Sub 4 pound sheep gun

[Matt L.]

Forgive me for asking, but what's so bad about the mini mauser?

[Stinky Coyote]

x2, would like to hear more on the mini mauser action

however, if like the cz 527 then its like working a tractor vs a ferrari like my sako a7 or a tikka etc. side torque binding bugger, nothing smooth about it, took hours of cycling with jb bore polish to get it even half acceptable and some parts of the stroke you could call smooth etc. even polished still bind like crazy with any side torques.....agricultural

anyhow, like to hear more about the mini mauser action and if its same thing, what is bolt throw like etc. can you get away with low rings...the cz 527 bolt had so much fat around the base i had to have it milled away to clear a scope with low rings....similar issues with mini mauser? the 527 sure is a tiny action though...

[Ryry4]

It would seem to me that a rifle that light may be a little hard to keep steady in a brisk cross wind.

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Thanks. Internal, tight tolerance pieces are all teflon coated and external pieces are powder coated. It's right around 7 pounds. I definitely wasn't looking for a lightweight build on it. The 270WSM I had built comes in right around 6 pounds now.

What's that band on the barrel? Nice rifles by the way.

Originally Posted by rugatika

What's that band on the barrel? Nice rifles by the way.

It's just where I store my extra electrical tape for putting over the muzzle.

[double gun]

Originally Posted by Matt L.

Forgive me for asking, but what's so bad about the mini mauser?

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

x2, would like to hear more on the mini mauser action... ....however, if like the cz 527....

Best to go handle one. The ones I have seen and played with were crude and sloppy, fit and finish was not there. They have had several names printed on them over the years, but they all seem to be of the same quality (perhaps made by the smae company). But this is my opinion and nothing more. Go handle one for yourself and draw your own conclusion. SC, they are not in the same boat as a CZ.

[ovis40]

Originally Posted by Ryry4

It would seem to me that a rifle that light may be a little hard to keep steady in a brisk cross wind.

Then maybe you wouldn't pull the trigger .....right? If you build a gun this light I would think it is for a backpack hunt. If you have respect for the game you hunt you wouldn't take a questionable shot anyway would you. I'm sure if you took a rest on your pack you would have a good rest....?
Lay off the chips and dip for a while and the weight won't be a issue.

[Duck Buster 1187]

Interesting rifle, but come on what a freakish chambering.

Put this rifle in something even remotely suitable for the intended task, and only someone with already loose dental work would want to shoot it.

Originally Posted by Duck Buster 1187

Interesting rifle, but come on what a freakish chambering.

Put this rifle in something even remotely suitable for the intended task, and only someone with already loose dental work would want to shoot it.

Primary reason for the chambering is that this action can't handle anything longer. If I recall, it spits a 120 grain bullet around 2400fps.

[Duck Buster 1187]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Primary reason for the chambering is that this action can\'t handle anything longer. If I recall, it spits a 120 grain bullet around 2400fps.

Yup real sheep medicine if I ever saw one.

Oh yeah is it not common for grizzlies to frequent a lot of the N. American sheep turf as well?

And where can I buy some 6.5 Greandal ammo these days, does anyone in Edson, Hinton, or Pincher Creek carry any?

Originally Posted by Duck Buster 1187

Yup real sheep medicine if I ever saw one.

Oh yeah is it not common for grizzlies to frequent a lot of the N. American sheep turf as well?

And where can I buy some 6.5 Greandal ammo these days, does anyone in Edson, Hinton, or Pincher Creek carry any?.

It's a reloaders cartridge for sure. Simply a necked down 7.62x39.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Primary reason for the chambering is that this action can't handle anything longer. If I recall, it spits a 120 grain bullet around 2400fps.

that would do for all my WT hunting

I'd step up in weight for Moose. 140gr at 2200fps or so would be a sweet gentle round to shoot.

[eric2381]

I'll stick to my 5 1/4lb scoped model 7, 308 win.

