Interarms Mark X Rebarrel - Which Calibre?!

[Dr Strangelove]

Thanks guys, the more opinions the better!

 

[big johnson]

I'm also long time mauser fan, if you don't want to open the bolt face up I'd look at the 6.5- 06 Ackley , 280 Ackley or 30-06 Ackley lots of brass available or you could buy a magnum bolt and build whatever you want.

 

[xsn10s]

I have a JC Higgins FN Belgium 98 Mauser in 270 Win. I'll end up rebarreling someday due to a chattered chamber. I've agonized (lol) over what to rechamber it to. A few things to consider. COAL, my magbox is 3.400" so it limits how far you can seat out bullets. Feed rails might need to be opened up for 284 win, and they might be fine as is. I've considered a 7mm rem mag conversion but the boltface needs to be opened up. I have seen some QL data for a 280 Rem 180 Berger and RL26. Seems like 2800 fps is doable with a 24" barrel.

I have 3 in process varying from 240WBY to 6XC to 8x68S and .284Win just completed.

Did you need to alter the feed rails on the 284 Win? TIA

 

[8x68s]

I have a JC Higgins FN Belgium 98 Mauser in 270 Win. I'll end up rebarreling someday due to a chattered chamber. I've agonized (lol) over what to rechamber it to. A few things to consider. COAL, my magbox is 3.400" so it limits how far you can seat out bullets. Feed rails might need to be opened up for 284 win, and they might be fine as is. I've considered a 7mm rem mag conversion but the boltface needs to be opened up. I have seen some QL data for a 280 Rem 180 Berger and RL26. Seems like 2800 fps is doable with a 24" barrel.

Did you need to alter the feed rails on the 284 Win? TIA

yes, just slightly.

 

[jimmybrost]

Hi all!

I posted in my intro thread that I've recently picked up a cheap Mark X barreled action. It's currently sporting a shot out .308 barrel but could accept a LA cartridge (which would probably feed slightly better too).

As I have a .308 already, I'm wondering what would be a good calibre option for a rebarrel. Primary use will be longer range (1000yds+) target shooting but potentially hunting as well, later on down the line. I'd rather not have the bolt face opened out so that limits me somewhat…

I handload so niche/unusual calibres wouldn't be an issue. It won't see a huge amount of use, either.

I'm tending towards a 6.5 or 7mm bullet. The Sherman family did appeal to me as I don't think there are that many over here in the UK! However a mate also said a .284Win could achieve 2,800fps with 180gr bullets and the right powder so that's definitely an option as well…

Any thoughts/experiences (positive or negative!) etc would be greatly received!

Many thanks,

Dr. S

My uncle just bought a 6.8 Western. I'm not a gimmick guy or fad guy, but that round is really impressive.

 

[adamjp]

For ease, stick with the 30/06, 308 type cases. The 284 case doesn't feed all that well in a magbox designed for the slimmer cartridge.

A local gent is having significant success in F Class with a 7mm-06 AI. Essentially a 30/06 improved case necked to 7mm. Why not just go 280 AI? Well Lapua make really high quality 30/06 cases and 280 AI cases are not to the same standard. He also did the math and the longer neck of the 30/06 AI was an advantage, whilst the minor capacity increase of the 280 wasn't worth the cost of the cases (which is significant outside the USA).

 

[bigbrad53]

Commercial Mausers are so under appreciated these days with all the fanfare going to expensive customs. A guy can build 2, 3 or 4 custom Mausers for the price of just one "you-name-it" custom. Not a dig at "you-name-it's" but I am a fan of buying the Mausers as projects; re-barreling, re-stocking and refinishing. I have 3 in process varying from 240WBY to 6XC to 8x68S and .284Win just completed. It's like working on British cars from the 60's and 70's. Simple, straight forward and fun!
View attachment 292085View attachment 292086View attachment 292087 FN Mauser, .284 Win
View attachment 292089View attachment 292090View attachment 292091 Sako L61R, 7mm Rem mag

Mauser 98 commercial and military is all I build on. Had three different rifle brands extractors pull through case rims turning rifle into a rather expensive club. Have never had a Mauser do that. Only action I would use if hunting something that would kill me if given the chance!

 

[Sage70]

If I was going to build a 284 bore rifle with a 24 inch barrel or longer I would build a 280 Ackley because I am a hunter and because it would work great in that Mark X action. To adjust the feed for a 284 Shehane a gunsmith in Oklahoma would charge about $100 to adjust the rails on a Mauser type action. The two advantages the op has in the 284 Shehane is that the 284 Winchester cases are available from Lapua and the 284 Shehane is really popular in England as a long range target rifle and it has been winning competitions. I understand the 284 Shehane is also popular in Australia. There's an interesting article on google about a 284 Shehane built in Australia. PrecisionDefenceIndustries.com/284shehane-mountain-rifle

 

[DJ Fergus]

Thanks, that could also be an option.

I'm currently leaning towards a .284 Shehane but more research is required!

I have a friend who built a 284 shehane. That rifle has won several matches. It's definitely a worthwhile cartridge. My only concern would be the issue of how a rebated cartridge will feed through your action. It may be fine but I don't have much experience with that action so I can't say for sure. I do know rebated rimmed cartridges sometimes feed fine or can be tricky depending on what action it's used with.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Hey again all. Stupid question time! I suspect it's a no but could .284 Shehane dies be created by reaming out .284Win dies with the Shehane reamer? Seems like if that's possible it'd be a far cheaper way to get Shehane dies!

 

[shortgrass]

Hey again all. Stupid question time! I suspect it's a no but could .284 Shehane dies be created by reaming out .284Win dies with the Shehane reamer? Seems like if that's possible it'd be a far cheaper way to get Shehane dies!

At minimum, you'd need a carbide reamer. And, the sizing dies is slightly smaller than a chamber, a sizing die reamer would be needed. The finish chambering reamer can be used to make the seating die, but again, it'd need to be carbide.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

At minimum, you'd need a carbide reamer. And, the sizing dies is slightly smaller than a chamber, a sizing die reamer would be needed. The finish chambering reamer can be used to make the seating die, but again, it'd need to be carbide.

Thanks! Maybe not so easy/cost effective then…

 

[Hugnot]

Good advice from adamjp - my guess is the Interarms X mag box is like the FN Mauser and is designed to work with rounds having the same diameter as the 7.92X57 that work in the M98. Much thinking/design effort went into that mag box width to work with .473 head diameter, non rebated cartridges. Enough cartridge base is needed for the bolt face to contact & receiver rails need to securely hold the round until it is stripped from the magazine. Good choices would be .25-06, .270W, .30-06 and the wildcat 6.5-06 (no over the counter ammo available). Been there & done that - I messed up a real nice FN Mauser with a 7mm RM conversion - unreliable/difficult feeding. I gave it to a relative. Stay with .473 diameter non rebated rounds.

 

[epoletna]

Hugnot's advice is right on. Pay careful heed!