Stock Ideas for Mauser Project

[Roughneck]

Howdy folks, just picked this barreled action up from a gun shop and there was no info as it was part of an estate sale. It’s a Mauser action with Douglas barrel, looks ready to go but unfortunately don’t have any 404 Jeffery rounds to see if it’s been modified to fees smoothly. Anyhow was looking for recommendations for stocks or where to look. I really want to get this up and running for my first safari next year. Here are some photos of it. I don’t know much about these actions or if the fees rails have been modified. Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[RR 314]

Well, not a certainty, generally if a Smith is going to work his way through everything, the bolt knob, in my opinion, would be the last thing they would address. I bet feeding has been taken care of. I would buy a box of Hornady ammo, which seems to be the only readily available factory offering, and make sure it cycles. If so, then get it quickly to a someone of your choice for the stock and tell him it is relatively urgent. Check out Canyon Creek for stock.

 

[Roughneck]

Yeah I figured the same thing that the feeding was taken care as lots of small details are already done just like you mentioned the bolt knob & even the levers on the scope rings have been checkered. I intend on ordering some ammo this week and am in contact with 2 gunsmiths one now retired that built dangerous game rifles so hopefully I can get with them this week as I was super excited to find this Mauser. I drove 4 hours each way to get it and couldnt be happier. I appreciate your info. Thanks

 

[RR 314]

LeRoy Berry should be within a 45 minute drive from you! That is another reason to try him first! Well, heck, looks like I did not mention Canyon Creek above. It was in my thought process.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Is this a magnum length action? Looks like it might be. Measure the length of ejection port. No stripper slot so definitely not military origin.

I built a 404J on standard length Czech 98 Mauser. The feeding rails are tricky. I am concerned looking at your images. Compared to mine, your rails are much thinner at the forward end. I would be concerned for two reasons: 1) the shoulder jumps the rails too early and/or 2) the rails don't lift the rim all the way onto bolt face in time.

Don't invest any more money until you have obtained cartridges to do a dry run. Don't buy a box of shells ~$175-$200. Find someone who can load bullets on three empty unprimed cases. Load them up and cycle the works. It is entirely possible that someone took an action that was designed for a different caliber and changed the barrel, THEN attempted modifying the feeding rails. That would explain the knurled bolt and 3-position safety. If too much metal was removed from the rails, then you have a very expensive proposition to fix it.

 

[Roughneck]

LeRoy Berry should be within a 45 minute drive from you! That is another reason to try him first! Well, heck, looks like I did not mention Canyon Creek above. It was in my thought process.

I will definitely contact him tomorrow

 

[Roughneck]

Well I definitely intend on running some ammo through it before I put any money into a stock. From looking at the work on the action and barrel I believe it was built together not a barrel installed after work done to the receiver as the machine work and attention to detail is exceptional on everything. Yesterday I talked with Dennis Olson who is a somewhat local gunsmith to me and he is going to look at it as soon as I can get up that way, but he said he is slowing down and isn’t looking to take on anything else.

 

[John Telford]

Potentially you have a very fine custom gun in the making! Mauser did a run of .404 actions towards the end of 1939 an if your serial number starts with 119… it may have been one of them. However I doubt it as these were mostly solid side wall actions.
Your bottom floor plate is aftermarket as is the trigger and safety.
Go with a straight English style stock. Use the Martini Heym as a guide.

 

[RR 314]

Well I definitely intend on running some ammo through it before I put any money into a stock. From looking at the work on the action and barrel I believe it was built together not a barrel installed after work done to the receiver as the machine work and attention to detail is exceptional on everything. Yesterday I talked with Dennis Olson who is a somewhat local gunsmith to me and he is going to look at it as soon as I can get up that way, but he said he is slowing down and isn’t looking to take on anything else.

Dennis is solid and obviously in your neck of the woods. He did Ontario’s build as well.

 

[baxterb]

That rifle looks to have been built or at least barreled by Jim Wisner. Jim is one of the most knowledgeable smiths when it comes to converting to 404s - knows exactly what needs to be done and how to do it right. Tell Dennis it looks to be a Wisner (and it’s Wise-ner, not Whizz-ner - although everyone says the latter ) - he probably knows Jim .

But first I would get on the phone to Jim (Chehalis. WA) and get a run-down of exactly what the project entailed etc.

And I would bet dimes to doughnuts Jim made that bottom metal. I looks wide in the front meaning it is Mauser-spec correct.

 

[Roughneck]

Potentially you have a very fine custom gun in the making! Mauser did a run of .404 actions towards the end of 1939 an if your serial number starts with 119… it may have been one of them. However I doubt it as these were mostly solid side wall actions.
Your bottom floor plate is aftermarket as is the trigger and safety.
Go with a straight English style stock. Use the Martini Heym as a guide.

