Interarms Mark X

RG Coburn · November 26, 2012, 10:19

What say the camp? Any good? I see one at a local funshop,in .308. Looks like maybe made in the sixties? Or thereabouts. $250-ish range. I'm tempted...very tempted..

357ross · November 26, 2012, 10:38

If it is in good shape, take it. I've had nothing but good luck with mine. Seems to be a really good Mauser action.

**bykerhd** · November 26, 2012, 11:38

Imported in the '70s maybe in to the early ? '80s ?
As I recall.

Made by Zastava in the former Yugoslavia.
Zastava has been around a long time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zastava_Arms

Nice rifles.

RG Coburn · November 26, 2012, 15:55

I went ahead and popped on it. I can't see where I'd ever lose money on it.
Should make me a very nice deer rifle. Needs the optics and mounts upgraded however.

ftierson · November 26, 2012, 17:51

I have one in .308 Win. (on the long action) purchased new in 1976.

I've been quite happy with it...

Forrest

HankC · November 26, 2012, 19:38

I would jump on it if I see one at that price. True large ring mauser action, you can not build one that cheap.

**gunplumber** · November 26, 2012, 19:42

I had one in .223. Awesome. It was the smallest of the Mk X actions - barely larger than a CZ .22 Mag. It was so cute. Like a 2/3 scale K 98.

juanni · November 26, 2012, 21:05

I used a Mark X action to build the Ugly Stick 30 years ago.

06', Douglas featherweight profile, Brown Precision fiberglass stock, parked steel, Burris 2-7 matte scope, camo paint on the stock.

It has been my fave rifle, accurate, durable and deadly.
Quite safety, and all steel action,,, no aluminum.

............juanni

**indy_Muaddib** · November 26, 2012, 21:46

if i couldn't find a jc higgins model 50 30-06 (FN Mauser) id gladly get the mark X 30-06 (Yugo Mauser)

**MAINER** · November 27, 2012, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by indy_Muaddib

if i couldn't find a jc higgins model 50 30-06 (FN Mauser) id gladly get the mark X 30-06 (Yugo Mauser)

The other J C rifles wern't too bad either.
Model 50A FN Mauser Barreled Action
Model 50 FN Mauser (30-06)
Model 51 FN Mauser (.270 Win)
Model 51L Husqvarna M-5000
Model 52 Sako (Short Action)
Model 53 Winchester Model 70
Model 54 Browning

RG, good buy on the Mark X. Have heard that the actions were a bit soft, but I had no problems with it. Some of them do need a little rail polishing, but yours is likely well broken in by now.

catmguy445 · November 27, 2012, 11:33

A whole bunch of years ago, I saw a guy at the Santa Anita outdoor range in NE Los Angeles do an unintended torture test on a Mk. X Mauser chambered in .270 Win. He stepped up to the firing line, sat down at the bench, chambered a round, aimed, and pulled the trigger. There was a VERY loud muzzle blast, and the recoil actually knocked the guy backwards off the shooting bench. He was lying on his back with the rifle pointed at the sky, and several other shooters and I ran over to see if he was ok. There was a brief cease fire while the shooter was examined and questioned about possible injuries.

Except for being somewhat dazed, he seemed to be OK. We put his rifle on the bench and tried to open the action, and the bolt wouldn't move. Somebody came up with gunsmith hammer (brass on one end and plactic on the other) and tapped the bolt handle up until we could open the action. The cartridge came out of the chamber with the primer flat as the proverbial pancake, and a pretty good crater around the firing pin indentation. Classic signs of an over pressure round.

So we asked the guy (who had a strong accent and looked to be of Middle Eastern origin) what kind of ammo he as shooting. The cartridge was a .270 Win., so he hadn't gotten the ammo mixed up. He said it was one of his new handloads. We asked what load he was using, and he gave us kind of a funny look, and said he was using a full load. We weren't sure what he meant by that, and after a few mone questions, it turned out that this was his first attempt at handloading. He had gone to a gun store and asked for a pound of powder to reload rifle cartridges with, had no idea what brand or type of powder it was, and had filled the .270 case with it and seated a bullet on top of his "full load".

