Stock Ideas for Mauser Project

Sure doesn't look like his safeties. As rusty as it is you should be concerned about the pall spring inside the bolt shroud being deteriorated. The bad thing about pressed in pin for locking the safety lever is it's nearly impossible to remove the pin to replace the spring. Seems odd that the action would get that rusty in just four years. Damn shame. What's the bore look like? Is it a magnum action or standard length?
Jim said he built the whole rifle and gave me the whole run down on it. The light surface rust is just on the safety and scope rings, bore and everything else is perfect. I didn’t ask if it was a standard or magnum action but will measure it as soon as I can.
 
Just FYI, when I initially contacted Dennis Olsen to do the work, he absolutely refused to do the feeding modifications. No explanation. Perhaps he was too busy? Or uncomfortable making a standard action Mauser work with 404J? He agreed to thread, ream, and mount the barrel. That's it. Lija made the barrel and took it over to him. I brought the rifle down as a 30-06 to get around gun parts import/export regs. I planned to stay in Montana for a while so I brought tools with me to finish the job. Unexpectedly he did fit the new barrel into the stock (#5 404 profile barrel was much thicker than 30-06). Saved me some work there. And because I had the sights along he offered to install them. I had brought the taps along to do it (previously acquired them to install same model sights on my 30-06 Springfield). Left them with him and he charged sixty bucks to install the sights which was fair. THEN, he surprised me by offering to do the feeding rails and ramp. But that would have meant staying in Montana longer, probably a lot longer, than planned. Temps were hovering around 100 degrees, I had the dogs in a vehicle and trailer with no AC, and my Jimmy was acting up (vapor locking?) so I had to decline. Needed to get home.

I plan to be in the Flathead again this summer and can look at OP's gun if he wishes but I don't think it will be necessary. Perhaps someone close to him can load up three dummy rounds to test the cycling. That will tell the tale quickly. If the cartridges jump the rails too early, then he's got a big problem. If they jam during feeding (which I think unlikely), then he can breathe a sigh of relief. Fixable. Hopefully it cycles okay.

Duane Weibe's booklet describes a very different shape for modifying the rails. Mind you, I didn't follow his prescription entirely but he was building 375 not 404 and the cartridges are very different shape. OP's rails do not compare to either mine or Wiebe's illustration.
Something I forgot: I used 416 Rem bottom metal which is slightly narrower through the shoulder area of mag box than a Paul Mauser cosine 30 box for 404J. So the shoulder area of my feeding rails would have to be closer together to keep cartridges from prematurely jumping the rails. OP's action undoubtedly has different mag box dimensions and therefore the rails would look different.

It was my intention to open up the 416 mag box walls to satisfy Mauser's formula but it worked fine as is. Maybe even better! Squeezing the shoulders slightly pointed the end of the loading bullet more in line with center of loading ramp and chamber. It cycles very smoothly.
Very good. Great you got in touch with him. He’s a good guy.

@Ontario Hunter as to the “Fire” engraving, I was going to say it was done when the bolt handle was checkered.
Maybe but the finish just doesn't look like Wisner's stuff. See how blocky the corners are. His are smooth and rounded.
 
Something I forgot: I used 416 Rem bottom metal which is slightly narrower through the shoulder area of mag box than a Paul Mauser cosine 30 box for 404J. So the shoulder area of my feeding rails would have to be closer together to keep cartridges from prematurely jumping the rails. OP's action undoubtedly has different mag box dimensions and therefore the rails would look different.

It was my intention to open up the 416 mag box walls to satisfy Mauser's formula but it worked fine as is. Maybe even better! Squeezing the shoulders slightly pointed the end of the loading bullet more in line with center of loading ramp and chamber. It cycles very smoothly.
Maybe but the finish just doesn't look like Wisner's stuff. See how blocky the corners are. His are smooth and rounded.

I see what you mean. Not sure. I know he’s been making runs of safeties recently (I have helped him post pics elsewhere) so maybe a few modifications?

Jim and I have also been on and off working on a brochure about modifying a standard Mauser for 404. It is very detailed so far (25 pages) but not complete. I need to check in with him again as it’s been a while and I’ve been busy on other book projects.
 
It’s a standard action and it feeds great no issues. Holds 4 in the magazine box.
Great news. Whew! Well, that means you will need a custom stock. Standard action Mauser only has three down. Did Jim Wisner make the extended bottom metal or something pre-made?
 
Jim did make the bottom metal. I was recommended by Dennis to use a local stock maker in Plains that worked under him and a few others, his name is Noah Hathorne. I went to his place after and I picked up a piece of wood then figured out everything I think I want so it’s in the works. His work is exceptional and does the stock work for a lot of folks including Wayne Jacobson, who also recommended him. So I am excited for the path forward.
 
Jim did make the bottom metal. I was recommended by Dennis to use a local stock maker in Plains that worked under him and a few others, his name is Noah Hathorne. I went to his place after and I picked up a piece of wood then figured out everything I think I want so it’s in the works. His work is exceptional and does the stock work for a lot of folks including Wayne Jacobson, who also recommended him. So I am excited for the path forward.
All the stars have aligned and I am sure the finished project will be beautiful. Congratulations on the journey thus far.
 

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