Military Mauser question

All the video reviews I've seen on Yugo Mausers are favorable. I think it's cheap mainly because it's not a Nazi gun. You needn't have any concerns buying one. Old Steel has a few listed on Gunbroker:
https://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Acti...ers=2901413&PageSize=48&Ch-Caliber=8mm&View=2

The only Yugo Mausers I'd say caveat emptor about would be the Mitchell's Mausers Yugos, often advertised as Nazi guns, and then only because they are way overpriced for what they are. I had a Yugo 24/47 and it was a very good gun.

If you're thinking about putting the Yugo stock on your German gun, it probably won't work as a drop-in. There are differences.

Well, they are relatively cheap because large stocks of like-new guns were imported just a few years ago and they are not 100% compatible with most other Mauser parts thanks to their unique (mid-length) action.

The quality and steel are top-notch, though. Good rifles.

Some Yugo Mausers such as the M48 have what's described as an "Intermediate Length" action, sized just for the 8X57mmJS cartridge. They're fine for any ?X57mm or ?X51mm / 308 Winchester family cartridge but not for 30-06 Springfield family cartridges.

Aftermarket stocks are fewer, same with one piece scope bases.

If you want a traditional "Long Action" Yugoslavian (now Serbian) Mauser look for the Zastava LK (for bolt action) M70 (launched in 1970) rifle, or the same barreled action stamped as Interarms Mark X or Whitworth, also as Remington 798. That action uses same dimensions as the FN commercial Mausers for scope bases and other parts, and those actions are D&T at the factory. They typically have side safety thumb sliding type instead of the bolt mounted wing safety, so scope clearance isn't an issue with the safety.

Plus the caveats others have contributed here.

Be wary of the Yugoslavian / Serbian Mausers in the Cabela's Gun Library as well, the details often list poor bore condition and Bubba'd stocks on an industrial scale (I wonder what "Bubba" is in Serbian, with Cyrillic alphabet letters?) to someone's tastes.

The Serbs make decent guns. Surplus rifles can have varying degrees of arsenal reworking, and importers sometimes pretty them up a bit before retailing, but they were solid actions to begin with and still bargain priced for the moment -- that will change. This video from early 2020 may whet your appetite:



BTW, you can also buy a brand new Serbian Mauser 98 actioned sporters from Zastava at a very reasonable price: https://zastavaarmsusa.com/product/sporting-rifle-lk-m70/

I've found the information here useful FWIW.

http://www.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/mauser_reference.html

TheClasonater said:

... As for the stock, I meant build one, build one, as from a chunk of walnut. I'm a carpenter by trade, and thats one of those projects that's a minor bucket list deal. And not on a damn cnc machine either...

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Wow ... you've absolutely got to post pics when it's done!!

You might have an easier time with a standard German or Czech mauser that has been bubba'd. Parts will interchange more readily, and the price should be comparable to a Yugoslavian one.

I have several Yugo Mauser. I only have one M24. Most M24’s were updated to the 24/47 model. There are three different M48’s, M48, M48A and the M48B.
The price on Surplus firearms have been going up in value every year. The average price on a M48 is now $300 to $400. Eight years ago they were selling for under $200 or right at it.
The best bet for a project rifle now days is to buy a used modern rifle like a Savage, which is much easier to put a new barrel on and will cost less then your fair condition surplus rifle.

GunnyUSMC said:

The best bet for a project rifle now days is to buy a used modern rifle like a Savage, which is much easier to put a new barrel on and will cost less then your fair condition surplus rifle.

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I agree, and also, I'd hate to see a good (or fair condition) M48 in original condition cut up. I got one of the "unissued" M48A rifles a long time ago, when they first hit the market, and it's top-notch for sure. And the butt plate is DESIGNED to hurt you. I'm pretty sure that's true, but maybe not. I've put a lot of rounds through it, it's really a shooter.

I wonder if you could get a military stock and hardware for that 1915? Wouldn't that be the full length rifle, and not the "K".?? I was able to get a stock and restore a Czech (VZ24?) K98k.