We told him gently that this was a very bad idea and that he was very lucky that he hadn't killed himself or been seriously injured. We also told him to pull the bullets out of all the rounds he had reloaded, pour the powder back in the can it came from, and then go get a loading manual or two and read them before he did anything else in the way of reloading.

I was working in a gun shop that had several gunsmiths on hand at the time, so I gave him one of my business cards and told him to bring the rifle to out shop the next day and I'd have the guys in the shop check the rifle over and see how badly it was damaged, and he said he would.

Sure enough, the next day, which was Monday, he showed up with the Mk. X, and I took it back to the shop and explained what had happened to it at the range the day before. The guys checked the bolt, headspace, action rails, barrel, and did a test for cracks. They didn't find a single thing wrong with the rifle. That definitely sold me on the Mk. X action. It was probably one of the stongest and most durable Mauser actions ever built.

ALL FAL · November 29, 2012, 01:18

I used to get the interarms MK X in .375H+H in Alaska they seemed to be the least expensive big mauser around, I kept several for my hunting clients, Tough, accurate rifles.

fnogger · November 29, 2012, 11:04

If'n you like 'em, they were imported by Charles Daly for a while, then Remington (as the 798 and 799 models) and now by Century. I'm saving my pennies since Century is offering one in 762x39

ftierson · November 29, 2012, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAINER

RG, good buy on the Mark X. Have heard that the actions were a bit soft, but I had no problems with it. Some of them do need a little rail polishing, but yours is likely well broken in by now.

I have heard the 'bit soft' comments about the Santa Barbara mauser actions (which were also quite nice), but have never heard that about the Yugoslavian ones (although they (the Yugos) were usually a little overpolished)...

Forrest

**MAINER** · November 29, 2012, 18:53

The Santa Barbara was made in Spain if I remember correctly. The Mark X was overbuffed, probably with soft buffing wheels that rounded the corners and dished out the screw holes. They varied, depending on the worker I suppose.
Mine was OK, but bolt travel was gritty until I had the inerds slicked up.
Never cared for .270's, so sold it to a fellow going off in search of Antelopes.

A Mark X bolt gun in .308 for $250 would definately get my attention. I like Mausers!

ALL FAL · November 29, 2012, 19:19

All this Mauser talk reminded me that I have 2 G3340 actions put away, must be time to build one, I bought the pair for 250.00 in alaska, one is engraved...

RG Coburn · November 29, 2012, 23:44

Once I get this thing home,I plan on maybe coating it with cerokote or similar,and get steel bases and steel rings. Maybe replace the wood with a synthetic. Also want to re-install the factory or similar iron sights. I just can't do with a rifle without sights.
Whats a good set of bases and rings for this? Looking at Warne.

**MAINER** · November 30, 2012, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG Coburn

Once I get this thing home,I plan on maybe coating it with cerokote or similar,and get steel bases and steel rings. Maybe replace the wood with a synthetic. Also want to re-install the factory or similar iron sights. I just can't do with a rifle without sights.
Whats a good set of bases and rings for this? Looking at Warne.

Warne mounts are excellent, possibly the best for the money. If you're going to use irons, you might want the Warne QD rings.
I have Leupold QD rings and bases that have given good service for the past few years also.

**nearmisses** · November 30, 2012, 15:19

Have waited a while to weigh in here. You got one helluva great deal. Mark X are great actions and a true Fn Mauser commercial grade without the rails being as nicely finished.
Have lugs lapped in and do the ways at the same time, wash out real well and you have the best Mauser money today can buy. As far as irons go Williams and a competent Gunsmith. Warne rings and mounts are super and the levered rings with sights is the perfect option. Don't like plastic stocks but to each his own. True the lug if you do a glassbed. A good all round cartridge but short for a Mauser. They prefer 8x57 length and above but it will work fine, controlled feed and such. You made a fine purchase. If you ever have problems don't hesitae to ask, I know a bit about these actions.

TerryN · November 30, 2012, 18:58

I bought one NOS in .30-06 several years ago and had the barrel pulled. The 'smith slicked things up a bit and rebarreled it in .35 Whelen for me. I haven't fired it a tremendous amount in the intervening years, but it sure kills stuff DRT! I call it my 'bang-plop' rifle.

