[JimLL]

I shot my first gun somewhere around 1950 in Oklahoma. I've beeen a couple miles and pulled a couple triggers since.

My question is this. Are there any Mausers worth having?

I'm talking about what a gun writer referred to as a "Periphery defense gun." Meaning, to country dwellers, something you could use to adequately defend "beyond the fence" if there were a truckload of armed drunks bent on getting to you.

I've seen the Mitchell advertisements for the K98k at $400. I've seen comments that Mitchell is always over priced and suggesting $150 for that gun. (Somewhere between those figures might be right?) I have NOT seen a huge amount of ammo available for it, altho I haven't had but one evening searching.

In the event there are folks with extensive knowledge of the K98's (and even related rifles from other countries) I'd like more specifically to know how difficult it might be to actually lay hands on a "JS" capable K98. I refer to the use of the .323 cartridges as opposed to the less powerfully loaded .317 "J" cartridges. This is all about whether a K98 will blow up in my face if I put a lot load in it.

Thank you very much.

JimL

[Almond27]

Welcome to THR Jim from a fellow Chattanoogan

[Smokey Joe]

Jim LL--Your question is actually multi-faceted.

Mausers are worth having. Period. Almost without exception. It's a GREAT bolt action design; almost all more recent bolt action designs owe something to Herr Paul Mauser's genius. The exception is Mitchell's Mausers--as you have heard, they are overpriced. Buy the same rifle through almost any other source, pay a lot less for it, clean the cosmoline off it yourself.

Pristine Mausers don't exactly abound, but they are to be had. The collecting of Mausers is a whole genre unto itself, and if you want to get into the rare/expensive ones I suggest you begin by studying up. Now, "ordinary" Mausers, while not a dime a dozen, are to be had for not too much dinero. Currently on the market are the Czech 24/47's and the Russian capture k98K's. Both are re-worked; if the numbers on all the parts match the numbers will have been electro-pencilled. Privately owned Mausers you might run across--like at a gun show--would include M-48's, Turks, k98K's, and others. The M-48's are new-manufactured AFTER WWII, probably never been used militarily, and are not historically significant, so "bubba" away if that is your intent.

The German Military Mausers have all been JS's since before WWI; you're not likely to run across a .317" bore except in a collector's item. There were some commercial .317's made between the wars, so if it's a non-military Mauser made up through the 1930's it bears checking. Commerical Mausers are still made; you can buy a brand-new one if you want, BTW.

ETA--Mausers have been made in a number of other cartridges besides the 8x57mmJ and JS, BTW. Mauser filled military contracts for many nations over the years, and each nation had their own cartridge preference. The commercial Mausers have also been available in a wide variety of cartridges.

Back to your basic question: Yes, a Mauser rifle is of good design, and well worth having. Good luck in your pursuit.

[highorder]

Good post smokey joe; welcome to thr JimLL.

8mm Mauser ammunition is still available as well.

Here is some Romanian FMJ for plinking or for hard targets like the actual truck under the drunkards...

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Romanian_8mm_Mauser_FMJ.html

I would recommend soft point hunting ammunition for thin-skinned game beyone the fence, or in the yard.

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

Fresh Imports, available from a retailer "new to you":

Yugo's will offer the most available quality with the least wear and tear. 24/47, followed by the M48 variants being more expensive.

Russian capture 98's seem to have dried up locally (southern indiana) but you may find one.

Turks are an acquired taste, but their 1938 and newer self made units work very well, are really inexpensive, but appear a little rough around the edges. They tend to hang around in gunshop since alot of people turn up their nose at something they perceive as foriegn or with a crescent moon and star on it. Be forewarned, if you want to build a custom gun with one, they are a cheap place to start, but many are large ring/small shank (you probably don't know what that means) which means they are a special case for the gun builder.

Used, possibly abused:

Most any large ring 98 will be a safe shooter, given proper head spacing and a decent bore.

Small rings like swedes and spanish span the range from high price quality to less than perfect. I get from the safe an M1916 7.62 NATO Guardia Civil mauser every so often that was a painfully good buy, inspite of the commotion on gunboards when they first arrived.

[JimLL]

Jim LL--Your question is actually multi-faceted.Yup!
Pristine Mausers don't exactly abound, but they are to be had. The collecting of Mausers is a whole genre unto itself, and if you want to get into the rare/expensive ones I suggest you begin by studying up.
No interest in rare/expensive. If it goes boom and spits hot lead accurately I'm good.
Privately owned Mausers you might run across--like at a gun show--would include M-48's, Turks, k98K's, and others. The M-48's are new-manufactured AFTER WWII, probably never been used militarily...
Having once had a British enfield .303 M1 and liked it very much, I wonder about barrel lengths. I have gotten the idea somewhere that a lot of the "non-German" guns are smaller caliber or carbine length barrels or both. I'm not much interested in short barrels. Am I misunderstanding this source/length tie?
Commerical Mausers are still made; you can buy a brand-new one if you want, BTW.
AK! I can barely afford new groceries!
Yes, a Mauser rifle is of good design, and well worth having. Good luck in your pursuit.
Given the additional ammo sources given here I'd say yes, worth having. A gun with no ammo is no bargain to me in any sense. Interestingly much Mauser ammo is costing the same or less than what I paid for .303 ammo in the late '50's!

I appreciate your great reply.

Thanks

JimL

[JimLL]

Here is some Romanian FMJ for plinking or for hard targets like the actual truck under the drunkards...

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Romanian_8mm_Mauser_FMJ.html

I would recommend soft point hunting ammunition for thin-skinned game beyone the fence, or in the yard.
Nice site to add to my bookmarks.

What? No steel spitzers for the thin skins?

Thanks

JimL

[JimLL]

Fresh Imports, available from a retailer "new to you":
Turks are an acquired taste, but their 1938 and newer self made units work very well, are really inexpensive, but appear a little rough around the edges. They tend to hang around in gunshop since alot of people turn up their nose at something they perceive as foriegn or with a crescent moon and star on it. Be forewarned, if you want to build a custom gun with one, they are a cheap place to start, but many are large ring/small shank (you probably don't know what that means) which means they are a special case for the gun builder.

Small rings like swedes and spanish span the range from high price quality to less than perfect. I get from the safe an M1916 7.62 NATO Guardia Civil mauser every so often that was a painfully good buy, inspite of the commotion on gunboards when they first arrived.

You're right. I don't know what large rings are about. May I assume you are going to explain it?

Thanks

JimL