416WSM on Siamese Mauser & 416/348Ackley Improved on Martini

[Ontario Hunter]

I suspect the round version will fit better in the palm behind thumb when closing the bolt. Teardrop may catch better on outside of the palm when opening the bolt. So it's a toss up? The bolt handle that came on the Czech Mauser action I built into 404 had a hollow knob. Perhaps to reduce weight? I filled it with zebrawood. The first stock had a zebrawood fore end tip. Perhaps I should fill it with black epoxy now that the stock has an ebony tip?

 

[Rule 303]

The bolt handle has to come off to get the apprporiate scope clearance. Rather than just cut the current handle off and reattach it, I thought I would try to make a more elegant version. I made two versions and am now mulling over which I prefer. In the attached photo the round ball version has not been fully polished. Any thoughts on which one is more appropriate?
View attachment 632579

Don't worry about looks which one fits between thumb and fore finger the surest for best grip. If you palm the bolt either would do

 

[BlueFlyer]

I went with the round knob, it felt like a more positive engagement on the uplift - if that make sense.
Still needs some more blending and polishing around the weld. I did use a 1/2" copper rod as a heat sink as suggested.

I also thinned down the forend. If I ran a straight edge along the magazine surface it touched the forend tip. Meaning the forend was not running parallel with the magazine surface. It is now a I think looks better.

The final activity for the day was to soft solder the magazine shim that had helped to ensure the left hand cartridge fed correctly.

Once complete the feeding of cartridges appears to be robust. The final proof will be live firing.
The cross bolt are due to be delivered next week, and then once I complete the epoxy bedding it will be ready for live firing trials.

 

[Rule 303]

That is coming along nicely.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I guess you're waiting on new bolt shroud before tackling the safety conversion kit? Following that closely. I know a guy who's still interested in changing the safety on his Springfield.

 

[BlueFlyer]

I guess you're waiting on new bolt shroud before tackling the safety conversion kit?

Yes, I am just waiting for all the M98 parts to arrive and confirm I can canvert them to function in the Siamese Mauser. I will then do the safety installation on the M98 parts ( shroud, firing pin and cocking piece). Spare parts for Siamese Mausers are as easy to obtain as Rocking Horse poo!
The firing pin is going to need a bit of work. It needs the firing pin to be lengthened and then the cocking piece needs to move forward.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What kind of crossbolts did you decide to go with?

 

[BlueFlyer]

What kind of crossbolts did you decide to go with?

Talley from Brownells - they arrived today.

 

[dlmac]

I have a siamese action that I am going to build a 416/348 imp or a 400 Fuller. Have multiple mauser actions and barrels that I probably need to get rid of someday.

 

[BlueFlyer]

I have a siamese action that I am going to build a 416/348 imp or a 400 Fuller

I cannot find any info on the 400 Fuller, is that based on the 45/70 case?
I used the same reamer to chamber the 416/348AI and the 416WSM, it just means the 416WSM has a slightly sharper shoulder than standard WSMs.
There will be more work to get the 416/348AI to function in a Siamese Mauser than if you go with a WSM based cartridge.

 

[dlmac]

I cannot find any info on the 400 Fuller, is that based on the 45/70 case?
I used the same reamer to chamber the 416/348AI and the 416WSM, it just means the 416WSM has a slightly sharper shoulder than standard WSMs.
There will be more work to get the 416/348AI to function in a Siamese Mauser than if you go with a WSM based cartridge.

The 400 fuller is by Bill Fuller who gunsmithed in Alaska and had something to do with the 450 Alaskan. The 400 Fuller is a 40 cal with a little body taper put back in from the AI design. It feeds better in Model 71.

 

[BlueFlyer]

The 400 Fuller would probably work better in the standard Siamese Mauser magazine.
416WSM bottoms out on the shoulder and the rim is able to float (if that makes sense). The smaller shoulder of the Fuller case along with the 348 rim would most likely operate better in the standard SM magazine.
Unfortunately I don't have enough fire formed 416/348AI shells to see if they feed out of the standard rails. I am in the que to have my Martini stock rough machined.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I could look for a stock on this side of the pond (Canada and US) but suspect importing into Australia would be the problem?

