The customization of the Mauser bolt action rifle has always been very popular in the United States. They set the standard for strength and durability and, when built into a hunting rifle, make for one of the most elegant rifles to hit the woods.
Today, sourcing a quality action for a build can be difficult. You are left with a few options; converting a military Mauser, overhauling a poorly done sporter, or contacting a gunsmith.
Believe it or not, there are a lot of Mauser actions floating around that are perfect candidates for a beautiful sporting rifle. The best part, they really aren’t all that hard to find if you are patient.
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A Short History of Mauser Sporters in America
In the days following World War II, GIs brought rifles home, and tons of surplus rifles hit the market at very affordable prices. This abundance of affordable Mausers led to both amateurs and professionals converting them to work as hunting and sporting rifles. The rifles that came out of this era are hit or miss. Some are complete works of art and were beautifully done. While others are downright ugly.
Sourcing A Quality Mauser Action
Before we dive into your options for finding an action, we need to discuss quality. Not all Mausers were created equal. Mauser bolt action rifles were built in many factories worldwide, and not all of them are up to the task of staying together when exposed to modern cartridge pressures.
Mauser rifles were built of varying metallurgical quality and should be approached cautiously. Re-heat treating them is the best option to ensure safety when doing a sporter build.
The list of these that are considered unsafe is exhaustive and will not be covered here. However, Jerry Kuhnhausen’s book, Mauser M91-M98 Bolt Actions Shop Manual, is an excellent resource for this topic. Not only will this book talk about evaluating the heat treatment, it also provides detailed instructions on common modifications done to sporters.
It is extremely important that you get an action of good quality to ensure the safe operation of the rifle.
Now, let’s look at the best ways of sourcing one of these Mauser actions.
Converting the Military Mauser
Following WWII, converting a military Mauser was the most popular option out there for a custom build. You would purchase a fully-stocked military rifle, cut the stock down, and drill & tap it for a scope. Some would go a step further and pull the old military barrel and chamber it in something they saw as more useful. In some cases, they might even pick out a beautiful piece of walnut and hire a professional gunsmith to stock it. Tens of thousands of hunting rifles were made this way.
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While this was the best way to do it previously, it should not be considered today. The untouched military-style Mauser is getting harder and harder to find as they are not manufactured anymore. Those countless conversions to hunting rifles also contributed to this. These “untouched” or “unsporterized” rifles bring a premium on the collectors market and are pieces of history. These can be identified by having full-length stocks extending near the barrel’s end.
Not only are they considered collector’s items, but they are also much more expensive than the other options listed here.
Poorly Done Mauser Sporters
A well-done Mauser sporter is truly a work of art. It balances perfectly and makes a great hunting rifle. However, there are many Mauser sporters out there that were done pretty poorly. These are the actions you should use for your builds and are typically the most affordable action with today’s prices. They can be found at the local gun and pawnshop, online at gunbroker, and at gun shows for a couple of hundred dollars.
These make great candidates for a Mauser build. Often, these sporters will already have some of the work completed, such as the welded bolt handle or low profile 3-position safety. Finding these poorly done sporters is more affordable and practical for most people interested in building a custom rifle. As far as collectability is concerned, the damage has been done, and they will never be brought back to perfect condition once the metalwork has been altered.
Contact Your Gunsmith
Contacting your local gunsmith may be the best way to source an action for a rifle build. Many gunsmiths pick up Mauser actions whenever they see them, just in case a customer wants to do a build on them. These actions will likely be stored away in a drawer at the back end of their shop, and they may have even forgotten about them.
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Many of the actions I have purchased for my builds have been acquired this way. In one instance, I was able to pick up six actions from a retiring gunsmith for a good price. All of these actions were of good quality, and most had very good Canjar, and Timney triggers already in them. Do not underestimate going this route.
This option will not happen overnight, so you can’t be in a hurry. Be patient, call gunsmiths in the area, and let them know what you are looking for. Even if they don’t have one, they might know someone who does or call you three months from now with one they recently picked up.
Don’t have a gunsmith? Check out this article I wrote to help you find one!
How to Find the Right Gunsmith
Converting them Back
I’ve built a few custom Mauser sporting rifles and plan to build many more. I’ve also converted just as many back to their original military configuration, searching long and hard for the correct style and stampings for the replacement parts. This can be as fun as building a sporter. If the receiver and bolt are in good condition, I will try and source the parts to bring them back to their original glory.
Personally, I hold myself to some pretty strict guidelines when approaching military actions. Most of it revolves around the metalwork, which is the hardest to bring back to its original condition. If a receiver has holes drilled into it for a scope or rear sight, I consider that fair game for a build. Why? As far as I’m concerned, I am not adding to the destruction of a collector’s piece. I also will not allow myself to add any holes to a receiver. If it is drilled and tapped for Lyman’s rear sight, that is what I will keep on it.
Final Thoughts on the Mauser
The Mauser sporter is an American Classic, ranking up in popularity with the Model 70 and 700. It is rich in tradition and is still the workhorse for many hunters each fall. While you have more things to consider today, building your own Mauser Sporter is still possible and affordable.
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith.