Interarms Whitworth Mauser Action

[VAPA]

Looking at an interesting 22-250 bench rest rifle built on a Interarms Whitworth Mauser action, in doing some research I see large caliber models but nothing small like this one.
Can anyone shed some info on this?
Also, is a visual inspection of the chamber/bore good enough to determine it's condition?
Thanks in advance.....

 

[loc n load]

If it is a purpose built benchrest rifle, then probably the only thing original is the action. I don’t compete in BR, but shoot with several guys that do. If you are buying it from the owner, he/she should be able to tell you how many rds hsve gone through it.
Custom built BR rifles typically have tight chambers and top quality barrels, triggers, etc. You did not mention the price, but a Interarms Mauser action is a good action.
I have a Whitworth 458 magnum I have had for forty years and it has served me well. Apples to grapefruits compared to a BR rifle.
I have several rifles on Mauser actions, if the price is right I would not be afraid of it. Throat erosion would be my first concern if it has had a couple thousand rounds through it, a visual check will only tell you so much. A borescope with an experienced eye will tell you a lot, groups on paper will tell you even more.

 

[diyj98]

I generally avoid used benchrest and varmint rifles like the plaque. As loc n load pointed out, it could have many thousands of rounds through it. It doesn't take much to burn out a 22-250.

Those were good actions for hunting rifles, but probably not what I would have picked for a dedicated target rifle.

 

[2152hq]

Interarms bought 98 Mauser actions and bbl'd actions (Mark X) from Yugoslavia.

Whitworth Rifle Co in MAnchester England also bought actions from the same Yugo factory.
Whitworth took the actions and final finished them to better specs and then bbl'd them to several calibers. Most seen are the 375 and 458, but they did everything from 22-250, 30-06, 7mm ect.

Some of the Whitworth bbl'd actions were sold back to Interarms where they were stocked generally in Euro Walnut wood, finished and checkered. The stocks were preturned and then fitted and finished by Interarms or farmed out for the job.
Several different variations were offered in the 'Whitworth' rifle line.

The finished rifles were marked Interarms & Whitworth/Made in England.

There were actions available also, both from Whitworth and from I/A.
They were all the same action from Yugoland. The Whitworth/English actions better finished but the same starting product.

BBl'd actions also were sold,,same deal.
-I/A marked Mark X,
-Whitworth Rifle Co/Manchester England
-InterArms/Whitworth/made in England.

Then there's always the possibility of someone stripping a sporter and using the action to build their dream rifle which of course gets sold later 'cause it never does what's expected of it.

The Whitworth barreled in England bbl'd actions will show Brit proof marks on both the action and the bbl.
Yugo maker marks below the wood line usually still exist.

I/A bbl'd Whitworth Rifle Co worked over Yugo actions(only) may show Brit proofs on the action and none on the bbl (as it was bbl'd in the USA)

Any custom build or action from a stripped rifle may be devoid of any proofs, makers marks, ect from a refinish either purposely or not.

Not much wrong with the actions.
As far as someone elses rifle build goes,,you can never know from just looking at it how it performs.

 

[beagleye]

Mauser action are super solid, durable and reliable, but have never been prized as bench rest actions, except in the case of a few swedes.

Also check for smooth feeding. If the Zastava/Yugo mauser action is a full length action, feeding the short 22-250 round can require some careful tuning of the action and IS NOT A GIVEN. Long action mausers with trouble feeding short action rounds are not uncommon.

Zastava did make some mini mauser actions. I am un aware of Whitworths of this configuration but if they exist and this is what you're looking at, that would be a better platform for the 22-250 round.

If it's a standard length mauser action converted to use 22-250, you should not take action function as a given. The exact configuration of the feeding lips above the magazine box can be an issue.

The action screw spacing on a standard mauser action is 7 7/8".

 

[VAPA]

Some additional info, the current owner has shot 20 rounds thru it, says it shoots sub moa @100 yards, he bought it from the son of the original owner who had it built, and allegedly spent its life in his safe.
He is asking $550 for it.
I appreciate all the info given thus far.

 

[BB57]

Mauser action are super solid, durable and reliable, but have never been prized as bench rest actions, except in the case of a few swedes.

Also check for smooth feeding. If the Zastava/Yugo mauser action is a full length action, feeding the short 22-250 round can require some careful tuning of the action and IS NOT A GIVEN. Long action mausers with trouble feeding short action rounds are not uncommon.

Zastava did make some mini mauser actions. I am un aware of Whitworths of this configuration but if they exist and this is what you're looking at, that would be a better platform for the 22-250 round.

If it's a standard length mauser action converted to use 22-250, you should not take action function as a given. The exact configuration of the feeding lips above the magazine box can be an issue.

The action screw spacing on a standard mauser action is 7 7/8".

You would probably not want to use one of the Zastava M85 Mini Mauser actions for a heavy barrel bench rest action. It's not just shorter than the Zastava M70 Mauser action but also smaller in diameter and lighter - proportionate to the smaller rounds (.22 Hornet, .222, .223, 22-250 and 7.62x39) in which it was normally chambered.

-----

Mauser actions are designed to feed from the magazine, with the cartridge rim rising up between the bolt face and the extractor. However, the Zastava M70 commercial Mausers have the ejector profiled so that it will normally snap over the cartridge rim so that the round can be push fed if it is just laid on top of the follower. But that's still not the preferred feed method, so who well the round does feed from the magazine is a potential issue.

