[chadintex]

I am looking for a low priced rifle to handle most of my bigger bore needs. I know that both of these rifles are sturdy, reasonably accurate weapons, but do either have a downside, is one easier to scope than the other, etc?

Or should I get something else? Whatever I do get, I hope to get 4 rifles in that chambering for commonality within the family.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Cosmoline]

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the M-44 carbine. I think the M-38 is better in several respects. For one thing, the M-44 isn't actually very light, and the bayonet gives it accuracy problems. So I'd have to go with the M-48 Mauser. The Yugo M-48's aren't super accurate, but they are very reliable. The biggest drawback is the cosmoline, which in most cases has saturated the wood stocks to an amazing extent and must be slowly worked out.

To the extent your question boils down to Mausers vs. Mosins, that's a tough one. Both rifles are good, but it really depends on how long your arms are and what you're hoping to do with it. If you're going to use the action to make a custom rifle, the Mauser is the obvious choice. You can find a ton of barrels out there that will fit a standard large ring mauser action. I prefer Mosin 91/30's over military Mausers simply because they are better balanced for me.

As far as ammon, the 8x57JS is the superior cartridge, but current production in the US is really underpowered and not worth the price. 7.62x54R is an older cartridge but it's still in current production in Russia and you can find cheap new ammo from Wolf and several other companies. The surplus 54R is also a little better. The surplus 8x57JS tends to be *extremely* corrosive and very hot Turk. The stuff actually ate one of my Mauser barrels. So if you handload and want high-performance, go with 8x57JS. Otherwise the 54R probably has the edge.

[Okiecruffler]

Let me begin by saying that my M44's are my favorite rifles. If it weren't for my .22's they would be my most often shot rifles. BUT, scoping one is a PIA. Scout mount is really your only choice, and while I actually prefer the scout mount, most people I run into aren't thrilled with them. There is the conventional mount for them that uses a cheesey screwed on bent bolt but I haven't heard a good thing about them other than their cheap. The M48 is easy to scope although you still have to get a bent bolt, which are abundant. 8mm ammo has a much better variety available (but it's still no '06). I have a theory that most people by the time they get their military surplus rifle just how they wanted it have spent as much as they would have if they had just bought a new Savage. But who am I to talk, I have a house full of $50 rifles and an SKS that I've poured $600 in aftermarket stuff into. You gotta love this stuff.

[chadintex]

Thanks. Right now I am leaning towards the mauser due to the fact that later upgrades are easier. I have heard a lot of complaints about the corrosive ammo, so I won't be shooting that. S&B makes a pretty good SP load that I will use.

The idea is to buy a rifle for myself, my wife, and the 2 kids now and improve upon them as time goes by. Since the kids are still way too young, I believe I have a little time.

Sometimes I think that a nice US made sporting rifle would make more sense, but I also want something that can take a little more abuse if need be.

[Badger Arms]

The M48 should be a breeze to scope. It should run you less than $50 to put a one or two-piece mount on. I'd suggest you use weaver mounts with see-through rings for two reasons. One is that you will have more bolt handle clearance and the other is that you'll be able to use the iron sights. Do not change the rifle in any other way if you ask my opinion. Keep the sights, handguards, etc. on the gun. It will be a great gun for anything in North America.
http://www.lewhorton.com/CHR10.jpg

[chadintex]

Can someone tell me who the best place to order the M48 from is?

[No4Mk1*]

If you are not going to use surplus ammo then military surplus rifles lose one of their best features- inexpenxive ammo. What specifically have you heard about surplus ammo that makes you want to avoid it?

[chadintex]

In my searches here and on TFL, many people stated that corrosive ammo really shortens barrel life. I forget the exact quote, but someone said that even if cleaned very well with windex, some of the chemicals stick around to do damage. If your experience is different, please let me know as I would love to be able to shoot low cost ammo too.

My criteria is a tough, powerful, low cost rifle. A military arm just seems to make more sense.

[cracked butt]

Though not the best made rifles, the M48 I have is pretty darn accurate even with its iron sights. I have a M44 and really don't care for it too much- its not very accurate and has even worse sights than the mauser, though I might just have a bad copy of the m44. If you ever want to rebarrel and rechamber the rifle, the m48 will be much easier to do. IMHO I would go with a Yugo refurbed K98. These rifles are of much higher original quality than the M48's and use the standard length Mauser receiver versus the intermediate length on the M48, which will make it much easier to find an aftermarket stock that will fit it if you ever decide to go that route.

You can order these from CDNN investments, though I see quite a few of the Yugo K98's at gunshows as of recent, though overpriced.

[No4Mk1*]

There is nothing wrong with using commercial ammo when you want the most accurate ammo available, but for practice etc...

