Thinning a bolt action ???

Z

zeke mccune

Member
Hi Gang:

Many years ago I started a project that was to thin a Mauser action to make it more streamlined and elegant. I reduced the magazine capacity by removing metal from the height of the magazine box and this gave the rifle a very trim look with its buggy whip barrel.

I wanted a very light and trim rifle for hunting goats and sheep and I got this idea. I thought and still do think this that our bolt action rifles are too deep at the action to be graceful.

Recently, I got out the rifle and decided to thin it a bit more by removing more metal from the height of the magazine box. Things are looking much better as I am getting the parts to fit together.

Has anybody else ever thinned down a bolt action to get it to be more graceful? If you did, what all did you do to the action and what problems did you experience? Any pictures of your work?


TIA,


Zeke
 
Wasn't there an article in Gun Digest several years ago with a somewhat similar project? I think the author called it his attempt to reproduce a British stalking rifle. He reduced the stock dimensions considerably and eliminated most of what I would call the pistol grip (think English shotgun butts; military 1903 Springfield). I think he also cut down the magazine (reducing capacity) in order to reduce the depth of the action, which means it was likely a military action..

James
 
It was common practice to cut the magazine box down on the 1917 Enfield to produce a more graceful rifle. I did that to a couple of 1917 Enfields eons ago (1960's). That also required forging the trigger guard straight and taking a section out of the trigger.

Back about 10 years or so when Russia sold off a bunch of Moisin-Nagants I bought one to tinker with. I cut the magazine off and welded in a floorplate as well as adding enough metal to the trigger guard to get a graceful profile. I also added a Mannlicher spoon type bolt handle, shortened the barrel, added a peep sight to the bolt, and put it in one of those plastic sporter stocks. I get bored easily in the winter :):):)
 
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