Mauser or Enfield?

[dak0ta]

Hi,

I was wondering how to decide which milsurp to get for shooting/hunting.

I've narrowed it to either a Lee Enfield No.4 Mk1 or 2, Jungle Carbine, P14

For the mausers: Russian Capture K98k, Yugo M48BO, Czech Vz 24, Swedish Mauser, US Model 1917

For a starter milsurp, which would be the best? Mosin Nagants are cheap, but I want a little more refinement and accuracy from iron sights,

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The no4 mk1 or mk2 or the jungle carbine would be my choice. Butter smooth action, excellent sights.

 

[yokel]

The bolt action system design of firearm action reached its apotheosis in the Mauser system.

Unlike the Lee-Enfield or Mosin-Nagant actions the Mauser is able to handle modern higher pressure "magnum" cartridges.

Mauser. There is no substitute.

 

[arjppj]

Find a no 1 mk3, its a much more beautiful rifle and shoots like a champ! Plus with the long bayonet attached, it'll scare the sh*t out of the boys who come to date your daughter(Well thats why I'm keeping one). I have a k98 but wish i could get another Lithgow or Falkerzly instead

 

[jimmyraythomason]

All of the choices you mentioned are excellent starters(or finishers for that matter). Another Mauser descendant is the Springfield '03a3. I say get them all eventually but begin with a 98 Mauser.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I have both (MK3), but only slightly prefer the mauser. I think its the sights for me. Although it kicks a bit more than the enfield in my opinion (Not that the enfield is a pussycat).

I would vote Mauser, but if you found a new/very good Enfield you should definately consider it over an good/average mauser. (I'm not helping, am I?)

Just get both and report back to us as to which is your favorite.

 

[Gelgoog]

considering I own all of those I would have to say, either shoot for the M1917 ( best boltgun ever made in my opinion) or the excellent swedish mauser. that being said, the south american mausers of usually the best in terms of fit and finish, even better then a swede.

For condition, the Yugo 48 is probably your best bet in finding a milsurp in like new to unissued condition. Search gunbroker and you'll actually find them at very good prices...seriously, these are practically untouched in most cases.

lee-enfields are nice, but .303 surplus is non-existent, so dont waste your breath. and mosin nagants are a POS, they are as crude as you can make a firearm and are difficult to use in ever respect ( bad trigger, short bolt = hard to cycle, rimmed cartrigde can produce feeding issues, laquered ammunition will build up in the chamber...seriously do not buy a mosin, they suck donkey balls. They are the high point of bolt guns. You are much better investing you money in any other bolt gun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

my two favorites are the Enfield #4 Mk1...i'd avoid the #5 jungle carbine, because it kicks like a mule...and the Swedish Mauser.

the Enfield is a superior fighting rifle, while the Swede is the most accurate and softest shooting

 

[mudriver]

Enfield or Mauser? Might as well ask whether you should date the blonde or the brunette... Date them both!!!!

I have 2 enfields and 4 mausers. The mausers (K98, turk, spanish and 24/47) are better guns, but not much better than the enfields. I would look and see which one you find that is a better gun, get that first. Then get the other!!!

 

[MrFox]

I have an Enfield addiction, and its not a cheap one. I hoard whatever surplus I can find that isn't pakistani, buy privi-partison, and reload.

As to which Enfield, it all comes down to personal taste. They all have 10 round magazines that are charger fed. The No. 1 Mk 3 has a small front sight blade, whereas the No. 4 Mk 1 and 2 have peep sights. The No. 5 is shorter, lighter, has a finer adjustment rear sight, and usually costs more.

The recoil for all Enfields is more or less the same. I can not tell a difference between them.

You won't be making sub MOA groups with an Enfield, but it wasn't made to do that. I've picked up some old crusty ishys that were complety packed in cosmoline and the action was still buttery smooth. They are battle rifles, and they won't fail. As a side note, there is no such thing as the No. 5's having a wandering zero.

Now, as for Mausers, I've got a few of them too. You'll find more surplus ammo. However, for what its worth, they only hold 5 rounds.

I find them to be just as accurate as Enfields. The actions feel different due to how they lock and straight bolts vs bent (unless it has a bent bolt). Recoil might be a little sharper if you can find some Turkish surplus, its hot stuff.

It all depends on the person. While I have both, I would go for any of my Enfields before any of my Mausers.

Actually, I'd go for my K-31 loaded with GP-11 and call it a day.

