More Mauser questions

[tlend]

Hi everyone, I'm a new user to the site and I'd like to pick your brains for some information. I recently bought a Yugo m24/47 8mm Mauser in great condition. I believe it is unmodified because I bought it at a local retail store (Big 5 Sportng goods.) I looked everywhere for some information on the rifle twist rate (1in 9??) and what ammuntion the factory sights are zeroed for, but so far have been unsucessful. I understand the original chambering was for a heavier bullet but was eventually changed to a lighter one. Does anyone know what bullet weight the sights/twist rate were designed around?

Thx in advance!

 

[xd45gaper]

i dont know if this helps your or not but if you go to your local bookstore shootgun news has a secondary issue out right now all about refurbishing Mausers. i just thumbed threw it tonite and the had some other info on Mausers.

 

[Cosmoline]

You should check the twist rate yourself but on an 8mm my bet is it will be closer to 1-in-10. The tighter rates tend to be found in 7x57 and Argentine Mausers. Since 1905 the standard ball size for 8x57JS was 154 grain spitzer fired at a blistering 2,800 fps. Different military forces had widely divergent standards for what constituted "sighted in," though. And there were many variations on the basic 8x57JS cartridge from heavy ball to AP to practice ammo. Try a mix and see what your rifle likes.

 

[tlend]

Thanks for the help. My first Mauser and I wanted to get it all right before I took the first shot!! In the end I guess nothing beats trial and error.

 

[cracked butt]

Mauser 98 carbines are designed to use 198g ammo. It doesn't mean that 154gr ammo won't work well but the sights are more often than not graduated for 198 gr ammo.

I understand the original chambering was for a heavier bullet but was eventually changed to a lighter one

Yes and no. They went from a heavier .318" diameter roundnosed bullet to a lighter 323" diameter spitzer. When the mausers carbines were beginning to catch on after WWI, it was found that the 154 gr loads often gave too much muzzle flash or blast so the ammo was switched to 198 gr loads, countries that retained full length rifles such as turkey continued to use 154 gr bullets. Any 8x57JS rifle will shoot any 8x57JS ammo, it just depends on the particular rifle. For the 24/47 rifle, I'd try 198 gr Yugo surplus first.

 

[Cosmoline]

Mauser 98 carbines are designed to use 198g ammo. It doesn't mean that 154gr ammo won't work well but the sights are more often than not graduated for 198 gr ammo.

I thought they only made that shift for K-98k's because of the excess flash, not for the earlier production Mausers.

 

[cracked butt]

I thought they only made that shift for K-98k's because of the excess flash, not for the earlier production Mausers.

Yes.

Funny that you posted that at the same time I edited my post.

 

[pbhome71]

The Yugo made 8mm ammo are 198gr. You can get Yugo surplus here:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_8mm.html

This is pretty good price for '70 ammo. Many users reported good results. I haven't tried it, but will order some.

-Pat