Need help ID'ing a Rifle with FN Action

[ewoelk]

I'm new to the forum and was wondering if you guys could help me ID an old gun my dad has. The gun is a 7mm Rem Mag that says FN Made in Belgium on it. It has a few other insignias on the left side of the barrel. There is a serial number on the barrel and the action that match. The barrel itself is a heavy barrel. I believe it used to be used as a target rifle, but my dad used it for years hunting deer.

What other indicators or marks should I be looking for to help ID exactly how old this gun is and what it is? I can post pictures if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ridgesniper]

Can help, military action or straight bridge, send pictures, if you still need id

 

[ewoelk]

Here's some pictures

 

[Country Bumpkin]

Tagging on, I have a .220 Swift with very similar markings that I can't figure out. Mine has a hand made stock, given to me with no background.

 

[Ridgesniper]

Will research it, got a number of books to look at, but i can say 1950 to 1960? Made FN, commercial. One great made action and gun. Had one myself, out side of Swedish made Mauser , you have a real gem. Get back to you

 

[SidecarFlip]

...and I own a Husky Mauser(small action) in 308 in pristine condition, the one that Chuck Hawks raves about.

Gonna use it on whitetails soon. sub moa at 200 yards from a 50 year old stick. 165 Sierra Gamekings in Federal Match brass, Fed large Rifle primers and a shot of Varget...

I bought it unfired from an estate sale. Didn't know what I had until I researched it. **** pretty rifle.

Have to post a picture. Looks a lot like your FN.....

 

[benchracer]

Here's some pictures

That is a post-war commercial '98 Mauser. The same design has been in continuous production in various places and is currently being made in Serbia. FN made some of the best of the breed. You have a fine rifle.

 

[ewoelk]

That is a post-war commercial '98 Mauser. The same design has been in continuous production in various places and is currently being made in Serbia. FN made some of the best of the breed. You have a fine rifle.

That's good to know. It's my dad's and he's been using it forever. He talked about selling it to me, which is particularly why I'm interested.

The only issue we've had with it is sometimes it will not group well. My dad had it start shooting sporadic on him 20 years ago when he was out west mule deer hunting. He hasn't used it much since then. I'm wondering if the scope rings and bases need to be re-torqued.

The action and barrel do have a little surface rust that I need to clean up.

 

[just country]

morning, this looks like a Mark X, that was made on a totally modified mauser action.

this a very strong action. a friend of mine has one just like this weapon, in the same

caliber. 7mmMag. the big ring mauser at one time was used to make large calibers

African hunting calibers. this weapon was manufactured back in the late 1960 thru

the early 1980's. I would have to check my dates.

 

[Country Bumpkin]

Since it seems that we have found some folks that know about these things . . . want to take a crack at mine?

This Rifle was given to me when I joined the AF by a Man that was basically a 3rd Grandfather to me. He owned the small farm that I grew up on. This Rifle was given to him by a hunter that he'd allowed access for decades, but it came with no story and the giver has since passed. So, we know nothing about it, except for the markings that you can see. It's a .220 and it's Very accurate. As you can see on the barrel, it doesn't specifically state that it's a .220 Swift, which is how I have been loading for it. It occurred to me a few months ago that it might be some kind of a wildcat . . . Gulp!

Here's the problem, and the reason that I need to learn more about it. It's VERY hard on Brass Shoulders. I'm shooting 2 full grains under max suggested and the bases of my brass are showing No pressure signs. BUT, I have split 2 pieces of brass right down the side starting at the shoulder. I haven't shot it since the last occurrence as, obviously, that's quite concerning. I'm hoping that if I can learn more about this rifle, specifically how it was chambered, that maybe I can figure out how to load (or prep brass) for it so that I can enjoy shooting it. Like I said, it's very accurate. It's also a very special rifle to me, so I'd like to use it.

Thanks for looking.

