

Thanks. I have bought parts from SARCO in the past and checked for the availability of complete actions and they are available. I already have two more complete actions to make into sporters I just need to buy stocks, scope bases and barrels now. When I originally started this post I just wanted to check the validity of what I had read in books to first hand knowledge and see it for myself because what I had read just didn't make any sense was all. Now I know it won't work. I really like haw this thread has morphed. The interesting thing about the re-purposed piano keys as a source for ebony is. I didn't think at first that it would turn out as well as it did. I started out by making the keys square then using a glue brush and clamping the pieces together it took 15 to make the blank I used. I must say that ebony is the hardest wood I have worked with so far. Not because it is dense but because it gets very brittle during the shaping process. I had to take my time and clean my files regularly and sanded it to 400 grit before applying the linseed oil finish.

I wish I had the capital to make a bid like that. However I really doubt that I'd ever really see a return on the investment. I'd be out of business before I could even start.

It has been a while since I have posted anything. Here is what the sporter that had started from the parts in my 4th post and now is range ready. Instead of using the cherry fore-end tip blank that I found at the gun show I used ebony that I re-purposed from piano keys glued together with tight bond III. Since this picture was taken I installed a Dayton Traister safety. range day is coming soon. She has a 14 1'2" length of pull and I have stoned and polished the sear to allow the trigger to break at a crisp 4 1'2 pounds. The action is an 1893 Spanish Mauser that was born in 1922. The barrel is a 7x57mm made by green mountain barrel company with an F14 contour and is 21 inches long. I drilled and tapped her with wheeler drilling jig I found at the same gun show that I got the semi-inletted stock blank from.

When will the membership fees be due and how much will the fee be? Who will the funds be sent to? You can count me in to pay my dues to keep the sight up and open. Happy Veterans Day Jeremy

I really hate to see this site go as a relatively new member I have found that this site is the most user friendly and the members that are just as friendly with a willingness to share knowledge freely and humbly. I regret not finding it sooner.

In light of my recent posts on this forum. I think you guys and gals have probably figured out by now that I have no problem with doing so. Which brings me to ask the question. Where do you all dry the line when choosing a platform/action to create a sporter or restoration back to original condition? I only bring this topic up because I have had a couple of pleasant and unpleasant encounters with people recently when it comes to acquiring parts for my most recent build. I probably should have told the last guy that had the parts that I need that I was restoring and not creating a sporter and he would've sold me the parts. I didn't think anything of it when I said that I am creating a sporter when he asked what are you going to do with the parts? Hell it's none of his business anyway. That is the first thought that crossed my mind after walking away empty handed. After that experience I have had some time to reflect and try to rationalize what he was trying to say. He said to me and I'm quoting him. You are going to ruin the collector value by doing that. I didn't entertain him at the time with my rational by explaining that all I have are barreled actions and nothing more to start with. While I am close to finishing my 6th Spanish sporter I am looking for my next build. This time I'd like to restore one. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the price of parts. Lets think about that for a minute. I do understand the difference between an a complete #'s matching, in better shape complete firearm or a museum quality piece. I wouldn't dream of butchering something like that to create a sporter out of it. I would consider restoration or a thorough disassembly to give a cleaning and health check up if that is all that is needed. Also keep in mind I have no safe queens in my house. I use my guns to their purpose but that isn't to say I wouldn't collect them as safe queens. I just don't have any that I would say are worthy of that title or do I? Yes I do because I have brought 5 back to life now in the form of sporters and they will be family heirlooms for my children because I built them. What are your thoughts?

On the bench behind the jig is a homemade barrel vise. I'll post better pictures of that later on with the bushings.

I've been working with the stock for the past couple of days. Being mindful to take it slow and steady so I don't mess it up. I used some scrap pieces of walnut and tight bond III to fill in the major gaps between the receiver and the stock so I don't have to use as much glasbed. So far it's working out as planned. A 6" lathe with a milling attachment I'm envious. I have a 3" Harbor Freight lathe that has a 10" bed. But for longer projects I just take the tail stock off and place it on a riser block that I have made with slots in my bench to give myself about 26" of workable bed space from center to center if you will. It has a 3/4 horse power motor and a 3/4" through the head that gives me all the versatility I need without dropping a couple of thousand on a better lathe for now. My lathe with a 21" barrel chucked in it. The drill press with the cross slide vise waiting for some work. My home made bolt jeweling jig.

