I wanted to share my PROJECT Mannlicher gun. It's you basic beat up M98 Military 8mm Mauser, bought for $40.00 US . I started by swapping the 1st junk chop down stock with a VZ-24 stock I had from hanging around. That stock I cut the metal nose cap lug off square. Had a gunsmith cut the brl to 17 1/8 inches. Bend the bolt handle. Mill off the stripper clip guide and contour the receiver to FN mauser specs. Known problem one, is the barrel looks bad, lots of throat erosion and very
rough & pitted. But, hey the gun might shoot ?, plus this is a low dollar project. Last fall I took the gun out and shot the worse groups,I have ever shot in my life with any gun !. they were 8 to 10 inch at 100 yards, this was with some German 1944 ball ammo 154 gr. This gun has a nice target crown. I swapped scopes, same thing. I was dumb enough to buy 210 rounds. I tried putting some forward brl pressure at the tip and it shot a little better down to 6inc groups. I pulled a few bullets from the German ammo and dump the powder out, did a partial neck size, dump in 53.0 gr of bag 4831 and seated a 200 gr speer spitzer. This load shot ok in another 8mm mauser I have. The gun rewarded with a group 1 1/2 inch group ! I was beyond happy. I tuck the gun away until a few days ago and decided to push my luck and see if I could find a
use for that Junk German ball ammo. So I pulled the bullets, weighed the them, yup 154gr +- .2gr not bad for country about to lose the war. The powder charge was 47.5 gr + - .1 gr, weighed 10 pulled charges, just to be sure. Said time to go where no man has gone before and cut the charge to 46.0 gr and seated a Hornady 150gr bullet. THIS IS WERE THE DAD ADVISE COMES IN. OL @ 2.995 gave it a 1/2 turn lee crimp die crimp. loaded 3 rounds, at 46.0, loaded 3 more @ 47.5gr basically just swapping bullets. I also loaded up a few 200gr Speer loads in new Federal brass with 4831 53.0 with rem 9 1/2 primer. I could only shoot 75 yards. See the group below !


Now try not laugh at the gun that shot the group. Notice 6-20x 50mm Simmons scope and the wax paper for forward brl pressure at nose.



Oh, ya the 200gr speer load shot wee bit better. So it look's like I have to spring for Timney trigger with slide safety. Then the fun part bed the gun, and try not screw up forward brl pressure.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT A PRETTY GOOD SHOOTER THERE. I WAS JUST WONDERING THOUGH, ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP THE BIG SCOPE ON IT? SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU WOULD BE BETTER SERVED WITH A LOW POWERED VARIABLE LIKE A 1X-5X OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OTHER THAN THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A KEEPER.

Thats not bad for a $40 gun lol!

I wouldnt use wax paper though as a shim, even if temporary as the wax might melt even after a couple of shots changing point of impact. Still pretty nice looking group!

-DallanC

Rob.....No that big scope isn't staying on the gun. It's spare scope. I am not a fan of big scopes. My plain is keap a low power scope on it, see the gun with a 1.5-4x picture below with extension rings, Much better hugh ? This one came from my 8yr old son's muzzleloader, will have to put it back or replace it by December. I shot those groups with the big scope on 14x.
Dallen....The shim on the gun is 3 inch yellow masking tape rapped over
and over a thin carboard. That what I should of said. My plan is to measure it and replace it with shim stock and bed over it. Below is how the gun will look. I have to remove the extra rear side sling swivel, need a spanner wrench, put a front sight in the ramp, just as soon as I pick up a weaver base top mount peep site, so I can get the right height. I didn't drill/tap the barrel for a rear site, thought the short 17 inch brl would look cluttered on such a fine rifle

LOOKS ALOT BETTER WITH THE SMALLER SCOPE. I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS A GOOD SHOOTING BEING SET ON 14X. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.