Opinions requested for a Yugo Mauser Sporter, please

[StockDoc]

I am starting a a new sporter base on a Yugo Mauser 48 mix master. Barrel was rusted.

I have built a 8x57 and a 308 built on k98k rc but would like to do something different.

I purchased a M 24 milled trigger housing to use instead of the stamp one. Trying to keep the budget for it at $600.00. The rifle intial cost was $199.00.

I was thinking a 6.5x55 swede would be nice but that is longer then the 8mm mauser. I do reload so ammo will not be the problem.

any suggestions?

[joem]

How about 7X57. Easy to load for accurate and a barrel is cheap NOS.

[StockDoc]

everything I have read, people rave about the 7x57, and it is a Mauser caliber, hmmmm

[mike webb]

x2 on the 7x57. If you handload the old 7mm can be spruced up to .270 Winchester performance with no danger at all. I used to have one years ago and killed three whitetails and a black bear with four rounds. All but the bear were DRT and bears will almost always go a little ways before piling up in my experience.

[StockDoc]

for some reason, I thought the 7mm's oal was greater the the 8mm's, checked it again and found out I was wrong,. A lot of bullet choices on the 7mm, which is good.

[joem]

I load a heavier bullet, but there is no cheap surplus ammo that I know of.

[StockDoc]

Doing it in 308, the wife got me a barrel in that caliber, reasoning that since I have the dies and reamer, it falls better into the budget. Not to mention the scope bases, a timney trigger and safety. Guess I was a good boy this year!!

[randy langford]

That should work very well in that action.

[StockDoc]

yeah, the 308 ammo will be easy to find and it's cheap

Looking at the Boyd's Platinum stocks for it, like the Maple or the Claro

[StockDoc]

Well it was coming along smoothly, until the "Reputable 'smith that I sent the Bolt to have the handle replaced for a low mount, lost it, I am dead in the water now until they find/replace it.