8x57 mauser

[Birdmang]

Disregarding the price and availability of ammo, is an 8mm mauser k98 action built on a nice stock with a good crown and floated barrel going to cut it as an adaquate hunting rifle for most large game in north america?

 

[Col. Plink]

I would think you could get that particular cartridge loaded for anything on the Continent (but probably not the Arctic Circle).

I'm guessing but its case size and bullet diameter would seem to make it adaptable and potentially very high-powered. It's plenty strong with 196-gr bullets on most anything you could shoot in North America. Considering what it was to Europe for so long, you'd think it would be more common here than it is.

 

[Col. Plink]

and getting a Mauser might give you an excuse to get something like this!

 

[SaxonPig]

The 8x57 has been called "Europe's 30-'06" and performance is very similar. Only bad thing about the 8mm is less choice in loaded ammo and bullets for reloading.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The answer is yes. The 8X57 has taken everything on this continent and done a fine job of it.

 

[451 Detonics]

The ammo is both easy to find and low priced so no problems there. I think 170 gr soft point at 2400 will easily do the job on most game in the lower 48. With inexpensive practice ammo, very goof hunting ammo, the 8X57 is an excellent hunting round. The rifle itself is capable of great accuracy. Mine shoots surplus into 1 1/2 inch groups, haven't worked up handloads for it yet. I did replace the internal mag with a Gibbs 3 shot detachable and I can also use my 20 round magazine in it. Drilled and tapped it for the scope, bent the handle, shortened and recrowned the barrel and bedded it in a Boyd stock.

 

[Birdmang]

Im trying to figure out how sporterized mine actually is...is the barrel normally necked down, like yours in the picture?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The barrel shown is the normal military barrel. The "steps" on the barrel are there because a smooth taper would contact the stock when expanded by heat.

 

[Birdmang]

Thanks Vern, basically I have a Nazi marked 8mm mauser, all matching numbers, with a sporter stock...

Would it be a travesty to drill into this and put a scope on it?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Thanks Vern, basically I have a Nazi marked 8mm mauser, all matching numbers, with a sporter stock...

Would it be a travesty to drill into this and put a scope on it?

It's your call. If it were mine, I'd keep it as is and keep an eye out for a military stock, so that it could be restored to original condition.

 

[NCsmitty]

Would it be a travesty to drill into this and put a scope on it?

If you D&T the receiver, you potentially cut historical value in half, and that could be quite a bit if it is truly all matching numbers and nazi markings.

But it is your rifle, and would probably be a good shooting rifle with a mounted scope.




NCsmitty

 

[Birdmang]

Does it still have significant value without a stock?

 

[SaxonPig]

A classic hunting rifle.

 

[451 Detonics]

Values on 98 Mausers are so widely varied it takes a fairly knowledgeable expert to tell you what guns are worth the money as collectibles. Matching numbers really don't mean as much as time and place of manufacture and with the original stock gone it will never be worth the big collector money. The vast majority of 98 Mausers are shooters and that is where their values lie. Having one properly drilled and tapped for a scope may detract from it's historical value but will enhance it's value as a shooter.