[dakotasin]

was at the gun show today, specifically looking for mauser 98's. i know very, very little about these guns, but these (czechs, turks, and yugos)seemed to be the most prevalent there, and all about the same price...

what is the better one? major differences between them? anything i should be looking for to especially avoid? especially desireable?

any help appreciated!

[Jim K]

There are dozens of varieties of Mausers, differing in the type of action, the size of the receiver ring, the furniture, the caliber, etc.

If you are referring to the action type, all the ones you list have the Model 1898 action, and are chambered for the 8x57JS, which is to say the .323 bullet. But the Turkish action has the small receiver ring and small barrel tenon. The Czech VZ24 and VZ22 have the large receiver ring and standard (if the German Model 98 is considered as such) barrel threads. The Yugo Model 48 has the 98 large ring action except that the receiver is shorter by about 1/2 inch than the standard action.

These dimensions don't matter much unless you are, for example, trying to fit a Yugo M48 into a sporter stock made for the standard action, or trying to put standard 98 size scope mounts on a Turk.

As to other factors, most of the Turk rifles I have seen have been hard used, well worn, and rebuilt many times. Many of the barrels are badly rusted and some have been backbored at the muzzle to partially restore accuracy. The same is true of many of the VZ22/24 rifles I have seen, although the actions are in better shape. The M48's seem to be mostly new or nearly new, and in good condition, but fairly rough in machining and stiff to use. Those problems can be overcome with some polishing; the odd length action is a permanent condition.

For sporterizing, I would pick the VZ24. (The VZ22, if in decent shape, is more collectible.) The action is one of the best and is the standard size.

Jim

[dakotasin]

how do i know if it is a vz-24 or 22? the dealer had the guns marked 'brno', and that was it - and i don't know how to id one mauser from another..

appreciate your input much!

[Cosmoline]

These are deep, deep waters when you start geting into details. With military Mausers alone you're talking about fifty or more nations and 100 years of history. Still, the rule of thumb is that the '98 action is the strongest. You can tell you have a '98 if it cocks on opening and has two front lugs, plus a backup safety lug down the middle of the bolt. Earlier Mausers typically cock on closing and may not have the third lug.

The best way to tell military Mausers apart is the symbols on the receiver. The book "Military Mauser Rifles of the World" has most all of these. The ones marked BRNO are from the Czechs. Most are VZ-24's, but others are commercial CZ's which are also often marked "BRNO." It's pretty confusing. If you have the exact writing on them, I can tell you for sure.

[Jim K]

Some VZ-24's are marked, but if the rifle is the "short rifle" length (around 24" barrel), roughly the same as the M48 and the K.98k, it is the VZ-24. The VZ-22 is long rifle length.

Jim