Old elk hunter, go to Brownells and buy the m-70 three position safety and follow the instructions. I' ve installed several of them and they work good. Their two position wing safety (foreward and back...not up and down) is easier to install.

Bigbulls, I strongly recommend a model 98 action. While some have chambered the .308 in models prior to 1898, most would recommend against it.

If it cocks on opening, has a staggered magazine, and has dual foreward locking lugs on the bolt, it' s probably a ' 98 Mauser. I recommend the german or Belguim or Austrian models. The 1909 Argentine is desirable because it has a hinged floorplate, but these are high priced and hard to find. Besides if you' re learning gunsmithing you want to do your own....and putting a himged floorplate on a ' 98 mauser is very doable.

The ' 98 mauser is available in both small ring and large ring. The small ring mausers are again difficult to find but they make a fine 6MM Remington, .257 Roberts or 7MM mauser length of cartridge. The large ring is slightly longer and will handle the .30-06 length cartridges. There are small ring mausers made prior to 1898 and I' m again suggesting to not do these....although others have done so.

Good luck with your new guns