G'day fellas,
First post here, but this forum has already been a great help to me in getting my license, so I thought I'd join in the fun. I'm a young (19) brand new shooter and I've introduced myself to the hobby, so I may ask some pretty simple questions. My only experience with firearms has been the odd .22 shoot at family farms, but other than that I'm a virgin to the sport.
This week I picked up my first rifle after my first PTA wait, and I made the very sensible decision to purchase an all-matching FN Mauser 98 chambered in 30-06. She's an old girl, but I don't plan to shoot her until I've got my fundamentals down and I've worked my way up a few calibers so I don't develop a flinch in my shooting. I've also got to clean it up before I'd even contemplate shooting it, and also get the bore and head spacing checked.
Now I've got a few questions for you guys regarding the rifle, and I'll attach pictures to give a better idea. I know these FN's aren't all that collectable in the Mauser world, but I'd like to turn it back into something half decent and keep it for a while.
- Do you guys think the bolt is too far gone?
- If not, what methods do you all recommend for removing the rust?
- Can anyone recommend a competent gunsmith who charges a fair price for a bore and head space check?
- What methods do you recommend to clean the barrel?
I've heard using oil and some very fine steel wool on the bolt will do the trick, but I don't just want to start going at it, especially around the locking lugs. And I've also heard stainless steel wrapped brushes work well to clean out old surplus bores.
Anyway, let me know what you guys think, and I wish everyone a great weekend of safe shooting.
Cheers,
Matt.