Which Mauser would you buy?

The only way you could go wrong would be not buying all three!

Swedish Mauser 96 or 38 model. Then Yugo 24. Check out a Czech Vz24 as well. Yugo M48's are decent, but not as refined as the previously mentioned ones. Also they are based on the intermediate length pioneered by FN 24 mausers.

For that price range you should be able to get a couple of mil-surps. If you have a C&R license,you can get a Yugo 24/47 from J&G Sales for $200. <http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/c/c-r-guns/c/c-r-guns/cPath/290/sort/3a/page/2?osCsid=d260844689a2906f67e93994bda823a4>

Yes, the price sounds very high to me also. I just bought a K98 RC in very good condition with a very shiney barrel for $300 about 3 months ago. I bought my Yugo 48 back when they were $100 (all matching #'s) and $140 for the 24/48.
I agree with dakota post stating that the Swedes were everything a Mauser should be. The craftsmanship is easy to see (kinda like on your K31).

But they all are great shooters. Enjoy.

Karabiner 98 mauser.

Carl Gustafs 1896
Yugo 24
Yugo M48

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Well I have all three, I have a pre 1900 Swede.

From a metullurgical viewpoint the closer you get to WWII with a military action the better the metal and the better the manufacturing processes. Early pre 1900 stuff was made in highly varible conditions.

Even so, as long as you keep to period pressures and use good brass you will likely never have an issue with a Swede. But if you said, all thing being considered, should I buy a 1896 manufactured Gustafs or a 1920's Gustafs, I would say go for the later manufacture.

As for the Yugo M24, most of what you see on the market are Communist rebuilds. Perfectly safe I assume, but rough compared to an actual pre war M24.

I am going to state that the pre war M24 Yugo that I handled was equal in fit, finish, and machining to any pre war Mauser. They are works of machining art. If you can get your hands on one of those, go for it.

I've owned Swedes and Yugos. The M48 is a solid, pretty heavy piece that's reasonably accurate and well made. But the 96 Swede is an elegant, well balanced and extremely accurate rifle with the right ammo. I'd go with the Swede.

Actually I'd go with a Persian but the one they have there is way overpriced.

The 24 and 48 are large ring '98 pattern Mausers, and a bit more robust. The 96 is a small ring, is better built, more svelte, probably more accurate and generally more pleasant to shoot.

Easy choice.

That said, they're all too expensive.

The 24 or 48 should be $150-$200, the Swede between $250 and $400, depending on condition and other minor details. IIRC, I paid about $300 for my 1896 Rifle. I had a 38 carbine sporter, too, that I'd bought for $150 with an old, foggy Weaver 4x. It was a nice shooter, but I didn't need it and later sold it for $250.

I have an M48 that is a great shooter.

The 24/27 is a great rifle.

I wouldn't buy anything from Collectors. Their prices are astronomical.


http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000268&dir=700|701|1029

I have a M48 Yugo, and even though it has the intermediate length action, it still shoots the full bore 7.92X56/8mm Mauser rounds, and mine does it quite well. And fit and finish on mine are exceptional, wood and all.

They're all around the same price ($440-480)

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WAY TO MUCH MONEY! You should be able to find any of the M24/47 and M48 variants for no more than $250. Look at listing on Gunbroker, then look at completed auctions and you well see these very seldom bring over $300. I just picked up a some what rare Syrian marked M48BO for $180. Most I've paid is $275 for a M1924 with bayonet.

Educate yourself before you go shopping. The Yugo's span several variations. M1924 and variants, M24/47 a rearsenaled M1924, M24/52C a rearsenaled Czech VZ24 and the M48 and variants. Plus you have the Yugo MOD98/48, are rearsenaled German Mod98. These Mod98/48's are very well done, many retain their German markings under the furniture.

M48's, top two, are intermediate action length. The M24/52C, bottom, is a full length actiom


MOD98/48


M1924

Those prices are too high unless they are in NRA fine condition, and that would only apply to the Swede. The swede is the best of the three irregardless what other posters here have said.......chris3

I rate my swede (1909) even a bit higher then any of my k31's (1936, 1941 and 1943)

easy choice IMHO

Peter

I would get the Swede, mostly because I already have something that fires the 8mm Mauser cartridge.

Collector's is consistently overpriced, usually by at least 30%.

How does the M38 swede carbine compare to the m96 full length rifle? Can you hunt wtih the 96 or is the 38 better?

I want to see what kind of shape it's in with my own eyes instead of spending the money on a gamble.

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While I can certainly understand that,I'm definitely not willing to pay double for the priviledge.

The Swede is the way to go. My M96 (1901 Carl Gustafs) is one of my top five milsurps.

I agree, Those prices are too high.

While I can certainly understand that,I'm definitely not willing to pay double for the priviledge.

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I suppose it depends on how you look at it. I know of many C&R holders who will routinely buy three, four, or more identical rifles for a low price from a vendor with the expectation of having to part out half of them due to low quality. How much you actually save doing that is an open question.

I agree that with some rifles you can tell to near certainty that it's going to be good, and you can get those from GB for lower than this place sells them. What GB can't give you is the hands-on feel and personal preferences. And again in the end you may buy four or five off GB for lower price only to find that you really want just one of them, and don't like the way the others handle. If you're after a shooter this is particularly important.

For example I've found most Mosins fit me very well and I love shooting them. Enfields, on the other hand, fit me like a size nine shoe and I've never been able to warm up to them. Cost me a lot of bargains to find that out ;-)

Actually,I have never bought an entire rifle off of the GB site. I have bought stripped receivers and other parts,all were complete with pictures BEFORE the deal. I have bought several and traded for several C&Rs from/with other C&R holders and have never been disappointed. If you want a sanitized Mauser and don't mind paying top dollar for it,there is always Mitchell's Mausers.