Yugo 24/47 Questions

[ThomasT]

I went to the range and shot my new Yugo 24/47 I bought from J&G Sales a week ago. I have a few questions for you Mauser experts.

I only shot my reloads because the range does not allow FMJ ammo. I was shooting Remington 185gr bullets with 46grs of H4895. The bullets grouped okay but about 8" high. Will lighter bullets land lower? I hope so because this was brutal rifle to shoot with these loads. I had to use a towel on the steel buttpad.

I don't like the straight bolt. What is the best way to make a bent bolt. What are the two plugged spots behind the Pistol grip?

The gun shot left with the front sight centered. Is there a way to rotate the rear sight to the right? I had to tap the front sight blade over quite a bit to get the gun on target.

I have looked at the Mojo sights but would like to use the sights that came with it if possible.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Slamfire]

I only shot my reloads because the range does not allow FMJ ammo. I was shooting Remington 185gr bullets with 46grs of H4895. The bullets grouped okay but about 8" high. Will lighter bullets land lower?

I really doubt it, but first of all, bed the action. Route out some wood, coat the action in paste wax, and pour in some Acuraglas gel. Before the action is bedded, remove any wood bearing on the barrel in the forend. I have found bent M98 actions shoot bullets to weird point of impacts. If, after bedding, your rifle is still shooting way high, the only fix is a taller front sight.

I don't like the straight bolt. What is the best way to make a bent bolt.

Suck it up. Yes the straight bolt will dig you, but it is not evil. If you really have to have the bent bolt, find someone who bends bolts. It will cost you more than it is worth.

What are the two plugged spots behind the Pistol grip?

Probably the location of a side swivel mount. My M95 Carbine has one of those, hurts like XXX when the rifle recoils. You are better off without it.

The gun shot left with the front sight centered. Is there a way to rotate the rear sight to the right? I had to tap the front sight blade over quite a bit to get the gun on target.

Only by moving the sight base. Those things are typically soft soldered on and then pinned. Humans don't like asymmetry. So the sight being way over to the left is an itch you can't scratch. If the rifle is zero'd, and the sight is not falling out, you don't have a real problem.

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks slamfire. I will look at the bedding. I have glass bedded several rifles in the past. Do you know of a source for a taller front sight blade? The dove tail is smaller than normal.

Humans don't like asymmetry. So the sight being way over to the left is an itch you can't scratch. If the rifle is zero'd, and the sight is not falling out, you don't have a real problem.

Boy howdy your are correct there. A picture on the wall that is just slightly crooked drives me nuts. I like everything dead center and even. The front blade is off center about .050 of an inch.

I have seen several of these rifles with the front sights tapped a little bit one way or the other. I really think the rear sight is off just a little. Since it has an anchor screw at front of the base I think that moving it may be out of the question.

Its a new toy. I will try some lighter loads if nothing else just for a reduction in recoil.

 

[chevyforlife21]

heavy bullets would land lower. lighter bullets will go higher

 

[NCsmitty]

The bolt can be bent or rewelded by someone locally for you, I would think. Maybe a member here could give a recommendation.
There's a guy on Ebay doing the bolt alteration by auction. That's another option.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAUSER-BENT-BOL...in_0?hash=item1e58431952&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Front sight needs to be taller, more than likely.
Here's a site for sights and parts. Scan down to "taller sights" and click. I think they will fit.

http://www.tngunparts.com/Catalogue.htm




NCsmitty

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks Chevyforlife. Thats what I seem to remember reading. I knew lighter bullets in a handgun would land lower than heavier bullets but couldn't remember for sure if it was the same for rifles. Sounds like it is just the opposite.

NCSmitty thanks for the TN website. My front sight measures .290 and they have one that goes .330. That should get me pretty close and hopefully a little low so I can file it in. I had read that most military guns shot a little high at 100 yards.

I think I will leave the bolt alone for now. I believe I can notch the bottom, heat it up, bend it down and weld it back. I will ask my GS that I do all my business with what he thinks. I bought this for a beater truck gun (to go along with the other 20 truck guns I have bought) and don't see any point in spending a lot of money on it. That defeats the purpose.

I have a couple of 150gr loads on hand. I may go back to the range tommorow and shoot a few of those. I tried the 185s first because everything I have read said these guns shot best with heavier bullets. The lighter bullets should help with the recoil. I knew better than to wear a sleeveless T-Shirt to shoot in. It was just so blasted hot today.

 

[wayne in boca]

The 24/47 is designed to fire 196 grain bullets.The two plugs at the wrist of the stock mean that your rifle is a converted cavalry carbine that once had a sling swivel there.A bolt from an M48 (with a downward bend) will fit a 24/47,but are hard to find.The straight bolt is actually very fast once you get used to it.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

1. It is supposed to hit high at 100 yards. Aftermarket tall front sights will fix this, or a Mojo, or a scout mount scope. Those 185/46 grs are moderate loads. Heavier loads with heavy bullets may even print HIGHER since, depending on your build and shooting position, the gun will have recoiled more before the bullet leaves the barrel. I find the light loaded American 8mm mauser hunting is more comfortable to shoot and hits closer to Point of Aim, especially for paper punching.

2. A slip over recoil pad is a simple and effective solution for steel butt plate:

http://www.pachmayr.com/deceleraton-slip.php

3. An M24/47 is what it is. I have had one mauser bolt redone. It is not worth the effort unless you are mounting a scope on the receiver. The stock plugs replace the original 1924 sling swivel.

