98 mauser GEW quality

[338reddog]

I found about 8 98 mausers all made into sporters. Most with new bolts handles , triggers, stocks. A few with GEW actions. The prices are around $200-300 ea some with scopes. The barrels are heavier than I would want but thought at the price I might pick up a couple to play with. But im no mauser expert and was wondering about action quality of GEW. There is also a Vz action and I dont remember the others. Any knowledge as to quality of actions is appreciated. I do like old sporters and have a couple, one on a 1917 and one on a arisaka. I dont want to cut up any originals done that on a bunch of swedes when they cost $89.
Jeff

 

[boom boom]

The VZ is post WWI and if in good shape is top notch. The GEW98's are usually of good quality to build sporters using cartridges within the 8x57 7x57 etc pressure levels. The Mauser also has the cartridge feed rails built into the receiver and without getting in to grinding these rails can have problems when firing cartridges of differing profiles than the Mauser types and their derivatives.

Hotrodding them to modern cartridge levels is not the best of ideas as they simply were not designed for consistent use at 55000 psi or greater pressure levels. The late WWI GEW98's (1917-18) period might vary more in quality as sanctions and material shortages were affecting munitions production much like late WWII Mausers.

The Mausers are comparatively easy to work with compared with some and the controlled feeding is famous. However, they are basic carbon steel construction with the limits of that particularly design.

My personal recommendation because I have worked with quite a few of them are Oberndorf made Mausers as their specifications checked out the same whether it was a 1916 GEW, a 1938 k98 or even a wartime 43 byf receiver. A lot of people like Suhl made receivers and so forth. One issue that the brno VZ's have is that they do differ in some specs compared with the German made ones that I have.

 

[troy fairweather]

need ome pics so many actions made, that vz could be a vz-33. dont now till u look. are the action scrubbed or do they have the original marking.

 

[338reddog]

The GEW have markings as I believe the VZ does also I don’t remember the others. The one I’m considering is in .308 heavy barrel, timney trigger and older weaver4-12 with a/o. and a Boyd’s stock $249
I already told them to hold it for me. It also had a new bolt handle welded on
Jeff

 

[boom boom]

The GEW have markings as I believe the VZ does also I don’t remember the others. The one I’m considering is in .308 heavy barrel, timney trigger and older weaver4-12 with a/o. and a Boyd’s stock $249
I already told them to hold it for me. It also had a new bolt handle welded on
Jeff

The 98 action itself in good shape goes for around 200 or so. Complete bolts are now going for around $90-100 each. That is a good price for what you get in addition.
If you have a dental angled mirror of some sort, do check the bolt lug recesses of the receiver for any deformation (bulges, gouges, wavy metal displacement, etc. Lug setback can happen on these old Mausers if used repeatedly with heavy loads. Usually, the bolt action is not smooth in engagement but not always.

Also, check the bolt handle issue. Ideally you would use a heat sink to weld a new handle on because I have seen mauser bolt bodies warped when someone decided to weld a new bolt handle on. If the bolt body itself is discolored and does not work smoothly through the receiver body, then figure on getting another bolt body which might require setting back the barrel (or rarely using a finish reamer) to set the headspace properly to the new bolt body. Depending on how hot the bolt got during welding and the degree of discoloration, it might have affected the heat treatment on the locking lugs and thus need replacement (usually when Bubba does it with his favorite stick welder).

.308 should work pretty well with the existing feed rails and magazine--just don't hot rod it if you reload--use Hornady's loading specs for M1A and M14 military rifles and you should be fine.

Do see if you can use a snap cap or something to work the bolt system from the magazine. Feeding problems should show up as well as problems with the bolt sliding through the receiver. Also check the function of the safety as unless high rings are used, it will have either a Buehler, Wisner, or Chapman conversion (or the old k98 Sniper safety) for the safety. Some of these were poorly done as the safety on these has to be fitted properly. Thus, you can get a rifle that fires taking the safety off if the trigger is pulled while on safe or one that can be pushed off.

Jerry Kuhnhausen's Shop Manual on Mausers is useful as a checklist for resolving issues with Mausers and checking them out. Amazon has them in stock as does Midwayusa.

 

[Clemson]

The biggest problem with actions already sporterized is scope holes in the wrong place. The rear hole in the front receiver ring must be far enough forward to miss the recoil lug seat altogether. I look for Mausers that are not already drilled and tapped. If you find a good one (and the GEW's and VZ 24's are fine for normal cartridges), take it to a gunsmith who has the drill/tap fixtures and knowledge to do the job right. It seems that every year there are fewer of us working on Mausers.

Bill Jacobs
Bolt&Barrel Gunsmithing, LLC

 

[boom boom]

need ome pics so many actions made, that vz could be a vz-33. dont now till u look. are the action scrubbed or do they have the original marking.

The biggest problem with actions already sporterized is scope holes in the wrong place. The rear hole in the front receiver ring must be far enough forward to miss the recoil lug seat altogether. I look for Mausers that are not already drilled and tapped. If you find a good one (and the GEW's and VZ 24's are fine for normal cartridges), take it to a gunsmith who has the drill/tap fixtures and knowledge to do the job right. It seems that every year there are fewer of us working on Mausers.

Bill Jacobs
Bolt&Barrel Gunsmithing, LLC

Bubbas do have a tendency to drill random holes in receivers for scope mounts. I passed on one poor 1903 Mannlicher Schoenauer action that looked like Swiss cheese.