I’m finally in the home stretch to finish a rifle I’ve started building 8+/- years ago. (To be truthful – It’ll probably never be finished to my satisfaction
) I’m building it for my son so I chose a lighter recoil caliber - .243 win.
I know its not necessarily the right caliber on a mauser action according to the purists but it’ll suit a kid just fine. It started out as a military mauser (vz24) that I got off gunbroker or some such. I had it rebarreled by Mark Skaggs when he still listed some of his services on ebay. He also welded on a bolt handle and removed the charger hump. Then it sat in a corner for a while.
I got a semi-inlet stock on ebay later but butchered the final inletting and gave up again. Then I found a 4-5 feet section of walnut tree trunk cut in 3 “slabs” at a yard sale. I built a little rustic table out of the one section and noticed the nice figure.
A few years later I decided to give stock making another chance and cut a blank out of one of the pieces. I took the semi-inlet that I butchered and used it as a pattern with a few adjustments.
The rough shaping to the pattern outline was done with a circular and reciprocating saws and chisels. (wish I had a band saw). Inletting of the action next with very careful use of router for major wood removal and then chisels, scrapers and even more careful use of dremel. Using the dremel is universally not advised for stockmaking but if you take care it comes in handy. I used prussian blue for transferring high spots on metal to wood.
After inletting the action the trigger guard was done and then shaping could be started. I went slow and made myself put the tools down when I got inpatient. You can take the wood off but you can’t put it back.ï�Š
I cut the blank oversized in thickness (probably 3+ inches ) so there was a lot of wood to be removed. Went at it with files and rasps after thinning it on the table saw. I also had to inlet the butt plate and grip cap. The shaping of the shadow-line cheek piece was not as hard as I thought it would be. I did change the shape a few times though.
Then final sanding, whiskering and sealing.
The metal work was next. I cut the barrel shorter with a hacksaw for the mannlicher style and had it recrowned by a local gunsmith. (thought of doing it myself but the barrel crowning tools’ price made it cost prohibitive).
The muzzle cap is from brownells as is the barrel band and barrel band sling-swivel and the rear sling swivel that is also inletted in the butt stock. The hinged trigger guard I made myself from instructions out of Carmichaels book.
I soldered on a front and rear sight and then rust blued it all. Rather than boiling parts after rusting I stole an idea I found somewhere to steam with the below setup. 4” toilet flange and pvc pipe and cap. I have a eye hook screwed into the cap from which the action hangs. The pot I got at a yard sale for $5. The steam setup is very easy and the results are better than I wished.
All put together.
I still have to do a few things here and there, get it checkered and it’ll be done. I might get a checkering set and try my hand at it but I’ll definitely practice before going to town on this stock. I ordered a shorter follower and magazine block so it will feed the .243 win cartridges better. I hope it shoots well.
) I’m building it for my son so I chose a lighter recoil caliber - .243 win. I know its not necessarily the right caliber on a mauser action according to the purists but it’ll suit a kid just fine. It started out as a military mauser (vz24) that I got off gunbroker or some such. I had it rebarreled by Mark Skaggs when he still listed some of his services on ebay. He also welded on a bolt handle and removed the charger hump. Then it sat in a corner for a while.
I got a semi-inlet stock on ebay later but butchered the final inletting and gave up again. Then I found a 4-5 feet section of walnut tree trunk cut in 3 “slabs” at a yard sale. I built a little rustic table out of the one section and noticed the nice figure.
A few years later I decided to give stock making another chance and cut a blank out of one of the pieces. I took the semi-inlet that I butchered and used it as a pattern with a few adjustments.
The rough shaping to the pattern outline was done with a circular and reciprocating saws and chisels. (wish I had a band saw). Inletting of the action next with very careful use of router for major wood removal and then chisels, scrapers and even more careful use of dremel. Using the dremel is universally not advised for stockmaking but if you take care it comes in handy. I used prussian blue for transferring high spots on metal to wood.
After inletting the action the trigger guard was done and then shaping could be started. I went slow and made myself put the tools down when I got inpatient. You can take the wood off but you can’t put it back.
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I cut the blank oversized in thickness (probably 3+ inches ) so there was a lot of wood to be removed. Went at it with files and rasps after thinning it on the table saw. I also had to inlet the butt plate and grip cap. The shaping of the shadow-line cheek piece was not as hard as I thought it would be. I did change the shape a few times though.
Then final sanding, whiskering and sealing.
The metal work was next. I cut the barrel shorter with a hacksaw for the mannlicher style and had it recrowned by a local gunsmith. (thought of doing it myself but the barrel crowning tools’ price made it cost prohibitive).
The muzzle cap is from brownells as is the barrel band and barrel band sling-swivel and the rear sling swivel that is also inletted in the butt stock. The hinged trigger guard I made myself from instructions out of Carmichaels book.
I soldered on a front and rear sight and then rust blued it all. Rather than boiling parts after rusting I stole an idea I found somewhere to steam with the below setup. 4” toilet flange and pvc pipe and cap. I have a eye hook screwed into the cap from which the action hangs. The pot I got at a yard sale for $5. The steam setup is very easy and the results are better than I wished.
All put together.
I still have to do a few things here and there, get it checkered and it’ll be done. I might get a checkering set and try my hand at it but I’ll definitely practice before going to town on this stock. I ordered a shorter follower and magazine block so it will feed the .243 win cartridges better. I hope it shoots well.