4. Drifting the front sight as you did is the appropriate way to adjust for windage.

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks Wayne and Pale Horse. I think I will wait on doing anything to the bolt. I have lighter loaded 150gr rounds that I loaded for my 98 Mauser. One is a 300 Savage dupicate load and was light recoiling in the other gun.

I am going to add a taller front sight. I don't want a scope on this gun. I may try one of the slip on pads also. I didn't know they were made to fit the fat butt on these guns. Great.

What I wanted was a simple, rugged, military grade rifle that won't be affected by getting dinged up with hard use.

On the plus side I looked down the barrel after shooting about 30 rounds and is was very clean. I didn't even look like it had been shot. I was impressed with Hodgdon's 4895 powder.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I have a 24/47 and dislike the straight bolt too, but it is what it is, I would just leave it as is. Compared to a German K98, it looks very ugly. But it is a fun rifle to shoot.

 

[justashooter in pa]

lighter bullets are faster, so less time in bore, so print lower because they leave bore before rifle has time to rise under recoil.

straight bolt handles are much faster to operate under stress, which is why they are preferred on a battle rifle.

 

[Slamfire]

lighter bullets are faster, so less time in bore, so print lower because they leave bore before rifle has time to rise under recoil

Theoretically true. But I think you are making this statement because you never tried to fix an 8 or 16 MOA excessive elevation problem by shooting lighter bullets.

Did not work for me.

I suspect the reason there is an aftermarket for taller sights, is because lighter bullets did not work for a lot of shooters.

 

[lionking]

I have only shot mine a couple times so far,but this is what I got last time doing 9 shots with 196gr S&B ammo,I plan on trying PP ammo in it also.Sliding the rear sight this was the closest I got to center hits with a six O clock hold.

I think that usually it is true that lighter bullets will impact lower,with my Persian mausers one slide of the rear sight makes impact too high the next setting makes impact too low with 196gr but keeping the position where impact is too high with 196gr then using 170gr impacts go right dead center of the bulls.

With my Mosins same thing,185 gr shoots high while not adjusting the sight and going to 147gr or 150gr impacts lower.However I have tried a couple other types of rifles where bullet grain had less or almost no effect on the position of hits,so I usually try a couple different grains if I can to see what gives the most center hits and then keep the sights adjusted to it.

TNguns has high sights for mausers if you need one.

 

[ThomasT]

Lionking my rifle was shooting a little higher than what you show with the 185gr Remingtons. I am planning on shooting again tommorow if my plans don't get changed for me again.

I painted the back of my front sight with day glow orange and now I can see that sucker. I had some stringing because I didn't have a real defined point of aim. Horizontaly I didn't have more than a 2" spread. I am also going to make some targets with construction paper that should also help with sight alignment.

I have some 150gr and 170gr loads to try. Once I decide on a load I will order 300 or so and make a loading run. After I see where the POI is I will order a taller front sight if needed.

By the way did you have to tap your front sight over any?

 

[lionking]

I guess when you say it was shooting higher than my spread pictured you mean with the rear sight as low as it would go?Tngunparts sells mauser style tall sights that may work for you.

http://www.tngunparts.com/

I didn't have to adjust windage,luckily it is shooting pretty straight that way.I still need to see how PP ammo performs because I'd rather blast with PP ammo and save the S&B for when I'm trying for best groups.

I stay away from the surplus Yugo M49? ammo after hearing of ruptures but if I could find Yugo M75 surplus I would try that corrosive ammo out.I wish PP would load lighter grain 8mm ammo for times when one setting shoots high or too low like in my Persian mausers.Other than that the only alternative is to file the front sight,replace the front sight or handload.

 

[ThomasT]

Yes my rear sight was as low as it would go. Whats funny is that I have a laser bore sighter and when inserted it told me the gun would shoot left and low. This gismo is always correct. But not this time. The gun shot left but high.

The only surplus I have is some Romainian 150gr loads. My range doesn't allow FMJ ammo. I will have to go to my buds land to try those out. I really just want to us my hand loads anyway.

I may go ahead and get the Mojo rear sight. If I buy the taller front I am 1/4th the way there.That would solve a whole pile of problems. I just wish they made a V-Notch adjustable rear blade instead of the peep. Oh well, wish in one hand and poop in the other and see which one gets full the fastest.

Years ago I bought an adjustable rear sight for my firt SKS. Best $30 bucks I ever spent. Dropped right in and took about 6 rounds to zero. Problem solved.

By the way how do you remove the rear sight and what are the numbers on the bottom of the ladder for? It looks like you press down and back but I can't get it out.

 

[ThomasT]

Well I shot some different loads through the mauser. I had 150gr hornadays with 45grs of 4064, 50grs of 4064 and 170gr round nose with 53grs of 4350. I also shot 5 rounds of the romanian 150gr surplus.

They all shot to the same point of impact as the 185gr loads. Thats good. They were all still 8-10" high. Thats bad. The 150gr loads were a little nicer to shoot. All of them grouped around the 3-4" range. Thats getting to be about the best I can do with open sights these days. My eyes have made some serious changes over the last year and not for the good either.

Now I have to figure out if I want to order the Mojo sight or sell the rifle.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

My M48B behaves about the same. PMC 170 gr soft points hit dead on, but I think they were discontinued a couple years ago