New Mauser M18

[Captcurt]

I was looking for another Creedmoor for the majority of my deer hunting. I say majority because most of the time the deer are in the timber on acorns. My Bergara is set up with a 6X18 power scope and is a little too much for deer at 30 or 40 yards. Works great during a bad acorn year or during late season when the deer are feeding in the fields.

After some study I found Mauser's M18. Over a dozen reviews sold me on it. It came in last week. This is a pretty nice piece of equipment. It has a 60 degree bolt lift and 3 lug bolt with double ejectors. The bolt body is larger than the lugs making for a smooth action. The first thing that I did was check the trigger pull. It was a nice, crisp 3 lbs out of the box. The barrel is floated and the action is indexed by a square bar imbedded in the stock that fits into a slot in the receiver. I spent an evening lapping the barrel with Iosso.

The stock is decent with a finish that promotes a good grip, wet or dry. It is a step up from the tupperwear stocks that are so prevalent today. Not on the par of a Bergara but not in it's price range either. I dug through my accessory box and found some Leupold bases for a Rem. 700 along with some low rings and stuck a 3x9x40 Vari-XII on it. We are ready to rock and roll.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Can I ask what you paid? Im really interested in these or maybe an m12. Im not a big fan of push feeders/spring ejectors but if im gonna get one it may as well be a mauser. I really wish all these newer guns didn’t have removable box magazines either, thats what turned me off the ruger americans.

 

[troy fairweather]

There good rifles, unfortunately to many think it should be a 98, they fail to forget it's a completely different model.

All the ones I've seen have been very accurate and easy hold the 5 shot moa guaranty which most guns have 3 shot moa not 5.
There's a few things I'd change, like there's a small hitch in the bolt when closing, this is only felt it closed slow and no forward pressure on the bolt. The butt removing is a nice idea but limited to longer length of pull. But thats just me being picky, even at there msrp there a great gun.

The trigger will go below one pound I set mine at just over 2lbs. Both the gun and scope a Burris 3-9x40 and Talley rings were given to me from loonwulf and I've been very happy with it.I'd like to pickup a 243 one day maybe a 7rem mag to lol.

these are the first load work I did with the gun, happy offshoots these leasehold since it is very affordable load. New hornady brass, speer 140 hotcor h-1000 wlr primer I went with the 57gr load. Only 3 shot groups because I didn't have the brass and saved on some powder to.


Here a horrible photo, but the m18 with its older brothers.

 

[troy fairweather]

Can I ask what you paid? Im really interested in these or maybe an m12. Im not a big fan of push feeders/spring ejectors but if im gonna get one it may as well be a mauser. I really wish all these newer guns didn’t have removable box magazines either, thats what turned me off the ruger americans.

They can be had for less then $500 at euroopitcs, I like a floor plate or blind mag, but mause r did good on the dbm here. Same mag they have been using for probably 10 years on sister rifles. It's kinda like if you took a 98 mag and make it a dbm loads the same like the 98s. I would have liked a mag lock.

 

[Nature Boy]

unfortunately to many think it should be a 98, they fail to forget it's a completely different model.

The Mauser 98s do look awesome ($$$)

https://www.mauser.com/en/mauser-98.html

 

[jmr40]

I really wish all these newer guns didn’t have removable box magazines either, thats what turned me off the ruger americans.

You may have to rethink your priorities. The Mauser uses detachable magazines as do most all of the modern rifles for several good reasons. All of those rifles have enclosed bolts which results in a stiffer, more accurate action. The only way to load those is with a detachable magazine.

Also an internal box magazine, either blind or with a detachable floorplate adds another level of complexity and another obstacle that must be overcome to build an accurate rifle. It is a lot cheaper and easier to design an accurate rifle with a DBM.

From an aesthetics perspective I do prefer either blind magazines or those with a floorplate. But the advantages, especially for the price of the DBM rifles can't be denied. I've decided I can live with them.

I still haven't been able to see one of the Mausers in person. But I do like what I'm reading. The bolt looks an awful lot like the Ruger American. I'd be tempted at that price.

 

[Captcurt]

Troy hit it on Europtics. It was $484 with shipping and tax. I have a FFL so that saved me some, but if I had known about the tax I would have sent them my tax number. Most retailers are charging around $600+. I have never had a problem with a push feed. In fact I have had more trouble with a control round feed. Some don't like to be fed one round at a time without coming out of the magazine. Not a big fan of plastic detachable mags either, but like JMR, I can live with them.

 

[LoonWulf]

Euro had the "off" calibers for as low as 350, not that long ago....I ALMOST bought another in 7mm....may still.....

 

[Nature Boy]

Euro had the "off" calibers for as low as 350, not that long ago....I ALMOST bought another in 7mm....may still.....

 

[greyling22]

I'd have one if it came in left handed.....

 

[LoonWulf]

View attachment 929285

They come back down around 350 and im game.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The Mauser 98s do look awesome ($$$)

https://www.mauser.com/en/mauser-98.html

Oh for the want of a lefty Mauser Banner 98 in some cool caliber...

 

[Nature Boy]

They come back down around 350 and im game.

call them and see what they’ll do

I’ve done that before and it usually works

 

[LoonWulf]

Thats not a bad idea..........and i find Shia Labeouf mildly terrifying....


Ill call euro tomorro...today? yeah guess it is tomorrow already. I also see what my ffl buddy can do. Hes already got me looking at a couple other rifles.......

 

[Dinosaur1]

Okay TF, found this post after I posted about the .243 ammo. That 57 gr load looks good to me too. I think you talked me in to one so I'll get rid of the Tikka. Didn't like it anyways. Now, should I get the 6.5 or the .243 and shoot up that old ammo. Tough choice.

 

[troy fairweather]

Okay TF, found this post after I posted about the .243 ammo. That 57 gr load looks good to me too. I think you talked me in to one so I'll get rid of the Tikka. Didn't like it anyways. Now, should I get the 6.5 or the .243 and shoot up that old ammo. Tough choice.

Depends what you want to use it for, how much ammo you got.

 

[Captcurt]

A friend just brought me a Tikka T3 25-06 to list on GB. I got to compare the the Tikka with the Mauser side to side. The Mauser bolt is not as smooth, but the the stock is a step above and the trigger was a nice 3 lbs out of the box. It is also noticeably heavier. If I wanted a light weight rifle I would be tempted to buy the Tikka. I don't hunt out west anymore so I'll keep the guns I have.

 

[troy fairweather]

A friend just brought me a Tikka T3 25-06 to list on GB. I got to compare the the Tikka with the Mauser side to side. The Mauser bolt is not as smooth, but the the stock is a step above and the trigger was a nice 3 lbs out of the box. It is also noticeably heavier. If I wanted a light weight rifle I would be tempted to buy the Tikka. I don't hunt out west anymore so I'll keep the guns I have.

The mauser bolt will slick up, most of the zip you get it from the left upper lug riding in the acrion, a few minutes with some fine sand paper and the mauser is slick as snot. The tikka are very slick tho. Kaiser could do more to Finnish the bolt but it is there cheapest rifle, and they 're made in the same line as the high end rifles so don't see them taking to much time on the m18.

A good range day will slick the m18 right up.I see how the m18 is heavier it's a strong chunky action they use for all there cartridges like the tikka.

 

[LoonWulf]

I think the Mauser not a lot heavier, but it feels chunkier if I'm remembering right....actually weights were like 6.8 and 6.5, for the PRC and T3x .270WSM
I've got the actual data in threads on here somewhere I can go look