 

[elmerfudd]

I think the Enfield was a much better design as a battle rifle while the Mauser had much more potential as a sporting rifle. The Mauser action is rock solid and it can handle much more powerful cartridges than the Enfield, but if you're buying this as a milsurp and intend on keeping it stock, that's irrelevant. The Enfield has much, much better sights, (not including 1903's or 1917's). It also has a 10 round mag and can be cycled much faster, (for hunting though that 10 round mag might be a liability).

And as far as Mosin Nagant's go, they can be decent rifles too, especially the Finns. My M39 is probably my favorite out of all my milsurps. They're bargain priced and if you get one that wasn't produced during the war years and check the bore, chances are you'll get a decent rifle. I'd personally rank them a step below the Mausers, but I greatly prefer their sights, (I think Mauser sights were some of the worst ever).

 

[BHP FAN]

Get the K98 and a boat load of 8mm Privi Partizan ammo,and never look back.I've got Enfields and Mausers and Moisens,and you just can't beat the real thing,baby.

 

[Mauserguy]

I would move the P14 into the Mauser catagory. It's basically the same as the M1917.
Mauserguy

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I dont have much experience wih Enfields. I do own a Swedish Mauser, and can say , it is the most accurate, sweetest shooting rifle I have ever fired.

 

[LiquidCourage]

Get the k98. Any country who scores a 250:1 kill to death ratio with a bolt action as their main weapon earns my respect.

 

[armoredman]

I have had a Springfield 1903A3, a Mauser k98, and more than a few Mosins.
I still have an Enfield No4Mk1*. Incredible rifle, and it has given me 1 inch at 100 yards with one handload. Ammo availability/pricing is the only downside, but I reload.

 

[paradox998]

I would go with either a Swedish Mauser or a Persian. The Persians were made by CZ (Bruno) and are great surplus mausers since they never saw wartime action. The Swedes and Persians are reputed to be the most accurate mausers ever produced.

 

[dak0ta]

If YOU were to choose between an Ishapore No.4 Mk1 and a Russian Capture K98k, what would you choose?

 

[DougW]

If it is a true Ishapore made #4mk1 (some have surfaced recently), I would choose that. A Russian capture has been re-arsenaled and will be a sweet rifle with history behind it. A Brit made #4 that has been "reworked" by Ishapore would be a great rifle with less collectors value. My "shooter" #4mk1 is a Fazakerly with the "Ishy screw". My K98 is a Yugo rework, and it retains some German proof's.

My suggestion is to get both of them!!

 

[dak0ta]

What about a Longbranch reworked by Ishy?

 

[madcratebuilder]

Enfield 4/2 or 5/1. Enfield is the only foreign manufactured firearm I own...well except one.

 

[DougW]

dak0ta, the Long Branch is a nice rifle, considered by many to be the finest on the #4 Enfields. As a collector piece, not having been to the Ishy factory is preferred, but I think that since the rifles are getting hard to come by, that the Ishy rework will not make any difference. The difference in value could be 10% to 20%, depending on the overall condition.

 

[mickeydim468]

I have a Fazakarley made Enfield N0.4 MK2 made in 1952, and a M1917 made in 1918 by Remington. Myself I would not consider the M1917 action a Mauser action, because it does not cock on open. It cocks on close like the rest of the Enfields do. That being said, the M1917 is no where as smooth an action as my No.4 is, but it is a straighter shooter the my No.4 is. As for the peep sights on both, they are both pretty accurate and easy to use IMO. Both kick about the same and both are fun to shoot. I went to a range 2 days ago for the first time and ran 45 shots through them total. 25 in the M1917 and I have a bruise the size of a golf ball on my right shoulder. It was still fun and I still will be shooting them again.

As for Mauser's, I do not own one...YET!!! I am having a sporter/hunting rifle built right now that I started out with just the action. If it turns out the way I am hoping it will, a 500yard shot will be an easy shot. I do know that there have been no problems finding aftermarket parts to complete the build and the quality goes from everyday shooter to competition marksman and everything in between.

I really like my Enfields, and I hope to love my Mauser. As others have said already. Pick the one that is in the best condition first, and then get more. They are fun and one is never enough.

Mikey!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Vz24's were made at Brno, Brno made great 98K's. I've shot a jungle carbine and can't say I care for it much. If I was going to get an Enfield I'd get a #4 made by Savage. The 98 gets my vote as a better hunting cartridge, and action.

 

[Zundfolge]

If you just want to buy a rifle and leave it pretty much stock than an Enfield No4 MK 2 is the way to go (especially one of the 1950s Fazakarley models as they are generally unfired and in brand new condition).

If you want to buy a milsurp that you'll re barrel and sporterize, than the Mauser will give you more options.

Of all the guns I've sold over the years, my pristine 1955 Fazakarley No4 MK2 is probably one I regret the most (even though I made a hefty profit on it).