The price of non-corrosive 8mm is about $10 per box (20).

The price of Surplus 8mm is $2 per box (20). I prefer Romanian surplus.

Every time you shoot about 400 rounds of commercial $10/box ammo in your rifle, you have spent about $200.

Every time you shoot 400 rounds of corrosive surplus ammo, you have spent $40 dollars. This leaves you with "savings" of $160, which is enough to buy another M-48.

So if you shoot corrosive and your barrel lasts 400 rounds, you break even. I think your barrel will last more like 10,000 to 50,000 rounds using corrosive ammo and cleaning after each use. See my point?

I use soapy water, not ammonia, but it is the same idea.

[Freightman]

I have shot 1000's of rounds of corrosive ammo with no problem at all, you just have to clean it right after shooting not wait.

[Badger Arms]

All this talk about ammo and new guns ignores the fact that the orig. post was asking about cheap hunting rifles. I think the M48 or even a CZ24 with a gunsmith bent bolt handle are unbeatable. Factory 8mm is relatively cheap in hunting guise and it's as capable as the 30-06. Who cares about cheap ammo, we are talking about a box every two years or so.

[cracked butt]

All of the factory 8x57 hunting ammo I've seen on the shelves is about as capable as the standard 30-30 load. I've heard heard of S&B ammo being more powerful than the remchester crap, though I've never seen it on store shelves or shot it for that matter. I handload all of my 8x57 that I shoot in matches and hunt with, and shoot thousands of rounds of surplus for cheap practice. Shooting surplus ammo really is the cats meow about owning such a rifle.:cool:

[Badger Arms]

You can reload 8mm to be quite potent. The M48 is capable of taking rounds as powerful as the 458 Magnum or higher. I'm sure it can take some full-power 8mm loads. If the poster doesn't reload and doesn't have any friends who reload, he will need to settle for the American stuff (Downloaded to prevent blowing up old weak rifles) or try to search out some European loads.

Hmmmm, maybe he can ream the chamber, open up the bolt face, and load it to 8mm Remington Magnum!!!

[Freightman]

Ream it to 8-06 then all you have to do is neck a 30-06 brass up to 8MM.

[cracked butt]

Ream it to 8-06 then all you have to do is neck a 30-06 brass up to 8MM.

If you are going to go through that much trouble you might as well just reload the 8x57 cartridge since brass is readily available. Putting a longer cartridge in the m48 probably isn't the most practical situation either as the m48 action is about 1/4" shorter than a standard 98 action. The magazine may be shorter also, though I can't say for sure as I never measured it.

[goon]

M-91/30.
I have one, and I prefer it to my M-48.
I prefer it so much that I still have not even bought any ammo to try the M-48 out with.
I will have to do something about that...
I would stay away from the sawed off MN's, because they are known to be pretty wicked on the shoulder, and not really all that accurate.
Who wants a gun that they can only shoot a few shots out of before it isn't fun anymore?

[Midnight]

I'm picking up a M44 from my dealer on Friday because its $54 out the door. Ammo is $3/20 out the door. What other type of rifle offers a deal like that?

BTW, I also have a M48 on layaway at my local shop (not the same as my local dealer). Here we have a new condition rifle that shoots $.06/round ammo. Once again, what a value!

[Wildalaska]

Afew important points..

M48s are extremely accurate for an iron sighted rifle. The sights are really crummy, but I personally have shot an inch with Turk ammo @100 yards. I find the Moisins to be less accurate

You can shoot the hell out of M48s with corrosive ammo, just clean after each use.

The best M48s are form Mitchells Mausers, simply becasue you get EXACTLY whats advertised and they have less cosmo. Having seen some of the stuff advertised as excellent, it would be worth the extra $$ to get a Mitchell IMHO...on the other hand I got mine for waaaaaay less:D

I would be real leery about magnumizing an M48.

WildleaveitasitisAlaska

[Midnight]

WildAlaska,
Boy are you correct on the accuracy of M48s! I went to the range with a friend who had just purchased one. He shot a 0.75" group with iron sights at 100 yards, using corrosive 1939 headstamp ammo. Can't ask for much more than that, huh!

I personally wouldn't go with a Mitchell Mauser. What you get for your money is a piece of paper "documenting" you have an original M48 and all the cosmoline cleaned out for you. I have been able to find examples just as pristine (after cleaning) as the Mitchell Mauser's are reported to be, for the regular price of $140 instead of the $360 for a MM. Just my .02

[chadintex]

Thanks for all of the information. I think I am still going to get some M48's. Plus, I found some Finnish M39 to think about getting later:) Both sound like excellent weapons for my needs.

[cracked butt]

I would get the Finnish M39 first if its in really great condition, in comparison not many of them were made compared to the dime-a-dozen m48's.