Questions about Mausers

[SpeedAKL]

I've been searching the forums reading up on Mausers; they seem to be the best option in affordable milsurp rifles (I'm looking for a shooter, not for one with any collecting significance), and I like the feel/design of them better than Mosins, Enfields, etc.

I saw two long-barrel ones at a local gun shop the other day for around $150 each. They appeared to be in good condition, and though I didn't know as much about the guns then as I do now, they were probably Yugoslavians given the prices that I've seen. Does that price seem fair, too high, too low? I'm still not overly familiar with the guns, but I'm looking for a good, inexpensive milsurp to shoot occasionally and I like them better than Mosins or Enfields.

 

[SpeedAKL]

Looking on the various gun auction sites, prices for them seem to be all over the map, even the cheaper Yugo ones.

 

[Jim K]

In spite of claims that it is "German", a K.98k, "historical", "made during WWII", and so on, the Yugo Model 48 (as in 1948, three years after WWII ended) was not German, or a K.98k or historical. On its own, it is perfectly OK and most are in very good condition. The M 48 has a short receiver so many standard 98 parts and accessories won't fit.

Another Mauser available at reasonable prices is the Czech VZ-24, but it may be hard to get one with a good barrel. It is a standard 98 receiver.

Jim

 

[SpeedAKL]

Like I said, not really looking for a collector gun. As long as the Yugo shoots okay, its fine with me.

 

[oneshooter]

You may be able to find a Turkish Mauser for a good price. Mine is a 1943 built 8mm and was $96 on Auction Arms.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Hypnogator]

Achtung!

A Mauser isn't a Mauser isn't a Mauser.

Be sure the "long barrel" Mausers you were looking at were Model '98s. Sound suspiciously like '93s or '95s to me (although there are plenty of long-barreled '98s out there, too).

The older models should be safe to fire with factory ammo, but I've seen M95s converted to .308, which is WAY too hot for that action. If you're planning to handload, or use the rifle as a basis for a custom rifle in a modern caliber, stick with a '98.

 

[ROMAK IV]

I haven't seen too many long barreled Yugos. More probably Turkish Mausers. The most common will have a moon shaped mark on the recevier. The best way is to buy a Mauser book! I have spent hours trying to find more specific information on Mausers on the "Web". without much luck. To male matters worse, ceretain Mausers were assembled and reassembled into other rifles. Many, like Egyptian and exports of VAZ-24's to certain countries, weren't marked. For a shooter, a Turkish Mauser will be fine. I do have a Turk, a Spanish 93, a VZ-24, probably a Romainian export, no crest, a RC K-98, a Yugo capture K-98, and a GEW 98.

 

[jkingrph]

Some of the really long barreled Mausers are the 1896 Swedish Mauser, but I doubt that you would find one at that price unless it was a total junker.

Read a bit, there are a lot of good Mausers, and "copies" such as the Yugo 48 which can be excellent. You need to know what you are buying because you are into a collector as well as a user market.

 

[Float Pilot]

If you are new to Mauser - Land, a quick way to tell if the action is a 98 style (strong) action, is to see if it cocks when you open the bolt. The 91s, 93s, 95s and Swede 96s all cock the firing pin when you close the action.

I have seen many, many, many older Mausers that were mislabeled by gunstore employees...as 98 type actions...do not go by the tags alone...

Here is a little info on the action sizes...


1) Small Ring M-1893-1896
1.30 in dia.and are 8.50 in length, Straight walled receiver with screw spacing of 7.620.
Small ring have a threaded shank diameter of .980 in. With 12 threads per inch.
These include M-93-96 by Spain, Sweden, Germany. Spanish M-93 bolts have flat bottom, DWM M-95 bolt faces are round. Swedish bolts M-38/94/96 will fit only Swedish.

2) M1910, M1936 Mexicans by FN and Mexico,
1.30 dia. receiver ring,
8.50 in length, with screw spacing of 7.620. Barrel Shank .980
Small ring have a threaded shank diameter of .980 in. With 12 threads per inch
The barrel is a 4-groove with a twist rate of 1:9
Receiver is slightly different from other Small Ring. Mauser (Bolts will not interchange with any other type Mauser).

3) WWI German KAR98A,
1.30 dia. receiver ring, 8.750 in length, with screw spacing, of 7.835 (Long action, Small ring).
Has a threaded shank diameter of 1.100 in. With 12 threads per inch. WWI carbine, Uses a standard M-98 Bolt.

4) Intermediate Large Ring M-98 ,(Large ring, Short action) M-24
1.410 dia. receiver ring, 8.50 in length, with screw spacing of 7.620
Intermediate Large ring have a threaded shank diameter of 1.10 in. With 12 threads per inch.
Mexicans by FN and Belgium, the M24, M47, M48 by FN and Yugoslavia. A large number of M48 Yugoslavian large-ring M98 Mauser have recently been dropped on the market. This M-98 short is considered an intermediate action, and WILL NOT fit a Standard 98 Mauser stocks and standard bolts will not interchange..

5) Large Ring M-98
1.410 dia receiver ring, 8.750 in length, with screw spacing of 7.835. Barrel Shank of 1.100
Large ring have a threaded shank diameter of 1.10 in. With 12 threads per inch.
Including M-98's from WWI and WW2, GEW-98,M-98k, CZ-24, VZ-24,Spanish M-43/44 . Chilean M1912, Steyr Brazilian M1908/34, Brno 98/22, 98/29, DWM / Argentine. M1909, M24/30 Venezuelan, FN M1935 Peruvian, FN Standard Model, Mauser Oberndorf

6) M-33-40 Small Ring,
Long action. Lighting cuts on sides of receiver.
1.30 dia. receiver ring, 8.50 in length with screw spacing of 7.835.
Large ring have a threaded shank diameter of 1.10 in. With 12 threads per inch. Brno Vz-33, CZ-33/40

 

[Limeyfellow]

My favourite would probrobly be the Persian Mausers, made in the old Czechslovakia. Awesome rifles.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

The most cost efficient military surplus rifle would be a Mosin Nagant. Cheap to buy and cheap to shoot.

 

[cracked butt]

If they are M98s and have 29" barrels that you saw, they are likely to be 1903 or M38 turks- the price is about right for them.

Another possiblity if its a M98 is a Czech 98/22 which is far less common, but worth somewhere around $150-200. The receiver will read something like 'Czeska Zbrovka'
If it turns out to be one of these, snap it up, they might not look good, but they tend to be very well made and very accurate rifles.

 

[ROMAK IV]

While we're on the subject, I recently saw two Mausers for sale at a gun store. Both are 7mm, both are a bit rough, with a dark bore but decent rifling. Both are straight bolt, and both are about $250. However, one is Austrian and made by Steyr, I believe, and the other is Columbian and made in Germany. I already have a Spanish 93 Mauser and a decent amount of 7mm, but want something a little stronger to shoot more often. Which would be the better buy? I'm leaning towards the Austrian.

 

[dscottw88]

My Yugo @ Big 5 for $99

Its a great gun, I don't know much about mausers but this one is absolutely dead on and just as reliable as any other german mauser. here is a pic of mine in 8mm. I was lucky enough to find mine at BIG 5 for $99 on sale, they usually have them for $199. As you can tell, $150 is right around there.