Mitchell's Mausers questions
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Todd1700
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Yeah, that one ranked waaaay up there on the "you gotta be f####ng kidding me" scale. I've seen websites where you could get a repro Mosin PU Sniper (which is what they were selling) for a third of that price. And as for charging 250 bucks for the accessory kit that generally comes free with the purchase of a 70 dollar Mosin Nagant? Well there's a special spot in hell for folks who rip people off to that degree. I cannot fathom why anyone would do business with people that have been exposed again and again as being dirty, underhanded, liars. I wouldn't trust them to tell me the correct time of day. And I wouldn't buy a pack of gum from them if they were the last store on earth.
messerist
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I picked up a Mitchell Mauser from a colleague at work for $150! He bought the Collector Grade and just got tired of shooting it(Who knows huh?) I shoot it alot and really like it. As far as the stampings being forgeries I think it is a bad business move by Mitchell but I still like the rifle. For $150 how can I complain?
I understand letting Mitchell's clean up the Yugo 24/47, but paying $300 to $350 for a gun that can be had, just as nice for well less than $200 seems a bit much. I paid $189 for mine and felt that it was a bit too much, as nice as it is. It was cosmoline free and in beautiful condition and one of many that the dealer had. It was probably the same deal that can be had in many, many shops. Plus, there is something about hand picking your rifle in person although all of the ten or so that I looked at were winners.
Olympus
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I think part of the fun is doing the restoring yourself if you're looking for a nice, cleaned up rifle like a Mitchell's. It makes a nice little weekend project. I like to save stuff like that for rainy weekends when there's not much to do outside. It's really not difficult at all. If you're willing to pay that kind of money for a rifle that has already been cleaned up, just buy an old one and send it to me along with the money you saved. I'll be happy to restore the old gun! 
Amen to that! I love sitting evenings at our kitchen table (with my wife and daughter not far away watching TV) cleaning up an old rifle. In some ways that is the very best part, finding the diamond in the rough. It lets you bring the gun back, to a degree, restoring some of its luster, but better yet preserving it. It also gives you a chance to really get to know the rifle even if your activites are just a field strip and not a detail strip. It also allows you to decide for yourself how much evidence of previous use will remain. Such projects are not at all difficult and bring great satisfaction.
If you get into milsurps you might find, like so many of us have, that those marks showing use, scratches, dents and dings, are priceless, standing as testaments to the men who may have desperately depended on the weapon during desperate hours of their lives, some that ended abruptly. To me something like a Mitchell's Mauser seems scrubbed and antisceptic, devoid of the character and history that many of us value. Sure, as a shooter the gun will be fine, but there are many other rifles that will do as well. Mitchell's goes far to sell you that history, and oddly enough that is the only thing that they really don't provide.
Olympus
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I've never refurbished a Mauser, but I've done plently of Mosins for people. I've even picked up a few beaters myself and turned a little bit of a profit on them. My favorite is sitting the garage with the doors up watching it rain outside and sanding on a stock. It's theraputic to me...
OK flame me. 
I own a Mitchell M48A and it does what I bought it for and I paid a decent price for it. I am watching Gunbroker and may pick up another used one some time in the next year or so.
I would go with the M48A and ignore anyone who says otherwise if you want one and know what you are getting for your money. A lot of the 24's have barrels used up by corrosive ammunition, they do not tell you that when they tell you you can get one for $50.00.
Mitchell haters are worse than Mini-14 haters. Sorta like the tanker, find a new production rifle for that caliber cheaper will ya?
I own a Mitchell M48A and it does what I bought it for and I paid a decent price for it. I am watching Gunbroker and may pick up another used one some time in the next year or so.
I would go with the M48A and ignore anyone who says otherwise if you want one and know what you are getting for your money. A lot of the 24's have barrels used up by corrosive ammunition, they do not tell you that when they tell you you can get one for $50.00.
Mitchell haters are worse than Mini-14 haters. Sorta like the tanker, find a new production rifle for that caliber cheaper will ya?
Ash
Member
Not at all. You paid between $100 and $200 more for your Mitchells than I paid for my M48. We both have the same - the exact same - rifle. I suppose you could think of it this way. You got a rifle. For the same price - for the exact same price - I got a rifle and about 2,000 rounds of ammo.