That said, the base diameter of the .22-250 is only slightly smaller than the 7x57 Mauser (.469" compared to .473"), so even though the .22-250 is slightly shorter (1.912) compared to 2.240") the round should feed well from the magazine lips and should be fully controlled before the length matters.

 

[BB57]

Some additional info, the current owner has shot 20 rounds thru it, says it shoots sub moa @100 yards, he bought it from the son of the original owner who had it built, and allegedly spent its life in his safe.
He is asking $550 for it.
I appreciate all the info given thus far.

Given the repeating nature of the action, it's better probably better suited as a varmint rifle, than a bench rest gun, although 22-250 is a bit of a barrel burner.

I'd pay $550 for it however, even with the expectation that I'd probably re-barrel it.

 

[sceva]

I agree with BB57; Likely built as a Live Varmint rifle. A darned nice one too.

For actual Bench Rest competition, using a Mauser Action went out of favor in the 60's in favor of Remingtons, Sleeved Remingtons and then Custom actions. When the Whitworths were made, the Mauser action was long out of favor for building a true BenchRest rifle.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The experience I have with the CZ mauser actions were with complete factory rifles. A I/A "Mini-Mauser" in 223 shoots great and a Left handed Wentworth 375 H&H Express that clover leafed Rem 270 SP's at 200.

The photos show the bolt closed so we can't tell if it is a single shot or multi shot (3 to 5). If it has been set up for single shot, some modification should have done to the extractor. Most BR guns and some custom Varminters, don't have ejectors! Not a real problem, you just lift off the fired case instead of look for it later!

I'd buy the gun "as is" for varmint, But go over the trigger mechanism with a "fine tooth comb" cleaning and lubing! (The worst thing about the factory guns was loose grit in the mechanicals of the trigger!)

I personally prefer other rounds to 22-250, but it will definitely get the job done for varmints and this might be a good beginner BR gun. Since your bolt face is already the Mauser size I'd rebarrel it in 6 BR 1:7 twist and use 105-107 VLD bullets. That will be good for 1000 yards if you want.

Lastly, That is a fine looking gun, very similar lines to the Cooper Montana Varminter. Put a 6.5-20x 50mm Leupold with a Target Dot recital on it and you won't be embarrassed, that's for sure!

Ivan

 

[diyj98]

Some additional info, the current owner has shot 20 rounds thru it, says it shoots sub moa @100 yards, he bought it from the son of the original owner who had it built, and allegedly spent its life in his safe.
He is asking $550 for it.
I appreciate all the info given thus far.

It isn't something I'd put $550. I think that rifle would be a tough sale at that price.

 

[VAPA]

It isn't something I'd put $550. I think that rifle would be a tough sale at that price.

What don't you like about it?

 

[chiefdave]

If you like it, buy it. A rifle like that could not be built for any where near $550 today.

 

[diyj98]

What don't you like about it?

Custom or built rifles by unknown makers generally carry poor resale value. Even if they look nice externally, you don't know the quality of the work or components necessarily. Also used heavy barrels bring terrible resale value as well. Many folks don't get rid of them until they're shot out. You might know for a fact that's it not, but if you ever decided to sell it, prospective buyers don't.

 

[VAPA]

Follow up to this thread, after seeing the gun in person we worked out a good trade deal. It took a few trips to the range but yesterday I found a load that it likes, 52gr Hornady BTHP, 36.0 gr Win 748, 2.350" COL, no crimp.
This is 3 shots @ 100 yards.
I stripped and refinished the stock as it had a stain from what I suspect is cleaning fluid spilled on it so it looks as good as it shoots.
Thanks again for all the knowledge shared.

 

[H Richard]

If you want to try another load that has always worked for me, 36 gr Varget behind a 55 gr Nosler Ballistic tip. I always got right around 3600 FPS and 1/4 - 1/2" accuracy at 100 yards. (From a Remington 700 VS)

 

[Bill Bates]

Follow up to this thread, after seeing the gun in person we worked out a good trade deal. It took a few trips to the range but yesterday I found a load that it likes, 52gr Hornady BTHP, 36.0 gr Win 748, 2.350" COL, no crimp.
This is 3 shots @ 100 yards.
I stripped and refinished the stock as it had a stain from what I suspect is cleaning fluid spilled on it so it looks as good as it shoots.
Thanks again for all the knowledge shared.

Sure looks like a good shooter.

I'm going to disagree with Ivan when it comes to the original factory triggers on the Zastava built Whitworths, Mark X, etc., Mauser 98 rifles. The factory trigger is a very nice adjustable trigger. It can be adjusted to a light, crisp, creep free ,clean breaking trigger.

Looking at the photos I looks like it may have the original trigger.

here is a video on adjusting the Zastava trigger.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFqisdaI3D8[/ame]

 

[Valmet]

Sounds like you did well OP- it’s a nice looking rifle and the groups aren’t too shabby either.

 

[loc n load]

Glad to see you ended up with it. It is most definitely a shooter, hard to beat that group. Enjoy your “new” rifle, I am sure it will serve you well.

 

[Pisgah]

It isn't something I'd put $550. I think that rifle would be a tough sale at that price.

I agree. I have a close friend who has made a collection of 15 or so similar rifles. Although they are without exception finely built and quite accurate, there is just no market for them. I think the most he's ever paid for one is $300. They were purpose-built for a specific shooting discipline, for which they are no longer in vogue.