[Kenneth Bowen]

I'm looking for an inexpensive synthetic stock for a large ring Mauser
98. Can anyone recommend, or advise against, a Butler Creek. Corelite, or
Ram-Line. I know that neither is a McMillan, but this project doesn't require
that kind of quality. Natchez has the Butler Creek for around $60. Midway
sells the Ram-Line for $95 and the Corelite for $85.

I bought a Columbian Arsenal re-work of an FN-Mauser (30-06) a while back. I
put a timeny trigger on it, polished the chamber and bore with JB paste, and can hit a paper plate from the bench at 200
yards. I'm going to replace the military sights with a Williams aperture and
square front post. The stock is pretty messed up, as well as heavy.

I reshaped and polished the trigger guard, and have been cleaning up all the
tool marks. I'm just trying to make a knock-about rifle, and have spent less
than $200 so far.

 

[CCFPS]

I purchased the same rifle just a few days ago. My concern about the synthetic stocks is will they fit. I had a old "sporterized k-98 stock that I was going to use, however it appears that the action screws are not quite in the same place due to the longer magazine box for the 30-06. I am looking into this and will let you know. Additionally I had the same basic plan, Williams sight etc. The other guy in my unit bought one of these and found that it groups well but about 30 inches high at 100 if you have this problem Brownells has extra high mauser front sight blades that should help.

 

[Kenneth Bowen]

Please do let me know if it doesn't fit. I think the box is extended by
cutting the thin metal 'nose' off of the magazine box and welding an extended
piece of sheet metal to the inside. The 'base' that has the screw holes is not
affected by this at all.

However, there is a difference between the Yugo and the FN Mausers. Many
stocks will not fit rifles built on the Yugo's because the screws you mention
are not the same distance apart.

A local gunsmith suggested that I reshape the wooden stock, bed it properly,
fill its voids and cracks with bondo, and spray paint the thing (cammo, of
course!). Add a recoil pad and shoot it for a while. I could then save my
nickels for a proper synthetic stock and a better barrel, if I like the way it
shoots.

I've been filing and sanding the pits out of the metal, and re-shaped the
trigger guard, all of which have been a great way to learn a bit about
metal/gun smithing without ruining a better gun. I've been polishing up the
receiver raceways and truing up the side rails. Brownels has a tool for lapping
the bolt lugs.