RG Coburn · November 30, 2012, 22:17

I kinda hestitated buying this initially because I already have a decent 98 action boltgun,a Parker-Hale 1200 in 30-06,that I have yet to get set up with bases and and scope mounts.Perusing Warne base reference page,it appears both use the same number bases,so I'll just double my order.
The Parker-Hale is barrel marked "J.C. Penney"
Beautiful gun with deep bluing.

**indy_Muaddib** · December 01, 2012, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAINER

The other J C rifles wern't too bad either.
Model 50A FN Mauser Barreled Action
Model 50 FN Mauser (30-06)
Model 51 FN Mauser (.270 Win)
Model 51L Husqvarna M-5000
Model 52 Sako (Short Action)
Model 53 Winchester Model 70
Model 54 Browning

RG, good buy on the Mark X. Have heard that the actions were a bit soft, but I had no problems with it. Some of them do need a little rail polishing, but yours is likely well broken in by now.

i collect J C Higgins/Hi Standard guns, have several of their shotguns and a handful of the centerfire rifles.

do have all of the rimfires except the model 33 pump, 34 semi, and 35 pump

collecting mossberg 22s got me into the higgins guns.

GLS_1956 · December 17, 2012, 13:51

I bought my Interarms Mark X back in the 1970s. It is also chambered in 308 Winchester. Mine is manlicher stocked, that's why I bought it.

**MAINER** · December 17, 2012, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by indy_Muaddib

i collect J C Higgins/Hi Standard guns, have several of their shotguns and a handful of the centerfire rifles.

do have all of the rimfires except the model 33 pump, 34 semi, and 35 pump

collecting mossberg 22s got me into the higgins guns.

I have only the one Model 50 in 30-06. It was kind of a beater, probably why I got it for $150 with the Redfield 2 3/4 scope. I bought a newer barrel from Ed Lapour (Lapeur)? up around Seattle, Wa. He's a real gee-whizz custom gunsmith I think. Quite likely he stripped the J C Higgins for the FN action.

Hi Standard lived up to their name in their days.

STGThndr · December 19, 2012, 06:05

.308 Zastava commercial Mauser... excellent rifles.. A friend has one of the "mini-Mausers" in .223. Fun to shoot and he's pretty good with it.. so small it's lighter than my .22lr Mossberg.
We might want to practice up on accurate fast boltwork considering the political climate these days!

Regal Beagal · December 19, 2012, 17:17

The Interarms Mark X mauser action is quite good and reliable. Also very easy to lap and polish. I have built 2 custom guns on these actions, one in .308 and another in 7mm mag with Shilen match barrels and both are very accurate. I also built a .300 win mag with an FN action and there is very little difference. At the price of $250 I would have jumped on it... To make or produce a mauser action today would most likely be twice that price.. Great find...

November 26, 2012, 10:19	#1
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,882	Interarms Mark X What say the camp? Any good? I see one at a local funshop,in .308. Looks like maybe made in the sixties? Or thereabouts. $250-ish range. I'm tempted...very tempted..

November 26, 2012, 19:42	#7
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 15,769	I had one in .223. Awesome. It was the smallest of the Mk X actions - barely larger than a CZ .22 Mag. It was so cute. Like a 2/3 scale K 98. __________________ T. Mark Graham Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

November 26, 2012, 21:05	#8
juanni Registered FALaholic #: 2439 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: up a creek in MT Posts: 8,199	I used a Mark X action to build the Ugly Stick 30 years ago. 06', Douglas featherweight profile, Brown Precision fiberglass stock, parked steel, Burris 2-7 matte scope, camo paint on the stock. It has been my fave rifle, accurate, durable and deadly. Quite safety, and all steel action,,, no aluminum. ............juanni __________________ Originally posted by VonFireball on 10/26/2012 Actually you, Jason B, and Herr Goebbels are pretty much the only communists on this board.

November 26, 2012, 21:46	#9
indy_Muaddib Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 17581 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 3,046	if i couldn't find a jc higgins model 50 30-06 (FN Mauser) id gladly get the mark X 30-06 (Yugo Mauser) __________________ All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him. If it be aristocratic in organization, then it seeks to protect the man who is superior only in law against the man who is superior in fact; if it be democratic, then it seeks to protect the man who is inferior in every way against both. One of its primary functions is to regiment men by force, to make them as much alike as possible and as dependent upon one another as possible, to search out and combat originality among them. All it can see in an original idea is potential change, and hence an invasion of its prerogatives. The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are. -H.L. Mencken 1919 Were not that lucky.

