Interarms Mark X 30-06..... Opinions?

I recently came across my dads old Interarms Mark X 30-06 sitting in his closet where it hasn't moved in 15+ years, and while looking at McMillian Stocks online for a different rifle I notice that McMillian actually makes a stock for the Interarms X and it got me to thinking about doing a restore/modifying this rifle to something that's actually useful.

This is the same model
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Interarms-Mark-X/1733376.uts

This particular 30-06 has a wood stock and P.O.S. no name scope on it, and really the only reason my dad even has this rifle is that a co-worker of his needed money back in 1985 and refused my dads attempts to loan him money unless he took the gun...... so I'm thinking it might be worth breathing some life into this old rifle as either a refurbished "loaner rifle" or using the action and or barrel as a custom build.

The action seems sound and is obviously a Mauser action, I'm just wondering if any of you guys have experience with these rifles and if its worth putting the time into?

In the 80's I bought a like new custom built rifle in 270 with the Mark X. I can put that one down in the "why did I ever sell it catagory?"
However, that one looked possibly a little too good to chunk the wood stock and go to composite. It was a shooter though. A relative of mine still has it.

My brother in law has one of those in 7mm Rem. Mag, and has had it forever (he bought it new). I've shot it several times and still handload for it for him. As far as I can see it's been a solid rifle, no reliability or accuracy issues. Doing what you are talking about doing would probably be a fun project and worthwhile IMO. Sounds like it hasn't ever been fired a lot so I'm assuming the bore is decent. If it were me, I'd work up a good load for the rifle, put decent optics on it and rock on.

That's what I'm thinking and here is where it stands......

1. The bore is clean
2. The bluing on the gun is decent but has surface rust
3. The stock is beat up and somebody did a rather poor job of fitting one of those tan hard as a rock recoil pads on the stock.
4. Only thing I don't like about the rifle is the trigger.... its horrible!

What I'm thinking about doing is.....

1. Send it off and have it sand/bead blasted and cerakoted
2. Replace the trigger - If a Timney or other suitable cost effective replacement can be found.
3. Get a quality after market stock - McMillian actually makes a drop in stock for this rifle.
4. Replace the Wal-Mart scope and mounts with quality ones.

Sounds like a solid plan. After you do all that, find out what load it likes. You never know, it might become your favorite.
If I remember correctly, we put a Bold brand trigger in my brother in law's rifle. It's been a few years so I might be mistaken.

and because the gun was never retrieved, sounds like your Dad is lucky to have been forced to take the collateral

you are already considering it a "loaner gun", why not put a decent scope on and see how it shoots as is before handing over $ on a McMillan?

I agree. I don't think Bold triggers are available anymore though.

If I remember correctly, this rifle has been fired less than 10 times in the last 20 years.... back in 1999-2000 I drug it out of his closet and I got a box of federal premium 180gr. partitions from a garage sale and decided to take it to the range and even with the cheap scope and horrible trigger it was shooting just over 1" at 100yds and then it was cleaned and put away, 2 years later my dad used it to shoot my show steer because it came down with a terminal illness.

I think you're right, Chalet...looks like Bold went out of business a little while ago.

OP, your rifle sounds like a good candidate for a project makeover. Keep us posted, I've always liked the Mauser type actions and I'm a big fan of the ol' -'06. It'll be a good go-to rifle.

Check that trigger. I have a Mark X with what I believe is the factory adjustable and I've been able to adjust it down to a very acceptable pull. It takes some fiddling, but worth it IMO.

Yep. I don't doubt Tikka's and the like are quality guns, but I lean towards Mauser style actions when buying larger caliber rifle.

I have one of them in 30-06. Have had it for about 40 years.
Good shooter, killed lots of deer and an elk with it over the years.
It is a true controlled round feed Mauser action.
Pretty sure the trigger is adjustable.

I'd say get a decent set of rings and bases and a new scope and go shoot it. It might just surprise you.
If it does, there are a number of aftermarket stocks for it.

Timney makes triggers for Mark X Mausers. They are fine rifles and I believe most if not all were built on Zastava Commercial Mauser actions. The actions were finished much nicer than the actions you see on Zastava rifles today.

+1 on the Timney trigger. Their Mauser triggers are excellent. I have three of them for various flavors of Mauser's and all are outstanding.

-ww

I like older Mauser's.
I instead of a composite I
Would put a laminate wood stock.
A Richard's micro fit or a Boyd stock.
I just love the way a wooden stock feels.
The laminate wood is dimensionally stable as a composite.

Here is an Example of what I am talking about Microfit stock they have a large selection of stocks.