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Mauser '98 12ga. shotgun, is it safe??

grayingghost
I have a 12ga. shotgun that is a Mauser '98 action. Someone called it a Ghea or something like that. Action seems sound, mkd. Nitro, is this safe for modern loads, will it handle buckshot and slugs?
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • nord
    Bolt lugs have been modified (read removed) from the original Mauser action rendering it much weaker than the action from which it was derived. Bolt face has been modified to accept shotgun shells. This portion is known to be a problem.

    Bottom line is that this heavily modified firearm in excellent condition is probably safe. Or at least not overly unsafe.

    But the real question here is... Why? With so many good purpose-built shotguns available at reasonable prices, why would anyone play with a converted WW1 rifle?
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  • grayingghost
    Why? Com'on why in this day and would anyone hunt with a flintlock?? Why is a question of personal taste and rather dumb when shoved in anothers face. It's a gun, it was designed to shoot, not hang on a wall or gather dust just because there are better available. I don't want to overly stress it or break it, but my guns shoot or they ain't my guns.
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  • EVILDR235
    Go to the search link.There is more info there.

    EvilDr235
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  • jonk
    The rear bolt lug is still intact and provides enough strength to do the job. Just my opinion anyhow.
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  • babun
    ...."but my guns shoot or they ain't my guns." BRAVO !!! My ideas to the tee. I still take the old .32s&w topbreak revolvers out of the
    display cases and send a few shots down range every so often. They were made to shoot in 1886.....and they need to "know" what they are for....
    A wall hanger or a safe queen is NOT a gun..... Use a lite load in that bolt action and have some fun with it. If you need to use buck, stay with the lower recoil 2 3/4" stuff available. Bob
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  • redman.com1
    yea, they are safe, but i would stick with low brass up to high brass turkey shot. as far as buch shot, the 2 3/4 buckshot has the same powder charge as the 3 inch.
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  • babun
    So a remington 00 buck with 8 pellets at 1200 fps {mangled recoil] has the same powder and pressure as a 00 buck 9 pellets at 1375fps????? Or how about a 3 inch with 14 of 00 buck at 1475fps???There are dozens of buck shot loads out there...some a lot stronger than others. Bob
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    the shogun itself is very safe........but....the stock has been weakend and might not stand up to repeated fireing with hard recoiling ammo. the Geha's (and (Remo) shotguns were mgf. just after ww 1 and will take any 2 3/4" ammo with the above warning about the stock. the bolt head is held in place by spring tension of the extractor and can be lost, it can (but should never be) fired with out the bolthead.
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  • jaegermister
    Do a internet search on mauser shotgun and you will see a topic on mounting a red dot to it. owner has killed deer/coyote. I fired mine recently, I agree stick to low brass loads cause the gun is light and recoil heavy and the stock is for rifle configuration and the stock recoil cross bolt has been shaved down to accept the shotgun barrel.
    Mine has a very tight pattern, needed to work on the trigger the pull was way too long for a shotgun, yes the two front lugs do not engage the receiver but the rear one does and most likely as strong as any shotgun lock up. Another problem present in some of these is for the shell in the magazine to jump up prior to the bolt fully retracted this can result in a jam. check this by firing with one in the magazine or tap the heel of the stock to simulate recoil and check for correct extraction/chambering of subsequent round.
    I would like to buy one of these in 20ga.
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  • nord
    Graying -

    Now it's my turn to be insulted. I didn't shove anything in your face! I merely asked why. "Why" is reasonable given your uncertainty about safety. Your answer to "why" was adequate. You own it and you feel the need to fire the gun.

    Notice that I gave you the general details of the modification. I concluded by saying that the gun was probably safe to shoot if in good mechanical condition. My "why" was added because there are so many other choices out there of the same approximate value that were designed as shotguns. Never would there have been a reason to question any one of these as safe.

    So you have a modified 98 Mauser converted to a shotgun. Have a ball firing it. Maybe not my choice, but that isn't the point. If it were the only scattergun in my cabinet and I needed one... I'd use it!
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