Mauser 98
I have seen quite a few rifles on gunbroker for sale that are Mauser 98 actions and are reasonably priced. Are they reasonably good actions or what's the scoop on them?
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Since Numrich is not selling recievers any more, does anyone know a good place to get stripped Mauser 98 recievers? I don't want YUGO's.
Garyd0 -
In general they are excellent actions. However they vary greatly and some are definitely better than others. Your question is so broad that it is difficult to give a good or short answer.
J. Patrick Tatum0 -
hadjii,
Generally speaking Mauser M98 actions and rifles are good quality and for the time being, they are reasonably priced. Bear in mind that there are several dozen variations on the Model 98 Mauser and not all of them are good actions, in fact a few are down right poor quality and should be avoided. The problem here is that there are so many variations and so much history that it is impossible to cover it all in even several concise posts. There have been literally hundreds of books written on the Mauser rifles.
Below is a decent introduction to Mausers and 2 other links with good information. Read some of this stuff and then see if we can help narrow down your interests.
Best.
"The Mauser company, established by the two Mauser brothers, established its reputation in firearms making in the last decades of the XIX century, and continued to build a very well thought-out and skillfully built firearms until the end of the World War 2. Some years after the WW2, the Mauser company was restored in the West Germany and continued to build firearms, but mostly a larger-caliber ones, like the aircraft cannons etc. But some of earlier Mauser works became the standards against which all others designs are judged, even after some 100 years after its introduction. One of such designs, is undoubtfully a Mauser model 1898 rifle, also known as Gew. 98 or simply G98 (G = Gewehr, rifle in German). This rifle was designed from the experience, gained on previous Mauser designs, and was first appeared in 1898 as a standard German army infantry rifle. It was carried by Germans through the First World war, along with carbine shortened version, known as K98 (or Kar-98, from Karbiner = carbine). In the 1904 Germans were first to introduce the new, "spitzer" bullet (with pointed tip, instead of the older blunt, round-shaped tip). New bullet had much better long-range ballistic, so all sights were regraduated for new ammunition.
During the interwar period this fine design was slightly altered to became the K98k - Karbiner Kurz, or short carbine - a somewhat shorter, lighter and handier version of the original one. This version appeared in 1935 and was manufactured until the 1945 in large numbers not only by Germans, but also in numerous countries, occupied by Germans. Many versions of this design also were licensed to other countries, which also used to build their own versions of the G98. Most famous of those "foreign Mausers" are Persian Mausers, Turkish Mausers, Czech VZ-24 Mausers, Yugoslavian Mausers and some others. The list of the vast variety of the Mauser-type versions could easily cover a number of pages, but, for the sake of compactness, I will describe only the basic, German model.
The model 98 rifle is a manually operated, magazine fed, bolt action rifle. The magazine and the bolt action are the two most famous features of the model 98. Magazine is a two-row, integral box, with quickly detachable floorplate. Magazine could be topped either with single rounds, by pushing rounds into the receiver top opening, or via the stripper clips. Each clip can hold 5 rounds, enough to fill the magazine, and is inserted into the clip guides, machined into the rear receiver bridge. After the loading, empty clip is ejected automatically when bolt is closed. Magazine could be unloaded by operating the bolt (safety must be in the middle position!) or by removing the magazine floorplate (not recommended).
Mauser bolt is a simple, extremely strong and well thought out design. The bolt has three locking lugs, two at the bolt head and one at the rear part of the bolt. The bolt handle is rigidly attached to the bolt body. On the original Gew 98 rifles it was straight and located horizontally when bolt was in the closed position. On the K98k the bolt handle was bent down, which allowed for more comfortable carrying and bolt operations. Bolt has a gas vent holes that are designed to move the hot gases away from the shooters face and into the magazine opening in the case of the cartridge case or primer rupture. Next famous feature of the model 98 bolt is a "controlled feed" extractor. Massive, non-rotating claw extractor was designed to engage the cartridge rim as soon as cartridge left the magazine, and held the cartridge case firmly until it was ejected by the ejector, fixed inside the receiver. Combined with a slight bolt retraction at the last stage of the bolt turn-open rotation, caused by the cammed surface on the rear receiver bridge, this resulted in very positive primary extraction. Model 98 is a striker-fired weapon. Striker is cocked when bolt is rotated to open, allowing for smoother forward bolt pull. The rear part of the striker is protruded from within the bolt, so state of the action (cocked or not) can be checked visually or even manually. The bolt group can be easily removed from the receiver simply by pulling out the bolt stop, located at the left wall of the receiver, and then by rotating and pulling the bolt out. The safety switch is located at the rear of the bolt and has three positions: in the left position (when looking from behind the rifle) it locks the sear and also locks the bolt in place, so it could not be rotated and opened. in the middle (raised) position it still locks the sear, but bolt is unlocked and could be operated, to load and unload the rifle; and in the right position, the rifle is ready to fire. Safety could be easily operated by the right thumb finger.