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Olympus
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It would be different if were talking about guns that are hard to find. You can't go in any gun shop or gun show in my area without seeing at least a dozen Mauser rifles. Why buy online when you can see the gun in person? If you're cool with spending double for a gun just so you don't have to search to find the one you want, then you're paying for a service. But Mauser rifles are easy to find, especially Yugos in good shape. So I guess that's why it just seems so silly to buy from Mitchell's. It's your money. You work hard to get it, so you can spend it however you want. I guess I'm just a little more tight with mine.
High Planes Drifter
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Another plus one.
Do the Mitchell's M24/47s actually have new barrels? You can still get a normal milsurp M24/47 for under $150.
In any event, I'm going to have to agree with some of those above on the inherent appeal of an old milsurp. The only milsurp I have that's in truly original (i.e. never altered, reworked, or rearsenaled in any way) is my K31, and the dinged up stock and slightly musty smell it has are really a part of the charm.
In any event, I'm going to have to agree with some of those above on the inherent appeal of an old milsurp. The only milsurp I have that's in truly original (i.e. never altered, reworked, or rearsenaled in any way) is my K31, and the dinged up stock and slightly musty smell it has are really a part of the charm.
Red Tornado
Member
As a respectable cruffler, I'd never by a Mitchell's.
However. I must admit that they are a little like cheap frozen pizza, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cheap frozen pizzas are actually delicious, as long as you don't make the mistake of trying to pretend they're real pizza. They're really quite different.
Similarly, Mitchell's are fine for what they are. I don't pretend that they're historical war pieces, I see them as basically new production rifles made on original receivers. If someone wants a Mauser, but only likes new rifles...Mitchell's has one for them. They even made it look just like the real ones from WWII. Some people aren't concerned with the history. I think it's the same group who doesn't think cosmoline smells good.
Some people don't believe in buying new rifles, some people won't buy used. If you know what you're getting, and you definitely seem to...get the M48.
RT
However. I must admit that they are a little like cheap frozen pizza, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Cheap frozen pizzas are actually delicious, as long as you don't make the mistake of trying to pretend they're real pizza. They're really quite different.
Similarly, Mitchell's are fine for what they are. I don't pretend that they're historical war pieces, I see them as basically new production rifles made on original receivers. If someone wants a Mauser, but only likes new rifles...Mitchell's has one for them. They even made it look just like the real ones from WWII. Some people aren't concerned with the history. I think it's the same group who doesn't think cosmoline smells good.
Some people don't believe in buying new rifles, some people won't buy used. If you know what you're getting, and you definitely seem to...get the M48.
RT
Mr. Bojangles
Member
This may be a bit off topic, but...
It sounds like you are a bit nervous about restoring an old rifle due to safety concerns or the fear of screwing up. If this is the case, purchase a beat-up mosin (rough ones can be had for well under $100.) If you completely screw up and ruin the gun, you havn't lost much.
If you just don't want the hassle or simply enjoy spending more time at the range and less time working on a gun, paying more for something that is finished the way you want it isn't unreasonable.
It sounds like you are a bit nervous about restoring an old rifle due to safety concerns or the fear of screwing up. If this is the case, purchase a beat-up mosin (rough ones can be had for well under $100.) If you completely screw up and ruin the gun, you havn't lost much.
If you just don't want the hassle or simply enjoy spending more time at the range and less time working on a gun, paying more for something that is finished the way you want it isn't unreasonable.
As much as I hate revamping an old thread I have considered a Mitchell as well
I had a Yugo M48, great shooter but the stock comb was so chunky it was ridiculous, whereas the German mausers are thinner.
I am considering one of their German shooter grades but cant find decisive info on them
First let me say I am a shooter, not a collector! I am in no way interested in collectability, just shootability. Id rather have an ugly rifle w/ a great bore, than a greet rifle with a poor bore
My question is do they also refinish their service grades and how are the barrels on them?
I had a Yugo M48, great shooter but the stock comb was so chunky it was ridiculous, whereas the German mausers are thinner.
I am considering one of their German shooter grades but cant find decisive info on them
First let me say I am a shooter, not a collector! I am in no way interested in collectability, just shootability. Id rather have an ugly rifle w/ a great bore, than a greet rifle with a poor bore
My question is do they also refinish their service grades and how are the barrels on them?
