9.3x62 Mauser Build

Hello all,

I decided I'm gonna have everyone hold me accountable on this build instead of just sharing the finished product. I'll make mistakes along the way but maybe someone else can learn from them too.

I shared pictures of the stock already (attached here as well).

The rifle I bought as the foundation should be here in a few days. It's a Husqvarna in 9.3x62. This gives me a great starting point since the barrel is labeled appropriately, the bolt handle is nice (as opposed to a straight military bolt or poorly done bend job), and there's a barrel mounted sling swivel and rear sight with leaves. This gives me a lot of what I want without investing extra dough.

Of course I needed more tools. I bought a woodcarving vise and some cheap carving tools from Woodcraft for the inletting. This vise is AMAZING. I don't know how I lived without one.

Thus far, for the rifle and stock I'm in the project for about $700. Tools cost money too but they're usable for more than just this project.

The first thing I did was shave off the cheekpiece on this stock. I don't like them so I got rid of it. I'll post pictures of that tonight.

The next step will be inletting for the action once the rifle arrives.


Attachment 101543
Attachment 101544

Go slow an remember if you bleed on the stock the rifle will shoot straight.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mmppres

Go slow an remember if you bleed on the stock the rifle will shoot straight.:D

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Thanks for the tip! Haha

Here's a quick picture with the cheekpiece removed. A coarse rasp then files make quick work of a job like this. And again, the vise is just fantastic.

Next step is modifying the inletting guide screws to not have so much slop in the holes that are already drilled in the stock. I want more of snug sliding fit so I can be certain the action is going in the stock the same way after each inletting trial.

Very German -Austrian with the trap for extra cartridges, are you going to use a metal pistol grip cap ? Excellent choice of hunting cartridge too. I have
done some stocks over the years, most difficult was a full birdseye maple two piece stock for a custom Ruger No 3 that I built. I did make a nice California
walnut blank in a two piece stock for a Remington rolling block - after I bent the lower tang for a pistol grip. Still have a nice deluxe walnut blank.

You have to take your time and if you get a little impatient just walk away from it - it will still be there when you return.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RCS

Very German -Austrian with the trap for extra cartridges, are you going to use a metal pistol grip cap ?

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Yes, I will be. I got one in a lot of other items from the same auction.
I purchased a new bottom metal today as well. It’s been modified with a hinged floorplate with a lever release. The triggerguard has been cut and replaced with a shotgun style guard.

I guess that’s playing into the German feel as well. We may have stumbled on a theme!

While double set Mauser type triggers would also be very German, I do not know if they are an asset on a 9,3x62mm. There are a lot of nice custom triggers around and even the factory trigger can be satisfactoryAttachment 101554

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RCS

double set Mauser type triggers

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I contemplated that for a moment. I'm aiming for more of a "dangerous game" type rifle, though. Now, I won't ever actually use it that way since I don't hunt at all...but I feel like fumbling with two triggers would be a detriment with a wounded water buffalo charging you down.

I'll probably put a Timney in it.

My photo shows a Ruger No 3 that has a heavy 308 Win barrel, stock is birdseye maple which I don't care to work with again. Had to drill both the butt stock screw hole and the fore-end 45 degree screw hole too. Trigger is the old Canjar single set trigger with the small trigger that pops out when set.

Second is my breech seat 32-40 Win Hi Wall with original Winchester double set triggers
which are just as good as Mauser if not better.

Bottom is a Remington rolling block that I bent the lower tang, also made a nice trigger and sear for a reallyAttachment 101555 nice pull. Stock was California walnut blank which I did use my mill for inletting the tangs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RCS

My photo shows a Ruger No 3 that has a heavy 308 Win barre

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Understatement of the year!

As mentioned, the inletting guide screws were a sloppy fit in the stock. I can't imagine inletting without putting the action into the stock the exact same way every time. In order to do this, the screws need to fit the stock snugly.

First we have this massive gap:
Attachment 101556

In the back it's not as bad but still there's enough slop to let the screw go in cockeyed:
Attachment 101557

With the large gap in the front, I made a sleeve out of polypropylene to make up the difference:
Attachment 101558Attachment 101559

The back was close enough that I just used a layer of electrical tape. This can be replaced as needed if it wears out. This helped quite a bit with the alignment:
Attachment 101560


Now I just have to wait for the rifle to get here. It should be here in just a few days once the seller passes it off to UPS.

The Lee Enfield Marks 1 though 111 used a bushing around the front trigger guard screw while the Model 1903 used a rear
bushing around the rear trigger guard screw. Easy part to make too.

The screws in the previous post are for inletting only. Not for final installation of the trigger guard.

The donor is here!

As I stated earlier, I picked this Husqvarna for a few reasons:

The bolt handle is already configured in an attractive contour:
Attachment 101601

The barrel mounted swing swivel is too cool:
Attachment 101598

The rear sight is thiiiiiis close to an express style. I think I can fit a couple leaves in this base with a little mill work:
Attachment 101600

The caliber is a perfect choice for a safari rifle AND the script denoting the caliber on the barrel is in a simple old-school style:
Attachment 101597

A couple things I don't like....

The receiver has been drilled and tapped. I like the Husqvarna crest. I would have kept it if there weren't these holes. Instead, I'll fill the holes and add a strip of stippling to the receiver ring. Another Germanic touch, I think.
Attachment 101596

I don't like the front sight. I'll change this out for a banded sight.
Attachment 101599


If you scroll back up to the first pic, you can see I have a good bit of inletting ahead of me. Just a quick update before bed though.

Do you think a stock bolt installation is necessary for the 9,3x62mm ? I know that 338 and 375 calibers have a stock bolt (s) ?

I did notice on the CMP website that some guys were talking about using new Walter barrels in 9,3x62mm for their M1 rifles,
personally I would never consider such a project.

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Originally Posted by RCS

Do you think a stock bolt installation is necessary for the 9,3x62mm ? I know that 338 and 375 calibers have a stock bolt (s) ?

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I will be putting stock bolts in this rifle. Reinforcement and a bit of added flash - that’s an easy decision.

Progress!

I'm off to buy a barrel inletting tool for the last stretch of barrel channel. The barrel is a uniform .762 through there. That $50 tool is going to save a lot of time!

Here's my first few cuts:
Attachment 101633

Here's where I was at when the end of the barrel started making contact:
Attachment 101634

And here's where that puts me as far as what's left:
Attachment 101635

There are a couple spots around the rear tang that I already don't like. They're small enough that I think bedding compound will hide most of it. Not a bad start!