ISRAELI M98 "Conversion"....BEDDING ?

[David K]

.... I've an BRNO manufactured M98, that was converted by the Israeli's to .7.62, that won't group worth a damn ( 6" at 100 yards )! .... I've played with hand-loads, and will continue to do so. Any suggestions as to "bedding" the rifle ? I assume the bedding would be the same as for an original M98 ? Of course, any proven, accurate, hand-loading data would be appreciated ! ( I've been using IMR 4895 Powder) ........ Beyond the "filler piece" in the magazine, just what did the Israeli's do to make the conversion ? 'Seems like the cleaning rod hole/thread may have been filled in on mine, as an original M98 rod will not fully go in? ....... The barrel is in excellent condition, the head-space seems correct, trigger is OK, loads used light to moderate, shooting off a bench, in good conditions. Sights, well, they're strictly stock...what can you say ? ..... David K. .......

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[Claven2]

Some thoughts. First, try more than one load. It could be you have ammo the rifle doesn't like. Next, have someone else who is a decent shot to try shooting the rifle to ensure it's not just your shooting ability with the Mauser & its sights. If it is really the rifle and not you AND it's the same for several loads, then looks at the recoil bolt in the stock. Make sure it's tight and not moving around or set back.

Now for grouping - is it all over the place like a shotgun pattern, or is it stringing vertically or horizontally?

Does the rear sight ladder have side to side play? Is the front sight tightly staked in place, or could it be moving around under recoil?

Are both trigger guard screws tight and snug? With the rifle assembled, put the butt on the ground and get a friend to hold it there by the buttstock. Grab the barrel exposed beyond the forestock and see if you can move the barelled action up and down in the forestock. You should not be able to. If you CAN move it, you need to shim under the trigger guard to tighten things up

[Badger]

Hi David ...

Read over this page. I think it may be applicable to what you're looking for.

Bedding a Mauser action (click here)

Regards,
Badger

[David K]

...."Claven" .... I've tried about 5 or 6 different loads, all projectiles around the 147 gr. weight, both Spitzer and Round nose. Grouping is all evenly spread around. ( To make it more frustrating, there's the odd 3 shot tight group.. fluke maybe ? ) The "screws" are all tight and the locking bolts tight as well, no play in the action/stock that I can detect. The sights are tight, believe me, that's one of the first things I check, having had a No4 with a loose foresight that moved undetected for about 50 rounds, and I didn't notice until I got home ! Also tried another shooter ! Mixed lot of brass on the reloads, which doesn't help, but I don't expect MOA either ! Next stop, I'll check the site posted by "Badger" ... Bedding the Mauser, as that's where I think the problem lies ! ( "Have Dremel, will grind!" ) .... David K.

[David K]

.... I've just checked the site suggested by "Badger" .... without pulling the whole thing apart, I really think the problem is probably an overly tight barrel/fore-end fit and the bayonet fitting, being in need of a little relief ! I've got shim stock on hand so if needs be, I can easily shim the rear tang and the magazine well. The whole wood to metal fit at the fore-end seems really tight judging by the "wiggle test " ! 'Never played with the bedding on a stock (well Israeli conversion ) Mauser 98 before ! .... Thanks guys, 'have to probably wait, until NEXT YEAR, for a Range test !! ..... David K. ...

[bearhunter]

David, just a thought, is the rear bedding pillar still there? I'm talking about the rear action screw pillar, it fits between the triggergaurd and the receiver. It allows you to tighten the rear screw without crushing the wood or warping the action. A lot of rifles I've come accross with accuracy problems have had these removed and not replaced. Usually a big mistake, but easily rectified. I use a piece of aluminum/titanium arrow shaft if it's a bubba or turn down a piece of drill rod and drill it out then square off the ends to fit. bearhunter

[David K]

.... Thanks Guys for the suggestions ! The Mauser site certainly gave me a better idea of how to improve/correct the grouping. I've "bedded" as per suggestions from there,and as I suspected, the for-end was tight in the wrong places ! I also double checked "Bearhunters" suggestion as to the "pillars" all present and correct. ( I think I'll try to grab a broken aluminum arrow shaft for future use ! ) ..... Now that Christmas is over, once the kids are back in School, I'll have the time to hit the Range and see how the changes affect things ! .... Thanks again ! ..... David K. .....

[sdh1911]

Hey David a late welcome! Could you tell me what is the twist rate in the barrel, I'm not up on the .308 conversions, but, I build a lot of guns using their receivers. The basic mechanical rule for accuracy is tight receiver no stress on the barrel (nor muzzle burrs), tight sights and good ammo. If you'd like a soup to nuts check list, send me a PM and I'll get back to you-HTH-SDH

[David K]

.... Thanks for the offer "sdh1911" ! The action seems good, I assume the rifling is the same as for the Wartime issue M98, IE 1 in 10 . No burrs on the muzzlel, and now the barrel seems properly bedded. Still awhile to go before I can test fire it ! I was getting around the 6 inch groups at a measured 100 yards, all usually all round, what made it more frustrating I guess, is that occasionally, I'd get 3 shots all touching. Definitely not consistently, but a little more often than one would expect from just coincidence ! All shooting,was over a rest, and with the pathetic issue sights ( 6 O'clock hold ) stock trigger, which is, well it's just a stock trigger ! Different loads didn't seem to make much, if any, difference. I'm not looking, nor expecting MOA, but 3 inch groups doesn't seem unreasonable, and with the tweaking of the bedding, well, I'm cautiously optimistic !! .... David K. ....