Re: custom mauser builds
I have been building custom Mausers for myself for 44 years, since I was 14.
But in May and June of 2008 I offered to build a 243 Mauser rifle for the 14 year old daughter of a US GI in Iraq. Her grandfather has a farm here in WA state where she could shoot coyotes.
I worked on it every night, took pictures, and sent and email showing the progress on her rifle.
I used crummy Mauser parts I had lying around:
1) Addams and Bennett barrel bull blank
2) Take off stock
3) 1903 Turkish [Oberndorf] Mauser action with TIG welded bolt handle
The father in Iraq forwarded the emails to his daughter in the US. She was looking forward to getting a rifle, but the rifle weight was too heavy.
I used up MORE crummy Mauser parts I had lying around to make a lighter rifle:
1) Addams and Bennett stainless sporter barrel blank
2) Take off stock
3) 1903 Turkish [Oberndorf] Mauser action with TIG welded bolt handle
4) Chapman M70 type safety
5) Leupold 4X scope
I got the rifle down to 8 pounds with scope and sling.
I took both rifles to the range, and the heavy one shot .7" 3 shots at 50y, and the light one shot .93" 3 shots at 50y.
The GI came back from Iraq and on a trip to Grandpa's house, he and his daughter stopped at my house, introduced themselves and collected the light weight rifle.
I have built much better Mausers for myself, but the one I built out of spare parts for someone else was the most satisfying in a long time.