Mauser M48 vs M24/47

[Aguila Blanca]

Other than the M48 having a bent bolt, what's the difference? I see ads for M24/47s that are quite a bit cheaper than the M48s I've been seeing. Is it a less desireable model, or are there just more of them?

If a person has one, is there are particular reason why he should (or perhaps should not) snag one of the other model?

 

[Swampy]

Hawkmoon,

I own both.... Both are decent rifles.

The M48-M48A were built after WWII and into the 50's. Some can be had in relatively new-unissued condition, though those are getting rarer. The 48 is all milled, the 48A has some stamped parts (TG, Mag floor, bands, etc). These also have some sort of blondish, open grain wood. Some folks think it's Euro Elm, others think it's Teak. Unique looking, but not for everyone.
I picked up mine from AIM 4 years back. Unissued. Nice shooter.

The M24-47's are M24 rifles that were re-arsenaled in the 1947 update program, hence the designation. These generally have all milled components and a bit better machine work than the 48's. The actions tend to operate very slick too.... Wood is usually all walnut, maybe a repl handguard of stained Elm (Teak??) but can be VERY well used and oil soaked. I've gotten a couple of these from AIM in the last few years. Nice rifles, though needed a lot of cleanup, and good shooters fer shure.

If you like Mausers, these are decent examples of post WWI and WWII era design. They may not match Czech or Swedes for precision of manufacture, but there is certainly nothing "wrong" with them. The only caveat is that both the M24 and the M48 are intermediate length large ring actions and there are very few aftermarket items that work with them. Everything is oriented to the full length large ring or the small ring Mausers. If you don't intend to do any mods or changes though, then no biggie....

You can see mine at :

www.swampworks.com/SwampysStuff-Home.html

Enjoy,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Swampy --

Very nice web site, and beautiful rifles. Seeing those makes me think it may be worth saving a few extra pennies to move up from a "good" grade to a "VG" or "Excellent" grade.

The M48 and the M24/47 appear to be the same length and virtually the same rifle. Is that what the re-arsenaling program was all about? Given a difference in price, it appears that buying an M24/47 gets you essentially the same rifle as an M48, but a rebuilt rather than new or almost-new manufacture.

Any truth to something I vaguely recall reading about being able to interchange the bolts between the M48 and the M24/47?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Swampy]

Very nice web site, and beautiful rifles. Seeing those makes me think it may be worth saving a few extra pennies to move up from a "good" grade to a "VG" or "Excellent" grade.

If the Excellent grade is still available, then by all means do so.....

The M48 and the M24/47 appear to be the same length and virtually the same rifle. Is that what the re-arsenaling program was all about?

Uh... almost, but not quite. There are some real differences in the rifles that preclude parts interchanging. They are "parts specific".... maybe a couple of small parts will interchange, but don't count on it.

The re-arsenaling of the M24's in the '47 program did nothing more than give them a re-finish, new barrel, and replace any abused or damaged wood-parts. No real changes were made to the overall design.

Given a difference in price, it appears that buying an M24/47 gets you essentially the same rifle as an M48, but a rebuilt rather than new or almost-new manufacture.

Ummmm.... yes-no. They are similar rifles of similar design, caliber, size, etc..... The only real discernable differences are the wood type and the partially turned down bolt on the M48(a).

Overall I prefer the M24-47's. They look more "traditional" with the walnut furniture and the actions are definitely much slicker than the M48's (both my own and others I've handled).

Be aware too that unless you know you are getting one of graded barrel, many of the M48's have been through the recent wars in the Balkans without benefit of any rebuild. Reports abound of sadly abused M48's, pitted bores from corrosive ammo, generous carvings in the stock (names, crests, initials, etc.). There is even the famous "David Hasselhoff" M48. Ol' Dave made it big as a singer in the Eastern part of Europe a while back, much bigger than he ever was here in the states. Some big fan of a Bosnian soldier (male?? female??) had the buttstock of his-her M48 decoupaged with numerous photos of David. This M48 found it's way over here to the states and was sold to some unsuspecting buyer. Photos of this rifle floated around the net for some time......

If you order an M48, be sure to ask the seller about condition of barrel, finish, and wood. If it's available, I'd get the "hand pick" option.

The M24-47's OTOH, seem to have escaped these excesses. Seems that most of them were never issued at all in the recent wars.... rode it out still in the warehouse where they were stored after the rebuilds 50+ years back.

Both, given similar condition, are good rifles. Your chances of getting an excellent to unissued (after the rebuild, of course) rifle are going to be better with the 24-47's, as most of the M48's of that grade have already been sold off (high demand). Personally, I like the 24-47's, but that's just me.

In the end, takes your pick of what you like best.

Just my thoughts,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

Im looking at buying my first Yugo Mauser, and am wondering the diffrence between the M24/47 with matching turned down bolt, And the M48? Also, the M24/47's with the strait bolt ARE the newer "intermediate" length action aren't they?

 

[NCsmitty]

Some people look at these as collector items and others look at these as shooters to harken back to yesteryear and maintain them in original condition. That's great, especially if they are in exceptional condition.
I look for the ones with maybe a bad barrel or cracked stock, as long as the actions are usable for converting to a good sporter. That's what I enjoy doing. I bought a bunch of Turk Mausers when they were the cheap and converted some of them. Now it's the 24/47 and M48/48A & B that's on the market. I have a M48 now that will end up as a 6MM Rem. or 257 Roberts. They are a little harder to find parts for than the full length actions. They are a good, durable action.

NCsmitty

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I have a M24/47, it's a great rifle.

I wrote about it in my blog.

http://minutemanreview.blogspot.com/2008/08/refinishing-of-2447-yugo-mauser.html

 

[AmishFury]

quick answer on why M24/47s are cheaper than M48s... you can still get M24/47s from the importers the last batch of M48s to be brought in has dried up and it looks like they aren't bringing any more in any time soon

 

[elmerfudd]

I think the main reason the M24/47's are cheaper is because the M48's look more like K98's.

FWIW, I've got a 24/47, and it's a good rifle, except for the sights. The metal and bore were like new. The stock was nice, but impregnated with cosmoline.