custom build on jc higgins model 50 action 6.5x55

[1texasgun]

hello gentlemen,
i am in the planning stages of a custom rifle build for a 6.5x55. and would like some input. after several months of searching and research , i am buying a jc higgins model 50 for the build. seems this is the best action within my budget to start with. my gunsmith buddy is a mauser guru and excellent gunsmith and has really leaned me toward this action. i believe it is an interarms mark x belgian mauser action. and boy i tell you this is not an easy action (rifle) to find.
as for the rifle i plan on a 26" krieger barrel ( i know they stopped most work form the mauser ) but lucky for me we know a machinist who can thread and short chamber the barrel, the rest is up in the air as far as the stock, trigger, safety etc...
i plan on shooting berger 140 gr vld's and lapua brass. i really want this rifle to shoot well. it will be my go to gun for most hunting i do. the range i am comfotable with is 800 yrds and under.
this custom rifle i hope to pass onto my children one day, so i want it built with most durable parts with clean lines and finishes.
i hope i haven't bored you all, but any pointers or suggestions would help out alot.
gun)keep the cross hairs steady and hit your mark ! And remember to take a child hunting, they are our future !

 

[Bigstrap3]

I in the process of building a rifle on the same action you speak of and in the same caliber. Just got my kreiger barrel from bruno's about 2 weeks ago. Mine will have a 26 inch barrel also. I had a gunsmith buddy check the action for any setback and there doesnt seem to be any. I am planning to shoot the 140grainers also and keep the veloc/pressure to the max 96 action specs. This should allow me good barrel life and not damage the action. good luck , George B

 

[outofayr]

Love the custom rifles built on Mauser actions - I've got 3 built on VZ24s, one currently being built on a Kar98a (just have to finish stock and metal now), a mini-Mauser in 7.62X39, and a VZ24 in the wings ready to be built when I get the time. Longer lock time than a lot of current production actions, but a great base to build from, economical, lots of aftermarket parts available, and will turn out surprisingly good shooters.

Hints and tips:

Before mounting barrel, have your smith true the secondary torque shoulder, lap the primary torque shoulder (C-ring), lap the bolt face, and lap the bolt lugs in. Shouldn't be news to a Mauser guru, but you'd be surprised at the number that will skip this step.

Replace trigger with a Timney or Bold w/o side safety

Add a Win Mod 70 - style 3 *** safety a la Ed LaPour, Dakota, or Gentry. Much better than the trigger safety on the Model 50, and due to design, will decrease lock time some.

Switch out FP spring to a 22 or 24 lb one from Wolff to decrease lock time more.

Glass bed into a good stock and reinforce the area behind the recoil lug by glassing in a cutoff bolt into a groove cut behind the recoil lug recess (this will help to avoid splitting out between recoil lug recess and mag well). Relieve a little behind the tang to avoid splitting out there, and use pillar on back screw to avoid over-compression of stock. I've had excellent luck with the Medalist stock from Bell & Carlson as well as laminates from Boyd's. Minimal fitting required unless you use aftermarket trigger guard.

Have fun with your build!

Brian

 

[fj40mojo]

hello gentlemen,
i am in the planning stages of a custom rifle build for a 6.5x55. and would like some input. after several months of searching and research , i am buying a jc higgins model 50 for the build. seems this is the best action within my budget to start with. my gunsmith buddy is a mauser guru and excellent gunsmith and has really leaned me toward this action. i believe it is an interarms mark x belgian mauser action. and boy i tell you this is not an easy action (rifle) to find.
as for the rifle i plan on a 26" krieger barrel ( i know they stopped most work form the mauser ) but lucky for me we know a machinist who can thread and short chamber the barrel, the rest is up in the air as far as the stock, trigger, safety etc...
i plan on shooting berger 140 gr vld's and lapua brass. i really want this rifle to shoot well. it will be my go to gun for most hunting i do. the range i am comfotable with is 800 yrds and under.
this custom rifle i hope to pass onto my children one day, so i want it built with most durable parts with clean lines and finishes.
i hope i haven't bored you all, but any pointers or suggestions would help out alot.
gun)keep the cross hairs steady and hit your mark ! And remember to take a child hunting, they are our future !

I did a similar project a little over a year ago only I used a Santa Barbara action. I was at odds because I didn't want the long throat inherent to the SAAMI chamber, called Dave Kiff at PT&G and he recommended the PT&G 6.5x55 Match reamer. It did not dissappoint, I'm able to load secant ogive 140grn bullets at magazine length and I'm .005 off the lands. Only downfall is it is a tight neck and requires neck turning with Lapua brass. I'm shooting 140grn SST at 2850fps with Lapua brass H4831 and Fed primers into 3/8" groups. I put a Douglas 1:8 Premium Air Guaged barrell on it, high gloss bluing and refinished the Fajen stock that it came in.

Now I'm preparing for my second Mauser build on a JC Higgens M50 action. You are incorrect, these actions are FN Mausers made in Belgium not Interarms. They are I'm told the best commercial Mauser actions ever made. I picked mine up off of the local internet classifieds for $300. I originally approached George Vais to do my first Mauser and he turned the job down because it wasn't an FN action, he literaly refused to do any Mauser build unless it was done on this action. My new build is going to be a .280AI, 26" Krieger 1:9, cerracoted in a B&C Medalist stock. Barrell is inbound now, can't wait.

Like your comment "take a child hunting" Here is me and my son with the Swede's first kill last fall.

 

[1texasgun]

thank you gentlemen, the info is very helpful. luckily this is still the planning part and ideas can (and probably will ha ha ) change before the finished product is out. just so many options out there. but im sure it will all fall into place as we get into the actual build. thanks again for the ideas and info. and fj40mojo beautiful rifle, nice buck and your sons look is priceless. unfortunately my twin boys are only 2 1/2 years old right now but growing quickly, i cant wait to take them hunting with me! i hope there first buck will be with their 6.5x55. this is after all going to be their rifle eventually.
-----gun)

 

[fj40mojo]

thank you gentlemen, the info is very helpful. luckily this is still the planning part and ideas can (and probably will ha ha ) change before the finished product is out. just so many options out there. but im sure it will all fall into place as we get into the actual build. thanks again for the ideas and info. and fj40mojo beautiful rifle, nice buck and your sons look is priceless. unfortunately my twin boys are only 2 1/2 years old right now but growing quickly, i cant wait to take them hunting with me! i hope there first buck will be with their 6.5x55. this is after all going to be their rifle eventually.
-----gun)

Ditto here, this rifles been in my family since '68 and will go to my youngest one of these days and the new build will go to the older one. You aren't far off from being able to take them along. My boy was just 5 when this pic was taken, the following evening he watched while mom took a buck with the same rifle and then he asked, "When do I get to do the shooting part?"