The rock I kicked over today that can stay covered. I don't know if the guy was just having a bad day or not and just hadn't sold anything. While I was looking for parts for myself I happened to ask if he had some Turk stocks and low and behold he had three. Two of which were for large ring Mauser's and in poor shape. Cracks oil soaked soft wood are some of the faults I can think of. The third one was for a small ring and was in fair shape but he wanted 3 C notes for it. He also has some Spaniard stocks and the prices were the same. I just parted ways with him and didn't even try to haggle with him because he wanted too much for the parts that I wanted. So much so that he was at least 65% over what Numerick and Sarco is asking for the same parts. Not to worry I'll keep looking. There is always another day. Maybe it's just me but a stock duplicator is looking more promising after all and its high time I mastered my lathe for making my own screws, springs, pins and other parts. I have done fairly well with turning barrels to repair threads and remove up to moderate external pitting. It's time I quit playing around with it. I have mastered my cross slide vise on my drill press for light milling purposes.

That's what I expected. Finding one that isn't shot out or severely pitted above and below the wood line is like winning the lottery especially an all original # matching. I'll keep kicking over rocks.

Thank you. I'm trying to hone my skills. Sorry to hear about your minion. I'm taking a Swag at this. Scientific wild ass guess this is in 7x57mm? What are the bullet weights you are using I'm just wondering. The group that you are describing bullet weight at the distances you are talking about won't make a difference anyway. There is probably a combination of things going that are contributing to the poor accuracy. Bad stock, throat erosion, a dinged up muzzle crown and the list could go on. I'm also guessing that is why you are looking for a stock. I have noticed at least with my rifles that have the original barrels they seem to perform better with heavier bullets. The 170 to 175 grain range

Honestly I have only had experience dealing with Spaniards 1893 actions and none of the others with retrospect to building them from nothing more than barreled actions and I have built 5. Though I have owned two 1898 sporters. You are absolutely correct in stating that the 1893 Spaniards can be tedious. Sometimes that is putting it mildly especially when it comes to locating and acquiring parts. Stocks are no different. The last one I bought that was semi in-letted was for my third build and it was the same way as the one I'm current working on. The only way I could really solve my problem the Spaniard Sporter would be to buy a stock duplicator and use the Fajen stock from my first build as the template. I just don't have that kind of assets to fund something like that right now unless I experience a wind fall. I would consider trading this stock for an actual proper firing 1893 stock. But I have probably already screwed the pooch by going as far as I have with in-letting. It's something I'll have live with I suppose. I won't lose any sleep over it.

Here are the pictures as promised. Keep in mind that this is work in progress ant the stock wasn't in-letted for the action that have put in it and it was initially started by someone else and another action. This particular stock proves that all small ring actions aren't exactly the same dimensionally. You probably have noticed right away that I have some accrue glass bedding to do. There has been a spot milled out for an after market safety. I am considering a tunney deluxe trigger for this build. I still have some cleaning and jeweling to do. Still more finish work to do. I made a feral and a pillar for the trigger guard.

I'll be on the look out. You never know what I might happen upon. I wish I got the guys # that I bought my most recent acquisitions from. There is a good chance that I might run into him in the future he's one of those guys on the gun show circuit up here. I remember him having quite a few military style stocks for sale. But I can't say with 100% certainty I think he had some Mauser stocks. I always take a tape measure with me when I go to the gun shows for that reason. That is how I knew the stock I bought last was for a small ring. There are couple of other sources that I have to check with also. Is your minion on guard duty?

A sporter stock or military? I'll keep my eyes open around here.

I have also been looking for a bolt holding jig and the conclusion I've come to is that I'll have make one myself. Brownels has a heat sink for large ring Mauser's just not small ring Mauser's models 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, and the occasional 98. The same can be said for the bolt forging blocks. I've had no luck locating them for sale or rent either. I wish you the best of luck.

I do come by it honestly.

I'm currently working on another Spanish Mauser build. The pictures you are looking at are from my last post about 1893 Mauser extractors. I bought the stock, butt plate, spacer and the cherry fore end tip blank from the local gun show on Oct 2nd. I spent a total of $30 on the parts you see here. I wish I had met the smith that made this semi in-letted stock because it was done very well. The action is an 1893 Spaniard with a born on date of 1922. It has taken me almost a year to accumulate the parts to complete the action. The only exception is the barrel which I've had for about 5 years now. It is a Green Mountain barrel that I bought from Midway USA for $87.95 before they discontinued selling them it is short chambered in 7x57mm. I have now sanded the stock to 150 grit and now started in-letting the barrel channel to marry up to the trigger guard. The trick has been to be patient. Which by the way isn't my best quality. I'm pretty close to being done with that part of the project. Once I'm done with that part I'll fit the butt plate and spacer while I decide if I'll use the cherry fore end blank or not. It just doesn't seem to be a good match to me. I do plan on drilling and tapping it for a scope using the jig I bought at the same gun show I bought the stock. I paid $30 for it also. I'll post pictures of the progress I've made tomorrow.