Mauser GEW98 - M48A Round-Up: Top Rated Mauser

[silverlance]

Boy I've had a hard time. So many mausers, such difficult choices. Share your experiences with these, and your favorite shooter:

GEWEHR 98: Don't have one. Original Mauser. Ammo hard to get? $~400?

98K / K98: pre-war considered better. straight and turned down bolt, large ring long action. 8mm. $200-250

Turk Mauser: well worn. 8mm. seldom in better than fair condition. straight bolt. $100-150

FN / VZ24: considered highly accurate. 8mm. $200-250

M24/47: straight bolt only (although I have a wierd bent bolt one, probably m48 swapped bolt). 8mm. considered improved over k98. $100-150

M98K Winter Trigger Guard: laminated stock, usually shot very little. considered to be excellent shooters. bent bolt. $200-250

M48: all milled. 8mm. considered an improved k98. many bent bolt. $150-200

M48A: all milled except for stamped trigger guard and floorplate. 8mm. considered improved k98. last military mauser made. many bent bolt. $100-150

...

My current vote goes to the M48. I think that's the best shooting rifle out of the bunch. Cheap, bent bolt, highly accurate and reliable. does everything the k98 does and better.

 

[JesseL]

I think it depends on what you intend to do with it.

If you just want to shoot it as is, I'd say the M48.

If you intend to sporterize or rebarrel it, you would want to avoid the historically valuable ones but you'd also want one that stays pretty close to the original 98 pattern. That would mean avoiding the 48s because of the shorter receiver and extractor cut in the barrel, the turks because of the small ring threads, and the GEW 98s and 98Ks (and some of the others) because of their history.

 

[Terrierman]

Ahem. And where are the Swedish models in the above poll? MISSING that's where and that's why I have not placed a vote.

 

[Gewehr98]

Huh?

GEWEHR 98: Don't have one. Original Mauser. Ammo hard to get? $~400?

Why would ammo be hard to find for an original Gewehr98, when they came chambered in 8x57JS Mauser, same as all the other 8mm military 98 Mausers afterwards?

One in shootable original condition - with the Lange Vizier rollercoaster rear sight intact - is actually my Holy Grail of rifles these days. Picture stolen from Wikipedia:

 

[Ad Astra]

Got an excellent Turk from SOG for $69 a few weeks ago...

There are some mutts and crossovers... straight bolt K98's... and my M48A turned out to be a "M98"- it's an actual K98 (with most waffenamps removed) stamped with a Yugo crest and the German "Mod 98" has Yugo stuff stamped after it.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I agree with Terrierman, gotta like the Swede model 96. Even better if it has an old peep target sight on the receiver.

Regards.

 

[R.W.Dale]

OTHER: M1891 in 7.65

 

[Radagast]

Israeli K98 rework in .308. Mine was more accurate than my Swedes.

 

[Dr.Rob]

wow my Brno winter trigger model made the list! So I voted for it.

But you know, my 1903a3 is a Mauser copy... and I'd pick it over most of the others.

 

[wilson]

I had to vote for the turk. its the only one i have or have ever shot.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Swede!

Another vote for the Swedes here. They were all very high quality to begin with, the Swedes took insanely good care of them (no wars!), and the 6.5x55 is one shweeeeet cartridge. Unfortunately, they've gotten pricey. Figure $250-300 for a decent M96, and more for a 96/38 or M38.

 

[Father Knows Best]

But you know, my 1903a3 is a Mauser copy... and I'd pick it over most of the others.

Duh. How did I forget the '03 Springfield? Frankly, I like the 1903 better than the 1903A3 just for aesthetic reasons (though the A3 is probably the "better" rifle due largely to the sights), but both are fine rifles that use the greatest rifle cartridge ever invented.

 

[silverlance]

hm

i didnt include the swedes 6.5 because i wanted to keep it 8mm. don't know why i said that ammo for the gew would be hard to get.

other mausers that i could have put on there would be brazilian, peruvian, etc... but those are essentially k98 german mausers, bought from germany IIRC.

 

[carterbeauford]

Curious if anyone has bought an M98K from classicarms lately? The winter triggerguard is just what I need right now, and the stocks appear to be beautiful.

 

[cracked butt]

I'd put the persian contract mauser far and away at the top of the list. I have just about every rifle on the list, mutiples of some, The only 8mm I have that will shoot tighter groups than the Persian 98/29 is a 98/22- the problem being that the 98/22's sights start at 400 yards.

The Czechs knew/know how to make rifles the right way.

 

[cracked butt]

That would mean avoiding the 48s because of the shorter receiver and extractor cut in the barrel, the turks because of the small ring threads

I have a completely shot out turk M38 and a new swede 96 barrel sitting around for a rainy day project- the barrel for the 96 has the same threads as the Turk receiver. Should make a heck of nice rifle.

 

[Cosmoline]

Swedes aren't 98's, which I believe this poll is limited to.

I'd expand it by adding Venezuelan '24, Argentine '09, Brazilian M1908, and the famous Siamese Mauser.

Also, what bent bolt Persian contract Mauser are you talking about? The ones I've seen are straight bolt.

 

[AH-1]

the yugos 48,48a,b,bo are at the bottom of the heap IMHO due to the rough action and non standard action lenth.good rifles but...I have had a few but they are now gone.
any of the brno K98K's are on the top of the list for me. ymmv

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Favorite Mausers

I currently own four of the little jewels. A 1912 Mexican (made in Steyr, Austria)in 7x57mm(new Douglas barrel), a Turk in 8x57mm, a 1909 Argentine cav.carbine. My all time FAVORITE is my Gehwer 98 made in Oberndorf, Germany in 1899. The original two groove barrel at 23 inches is extremely accurate, caliber is 8mm.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I take it back.

My Mauser outshoots my Springfield.