Intermediate Actions

Lybica

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Greetings ,
I know from reading here that there are some very clued up enthusiasts - especially as to all the different Mauser’s as well as other bolt action rifle actions.
This is my questions which relates to "standard" short-actions and "standard" long-actions

As I understand ... in the old days short action referred to an action that would accommodate the 257 Roberts at Overall length, 2.775 in (70.5 mm).
As well as the military Mauser with a 7.92mm x 57mm cartridge at 3.17 inch (80.5mm)
Later after the .308 Winchester ( 7.62x51) and al the derivatives from this cartridge this came to be settled at 2.8 inch (71.12 mm ) for a short action

The Long-Action was an action that could accommodate the 30-06 class / length cartridge 3.340 (85.4 mm)

The larger magnum cartridges from 375H&H up needed a MAGNUM length action 86 mm and longer ( longer than the 30-06 )

I believe this to be correct accepted terminology ?

Now however with long for calibre high BC bullets and mono-metal bullets one runs into the problem of Cartridge overall length and cartridges that no longer fit in a standard short action magazine.
Particularly those cartridges normally designed to be used in a short action - which are not DG type cartridges except perhaps for the 358 Winchester - which is not much worried about high BC bullets ?
The other cartridges - 6.5 Creed / 260 Rem / 6.5 Swede / 6.5 PRC .. are however good for smaller plains game at range
The 6.5 Creed was designed in such a way as to overcome this restriction on long bullets ( a shorter case )
There are ways around this length restriction by careful gunsmith metal removal or by using external magazines - however perhaps not something one would like to do on a custom hunting rifle ?

I think a lot of people would look to a custom action to solve this length problem.

What does one do who does not wish to or cannot afford a custom action - and - does not wish to go the route of just using a normal long action ? ( As HOWA does with the 6,5 PRC / 6,5 x55 Swede )
Look for one of the "intermediate" Mauser actions ?
How intermediate are these ? - that have not been converted to 30-06
Are there any other non-custom actions that fit in this "intermediate" length category - longer than a typical .308 Winchester but shorter than a 30-06 Springfield ...
In which one would be able to use standard cartridges but with long bullets - say up to about 76mm
Should one even worry ? - IF not a competition / F-class type competitor ? ( all the short fat cartridges - which I term the "lard-arse" cartridges :) )
 
The basic Mauser actions you will find are VZ24s and K98s. The VZs are something like 3/8" shorter than the K98 - fits the 8x57, but I have had trouble feeding .30-06 length cartridges through them. If I want to build a standard length cartridge rifle, then I use a "full-sized" Mauser. The German K98s are more money than the Turkish licensed K98s. The Turks are not as finely made, have bolt knobs that will need to be cut off and re-welded. I have not tried super long projos in the Turk I built - it is a .35WAI. The Turk action would be my starting point if you aren't going the custom route.
 
Thanks for reply
I am busy reading up on all the different Mauser actions - and those other older military actions similar to / based on the original Mauser
As far as I understand - the problem with Mauser actions for competition shooters is the slow lock time ?
 
Found this information on another forum regarding Intermediate Mauser actions.

Oberndorf Intermediate Action

Action OAL: 8.750

Recvr screws, center to center: 7.835

Bolt body length: 6.165

Magazine length: 3.115

Receiver ring dia: 1.410, large ring

Barrel shank dia: .980, small shank

I call this the Oberndorf intermediate action, as they are the only ones who produced it. Commonly encountered models include:

1903 Turk

1909 Peruvian

1935 Argentine

Oberndorf Commercial

The 1903 Turk and the 1909 Peruvian also share some other qualities. They both have a very high clip bridge, and a long curved arm on the ejector box that puts pressure on a stripper clip loaded into the receiver, holding it in place. The 1935 Argentine and the Oberndorf commercial action do not have this.

This type has a longer than normal receiver ring, and a longer than normal cocking piece, with a shorter than normal bolt body, hard to figure where the weight savings come in!

The Oberndorf commercial action was also available in a small ring version, all other dimensions identical.
 
The basic Mauser actions you will find are VZ24s and K98s. The VZs are something like 3/8" shorter than the K98 - fits the 8x57, but I have had trouble feeding .30-06 length cartridges through them. If I want to build a standard length cartridge rifle, then I use a "full-sized" Mauser. The German K98s are more money than the Turkish licensed K98s. The Turks are not as finely made, have bolt knobs that will need to be cut off and re-welded. I have not tried super long projos in the Turk I built - it is a .35WAI. The Turk action would be my starting point if you aren't going the custom route.
I built a 404J on Czech vz.24 Mauser. Did not require modifying the locking ring or ejector to make it eject full length 400 gr monumental cartridges. It cycles those oversize cartridges very smoothly. Of course the vz.24's 8mm military cartridge is not quite 30-06 so it would not surprise me if the latter didn't feed smoothly without modification to the rails. The vz.24 has a lot of metal to work with for rail and ramp modifications which, in my opinion, makes it an excellent candidate for building custom projects up to and including 375 H&H and 416 Rigby (however, both of those cartridges do require trimming the locking ring).

Mausers are typically classified as small ring, large ring, standard action, and magnum action.
 