Model 98 rifle featured a one-piece wooden stock with semi-pistol grip. Gew 98 and Kar 98K differ not only in the length of the barrel and the front part of the stock - they also have different sling mountings. While Gew 98 has two sling swivels, the K98k has only one, forward swivel. Instead of the rear swivel there's a through cut in the buttstock, through which the sling is passed. Those rifles also have different rear sights: Gew 98 have a curved, tangent sight, while K98k has more modern, leaf type rear sight. Front sights are of open, barleycorn type, on some carbines with removable semi-circular front sight hoods."
http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl02-e.htm
http://www.surplusrifle.com/mauser98k/index.asp (use the list on the left for specific models)
http://www.chuckhawks.com/old_mausers.htm (pretty good general article)
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hadjii,
My short list of Mauser actions to build from include some that could have collector value. Any that I mention here should be of a grade that is good enough to build on but not in pristine condition so as to ruin a collectable piece. The rifles I will list are all model/type 98. I haven't persued using '92, '93, or '95's or Argentino 1891's. (A lot of the South American are of earlier versions.)
They are:
1. Pretty much any Czech made mauser you come across that isn't rusted out will be strong enough to build on. VZ-24, 98/22, 98/29(Persian, usually collectible unless really worn)
2. Any Yugo rifle M98, M48(A)(B)(BO), M24/47 is strong enough to build on. The tricky part with these is getting bolts that have matching serial no.'s to the actions.
3. Any German made mauser except the late war production rifles. That being said I have a 1918 Danzig that was rebarrelled to .243 and shoots 1.5 MOA with open sights.
4. Any South American Mauser that is of DWM manufacture. Argentina made about 85K 1909 rifles in their own amory(s) and I believe they have the makers mark stamped on them. Those if readable would more than likely be collectible.
5. Mexican Mausers-I stick to the model 1910 built in the 1930's or the model 1936. I have a customized 1910 in 7mm(aftermarket barrel) that I absolutely love.
6. Turkish Mausers are tricky also describing which ones to use. A bunch of them have large rings but are cut-in to use a small ring barrel. I would stick to the T-38. It's a large ring cut in for a large ring barrel.
7. My showpiece is a Santa Barbara (Spain) that is hand engraved. This is post 1960 though. The Spanish mausers have a questionable reputation. Particularly the 1916's that are rebarrelled to .308(7.62 NATO). I'm not passing judgement just saying that is one with a not-so-good reputation.
Anyhow, my short list and list of reasons is getting long. I would highly recommend following nononsense's advice and research the resources he has given. Two more resources are "Mauser Military Rifles of the World" by Robert W.D. Ball and the NRA put out a short publication about Mausers of which I don't have the title, but well worth reading.
Also, while this post addresses more of a 'start from scratch' aproach to building a custom rifle it is also what I look for in either an already customized rifle or a stock shooter. -good luck
We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>0 -
Not wanting to jump in on your topic. But, how is the small ring Spanish Mauser in 7x57. Worth keeping and shooting? 0 -
Been shooting my faithful '95 Chilean Mauser
7x57 for 45 years now. I'd imagine one of my
sons or grandsons will be shooting/enjoying
it for at least another 50 years, or more.
[:D]0 -
If this grows too big, maybe we can get it moved to its own thread...
The safe answer is, "it depends." There are a bunch of variables that can determine worth and safety as far as rifles are concerned. Trying to assess those variables over the internet is impossible. So we can only write in generalities.
