Bolt Action Rifles. Wayne Zwoll

the 98/40 was developed, probably knew about the forend problems of the Lee-Enfield and designed their forend and the action so that it would be as secure as if the forend were part of the buttstock. It is believed that the designers went to the two-piece stock design for reasons of economy and to achieve a stronger buttstock. In doing this, they developed perhaps the very best method and arrangement for fitting two-piece stocks.

      Comments

      All-in-all, the German Model 98/40 is a good action. It has its share of undesirable features, but it also has some strong points. Manufactured from 1940 to 1945, those made early in this period show much better workmanship and finish than the ones toward the end. In early samples, the bolt moves in the receiver as smoothly as the best Mannlicher-Schoenauer action. Although some experts dislike the separate bolt head feature, I don’t think it is that bad. The extractor is probably more rugged than the extractor in the commercial Mannlicher-Schoenauer action. The forward placement of the bolt handle is not liked, but it is necessary in this type of action.

      There is no need for the thumb-piece on the firing pin nut. The cock-on-closing feature is not generally liked, and without any extra trouble this action could just as well have been made to cock on the uplift of the bolt handle. The magazine floorplate release latch is neat, and although the floorplate is not hinged to the trigger guard, it is convenient for unloading since it can be quickly removed.

      Every part of the 98/40 action is made of steel—there are no stampings or alloy parts. There is little question that the finest steels were used in the manufacture of the major parts of this action, with the receiver and bolt parts properly heat-treated. I believe this action entirely suitable for almost any modern cartridge that is not too long for the magazine box; for if it was safe for the 8mm German military load, it should also be safe for other cartridges developing breech pressures in the 50,000 psi range.

      Gunsmithing

      The 98/40 rifle and action offer a number of remodeling, sporterizing and rebarreling possibilities. First, the 8mm Mauser cartridge for which this rifle is chambered is entirely satisfactory for big game hunting, and if the rifle you have has an excellent bore, it would be best to leave it in its present caliber. The 98/40 barrel has a very pleasing contour and taper, quite ideal for a sporter. To make a simple sporter, the original military sights can be removed and other sights installed. After removing the military rear sight, the small square step on the barrel can be filed down to smooth out the shoulder contour. Good replacement sights for a hunting rifle made on the 98/40 would be the Williams Guide rear sight mounted on the Williams ramp base. The barrel is not too long, but it can be shortened if desired.

       German Model 98/40

      General Specifications

      Type . . . . . . . . .Turnbolt repeater.

      Receiver . . . . . .One-piece machined steel foraging. Slotted bridge with stripper-clip guides.

      Bolt . . . . . . . . . .Two-piece with separate non-rotating bolt head. Dual opposed locking lugs forward. Bolt guide rib on bolt with its integral bolt handle acts as a safety lug. Flat bolt face.

      Ignition . . . . . . .One-piece firing pin powered by coil mainspring. Cocks on closing.

      Magazine . . . . .Non-detachable staggered-column box type. Quick-detachable floorplate.

      Bolt-stop . . . . . .Mannlicher type positioned on the left side of receiver bridge, stops bolt travel by contacting ejector over the left locking lug.

      Trigger . . . . . . .Non-adjustable, double-stage military pull.

      Safety . . . . . . . .Wing-type built into the cocking piece, locks striker and bolt when swung to the right.

      Extractor . . . . . .Non-rotating, fitted into the bolt head. Uses separate flat spring.

      Magazine cutoff None provided.

      Ejector . . . . . . .Sliding type attached to the left side of bolt head.

      The issue stock and forend can be remodeled if you want to keep expenses to a minimum. The main thing is to shorten the forend. It need not be any longer than about 14 inches.

      There are no commercial receiver sights, triggers or safeties available for this rifle, although it is possible to install a double-set trigger made for the M98 Mauser action in the 98/40. There are no rechambering possibilities for this rifle. While no one makes a threaded and chambered barrel available for this rifle, a different calibered barrel can be fitted to the action. By rebarreling, this action would be suitable for such cartridges as the 257 Roberts, 7mm Mauser, 308 and 358.

      I see no practical way to change the action so it cocks on opening, or an easy way to lengthen the magazine to accept longer cartridges.

      Takedown and Assembly

      Make sure the rifle is unloaded. To remove the bolt, raise the bolt handle and pull the bolt back while depressing the bolt-stop. Disassemble the bolt by first removing the bolt head. This is done by turning the bolt head so the ejector is in line with the bolt rib. Using a cartridge, place its rim under the extractor hook, lift or tip the hook outward, and pull the bolt head from the bolt. Turn out the ejector screw to remove the ejector. Remove the extractor by pushing down on the extractor spring with a tool so the extractor can be moved back and lifted out. Lift out the extractor spring. In reassembling the extractor, first insert the extractor spring in its slot with its round end to the rear, then push the extractor down until it slips in place.

      Remove the firing mechanism by pressing the safety forward and unscrewing the firing pin nut from the firing pin, after which all the parts can be removed. Reassemble in reverse order, turning the firing pin nut on as far as it will go and then backing it off until the safety engages in its notch in the nut. Remove the buttstock by first removing the buttplate; then using a long screwdriver, turn out the stock bolt. Depress the floorplate latch and remove the floorplate, follower and spring. The follower and floorplate can then be slipped off of the spring. Remove barrel bands and trigger guard screws. Next, remove the trigger guard from the forend and the forend from the barrel. The buttstock socket and the magazine box are also released at this time. Drive out the floorplate latch pin to remove the latch and spring. Drive out the sear pin to remove the sear and trigger mechanism.

      Push the bolt-stop pin out toward the bottom and remove the bolt-stop and spring. Reassemble in reverse order. The narrow end of the follower spring fits into the follower.

      The barrel is threaded very tightly into the receiver and cannot be easily removed, nor should it be removed unless necessary, and then only if the proper tools are available.

Greek Model 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer FdH

      TO MOST RIFLEMEN, the name Mann-licher-Schoenauer brings to mind a sleek little sporting rifle having a slim forend that extends to the muzzle of its short barrel. It is in the “elite” class of bolt-action sporting rifles, and it’s gained worldwide recognition and fame. Its popularity does not seem to decrease despite the great many other bolt-action rifles it has had to compete against since it was first introduced many years ago. It all started with the Greek Model 1903 M-S military rifle, for the M-S sporting rifle is basically a sporterized version of the military rifle.

      The M-S action was developed in the Austrian Arms Factory at Steyr in 1900, the name deriving from those of Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher and Otto Schoenauer. Mannlicher, born in Mainz, Germany, in 1848,