Mauser 98 and 404 Jeffery

thumper15 said:

One headache I've had has been to figure out what cartridge to chamber in these actions and which ones each. The ones I've always been been dreamed of having has been 404 jeffery, 300 H&H, 9.3x62, 375 H&H. Ok I actually have 4 actions if I include the Mark X whitworth in 25-06, but that one is in great shape as it is.

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Easy peasy!
7x57
9.3x62
404 Jeffery

I'm in the process of building the same trio. Not much you can't do with those 3

I busy for a while to work on a .500 Jeffery 3D printing /building project . I completed phase one where I manged to print the bottom metal/trigger guard and magazine box ( assistance of a friend) .This is printed in a magnum configuration /system. I am currently on phase two, casting the 3D print into a silicon mold where a wax item can be made. My friend handed me five wax bottom metals/trigger guards today..I will be taking it to a lost wax cast shop to be cast into steel...with this magnum box/trigger guard /bottom metal I will be able to convert a standard M98 action into a magnum .500 Jeffery action. All the other parts will be 3D printed as well and mold into a silicon mold where wax can be cast into and cast to steel...This project will enable any person to convert a K98 action into a magnum action without too many difficulty..since the magazine opening / magazine box is of magnum size...here is a few photos , the whole process is on a forum I post my threads on..if you are interested in looking at this thread you can pm me and I will provide a link...The 3D print has a upgraded version made for me by another friend:

The above image is the first 3D printed to be the master print..the following photos are of this master print

Here are the results of the wax molds I am taking to a lost wax cast shop to be cast into steel so I can continue with my .500 Jeffery 3D technology build project...

I would like your comments on this build...

Gert,

That is amazing! I am surprised we have not seen a lot more 3D printing like this for bolt action conversions and such, or for parts that are out of production. I have a shop near my brewery that does metal 3D printing, I am considering looking into having 375 H&H length magazine followers for the Winchester 70 made, since factory parts are very hard to find.

Gert,

If I am understanding correctly, the bottom metal you are creating will fit onto a standard 98 action (not magnum), but will allow for the use of magnum length cartridges?

If so, make a spare! I will buy it off of you right away!

Great work.. thats an awesome project you have going there!

Mdwest, that is correct..I will show this in the .500 Jeffery build project..but yes, that is the purpose of this project..there are many standard M98 Mauser actions available , I want to convert these M98 standard actions into Magnum actions to use as dangerous game hunting rifle builds ...Give me time to get these wax items cast in steel..I still need to do the magazine box and bottom metal/magazine box lid then I will be able to sell the extra ones to interested buyers...I will let you know when this is completed and ready to be sold to you... Interested buyers can pm me so I can get a count of how many more action conversions is needed...

Milehighshooter said:

Gert,

That is amazing! I am surprised we have not seen a lot more 3D printing like this for bolt action conversions and such, or for parts that are out of production. I have a shop near my brewery that does metal 3D printing, I am considering looking into having 375 H&H length magazine followers for the Winchester 70 made, since factory parts are very hard to find.

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I think the reason being it is an expensive exercise, not many people have the skills to execute these procedures. I am lucky I have this friend who is extremely knowledgeable and is a gold /silver smith .
We are currently busy 3D printing a magnum double square bridge Obendorf Mauser action as well..we will be able to sell an improved Magnum double square bridge action for a reasonable price since our Rand currency is extremely weak..but the USA dollars and British pound will be more than welcome..for you guys it would be a bargain and we will appreciate the dollars...

I promised myself that a 404 would be as big as I go in size of cartridge but you have my attention. Curse this website LOL.
Shawn

Girt, is this the same process used by your friend that already make actions for the 404 Jeffery?

Shootist43, no this is the 3D project on the .500 Jeffery build I am busy for quite a while and is moving to phase two , casting in steel, then I will be progressing to step three , the actual build of the .500 Jeffery, I will 3D print all the sights and Ghost rings /Blenheim sights I want to use on the .500 Jeffery since it will not be scoped ...maybe a nice quarter rib with flip up distance indicators...Johan Greyling made a wax mold of the standard M98 action, we want to do the double square bridge action, a Obendorf action...

Does Ludwig Olson's Mauser Bolt Rifles book give action and magazine lengths across the whole spectrum?