In a nutshell, the Spanish Mauser 1916 (M93) is a pre-'98 Mauser designed to operate at a lower pressure than the Model 98 Mausers. It is usually argued that these receivers are weaker than the M98's but the contention really is that the M1916's just don't have the upgraded safety features of the M98's. Here is a brief synopsis from SurplusRifle.com:
"Using the model 1893 rifles, Spain developed the Spanish Civil Guard, M1916 Short Rifle, a rifle that changed a 29 inch long barrel to 21 inches. According to sources, these rifles were made by the Ovideo arsenal between 1916 and 1951. Original 1916 short rifles were in 7mm Mauser (7x57). The Guardia Civil rifles, marked with the crest of crossed sword and fasces, apparently were converted to 7.62 from both 1916 and 1893 rifles in the 1960's. The converted rifles typically have the caliber 7.62 marked on them. The two rifles are very similar except for caliber and barrel length (the 7mm barrel is a hair longer). These rifles are considered to be small ring Mauser receivers and are two-lug designed bolts, lacking the third safety lug commonly found on other Mauser rifles.
This short rifle features a turned-down bolt, recessed 5 round magazine, Guardia Civil Crest on the receiver (as shown below), fixed side support and sling swivel. Barrel length is 21 inches and overall length is 41.3 inches. The sights are inverted-V front and adjustable V-notch rear.
As with any military surplus, the rifle should be thoroughly safety checked. Double check caliber markings on weapons. Both 7x57 Mauser ammo and 7.62 NATO ammunition is available through numerous sources. Note that the 7.62 NATO cartridge is not the same as .308 Winchester commercial cartridge in terms of pressure ratings. Many shooters report using commercial .308 ammo with no ill effects, however REALLY, the weapons are marked for 7.62 ammo with max pressures of 49,700 psi CUP vs. 52,000 psi CUP.
Handloading for the converted rifles is very common to keep pressures/recoil/muzzle blast down. Recoil using the 7.62 NATO ammo is quite stout and some recoil protection is warranted.
Note: These rifles are handily converted to 7.62x39mm using barrel inserts that tame the recoil quite effectively."
There is another much longer article on that same website entitled: The Spanish Mauser Inquisition. It is a very good read.
Best.0 -
Thanks everybody for the input to my question. sorry I didn't respond back sooner. Seems that there is so much inconsistency with the mauser actions that I think I will pass on buying one. I wouldn't know if I was buying a good one or bad one, so I think I will play the safe bet and stick a little more hum-drum like the Remington 700 or something else a little more conventional. I guess I was interested because I seen some on gunbroker selling for cheap, and I thought for the right price I would try one, but after reading the answers I guess not. Thanks again. 0 -
hadjii,
Someday I hope you will change your mind after doing a little research. Mausers are great rifles. Once you get in and see which ones are good and what you need to do, or not, with various Mauser rifles. I think you would come to enjoy them very much. -good luck with your choice for now.
We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>0 -
i have only seven custom rifles left,but they are all Mausers except for a couple of rat guns made from Martinis.If you learn about the good ones,you will kiss off the other actions as most are cheap imitastions of a Mauser with out the safety aspects..slam feed is one of the worst ideas around and that Remington is a slamfed rifle..I saw an elk hunter miss a giant elk because he short stroked his Remington and got two rounds fighting for the chamber at once. He was glad the elk wasn't charging him.They do not have a very good rep for extracting fired cases in a hurry..Slow fire target doesn't matter as they are seldom fed from the magazine.At least buy a controlled feed rifle if you intend to hunt with it..Winchester old and the newest 70s are good choices but the post 64s are like the remingtons,slamfed.SOOoo get your self a book from the library and read it or take a trip to a range and ask.Not one person,but many. Good luck.modoc
BILL
KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.BUT NOT HOT.....single action S&Ws are keepers0 -
the mauser 98 action, in my opinion, is the best. i love it. my mauser 98 is in 7x57 and puts 3 shots in the same hole, much like one of those $1200 cooper varmint rifles. it is customized but i picked it up for only $400, and it was my first deer rifle. mauser rifles really arent "inconsistant" if you know what your looking for. rem. 700's are nice too, but theyre just plane jane in my opinion, everyones had one at one time or another and i like the more one of a kind/custom stuff. i hear the yugo actions are great. if you go with a good strong mauser, you'll be happy with it.
NEF 20 ga.
western field 12, double
marlin 70pss 22lr
mauser 98 7X57
mauser 98 .2430 -
How do I know a good one from a bad one? Is there a particular company that makes the good ones, and some that do not make the good ones? How about a Herters. I seen one on gunbroker that was going pretty cheap. I think I have some learning to do on the mauser action. Thanks. 0
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