@Ontario Hunter
Importing into Australia isn't an issue it's exporting from the USA or Canada that's the the problem due to their export laws. I could even get them to send a set of open sights for a 92 Winchester but an AH member had no problems sending them.
Bob

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter
Importing into Australia isn't an issue it's exporting from the USA or Canada that's the the problem due to their export laws. I could even get them to send a set of open sights for a 92 Winchester but an AH member had no problems sending them.
Bob

Glad those "washing machine parts" made it to you okay.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I was up at the farm on the weekend. As I was cutting some firewood out of an old dead log I realised it had a very fine and consistent fiddleback. The tree was most likely ring barked in the 1860's when the property was first settled and timber cleared. I believe it is Ironbark, which is iron by name and iron by nature. You cannot drive nails through it and screws must be drilled even if they are self drilling self tapping, plus it is heavy. This log was most likely left and not used for lumber as the grain in the log was crisscrossed and interlocked.
The stock work is stalled, waiting for Brownells to deliver the crossbolts. View attachment 631300Thinking of using it as the forend tip.

@BlueFlyer
I remember my dad burning out a chain and bar cutting iron bark. We got it home and instead of cutting around the edge he put a wedge in the middle to try and split it. Drove a 6"wedge all the way in with the sledge hammer and still didn't split it. That wedge stay in the block for years.
They don't call it iron bark for nothing.
Bob

 

[BlueFlyer]

Canada laws look alot easier that the US (Unless AUKUS changes things). I looked at sending some brass into Canada for a member. Getting into Canada is easy, getting them out of AU was doable but rediculous amout of paperwork and fees that made a single shipment unfeasible.
I did get a shipment of parts out of the US from SARCO - That was stopped by AU Boarder Force as it had magazine W springs and a M17 bolt body. I then got the import permit without any bother. It just took time. Boarder Force were happy to help get it sorted.

 

[BlueFlyer]

They don't call it iron bark for nothing.

That is why this log has been sitting in the paddock for so long. It is only now with a hydraulic splitter that we can use the wood.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Canada laws look alot easier that the US (Unless AUKUS changes things). I looked at sending some brass into Canada for a member. Getting into Canada is easy, getting them out of AU was doable but rediculous amout of paperwork and fees that made a single shipment unfeasible.
I did get a shipment of parts out of the US from SARCO - That was stopped by AU Boarder Force as it had magazine W springs and a M17 bolt body. I then got the import permit without any bother. It just took time. Boarder Force were happy to help get it sorted.

I tried to import brass from the US, the company in the US were great, borderforce were helpful, sapol on the other hand were a bunch of useless twats who did as much as possible to not let me import, they questioned everything and wouldn’t send the paperwork, would not email it to me, said they did but never received, them wanted me start from scratch as according to the bitch I was dealing with "we have already sent that request "……..I’ll stop now…..it still makes me angry, and the bitch there is a permanent and they can’t get rid of her
Gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

@Ontario Hunter
Importing into Australia isn't an issue it's exporting from the USA or Canada that's the the problem due to their export laws. I could even get them to send a set of open sights for a 92 Winchester but an AH member had no problems sending them.
Bob

What style open sights?? I need a new rear one for my 92’ baby saddle ring carbine
Gumpy

 

[BlueFlyer]

I tried to import brass from the US, the company in the US were great, borderforce were helpful, sapol on the other hand were a bunch of useless twats who did as much as possible to not let me import, they questioned everything and wouldn’t send the paperwork, would not email it to me, said they did but never received, them wanted me start from scratch as according to the bitch I was dealing with "we have already sent that request "……..I’ll stop now…..it still makes me angry, and the bitch there is a permanent and they can’t get rid of her
Gumpy

No wonder go are grumpy!
Vicpol we're no problem. Took a couple of weeks to confirm I was Licensed to own, but other than time, was easy.