Just bought a post WW2 FN Mauser 30-06 commonly called the Model 1950 at auction. I’m quite interested to see what sort of nick it’s in. I’ll also be intrigued to see how the bolt body and receiver compare to my father’s factory sporting Sako sporting FN Mauser in 300 Holland & Holland.
Auction pics attached.

Gert Odendaal said:

I think the reason being it is an expensive exercise, not many people have the skills to execute these procedures. I am lucky I have this friend who is extremely knowledgeable and is a gold /silver smith .
We are currently busy 3D printing a magnum double square bridge Obendorf Mauser action as well..we will be able to sell an improved Magnum double square bridge action for a reasonable price since our Rand currency is extremely weak..but the USA dollars and British pound will be more than welcome..for you guys it would be a bargain and we will appreciate the dollars...

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Resurrecting this thread to support a 404J standard Mauser project I am kicking around. Sir, in the last eight years, has this project progressed? If so, I am extremely interested in bottom metal and a follower!

I built my 404 on standard action Czech vz.24. I used Swift-Blackburn 416 Remington bottom metal and it worked fine without modification. The magnum follower was from New England Custom Gun. Had to pinch together a spot at the forward end of the follower to get it to hold the tapered end of military magazine spring. I believe Myers sells the magnum springs which may not be tapered at follower end.

thumper15 said:

Ok guys just joined the forum and have a question. As I posted in the greetings page I have a Mark X with a magnum bolt face, a vz24, and a regular mauser 98 to which to build on. I know it's generally not advised to build a 404 on a non magnum action. However, my question is just how much work would be involved in converting the Mark X into a 404? My plan as it is now is to build the vz24 or the 98 into a 9.3x62, and without modifying the Mark X I'm leaning toward the 416 taylor just because. Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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416 Taylor great cartridge, no modes required on mk10 mag bolt face with std length action, easy to form brass, recoil will not knock your hat off.

SunnyHill Enterprises also sells bottom metal that is specifically for the 404J with the longer box. You can also reach out to Myers Arms for an extended extractor that is 404J specific.

Extended magnum extractor is not needed unless for some reason one decides to go hacking at rear bridge and cutting it back which is also not necessary. Just grind away a bit of inside of rear ring behind ejection port on bolt side to allow thicker cartridge to eject from standard Mauser action. Worked for me.

Sunny Hill wanted $700 for bottom metal specific for 404. Swift-Blackburn sold me 416 Rem bottom metal for $400 and change. Figured I could open it enough at shoulder to make it work for 404 per Paul Mauser's cos 30° formula. No modification needed.

Myers extractor may have claw cut to fit 404 but I would be surprised if it doesn't still require some modification.

Ontario Hunter said:

Extended magnum extractor is not needed unless for some reason one decides to go hacking at rear bridge and cutting it back which is also not necessary. Just grind away a bit of inside of rear ring behind ejection port on bolt side to allow thicker cartridge to eject from standard Mauser action. Worked for me.

Sunny Hill wanted $700 for bottom metal specific for 404. Swift-Blackburn sold me 416 Rem bottom metal for $400 and change. Figured I could open it enough at shoulder to make it work for 404 per Paul Mauser's cos 30° formula. No modification needed.

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I have a few moments during long layover in Zurich so I am able to find a few photos and explain some stuff better.

Many gun builders machine away a bit of the rear ring/bridge to allow for thicker 404 case to eject. This will leave an unsightly gap where the end of a standard length extractor is exposed. Magnum length extractor will fix that. As I said, simply thinning the inside of rear ring on the ejection port side is all that's needed to allow for proper ejection and no gap is left at the end of the extractor.

Here's a photo of my 404 with 416 Remington bottom metal about to cycle the last round in the magazine. Note how the nose of bullet is slightly raised and pointed directly in line with the chamber before the bolt is started forward. This is because 416 magazine box is narrower than Paul Mauser standard 404 box at the shoulders ... but not so narrow that the rails will lose the cartridge prematurely. This rifle cycles smoothe as glass!

Brass is a bit chewed up at mouth because this is one of the dummy cases I used when modifying rails.

Here's NECG magnum follower pinched to hold standard action military follower spring (where my finger is touching it) I simply used the corner of jaws in vice to squeeze it enough to hold the tapered end of spring.


Here you can see the tapered end of spring. The jaws on back of follower have been squeezed just enough to keep the spring secured.


And here's the modified bolt face and extractor claw. This rifle effortlessly snaps over on cartridges dropped in the chamber and never fails to eject loaded cartridges or empty cases.