Like was said, it's interesting just how light they can go.

[Rockymtnx]

Originally Posted by eric2381

I'll stick to my 5 1/4lb scoped model 7, 308 win.

Like was said, it's interesting just how light they can go.

Wow, thats pretty light too.
What scope do you have on that rig?

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by eric2381

I'll stick to my 5 1/4lb scoped model 7, 308 win.

Like was said, it's interesting just how light they can go.

What did you do to it to get it that light with a scope?

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Primary reason for the chambering is that this action can't handle anything longer. If I recall, it spits a 120 grain bullet around 2400fps.

these little actions, i had a decision to make in cartridge for my custom mini since asi chambered .17 rem up to 6.8 spc with the grendel and 7.62x39, .223, 6x45 (? memory, necked up .223, could be 6x43) etc. etc. and the most horsepower i could get in a mini-14/ranch action was the 6.8 spc, its got a couple hundred ft/lbs on the grendel and out to 300 it probably stomps it but the higher bc of the 6.5 would eventually overtake it, not sure what distance that would be

lots of guys in the south using the 6.8 calling it the '.270 short', dick metcalf etc. that would be a perfect consideration for a build like that imo, and you can get factory ammo for the 6.8 spc, i have 4 types in my safe right now, 3 from remington (they developed it)

and for reloaders there are tons of these lighter 100-115 gr 6.8/.277 bullets designed for the slower speeds of the .270 short , accubonds etc. and barnes in the game now too with some 85-95 i believe....this 6.8 is getting hunted a lot south of the border in AR platforms, and north too, one post i found a guy killed a big grizzly with a ruger mini 6.8 and rem 115 otm ammo, in some places that amount of power is plenty to those guys....no here though ha ha and i sure as heck wouldn't but

thanks for posting, i'm loving my 6.8 in the custom mini but i can now envision a build similar to this one with the 6.8 and maybe 20-22" barrel, i get 2720 fps with 110gr hornady v-max factory load out of 21" barrel on my mini and published .371 bc on that bullet gives solid over 2000 fps and over 1000 ft/lbs at 300 yrds when calculating a safer bc of .34

hmmmm, i always thought if i went down this ultralight bolt action road i'd want a 6 dasher but the 6.8 would work too....the 6 dasher shooting 105 bergers has insane bc though and could stay past 2000 fps to like 800 yrds which is rediculous for how little powder gets burned, i was thinking single shot bolt action, so for me now it would be 6 dasher or 6.8 spc, i'd pass on the grendel and the appeal to the spc would be factory ammo availability best of all these munchkins

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by double gun

SC, they are not in the same boat as a CZ.

are you saying the 527 is nicer than the mini mauser?

oh and to the sarcastic guy giving the grendel numbers the gears, if a guy can build a 4 lb gun in one of these munchkin cartridges and worried about g-bears, sure makes it easy to throw the bearspray in full time and have better bear defense than ANY gun....get the best of both worlds lol, a rifle and bearspray 5 lbs all in!...could be best sheep combo period

[Leeper]

I built one fairly light rifle on a Mohawk action which went just under five pounds, bare. As I recall, it was right at 6pounds ready-to-hunt. This one was in 6 BR but could just as easily have been a 260. Accuracy was good but the rifle was sensitive to how it was held and it had to be held at the forend to shoot reall well. In other words, you could just rest it on the bag. It woud have been easy to make the rifle about four ounces lighter but I didn't see any real point in it. In fact, a pound heavier would have made a much nicer and more effective rifle.
The Mini-Mauser actions are generally pretty crude and their primary virtue is their diminutive size. If using a real action meant another four ounces, I would live with the extra weight and have the option of chambering for a real cartridge. A little weight training should get the average guy to where he can carry a rifle weighing as much as seven pounds. Leeper

[double gun]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

are you saying the 527 is nicer than the mini mauser?...

Yeah. They arent in the same league.

