Mitchell Mauser M63 tanker in .243

[sandy4570]

At a risk of open yet another can of worms I would like some opinion on this carbine . Here the list of what like about it. 1. .243 is kick a heck lot less in this carbine (my shoulder hurt merely look at 30-06 version) 2. It is brand new and very cute. 3. It is Mauser family . 4. Reloading component widely available.
Please share your thought about this carbine.

 

[pymi]

The can has been beaten to death, it is what it is!
If you enjoy it that's all that matters, how does it shoot?

 

[rcmodel]

It's another over priced, newly made, fantasy Mitchell's Mauser, that never was.

With no options for optics later when you come to the realization you want optics.

You can do much better for $600 bucks!

All that needs to be said.

rc

 

[DPris]

Had one in .30-06.
Nice little carbine.
Let it go only because I was doing a general reduction & it was redundant.
It's niche was covered by something else.

You can mount a scope; it's a medium-length action, but it's still a Mauser & there are mounts available.
Denis

 

[Numeric]

I would certainly buy one if I didn't have to pay my money to Don Mitchell. I'm not sure Zastava is even making these rifles anymore, so they're unlikely to come in via a different, more reputable importer. Frankly I love the concept of a Police Carbine in a little caliber like .243.

 

[kwg020]

Competition for the Ruger Scout rifles. I like the stripper clip option.
kwg

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have no experience with Mitchell Mausers but I always ask a few questions before I buy a gun-

Is it for fun or serious use?

If it is for serious use...hunting, defense, etc, then is the build quality good? Nobody on here has said there is a quality issue with this rifle. 243 is a versatile caliber that you can use for all kinds of shooting and hunting.

As far as the price goes, that is up to you. If it is something that you want and will enjoy, then pay what you think is a fair price. You could spend that kind of money on a smartphone or tablet, and in a couple years it will be worth a tenth of what you paid for it. More than likely the Mauser will be worth what you paid for it after a few years.

 

[pymi]

The Zastava mausers are good quality, the recievers are a medium action as stated.

 

[goon]

For a fun little rifle with some utility in a round that doesn't beat the hell out of you, it looks OK to me. Now that I know they exist, I kind of almost want one myself.

For a hunting rifle, you can pick up something in .243 from a lot of makers that's easily scoped. But that's a different type of rifle.

Why not have both?

 

[bannockburn]

Interesting and certainly kind of neat looking but not at that price point.

 

[GBExpat]

IMO, way too much money for what it is.

For that kind of money I would be looking for a decent commercial rifle.

 

[Scooter22]

JMHO. Yes there are a lot of other cheaper Mausers out there but very few in that short configuration if thats what you want. The other is one of the Persian/Iran camel cabins. Thos are now in the 1000 dollar range. Then there were a couple made by Spain and Mexico IIRC. Noit as good. I'd shop around and see if you can find a like new used one. People buy these and get tired of the kick and muzzle blast. There have been ones sold on Armslist in the last year our two for around 400 bucks. I'd get a .308. You can load it down to 30-30 velocities for easy plinking but still have a gun you can use use for any game in north America with the right load. Plus shoot military surplus 7.62 in. If I had a spare 500-600 bucks I'd get one. Good luck PS. If you want a true military Mauser look/ configuration no commercial rifle will give you that.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Does look interesting, is Mitchell's story about these being used by tanker crews true?

 

[Scooter22]

Well I don't think any of use has seen a true surplus one. So they may have been an idea never made that Mitchells ran with. Just like "Tanker Garands" But the camel carbines are real.

 

[Numeric]

Crvena Zastava did produce a copy of the FN-Herstal M30 Police carbine; as far as I know the only confirmed customer was the Indonesian National Police.

 

[DPris]

Mitchell isn't claiming THOSE Tankers were used by tanker crews.

Just a model designation & the guns are brand new, not surplus.
Denis

 

[goon]

For what they are, a military styled current production Mauser in an available, light-recoiling round... they don't look too bad.

 

[Jackal]

Or just buy a 6.5 swede Mauser.

 

[DPris]

Swede is nowhere near as compact a rifle.
The little Tanker is great for stowage, storage, portage, and general brush carry.

It does have its niche.
Denis

 

[goon]

And that little tanker "looks cool" doing it.
A 6.5 Swede would too. IIRC, there were some Carbine versions. But 6.5x55 is nowhere near as popular or available as .243. Someone buying a "tanker" may even already have a box of .243 ammo for another rifle.

If they made a full length M-48 in 7.62x51, even though I know it is not historically significant for anything, I still might try to lay hands on one.

 

[fireman 9731]

If they made one in 7.62x39 I would buy one in a heartbeat!

 

[Jackal]

I cut back a M48 a few years ago to 16". Shot great and filled the same roll. I paid $200 for the rifle, $80 for the 11* crowning tool, $30 for the hacksaw. $310 for the whole finished rifle, including tools. Cut back the stock/handguard to the rear band, hi-temp soldered the front sight back on and done.

 

[sandy4570]

I cut back a M48 a few years ago to 16". Shot great and filled the same roll. I paid $200 for the rifle, $80 for the 11* crowning tool, $30 for the hacksaw. $310 for the whole finished rifle, including tools. Cut back the stock/handguard to the rear band, hi-temp soldered the front sight back on and done.

That is one nice carbine.
Thank everyone kindly for great input. Total agree about the price and come to think of it by the time it reach me it will easily cost $700. It is one and only Mauser carbine chambers in .243 Winchester which make it one of a kind .

 

[Swing]

IMO, way too much money for what it is.

+1. It has been a long time since I've bothered looking at Michell's site. Wow, some of the items are grossly over priced.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you are a proficient user of tangent/barleycorn iron sights, knock yourself out.

If you would come back the next week asking about scope sights for a surplus army rifle, get a modern commercial rifle... for less money.