November 27, 2012, 11:33	#11
catmguy445 Registered FALaholic #: 50311 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,202	A whole bunch of years ago, I saw a guy at the Santa Anita outdoor range in NE Los Angeles do an unintended torture test on a Mk. X Mauser chambered in .270 Win. He stepped up to the firing line, sat down at the bench, chambered a round, aimed, and pulled the trigger. There was a VERY loud muzzle blast, and the recoil actually knocked the guy backwards off the shooting bench. He was lying on his back with the rifle pointed at the sky, and several other shooters and I ran over to see if he was ok. There was a brief cease fire while the shooter was examined and questioned about possible injuries. Except for being somewhat dazed, he seemed to be OK. We put his rifle on the bench and tried to open the action, and the bolt wouldn't move. Somebody came up with gunsmith hammer (brass on one end and plactic on the other) and tapped the bolt handle up until we could open the action. The cartridge came out of the chamber with the primer flat as the proverbial pancake, and a pretty good crater around the firing pin indentation. Classic signs of an over pressure round. So we asked the guy (who had a strong accent and looked to be of Middle Eastern origin) what kind of ammo he as shooting. The cartridge was a .270 Win., so he hadn't gotten the ammo mixed up. He said it was one of his new handloads. We asked what load he was using, and he gave us kind of a funny look, and said he was using a full load. We weren't sure what he meant by that, and after a few mone questions, it turned out that this was his first attempt at handloading. He had gone to a gun store and asked for a pound of powder to reload rifle cartridges with, had no idea what brand or type of powder it was, and had filled the .270 case with it and seated a bullet on top of his "full load". We told him gently that this was a very bad idea and that he was very lucky that he hadn't killed himself or been seriously injured. We also told him to pull the bullets out of all the rounds he had reloaded, pour the powder back in the can it came from, and then go get a loading manual or two and read them before he did anything else in the way of reloading. I was working in a gun shop that had several gunsmiths on hand at the time, so I gave him one of my business cards and told him to bring the rifle to out shop the next day and I'd have the guys in the shop check the rifle over and see how badly it was damaged, and he said he would. Sure enough, the next day, which was Monday, he showed up with the Mk. X, and I took it back to the shop and explained what had happened to it at the range the day before. The guys checked the bolt, headspace, action rails, barrel, and did a test for cracks. They didn't find a single thing wrong with the rifle. That definitely sold me on the Mk. X action. It was probably one of the stongest and most durable Mauser actions ever built. __________________ Zeke the CATM guy (MSGT, USAF, ret.) "The only easy day was yesterday" - US NAVY SEALs

November 26, 2012, 10:38	#2
357ross Registered FALaholic #: 47543 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 1,636	If it is in good shape, take it. I've had nothing but good luck with mine. Seems to be a really good Mauser action.

November 26, 2012, 11:38	#3
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Imported in the '70s maybe in to the early ? '80s ? As I recall. Made by Zastava in the former Yugoslavia. Zastava has been around a long time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zastava_Arms Nice rifles.

November 26, 2012, 15:55	#4
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,882	I went ahead and popped on it. I can't see where I'd ever lose money on it. Should make me a very nice deer rifle. Needs the optics and mounts upgraded however.

November 26, 2012, 17:51	#5
ftierson Registered FALaholic #: 13827 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 11,047	I have one in .308 Win. (on the long action) purchased new in 1976. I've been quite happy with it... Forrest

November 26, 2012, 19:38	#6
HankC Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 20436 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 563	I would jump on it if I see one at that price. True large ring mauser action, you can not build one that cheap.

November 29, 2012, 01:18	#12
ALL FAL Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 24447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,171	I used to get the interarms MK X in .375H+H in Alaska they seemed to be the least expensive big mauser around, I kept several for my hunting clients, Tough, accurate rifles. __________________ The Future is ALWAYS Open!! An ARMED society is a POLITE society.

