1895 Chilean Mauser or Remington 788?

[GunNut]

Looking for a good gun to carry in the truck and on an ATV. Looking for something fairly short and with open sights.

Found two very nice candidates today while perusing some local gunstores.

First, a 1895 Chilean Mauser in 7x57 that has been sporterized. Gun has a 22" barrel and is very nicely done. $220

or

Second, Remington 788 Carbine in .308win. Gun has a Tasco scope, which would be removed, and I would need to find open sights. The stock has been nicely refinished and the gun is in very good condition, with like new rifling. Asking price is $279, but i'm sure it's negotiable.

So which of these would you rather have?

Good and bad points of each?

Steve

 

[Colt46]

I'd go with the 788

They sure ain't purty, but they usually shoot better than or equal to remington's 700 series. There's nothing wrong with the mauser(unless they butchered it when they chopped the barrell. Also, the .308 would offer better selection of ammo. Especially the cheap milsurp stuff for plinking.

 

[Gordon]

Being it's not a 98 Mauser I'd go with 788, ya can get spare mags if ya look,very accurate, best caliber

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

As much as I love old Mausers I'd go with the 788. Got a friend who has had one for years and it has never failed him, aside from simply being homely.

I think your choice of the 788 in .308 will serve you better simply because of the ease of access to ubiquitous .308 ammunition at most mom-and-pop stores as well as S-Mart stores over 7x57. I wouldn't bother to handload for a pre-98 Mauser, really, unless it was a handed down heirloom, which this one isn't.

Sometimes more modern is really better.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

If I bought that old Mauser, I'd sure have it checked by a gunsmith before shooting it. 1895 was a long time ago, and while the rifle is probably safe if it's had reasonable care, 109 years is a long time for something to be sitting around.

I'd take the Remington.

 

[Cosmoline]

The sporterized Chilean is almost certainly too $$$. Unless it was sporterized in the 1920's by some European outfit, the alteration will have knocked its value down to next to nothing. Under $150 for sure.