M48 Mauser - What Do I Need to Know?

[TenDriver]

My cousin is looking to buy his first rifle, in this case it will possibly be an M48. I will be helping him make the purchase should this turn out to be the rifle for him, but I'm unfamiliar with Mausers. Can y'all give some advice?

Thanks!

 

[greenlion]

They are excellent little rifles, especially for around $200.00. The (good) 8mm surplus ammo has run dry though. The 50's surplus stuff that I've seen for the past year or so is pure crap. The Mosin Nagant Rifle is a better bet if he is wanting to do a lot of cheap shooting. The surplus ammo is plentiful, and as cheap as it has ever been. The Mosin rifle will cost him less than half what a m48 will also. If you decide on the M48, Cheaperthandirt.com had some listed a few days ago for $230.

 

[greenlion]

Also, a lot of people will show up in a minute saying that "the K98 is a more refined version of the Mauser and you should look for a blah blah blah". However, you will not be able to find a K98 in anywhere near the condition I've seen most M48's in. I've seen several in the last two years that looked like they just came off the assembly line yesterday. If you do find a perfect condition K98, it is going to cost you three times as much as the m48.

As an aside, I like the little stripper clips for the M48 Mauser much better than the ones for the Mosin Nagant. You can also really do a lot with the 8mm round if you get into handloading, which is not really true of the 7.62x54.

 

[TheAvenger]

I owned a M48 and VZ-24. If you can buy a M48 for around $175-250.00 do it, but do not get trapped into buying one of those "New-old stock" and pay $550.00 for it. I would say for hunting purposes the M48 would be great because it is a 8MM which is good for anything in North America except for the "Great Bears" (Grizzly, Brown, Polar). It has a good killing range on deer out to 350 Yards (30-06-ish). The M48 is great to have customized if he ever wanted to have that done, but it can get expensive. Just remember to check the rifle out before you buy it, ask a gunsmith to check the rifle out before you buy it, if you are buying it from a individual ask him to meet you at your local gunsmith. They are great rifles if you can get one at the right price.

By the way the M48 is between a short-action and standard-action, so if you wanted to have it re-chambered to a 30-06 or the like would not work. However, you could probably do a Winchester Short Magnum or short-action round.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Slav's built several nice bolt guns based on the Mauser action. The M48 and M48A's, B's and BO's are all post war construction with the BO's being the best of the lot. Some of the early M48's suffer from sticky bolt's.

The M24/47's are nice rifles and can be found with near new barrels. The M24/52C's are extra nice but cost about twice what the M48's.

You can go wrong with any of them. Be sure and strip and clean the bolt. The bolts are packed full of cosmoline and well cause light strikes.

 

[TenDriver]

Thanks guys. I found him one on Armslist with an asking price of $350 including 100 rds in strippers. I thought it's a little high but if a deal can be worked I think he might go for it.

He's shot my Mosin and likes it, but wants something different. He's also aware of ammo costs but is willing to sacrifice that for the gun he wants. Neither of us reload right now but at some point I'll have to start. After I get some experience with it, I'll reload for his 8mm along with my stuff.

 

[tahoe2]

M48

those M48's are awesome guns, you will probably end up getting one after you shoot his.
Then you guys will have to reload,... that's where the real fun starts.
Tailoring loads for each gun and having your own competitions.

 

[denton]

The Yugo M48 and 24/47 are typically very good rifles at a moderate price.

They don't command higher prices partly because they cannot be converted to 30-06, 270, etc. As stated, the action is just the right length for the 8x57, 7x57, and the 6.5x55. If you're not doing a conversion, that is to your benefit.

Even in quite good condition, I'd have a hard time paying much over $200 for one. At $350 there are better alternatives for an all-around rifle. Some of the new, low cost bolt rifles can be had used for around $300 or even less.

They will tend to shoot quite high with the factory sights, which are designed for very long shots.

My eyes are 68, and I don't do well with notch and post sights anymore. I solved that problem and the high shooting problem my replacing the sights with Mojo Sights. For around $70, they make a big improvement in the usefulness of the rifle. In fact, I'd be quite happy hunting most anything with my Yugo 24/47.

The 8x57 is a very good cartridge. However, many of the commercial loads are wimpy. To get good ammo, you'll probably have to make it yourself. If you look around, there are 8x57 loads available for "modern firearms in good condition". You can safely get 2750 FPS with a 175 grain bullet, or 2600 FPS with a 200 grain bullet. The 175 grain bullet is excellent on deer, elk, and anything smaller. The 200 grain bullet is decisive on game that can bite back.

 

[TenDriver]

He was able to work a deal, so we're going to pick it up tomorrow. Still a little pricey, but he's getting 100 rds on clips and no shipping or FFL fees.

I'm going to make the assumption that surplus 8mm is corrosive?

Also, has anyone had headspace issues with these rifles? I don't have gauges and didn't find any to borrow. Seller claims to have fired a few rounds through it, but I'd hate for it to have problems after he gets it home.

 

[1948CJ2A]

I picked up a M48 circa 2003 for $99 at a LGS. I sent it to ER Shaw and had them rechamber to 250 Savage. I put a decent piece of walnut on it, a Timney trigger, and a cheap Bass-Pro scope. Thing shoots like a champ and with the lack of recoil, you can shoot it all day.

I never shot it before I rechambered so couldn't tell you about the headspace concerns. As for the corrosive ammo concerns, most you find that comes from overseas as some type of surplus ammo tends to be corrosive. Some folks don't mind that and clean their rifles diligently after shooting that stuff. I don't mess with it period but that's just me.

 

[waho]

Question, wouldn't it have been just as easy to just buy a Mauser action and then do what you did? Was the purpose of buying the M48 to get the action? Just curious why you went that path.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Question, wouldn't it have been just as easy to just buy a Mauser action and then do what you did? Was the purpose of buying the M48 to get the action? Just curious why you went that path.

Waho - (assuming you're talking to me) Because the entire rifle was $99 and in fair condition I decided the collectible value was inferior to the potential value of a custom rifle. I'm not one of those who gets their feathers ruffled when folks modify or sporterize military rifles. In the case of Mauser 98s (generally speaking) there were over 5,000,000 built.

Additionally, if you purchase an entire rifle versus just an action you can keep a bin of spare parts or sell them if you like. Typically speaking when I have built rifles on M-98 actions in the past, I've re-used all or some of the following parts:

• Receiver
• Bolt (assembled)
• Trigger guard

But you bring up a great point, I definitely could have just hunted down a receiver and parts listed above. They are relatively common on Gun Broker as well as some LGS.

 

[Rampant_Colt]

I'm unfamiliar with Mausers. Can y'all give some advice?

I'm going to make the assumption that surplus 8mm is corrosive?

Get a decent slip-on recoil pad







Most 8mm mil-surp ammo that I'm aware of is corrosive

 

[txcookie]

They are awesome

 

[waho]

1948, I have no problem with converting or fixing something that I own, I'm not stuck on keeping something original, especially if it can be improved. Sounds as if you made a fine shooter out of it, and that's what is all about, shooting.

 

[rikman]

Fun cheap and accurate ...I reload for mine though. Don't want to shoot corrosive ammo through it.

 

[tahoe2]

shootin the M48A

went to the woods yesterday shootin mausers, marlins & M4's
the target is 10 rounds from the M48 (5-200 grn @ 2400 fps & 5-175 grn 2600fps) from 100 yds standing w/sling, military sights.