November 29, 2012, 11:04	#13
fnogger Registered FALaholic #: 51053 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: places Posts: 777	If'n you like 'em, they were imported by Charles Daly for a while, then Remington (as the 798 and 799 models) and now by Century. I'm saving my pennies since Century is offering one in 762x39

November 29, 2012, 18:53	#15
MAINER Old Fart Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 6,287	The Santa Barbara was made in Spain if I remember correctly. The Mark X was overbuffed, probably with soft buffing wheels that rounded the corners and dished out the screw holes. They varied, depending on the worker I suppose. Mine was OK, but bolt travel was gritty until I had the inerds slicked up. Never cared for .270's, so sold it to a fellow going off in search of Antelopes. A Mark X bolt gun in .308 for $250 would definately get my attention. I like Mausers! __________________ Joe Biden for President.

November 29, 2012, 19:19	#16
ALL FAL Registered Contributor FALaholic #: 24447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,171	All this Mauser talk reminded me that I have 2 G3340 actions put away, must be time to build one, I bought the pair for 250.00 in alaska, one is engraved... __________________ The Future is ALWAYS Open!! An ARMED society is a POLITE society.

November 29, 2012, 23:44	#17
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,882	Once I get this thing home,I plan on maybe coating it with cerokote or similar,and get steel bases and steel rings. Maybe replace the wood with a synthetic. Also want to re-install the factory or similar iron sights. I just can't do with a rifle without sights. Whats a good set of bases and rings for this? Looking at Warne.

November 30, 2012, 15:19	#19
nearmisses The LTR guy Contributor FALaholic #: 41474 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Laclede, Idaho Posts: 436	Have waited a while to weigh in here. You got one helluva great deal. Mark X are great actions and a true Fn Mauser commercial grade without the rails being as nicely finished. Have lugs lapped in and do the ways at the same time, wash out real well and you have the best Mauser money today can buy. As far as irons go Williams and a competent Gunsmith. Warne rings and mounts are super and the levered rings with sights is the perfect option. Don't like plastic stocks but to each his own. True the lug if you do a glassbed. A good all round cartridge but short for a Mauser. They prefer 8x57 length and above but it will work fine, controlled feed and such. You made a fine purchase. If you ever have problems don't hesitae to ask, I know a bit about these actions. __________________ Lighter, lower, faster, & accurate!

November 30, 2012, 18:58	#20
TerryN Registered FALaholic #: 55 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Yuma, AZ Posts: 1,564	I bought one NOS in .30-06 several years ago and had the barrel pulled. The 'smith slicked things up a bit and rebarreled it in .35 Whelen for me. I haven't fired it a tremendous amount in the intervening years, but it sure kills stuff DRT! I call it my 'bang-plop' rifle. __________________ Sic Semper Tyrannis! Molon Labe!

November 30, 2012, 22:17	#21
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,882	I kinda hestitated buying this initially because I already have a decent 98 action boltgun,a Parker-Hale 1200 in 30-06,that I have yet to get set up with bases and and scope mounts.Perusing Warne base reference page,it appears both use the same number bases,so I'll just double my order. The Parker-Hale is barrel marked "J.C. Penney" Beautiful gun with deep bluing.

December 17, 2012, 13:51	#23
GLS_1956 Registered FALaholic #: 67647 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma Posts: 6	I bought my Interarms Mark X back in the 1970s. It is also chambered in 308 Winchester. Mine is manlicher stocked, that's why I bought it.

December 19, 2012, 06:05	#25
STGThndr Registered FALaholic #: 14583 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Southern Colorado mtns and desert Posts: 3,409	.308 Zastava commercial Mauser... excellent rifles.. A friend has one of the "mini-Mausers" in .223. Fun to shoot and he's pretty good with it.. so small it's lighter than my .22lr Mossberg. We might want to practice up on accurate fast boltwork considering the political climate these days! __________________ Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. W.B Yeats Last edited by STGThndr; December 19, 2012 at 06:22.

December 19, 2012, 17:17	#26
Regal Beagal Registered FALaholic #: 91 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Carolina-the beach Posts: 1,008	The Interarms Mark X mauser action is quite good and reliable. Also very easy to lap and polish. I have built 2 custom guns on these actions, one in .308 and another in 7mm mag with Shilen match barrels and both are very accurate. I also built a .300 win mag with an FN action and there is very little difference. At the price of $250 I would have jumped on it... To make or produce a mauser action today would most likely be twice that price.. Great find... __________________ When the government fears the people there is Liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny- Thomas Jefferson

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