My C3 (clone...kind of ?)

Hi all. I have always wanted a C3 Canadian military issue sniper rifle......but as all of you know it would be easier to catch a unicorn ! So the next best thing for me was to purchase a built clone. This rifle is real nice and only missing the optics. Again impossible to find period correct Kahles or USO . It has Weaver bases as the previous owner had an old 10X Weaver mounted. I'm looking for some help on identifying its origin . My thoughts are its started its life as a M87 ? It has a heavy 25'-26' bull barrel (no sights) , a 6 round detachable box mag with the mag release inside trigger guard. Buttstock spacers and brown military style butt pad. The hand stop (with attached sling swivel ) is mounted on the proper steel rail and the bipod is on a quick release shaft on the end of the hand stop. The wood stock is C3 accurate (or maybe a modified M87 target stock ?) "BNP" is stamped on the breach with a insignia above it ? and serial #18093 C. Any info would help......Gil ? https://www.milsurps.com/[/IMG]https://www.milsurps.com/[/IMG]https://www.milsurps.com/[/IMG]https://www.milsurps.com/[/IMG]

Deckerhead,
Still can't open the images. BNP is British Nitro Proof stamp. Let me know if you are having issues on images. If you go to Manage Attachments and follow the signs to your pictures it will upload them to the site.
If you need any help just type in downloading images in the search box on the right above vBulletin Search

If you can post or PM me you email I can help you. I'm well versused in the C3 and C3a1. Ron (Canada)

some random photos stolen from the internet, one of which belongs to the gov o can.

Attachment 89299Attachment 89300Attachment 89303

a C3A1 / M86 /M87 action is the solid top illustrated by the stripped action photos.

Attachment 89301Attachment 89302

A C3 / 1200TX / M82 is a commercial 98 Mauser without thumb cut for the stripper clips.

Not sure why Pics are gone ? Will try again....https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../F4LlCQS-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../XBzjTJL-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../S5aMfsN-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../7e6x4Uu-1.jpg https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../5eCjPRD-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 05:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------

done....

Interesting rifle. How does it shoot?

does the barrel have any markings?

I'll let Gil address the action designation, but it's the late Parker Hale mauser '98 "super clip" with the "midland type" simplified bolt stop.

They were cast by Youvell Castings at the same time as the M84/85/86/87.

I would say that someone used a PH sporting rifle to built a target rifle using take-off C3(a1) stock & bipod.

C3A1's were originally fitted with PH 1200tx/m82/c3 walnut stocks and then converted to McMilllan A2 fibreglass stocks, as late as 2002.

Have not fired it yet (no optics). No markings on the barrel. Pretty sure only C3 were equipped with this 6 round style mag ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by deckerhead

Have not fired it yet (no optics). No markings on the barrel. Pretty sure only C3 were equipped with this 6 round style mag ?

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yes, the magazine is for a c3a1, however it will work in any PH "Super Clip" trigger guard.

It has been common to "build" a "c3" or "C3a1" by taking any PH action equipped with the "Super Clip" bottom metal, and adding a heavy barrel & stock and calling it a C3 or C3a1.

Yours is closest without having the re-inforced M86/m87 action which was used to build real C3A1 rifles.

Here is an example of the re-inforced action used for the (real) C3a1/m86/m87
Attachment 89370Attachment 89371

and an example of the action used to build your rifle

http://www.ows-ammo.com/store/images/phcasting.jpg

Parker-Hale M98 Action Casting

$49.95

This is an original M98 Mauser commercial action casting made by Parker-Hale of England. Cast from EN9 by Yeovil Precision Casting. Action is a raw casting and needs machining. Takes a standard M98 Mauser bolt and Midland ejector box.

Thanks for the info......I love this rifle...... Really curious about the serial # and its origin. Hoping Gil has input.

Your rifle is a very good example of a C3 clone.

Action - taken from a Parker Hale "Midland" clip fed sporting rifle. These were the last version of the 1200 C actions. Bolt release from the M84 -87 was used.
Bottom metal/trigger - taken from the same rifle. i'd have the "gold" trigger stripped and blackened to look more military.
Serial Number - sporter serial number "C" meant removable clip
Barrel - it's an Australian 4 groove, heavy target barrel, new.
Scope Bases - Weaver. 6-48 screws so it will take the Parker Hale A22, A28 bases if using PH rings.
Stock - C3a1 take off c/w rail, swivels
Mag - C3a1

If it's the rifle I'm thinking of it should have come with a test target. Shot very well

Ron (Canada).

Thanks Ron........I think the previous owner mentioned a Australian barrel . No test target ? But yes had a weaver 10X scope on it that he wouldn't part with. I am undecided on what glass to mount so have not given much thought on rings. Are PH rings hard to find ?

Not quite sure there, it seems to have a long ejector box on it. The scope mount is a C3A1 mount and the cation has a cut out at the front for the recoil part of the mount. Are there any other markings anywhere?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rgg_7

Your rifle is a very good example of a C3 clone.

Action - taken from a Parker Hale "Midland" clip fed sporting rifle. These were the last version of the 1200 C actions. Bolt release from the M84 -87 was used.
Bottom metal/trigger - taken from the same rifle. i'd have the "gold" trigger stripped and blackened to look more military.
Serial Number - sporter serial number "C" meant removable clip
Barrel - it's an Australian 4 groove, heavy target barrel, new.
Scope Bases - Weaver. 6-48 screws so it will take the Parker Hale A22, A28 bases if using PH rings.
Stock - C3a1 take off c/w rail, swivels
Mag - C3a1

If it's the rifle I'm thinking of it should have come with a test target. Shot very well

Ron (Canada).

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It's not a "Midland", the "Midland" used surplus m.1903 Springfield bolts, not Mauser 98 bolts.
Attachment 89396

---------- Post added at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:18 AM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Not quite sure there, it seems to have a long ejector box on it. The scope mount is a C3A1 mount and the cation has a cut out at the front for the recoil part of the mount. Are there any other markings anywhere?

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Gil, you`re looking at my photos, not the OP`s

No other markings on this rifle.