Building a FN Mauser in .458 Win Mag

Hey guys I am in the process of having FN action Mauser 98 converted to .458 Win Mag. I am just curious as to what you guys think about this. I am not trying to make a BUBAIZED mauser by any means. The gun smith I am using does alot of mausers, and has done one other for me that turned out great. I am going to be using this for Cape Buffalo, and probably Grizzlies in the next couple of years. I am torn though. What sight do I need? I have a NEGC front sight WIth a fiber optic bead, already on it. I can go for the classic Express Sighs but I really feel like a Peep sight will be just as fast and more accurate at range. I know that I don't want to have an optic on this rifle becasue I like to do my BUff hunting with Iron sights. Well at least when I am up close and porsonal with them. But i also know that almost no modern dangerous game rifles have peep sights on them, unless they are of a rigby style. Just looking for what you guys think. Hopefully you have more expereince with dangerous game hunting than I do. Ive only been on one buffalo hunt.

Well it may not be traditional, and I don't know the history behind it all...but I don't see why a well made peep sight would not work. I can understand you wanting a functional sight, that works for you and helps you be a better hunter. Why not a peep sight?

duckman90,

I am currently having a mauser built also, I am having the Mossberg ghost ring sights put on it instead of regular flip up rear sight. If you ever have the oppourtunity to shoot a tactical Mossberg 12 ga. with the ghost ring sights, take the time to enjoy it. Most of the reading I have done on DG hunting, a lot of the encounters take place at really uncomfortable distances. It just makes sense to use these style sights, it may not be for everyone but, I like them.

Duckman, what I would do is have both. I would get the gunsmith to make a rear fold down peep and a fold down rear express leaf.

Richteb...you're such a smart puppy!! That's the way to go! I like peep sights as I cut my teeth on a military FN 7.62 FAL rifle. Learn to shoot your peep with both eyes open and there can't be a much better way without going optic.
My only other suggestion would be to have yr gunsmith fit another safety catch on that old Mauser action....those blade type models are real crappy and designed for military applications! Like they do when you fit a scope to the action!

Richteb I really LIke that idea, The only problem is, that I have had a hell of a time figuring out where to get the fold down peep Sight. All of the ones that I have found are side mounted and are drilled and tapped into the side of the receiver. I'll talk to my gun smith and see if he thinks he can pull something together. Ole Bally, I actually plan on doing that, Eventually I'll have to get a new trigger as well. Those military triggers are iffy at best, but you can get used to them. NOw another question I'd like to pose to the Gallery is what stock should i put on it. I am leaning heavily towards the Bell And Carlson Medalist in spiderweb Green. Its got an aluminium beding block in it already so the accuracy will be alot better. Plus for 257 $ USA its alot easier to swallow than the custom wood stocks that cost north of $500 USA with the same bedding system. Plus those are so pretty its hard to justify running them through heavy knarly tanzanian scrub. I think that the synthetic may be more resiliant to the recoil of the big .458 Do any of you have experience with them?

PS. 35 Bore. I have had the luxury of shooting the ghost ring rifle before, i enjoyed it and its good for the up close and nasty stuff that is so indicative of dangerous game hunting. But I killed my Buff at (Not proud of this but it was the last day of my safari , and light was fading fast it was this buffalo or no buffalo, and since i didnt know when id be getting back to Tanzania i took the shot) 180 Meters across a ravene in some of the thickest nastiest stinging nettleiest bush can imagine. I couldnt have hit that buff with a gost ring i dont think. Though they are great sights for up to 150 yards in openish terrain. and at those close ranges, you really just look at your front sight, and hope to god your your rifle fits well enough for you to point shoot. sorta like shooting a shot gun. We had some rather exiting run in with cows at about 20 yards...

Attachment 8941Attachment 8942Attachment 8943Attachment 8944

Thought you guys might wana see some picks of my other mauser build, M96/38

Originally Posted by duckman90

Richteb I really LIke that idea, The only problem is, that I have had a hell of a time figuring out where to get the fold down peep Sight. All of the ones that I have found are side mounted and are drilled and tapped into the side of the receiver. I'll talk to my gun smith and see if he thinks he can pull something together. Ole Bally, I actually plan on doing that, Eventually I'll have to get a new trigger as well. Those military triggers are iffy at best, but you can get used to them. NOw another question I'd like to pose to the Gallery is what stock should i put on it. I am leaning heavily towards the Bell And Carlson Medalist in spiderweb Green. Its got an aluminium beding block in it already so the accuracy will be alot better. Plus for 257 $ USA its alot easier to swallow than the custom wood stocks that cost north of $500 USA with the same bedding system. Plus those are so pretty its hard to justify running them through heavy knarly tanzanian scrub. I think that the synthetic may be more resiliant to the recoil of the big .458 Do any of you have experience with them?

PS. 35 Bore. I have had the luxury of shooting the ghost ring rifle before, i enjoyed it and its good for the up close and nasty stuff that is so indicative of dangerous game hunting. But I killed my Buff at (Not proud of this but it was the last day of my safari , and light was fading fast it was this buffalo or no buffalo, and since i didnt know when id be getting back to Tanzania i took the shot) 180 Meters across a ravene in some of the thickest nastiest stinging nettleiest bush can imagine. I couldnt have hit that buff with a gost ring i dont think. Though they are great sights for up to 150 yards in openish terrain. and at those close ranges, you really just look at your front sight, and hope to god your your rifle fits well enough for you to point shoot. sorta like shooting a shot gun. We had some rather exiting run in with cows at about 20 yards...

Duckman,
Have a look at Hallowell & Co., Fine Sporting Guns they are in Montana they have picture of a nice Burgess folding peep sight.

My suggestion also is have a look at Brownells and get a complete bolt shroud with the Winchester swing type safety. Basically it is a matter of unscrewing the old and replacing with new, takes about 5 minutes. The alternative is to buy a bolt shroud with no safety and then something like a Timmeney trigger with the safety as part of the trigger mechanism. Again does not really require a gunsmith to fit.

Originally Posted by Ole Bally

Richteb...you're such a smart puppy!! That's the way to go! I like peep sights as I cut my teeth on a military FN 7.62 FAL rifle. Learn to shoot your peep with both eyes open and there can't be a much better way without going optic.
My only other suggestion would be to have yr gunsmith fit another safety catch on that old Mauser action....those blade type models are real crappy and designed for military applications! Like they do when you fit a scope to the action!

Thanks mate, I have my moments even though I am just a poor dumb deer hunter. Must say my preference is high quality tip off scope mount and shallow V express open sights on my bolt guns. Used a set of EAWs on the 416 Ruger when I was in Zim and they worked perfectly. Takes about 3 sec to get the scope off. When I followed my buff into the thick sh...t all I did was whiped the scope off and stuck it my back pocket and was good to go. Then again I have never really used open sight much as I am not that old...LoL

Originally Posted by duckman90

Thought you guys might wana see some picks of my other mauser build, M96/38

duckman90, your pictures did not load, feel free to post them again...

I would get the Bell and Carson stock, I own a few and they are worth every dollar. They are very solid. A great investment for a gun stock.

duckman how did your rifle turn out? i have two .458 lotts , both with lyman receiver peep sights.

Forget the fold down "V" rear sight. It will only fold itself "up" at the worst possible time and interfere with the rear peep. Go with a Lyman or NECG rear peep on your gun. I hunted with nothing but rear peeps (three trips to Africa) until my eyes just could not handle it anymore. I'm building a Ruger 77 in .458 right now and it will wear a Weaver K2.5.