Mr_Pale_Horse
Member
Yugoslavian Mausers:
You cannot, with any clarity, say where an existing M24/47 was made, only where it was assembled. The M24/47 is a configuration into which existing receivers and parts from K98, Vz24, and 1924 Yugos were converted as a standard issue weapon for Yugoslavia after WWII.
The M48, actually went into full production much later, more like 1952 when all the bugs were worked out. M48A was up to 1956, M48B 1957, M48BO 1958. Get Branko Bagdanovic's Serbian & Yugoslav Mausers for the particulars. Ludwig Olsen's Mauser Bolt Rifles, although dated, is a better general Mauser source.
You cannot, with any clarity, say where an existing M24/47 was made, only where it was assembled. The M24/47 is a configuration into which existing receivers and parts from K98, Vz24, and 1924 Yugos were converted as a standard issue weapon for Yugoslavia after WWII.
The M48, actually went into full production much later, more like 1952 when all the bugs were worked out. M48A was up to 1956, M48B 1957, M48BO 1958. Get Branko Bagdanovic's Serbian & Yugoslav Mausers for the particulars. Ludwig Olsen's Mauser Bolt Rifles, although dated, is a better general Mauser source.
Marlin 45 carbine
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I don't have one of the Mitchell's but a shooting buddy does and I shot a box through it a couple months back. this one is a shooter for sure.
looked good too. it's a German.
looked good too. it's a German.
NCsmitty
Member
I personally don't have a problem if people purchase Mitchell's firearms. They do feed a niche and essentially people are paying for Mitchell's to sanitize a relic from the past.
I would never buy one myself, but I do know what it takes to clean and refurbish old Mausers.
If people are happy with Mitchell's products and they actually shoot them, more power to 'em.
NCsmitty
I would never buy one myself, but I do know what it takes to clean and refurbish old Mausers.
If people are happy with Mitchell's products and they actually shoot them, more power to 'em.
NCsmitty
jpwilly
Member
I have a michells mauser purchased used for $300 it is a Russian Capture M98 with all markings intact. The rifle is very nice...collectable no nothing like a bring back for that but still very nice.
Olympus
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Nice looking gun. I think a big part of it is some of us are DIYers and others aren't. So people may not know how or have the resources to refinish a gun like that. Some people may not have the time or any other variety of reasons.
I see it as similar to those of us who change our own oil and those of us who take our vehicles somewhere to have it done. Just because you take it somewhere doesn't mean you don't know how. And just because you do it yourself doesn't mean you're too tight to spend money to have it done somewhere. Some of us are just DIYers and some aren't, for any numbers of reasons.
I see it as similar to those of us who change our own oil and those of us who take our vehicles somewhere to have it done. Just because you take it somewhere doesn't mean you don't know how. And just because you do it yourself doesn't mean you're too tight to spend money to have it done somewhere. Some of us are just DIYers and some aren't, for any numbers of reasons.
jimmyraythomason
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Olympus, I am an ASE certified tech (retired) and I NEVER change my own oil!
ThomasT
Member
I just received a Yugo 24/47 from J&G Sales yesterday. I took it apart and had the cosmoline out of the metal in less than an hour. I just used good old gasoline. I also wiped down the stock with it and let the wood set in the sun all afternoon.
Getting the cosmo out wasn't nearly as big a deal as I thought it would be. Not after what I have read from other posters here.
I have it back together now after oiling the stock. I don't like the straight bolt handle. I am thinking about bending it down. Also the stock has at least 4 wood repairs plus the slot for a turned down bolt is plugged. The "matching number" on the stock matches because the old number was sanded off and over stamped.
In hindsight I wish I would have spent a little more money and bought a michell mauser. I have seen them used for $300.00 or so. I also wish I would have saved the money or at least just bought another 30-30.
Getting the cosmo out wasn't nearly as big a deal as I thought it would be. Not after what I have read from other posters here.
I have it back together now after oiling the stock. I don't like the straight bolt handle. I am thinking about bending it down. Also the stock has at least 4 wood repairs plus the slot for a turned down bolt is plugged. The "matching number" on the stock matches because the old number was sanded off and over stamped.
In hindsight I wish I would have spent a little more money and bought a michell mauser. I have seen them used for $300.00 or so. I also wish I would have saved the money or at least just bought another 30-30.
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