Yeah I am hoping it turns into one heck of a custom hunting rifle! When I decided to go on my first safari I wanted to find a 404 Jeffery so maybe it will all fall into place.

 

[Roughneck]

That rifle looks to have been built or at least barreled by Jim Wisner. Jim is one of the most knowledgeable smiths when it comes to converting to 404s - knows exactly what needs to be done and how to do it right. Tell Dennis it looks to be a Wisner (and it’s Wise-ner, not Whizz-ner - although everyone says the latter ) - he probably knows Jim .

But first I would get on the phone to Jim (Chehalis. WA) and get a run-down of exactly what the project entailed etc.

And I would bet dimes to doughnuts Jim made that bottom metal. I looks wide in the front meaning it is Mauser-spec correct.

He is definitely on my list to call in the morning as his name is stamped on the barrel. That would be great if he built it and had some history on it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Dennis is solid and obviously in your neck of the woods. He did Ontario’s build as well.

He reamed, threaded, and mounted the barrel. And he put the sights on the barrel. I happened to have them out in the car when I picked up the rifle. Gave him my drill and taps (tapered and bottoming) for sight screw holes. His tap was broken as I recall. Local machinist here opened up the bolt face. I did the rest including modifying rails, loading ramp, follower, and extractor. 416 Rem bottom metal from Blackburn required no modification. Oh, and Dennis had a replacement lever for my Parkwest 3-position safety that was incorrectly machined by them. They had already agreed to replace the safety but he had a spare lever on hand.

 

[RR 314]

He reamed, threaded, and mounted the barrel. And he put the sights on the barrel. I happened to have them out in the car when I picked up the rifle. Gave him my drill and taps (tapered and bottoming) for sight screw holes. His tap was broken as I recall. Local machinist here opened up the bolt face. I did the rest including modifying rails, loading ramp, follower, and extractor. 416 Rem bottom metal from Blackburn required no modification. Oh, and Dennis had a replacement lever for my Parkwest 3-position safety that was incorrectly machined by them. They had already agreed to replace the safety but he had a spare lever on hand.

Oh my goodness. My fault. I cannot believe I erred and stated Dennis “built” your rifle. I should have stated Dennis did some work on the rifle that YOU built.

Roughneck, if Jim Wisner has any questions about the rifle, or how to get the .404 to feed, tell him you know a builder in Canada that he can consult. He can also consult on a proper stock should your stock maker of choice have any questions.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Oh my goodness. My fault. I cannot believe I erred and stated Dennis “built” your rifle. I should have stated Dennis did some work on the rifle that YOU built.

Roughneck, if Jim Wisner has any questions about the rifle, or how to get the .404 to feed, tell him you know a builder in Canada that he can consult. He can also consult on a proper stock should your stock maker of choice have any questions.

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.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

That rifle looks to have been built or at least barreled by Jim Wisner. Jim is one of the most knowledgeable smiths when it comes to converting to 404s - knows exactly what needs to be done and how to do it right. Tell Dennis it looks to be a Wisner (and it’s Wise-ner, not Whizz-ner - although everyone says the latter ) - he probably knows Jim .

But first I would get on the phone to Jim (Chehalis. WA) and get a run-down of exactly what the project entailed etc.

And I would bet dimes to doughnuts Jim made that bottom metal. I looks wide in the front meaning it is Mauser-spec correct.

Does not appear to be Wisner's 3-position safety. Note the OP's safety has "Safe" engraved on top of bolt shroud.

Wisner doesn't have that on his.

The OP's bolt shroud is very crude. Note the blocky corners. It's definitely different than my Dakota/Parkwest safety/shroud.

Not Myers either as his lever is held in place with a screw whereas this one (and Parkwest) use a pressed in pin. Possibly one of Ed Lefleur's old 3-position safeties? Doubtful though as Myer's bought out Lefleur's design (even advertises them as Lefleur safeties).

 

[Roughneck]

I just got off the phone with Dennis and he has 404 Jeffery dummy rounds so I am heading to his place shortly. I will definitely follow up with what happens. Thanks again for all the help

 

[Roughneck]

I also just got off the phone with Jim Wisner and he built the whole gun in 2020. He went through his records and told me everything which is great news!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I also just got off the phone with Jim Wisner and he built the whole gun in 2020. He went through his records and told me everything which is great news!

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?

 

[baxterb]

I also just got off the phone with Jim Wisner and he built the whole gun in 2020. He went through his records and told me everything which is great news!

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.