458 win mag barrel swap from a M43 mauser action to a VZ24 action

[malcome83]

Good morning everyone. I'll be upfront and admit I'm new to safari rifles and Mauser type rifles. I recently picked up a beautiful 458wm that was built on a M43 Spanish Mauser action. I honestly couldn't pass it up for the price. After talking to a few guys. I was told it would be better to change out the action for a better one. I read about the M43 actions being weaker then other actions. Mostly due to having softer metal. So more than likely wouldn't hold up very long with the 458 caliber. So I've spent the last week doing research and talking to multiple people about this. I found a list of specifications of Mauser actions, so I can find one that's close enough in size to the M43. Doing so to help limit the amount of work needed to swap the barrel from the M43 to the VZ24. I know I will still need a gunsmith to do some work for me. I'm trying to avoid the process of buying a completely different barrel and basically starting over. So I attached two pictures. One shows the sizes of different Mauser actions. The picture is of the rifle I purchased. From what I see on the chart the VZ24 would be my best choice when comparing certain sizes. I do understand that I will still need a gunsmith. I'm also hoping that what one action is missing is size I may gain with the other. Any advice or information would be appreciated.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

No one replied yet....ok, first off, it 'may' just screw straight on with minimal work, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The barrel tightens up on to the chamber face of the shank, not the shoulder, so there is machine work there, .015” to start with, and then there is the timing of the barrel for the open sights, anything up to .083" (1/12 of an inch) This will move the barrel back in the stock which may cause unsightly gaps. Also if it’s got a barrel recoil lug, that will need to be re-beded and possibly reinforced. Then there is the issue of the thread shank size, again, may just screw on, but if the major diameters are on the extremes, it may be too sloppy to lock up tightl, then after all that the chamber will need touching up. All doable, but at what cost?
gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think BRNO vz.24 action will drop into a Spanish Mauser stock.

Even if the barrel does screw on, you've got a mountain of other work ahead: new stock, modifying or changing the bottom metal, and changing the feeding rails and ramp. The follower would also almost certainly have to be changed or modified.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

You are right, it won’t "just drop in", there will need to be some fettling of the woodwork with the trigger position, the front of the receiver ring/recoil lug and a touch of work on the bottom metal at the front
gumpy

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You are right, it won’t "just drop in", there will need to be some fettling of the woodwork with the trigger position, the front of the receiver ring/recoil lug and a touch of work on the bottom metal at the front
gumpy

Wouldn't he be better off restocking it altogether? Will an aftermarket trigger block safety for Spanish Mauser work on a large ring Mauser? I seem to recall they are different. Surprises me that anyone would do a 458 build on an "intermediate" Mauser action in the first place. Even if the barrel "slips on" (a big "if" I think), it will need to have a new or majorly reworked stock, a different trigger, and sights relocated, then barrel reblued to cover up the location of old sights.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I feel like I’m degrading the OP's rifle, but I’m not....well I don’t mean to. I would probably shoot it as it is, but not "hot rod" the rounds, just use standard factory loads which tend to be conservative, and keep an eye on the works. If he’s really concerned about the metallurgy, there is are several good heat treaters in the US who can give the action a look over, just make sure it’s one who understands firearms and has a FFL (possibly not necessary, but shows they may be serious )
gumpy

 

[Nhoro]

I reckon just shoot the rifle as is or buy/ build a new rifle on a new action and sell the old rifle. It is seldom economic to move barrels around with the work needed- threading/ re-chambering/headspacing/ getting to feed properly. If you want a different action or rifle, it is easier to sell your rifle as is and buy another.

 

[Busman]

I wouldn't be concerned about the action your gun is built on. It's a large ring M98, so it has a third locking lug and is a stout action to begin with, so there is redundancy if needed. Where you will run into metallurgy problems is, if it is soft the bolt lugs will eventually "set back" into the receiver. If you know what to watch for you can see it. No it's not the Mauser action I would pick for a build, but I wouldn't write it off either. Looks like a nice rifle to me. I have a soft spot for Mauser actions, I've built quite a few myself, and have seen several on actions that weren't "the right action" that was just fine. Just use some caution with your loads.

 

[ChrisG]

From the looks of that rifle, It doesnt look super heavy, so my guess is you won't WANT to fire too many full house .458 Win mag rounds out of it. Have you shot it yet? You said you're new to safari rifle, and man... you jumped right in! A .458 is not for the faint of heart! Do you handload? If not, and you're concerned with the strength of the action, I would sell it. If you DO handload... a .458, 500 grain bullet at 2,050 fps will kill anything on the plantet and will keep pressures reasonable.

 

[400Jeff]

If that rifle has been fired much and has not had lug set-back yet, it is unlikely that it will develop it now. When people mention Spanish mausers they seem to automatically discount them as being soft like the older, weaker Mauser 93. I would enjoy the rifle as it is and not worry about it. About 25 years ago, I built a 338/06 on one for a friend, between load development(no sissy loads!) and lots of hunting trips, including several African safaris, it is still going strong with no signs of set-back.

 

[John P.]

By all means have the action and bolt hardness tested. A M98 in my Wilson Rockwell tester below.

Takes all the guesswork out of using M98's.

Note that Douglas Barrels tests all actions that come through their shop for barreling. Tells us something.