25-06 Mauser 98 Restocking Project

[cash_tx]

Here is a fun little project which I've been hoping to complete for awhile now. A little more than two years ago, my father passed away; and part of his gun collection that he left behind included some semi-finished Boyd's rifle stocks with nicely figured walnut, and cut for a large ring Mauser action with a #1 barrel channel. So for the last 2+ years, I've been keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a donor rifle or barreled action that would let me put this good looking stock to use. Today I found a donor rifle at a local gun show in the Dallas, Texas area.

This is a custom 25-06 Remington built with a DWM Mauser 98 action and a 26" barrel that has "SHAANKS" stamped underneath it (BTW, has anyone heard of a barrel manufacturer named SHAANKS?). The rifle also came with the Leupold one-piece base and rings seen in the pictures, as well as a nice Timney trigger (set at a very crisp 2.0 pounds). I spent a few hours slowly finishing the inletting. I pretty much only needed to sand the barrel channel out front until the barrel was free-floating, as well as hollow out a bolt channel in order for the bolt to close properly. Aside from that, the barreled action paired up quite nicely with the Boyd's stock. I topped it off with a Leupold 4-12 Vari-X IIc that I had on hand, and think it turned out quite nice (much more attractive than that old plastic Ram-Line stock). I'm not sure whether I will need to glass bed it at some point; I'll shoot it first to see how well it does as-is and then decide. In the meantime, I sure enjoy looking at its beauty and craftsmanship; and feel a nice sense of satisfaction for having finally finished this project.

Before:

After (please excuse the poor lighting):

 

[TroyF]

Looks nice, definitely bed the recoil lug area, mauser stocks are pretty roomy for all the different mauser manufacturers.let me know if you want to part with that ramline stock.

 

[cash_tx]

Looks nice, definitely bed the recoil lug area, mauser stocks are pretty roomy for all the different mauser manufacturers.let me know if you want to part with that ramline stock.

Thanks, @TroyF; and that's good advice. I'll start working on the bedding; but in the meantime, do you think it's safe to shoot prior to getting it bedded (at least enough rounds to get the scope sighted in)?

Also, I have no perceived use for the Ramline stock and plan to get rid of it; I just want to first make sure that there won't be any issues with the walnut Boyd's stock. Aside from that, just make me a fair offer at a price that is tilted in your favor (plus shipping), and it's all yours.

 

[colorado]

Beautiful definitely needs an ebony foreend and grip cap as does mine.

 

[TroyF]

Thanks, @TroyF; and that's good advice. I'll start working on the bedding; but in the meantime, do you think it's safe to shoot prior to getting it bedded (at least enough rounds to get the scope sighted in)?

Also, I have no perceived use for the Ramline stock and plan to get rid of it; I just want to first make sure that there won't be any issues with the walnut Boyd's stock. Aside from that, just make me a fair offer at a price that is tilted in your favor (plus shipping), and it's all yours.

Depends how the stock fits, if the tang is touching wood land the recoil lug is not tight it can crack the stock at the tang. You can put some playdough or clay in the lug and tang to check the fit. Even a little bit of jb weld spot bedded will do until you can bed it properly.

will think of a number on the stock.

 

[shootist~]

If bedding (incl with JB Weld), don't forget the release agent.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Here is a fun little project which I've been hoping to complete for awhile now. A little more than two years ago, my father passed away; and part of his gun collection that he left behind included some semi-finished Boyd's rifle stocks with nicely figured walnut, and cut for a large ring Mauser action with a #1 barrel channel. So for the last 2+ years, I've been keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a donor rifle or barreled action that would let me put this good looking stock to use. Today I found a donor rifle at a local gun show in the Dallas, Texas area.

This is a custom 25-06 Remington built with a DWM Mauser 98 action and a 26" barrel that has "SHAANKS" stamped underneath it (BTW, has anyone heard of a barrel manufacturer named SHAANKS?). The rifle also came with the Leupold one-piece base and rings seen in the pictures, as well as a nice Timney trigger (set at a very crisp 2.0 pounds). I spent a few hours slowly finishing the inletting. I pretty much only needed to sand the barrel channel out front until the barrel was free-floating, as well as hollow out a bolt channel in order for the bolt to close properly. Aside from that, the barreled action paired up quite nicely with the Boyd's stock. I topped it off with a Leupold 4-12 Vari-X IIc that I had on hand, and think it turned out quite nice (much more attractive than that old plastic Ram-Line stock). I'm not sure whether I will need to glass bed it at some point; I'll shoot it first to see how well it does as-is and then decide. In the meantime, I sure enjoy looking at its beauty and craftsmanship; and feel a nice sense of satisfaction for having finally finished this project.

Before:
View attachment 477245

After (please excuse the poor lighting):
View attachment 477246
View attachment 477247

@cash_tx
I have 2 byods stocks on rifles. A fast 25 and a Whelen AI. Both have been pillar and glass bedded and both are tack drivers.
The 25-06 is a fantastic cartridge loaded with 100gn TTSX or 117grain SST. In your 26 inch barrel you will be able to get over 3,400fps with the TTSX and around 3,100 with 117grain. Only problem is until you get used to the flat trajectory of that cartridge you will have a tendency to over shoot game at longer ranges.
Bob

 

[cash_tx]

Quick update and follow-up question regarding the need to bed the action in the stock: After multiple (and very detailed) inspections of how the barreled action fits into the Boyd's walnut stock, it is clear to me that the recoil lug is in very firm and solid contact with the wood, and that there is a slight gap between the rear of the tang and the wood behind it. This is probably a testament to how accurately Boyd's is able to mill their stocks from the factory. And this means that the recoil lug is going to bear most or all of the recoil energy from firing the rifle. There is a fair amount of wood behind the recoil lug, and I would think that Boyd's would engineer these stocks to easily handle the recoil of a rather mild cartridge like 25-06 (keep in mind that this stock was designed for most large ring Mauser applications). So, unless there is a need to improve the accuracy by glass bedding the action, do you think it is safe to fire the rifle as-is; without any risk to cracking the wood? I cannot foresee any reasonable chance of that happening, but just thought I would double-check with this forum. That being said, if the gun will not shoot accurately; then of course I will revisit the idea of bedding the action, but I'd rather just cross that bridge only if I really need to. Your thoughts?
@TroyF @shootist~ @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

 

[TroyF]

Of you think it is touching the wood where the recoil lug is then you should be fine, you can hold the gun vertical when tightening the action screws to help hold the lug to the wood. You could use a aluminum shim where the recoil lug hits to take up any extra space. Make from a soda can, bedding other then keeping everything tight and free from moving keeps things consistent.

 

[cash_tx]

Of you think it is touching the wood where the recoil lug is then you should be fine, you can hold the gun vertical when tightening the action screws to help hold the lug to the wood. You could use a aluminum shim where the recoil lug hits to take up any extra space. Make from a soda can, bedding other then keeping everything tight and free from moving keeps things consistent.

Thanks, and those are great suggestions. Much appreciated!

 

[shootist~]

I've bedded a few, but certainly no expert. But yes, based on your comments, I would absolutely shoot it beore deciding if bedding is needed.

 

[Jörg Krüger]

Sorry to hear of your dad's passing, but he would be proud of your work on the 25-06

 

[cash_tx]

Sorry to hear of your dad's passing, but he would be proud of your work on the 25-06

Thank you very much. The love of a fine quality rifle, hunting, reloading, and self-taught gunsmithing are definitely things that I got from him.