I built a 404J on Czech vz.24 Mauser. Did not require modifying the locking ring or ejector to make it eject full length 400 gr monumental cartridges. It cycles those oversize cartridges very smoothly. Of course the vz.24's 8mm military cartridge is not quite 30-06 so it would not surprise me if the latter didn't feed smoothly without modification to the rails. The vz.24 has a lot of metal to work with for rail and ramp modifications which, in my opinion, makes it an excellent candidate for building custom projects up to and including 375 H&H and 416 Rigby (however, both of those cartridges do require trimming the locking ring).

Mausers are typically classified as small ring, large ring, standard action, and magnum action.
Thanks for this
Talking about "short" / "intermediate" actions I liked your comment about a ... 300WSM - which someone has taken up to 375
A moment of madness had me cut down / shorten a 300PRC case with thoughts of it as a base for .. a short fat something .. interesting.
The internal diameter of the main body of the case is in the region 12.40mm ( .4881 )
Perhaps a .. short 404J ?
o_O:rolleyes::LOL:
 
I found a copy of a MAN / MAGNUM article ( South African Hunting Shooting magazine )
February 1998
"Original Oberndorf M98 Sporter Variations"
by Jon Speed

Quite helpful
 
Thanks for reply
I am busy reading up on all the different Mauser actions - and those other older military actions similar to / based on the original Mauser
As far as I understand - the problem with Mauser actions for competition shooters is the slow lock time ?
@Lybica
If you are worried about lock time you can easily install a speed lock.
This is a lighter firing pin and heavier mainspring.
The downside is it makes the bolt slightly harder to operate but this isn't a big issue.
Bob
 
Talking about "short" / "intermediate" actions I liked your comment about a ... 300WSM - which someone has taken up to 375
Similar intermediate action to the Yugo VZ24 is the Siamese Mauser which is a large ring intermediate length. It is a very good option for any of the WSM wildcats. You can look up my 416WSM build, it functions perfectly and exceeds the original factory 404Jeffery ballistics. The Siamese Mauser is very well built and generally over looked as an option for a custom build.
 
Similar intermediate action to the Yugo VZ24 is the Siamese Mauser which is a large ring intermediate length. It is a very good option for any of the WSM wildcats. You can look up my 416WSM build, it functions perfectly and exceeds the original factory 404Jeffery ballistics. The Siamese Mauser is very well built and generally over looked as an option for a custom build.
Thanks for those references
Apparently the Siamese Mauser’s are something of outliers -not fitting nicely into the standard Mauser categories ?
How easy are they to come by ?
Can they handle the 65,000 psi something pressure of these modern hi-intensity cartridges ?

WSM WIldcats ... Hhmm
Read something about a Mr R Jamison
Not to be confused with Dr Leander Starr Jameson well known to South Africans
I found a reference to your 416 WSM on a South African site .. JARACAL

I just wonder how applicable the whole WSM idea is to the hunting of DG ?
Has anyone taken one to field to test ?

Perhaps all that is needed is for the old 404J to get a "makeover" ?
19 something to 2025
Perhaps HORNADY has something in the pipeline ?
Long range "sniping" with large calibres appears to be all the rage - anyone for a 408 CheyTac ?
Cross-pollination - or - Cross purposes ?
 
@Lybica
If you are worried about lock time you can easily install a speed lock.
This is a lighter firing pin and heavier mainspring.
The downside is it makes the bolt slightly harder to operate but this isn't a big issue.
Bob
Thanks
I read about that .. Titanium firing pin and special double wound springs
More applicable to the PRS / F-Class competition type rifles
Where I do not see many Mausers
But then I am a .. "GunNutz" like Ontario Hunter .. :)
 
Can they handle the 65,000 psi something pressure of these modern hi-intensity cartridges ?
Yes, excellent steel and heat treatment, made in peace time and the Japanese armory that made the Arisaka which was recognised as the strongest mauser type action ever made.
I just wonder how applicable the whole WSM idea is to the hunting of DG ?
416WSM with a 400gr projectile @ 2250fps & 4656Ft/lbs should do reasonably well. The 404J & 450/400 earnt their reputation with less.
 
I found a copy of a MAN / MAGNUM article ( South African Hunting Shooting magazine )
February 1998
"Original Oberndorf M98 Sporter Variations"
by Jon Speed

Quite helpful
To gain more useful information on Mauser actions get a copy of Jon Speeds Original Oberndorf Sporting Rifles.
It’s is well researched with lots of pictures and technical details.
It also explains the evolution of Mauser from the 1888 to the 1898 rifle and numerous commercial variants.
 
Yes, excellent steel and heat treatment, made in peace time and the Japanese armory that made the Arisaka which was recognised as the strongest mauser type action ever made.

416WSM with a 400gr projectile @ 2250fps & 4656Ft/lbs should do reasonably well. The 404J & 450/400 earnt their reputation with less.
But ...
Will it work reliably ?

I did find your build thread on the site - thank you for putting that all there .. very interesting
Nice workshop you have as well
Not sure if that thread ended on a complete finished rifle ?

I am afraid for some obscure reason I do not like rebated rim cartridges

Speaking of the 450/400 that is a .410 / 411 bore - bullets still available
 

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