 

[just country]

morning, this looks like a interarms Mark X, that was

made on a totally modified mauser action.

this a very strong action. a friend of mine has one just like this weapon, in the same

caliber. 7mmMag. the big ring mauser at one time was used to make large calibers

African hunting calibers. this weapon was manufactured back in the early 1960 thru

the early 1980's. I would have to check my dates.

back in the day this

was and is a very good rifle combination.

 

[Ridgesniper]

Your rifle was made after 1946, by FN, for export. If the floor plate release is in the triggered guard it was made for USA, instead of England, but not all the time. If the bluing was hand done, could be very early, however I no of any FN's with the "new" style shroud being on the market before 1946, but the actions were made befor that time. Straight and square bridge were made before 1946,however the blueing was changed after that. I can't tell from the pics. About the proof marks but they will tell the tell of maybe the journey it took,I.e., England, etc. to many things to look at to really pin it down. I don't have a serial no range on FN post war, and am not the last word on this rifle, but it isn't a markX, it isn't a military converstion, it a commercial made rifle made for export.if you want to look at what you have, Lester Womack's book is a good one, along with,"The standard dictionary of proof marks" by R.A. Steindler,and "Mauser Bolt Riles" by Ludwic Olson Third Edition. I am sure there maybe a serial no. Range out there for FN's post war, but being retired not sure. For sure, it is no longer made, it a fine rifle, and it will shoot if bedded right with a good load and scope. Check bedding first then go from there. Hope this helps, others can add to it.

 

[Ridgesniper]

lightbulb

Since it seems that we have found some folks that know about these things . . . want to take a crack at mine?

This Rifle was given to me when I joined the AF by a Man that was basically a 3rd Grandfather to me. He owned the small farm that I grew up on. This Rifle was given to him by a hunter that he'd allowed access for decades, but it came with no story and the giver has since passed. So, we know nothing about it, except for the markings that you can see. It's a .220 and it's Very accurate. As you can see on the barrel, it doesn't specifically state that it's a .220 Swift, which is how I have been loading for it. It occurred to me a few months ago that it might be some kind of a wildcat . . . Gulp!

Here's the problem, and the reason that I need to learn more about it. It's VERY hard on Brass Shoulders. I'm shooting 2 full grains under max suggested and the bases of my brass are showing No pressure signs. BUT, I have split 2 pieces of brass right down the side starzting at the shoulder. I haven't shot it since the last occurrence as, obviously, that's quite concerning. I'm hoping that if I can learn more about this rifle, specifically how it was chambered, that maybe I can figure out how to load (or prep brass) for it so that I can enjoy shooting it. Like I said, it's very accurate. It's also a very special rifle to me, so I'd like to use it.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Garycrow]

That's good to know. It's my dad's and he's been using it forever. He talked about selling it to me, which is particularly why I'm interested.

The only issue we've had with it is sometimes it will not group well. My dad had it start shooting sporadic on him 20 years ago when he was out west mule deer hunting. He hasn't used it much since then. I'm wondering if the scope rings and bases need to be re-torqued.

The action and barrel do have a little surface rust that I need to clean up.

As others have said, that's a very fine rifle. The commercial mauser actions were made by a lot of different companies over the years but they don't come any better than the early FN's like you have. They're currently made by Zastava in Serbia and they're not nearly as well finished as the early ones like you have.

Please resist any urge to cut it up and modify it like many on this site would do with it. It would be very unlikely that your rifle wouldn't shoot well once you figure out what's the problem. Start by checking action screw torque and clean the barrel well paying particular attention to copper fouling. That's a pretty old leupold on top and it may very well have gone south on you judging by your comment of erratic groupings. I'd probably take it off and send it back to leupold for a look over, they'll inspect it and check everything for free. When it's off check the bases for proper torque and properly torque the rings when you re-mount the scope. If it's still acting up then consider bedding the stock. Work through it methodically and I'm certain you can get it to shoot, it's too well made not to.