[eric2381]

It's the Leupold 3-9x33. Alot of the weight shaved was with a Lone Wolf 10 oz stock. Aluminum bolt shroud and pin. Metal machined off and out of the bolt. Action slabbed. 20" Shilen featherweight.

It was an honest 5 3/8lbs before I put the aluminum bolt shroud and firing pin. I'm guessing at 5 1/4 lbs.

I never made it or got it made. Someone else designed it and had it made. Then I traded for it. I've shot it ten times. I plan on doing load work up with it this summer with 150gr ttsx.

How much weight is lost by fluting the bolt body? I would think only an ounce or so.

[209x50]

This is too light for me to shoot well. I have a hard time taking a 6 pound rifle when I shoot a 8 pound so much better at the range. It is cool to see how light you can make one though.
And to the fellow worried about G bears I've never yet taken anything bigger than a 308 sheep hunting and now use a 260. You can spend too much of life worrying.

[Mike_W]

Originally Posted by 209x50

This is too light for me to shoot well. I have a hard time taking a 6 pound rifle when I shoot a 8 pound so much better at the range. It is cool to see how light you can make one though.

X2!

[double gun]

Originally Posted by eric2381

It's the Leupold 3-9x33. Alot of the weight shaved was with a Lone Wolf 10 oz stock. Aluminum bolt shroud and pin. Metal machined off and out of the bolt. Action slabbed. 20" Shilen featherweight.

It was an honest 5 3/8lbs before I put the aluminum bolt shroud and firing pin. I'm guessing at 5 1/4 lbs.

I never made it or got it made. Someone else designed it and had it made. Then I traded for it. I've shot it ten times. I plan on doing load work up with it this summer with 150gr ttsx.

How much weight is lost by fluting the bolt body? I would think only an ounce or so.

You should weigh it properly - the way it is now. And post some good pics up - I am sure a few of us would love to see it. (at least I would)

[spurly]

x2

[eric2381]

I'm away from home working right now. I can weigh it and show pics when I get home for those interested.

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Primary reason for the chambering is that this action can't handle anything longer. If I recall, it spits a 120 grain bullet around 2400fps.

Sheep, did you handle this little mini-mauser at all? Did Corlanes comment on it at all? Assume they might work it over or have some tricks to make it nice-ish? Are they doing blind magazine for it?

This post sure has stirred up some ideas. I've been wanting a build for for 6mm 105's for awhile now, this might do it. Apparently lots of AR shooters etc. that compete all feel the Grendel is better as a 6mm also, so the 6x39 appears to be called the 6mmAR, 2750 fps with 105's from 26", they even do improved versions and get 2850-2900 but adds a step than just neck sizing the 6.5 grendel lapua brass down to 6mm. That 4lb build might be my next project and go with the 6mm version. If 2650 fps with 105 bergers could be attained in say a 21" barrel it would stay to 2000 fps impact velocity to 500yrd! The 6mm version seems perfect for this munchkin build.

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

Sheep, did you handle this little mini-mauser at all? Did Corlanes comment on it at all? Assume they might work it over or have some tricks to make it nice-ish? Are they doing blind magazine for it?

.

I think the thing that needs to be remembered here is that this is a very utilitarian rifle that is all about weight. Sure there are smoother actions but that wasn't the point here...weight was. From what I saw, the action open and closed okay and if the rifle shoots, that's really all you can ask. Yes it is a blind mag.

[Stinky Coyote]

thanks, not sure i could go quite that extreme but i think i could do a similar project off a 527, won't end up as light but, new stock, shorten the magazine to flush, perforate/lighten/remove weight where it can be and end up with a true mini crf with a little detach mag (and solid rep for quality/accuracy), have the tops shaved off and drilled/tapped for talleys and little leupy ultralight....could go 6mmAR and have a 500 yrd sheeper, the 6.5G looks like about 400 yrder and 6.8 spc in comparison runs out of bc to keep things hummin around 350 yrds....hmmm, almost talked myself into a 527 sheep project now