School me in Mausers

[mountain_man]

I have been recently wanting to get a bolt action rifle to use as a general purpose hunting rifle for coyotes up to deer. I was wanting iron sights on it with the option of scoping it, and had been thinking of getting a new savage in .243 (I know no irons). In my reading on the internet I stumbled upon the wonderful world of mausers. I started looking at a sweedish mauser (fair to good condition) in 6.5x55 or a yugo (very good/excellent) in 8mm mauser.

I was only going to use this rifle for up to 300 yards. Are these surplus rifles reasonably accurate? The price on them is very attractive, and I don't immediately have to spend money on glass, and shots will be limited until glass goes on it. Would either of these be a good fit for my purpose?

 

[dak0ta]

I'd recommend a commercial FN 98 mauser action. The surplus rifles are good, but you may find them heavy to lug around (they aren't heavy at 9 lbs, but don't forget all the other gear you're carrying).

Benefits: Very safe action, can be loaded hot, ergonomic, decent triggers, 5 shot capacity, controlled round feeding, external ejector, reliable
Cons: scope mounting, military safety, case head not entirely surrounded by bolt face, ejector cut in bolt (weaker?)

I own a Husqvarna 8x57 and it's super accurate. It basically combines the best of everything.

A FN Commercial 98 receiver (so no stripper clip guide and solid left wall) - stronger receiver than the military mausers; also the Belgians make good stuff. It's also a German design.

Next, the Swedes bought the receivers and screwed on their barrels, which are made of the best steel out there.

Product is a very well balanced Mauser that is light but doesn't feel stout with 8x57 200 gr Euro loads. The sights are express flip up sights at 100, 200, 300 meters.

Best thing is that Husky rifles are relatively inexpensive ($350-600) to other offerings and they're genuine Mauser actions, not cheapened like modern manufacturers i.e. Ruger, pre-64 Winchester 70s.

You can pick them up in all calibers, 30-06, 6.5x55, .270, .308, 8x57 etc.

640 Action = FN 98 action used; Also look for a Husqvarna 1640 which is the Improved Mauser Action on the 96 Mauser, so it's a small ring, has a slide safety for easier scope mounting.

Mausers are good hunting rifles, safe, solid, reliable, ergonomic. Just a word of caution is that with military mausers, the safety causes scopes to be mounted way high, so you either switch it out for a commercial low swing safety or get a scout mount.

 

[cal30_sniper]

My advice for what you're looking to do would be to find a sporterized Swedish Mauser. They are the cream of the crop of military rifles, especially in the accuracy department. 6.5x55 is the perfect cartridge for what you're looking at doing.

For my bobcat/coyote to deer sized hunting, I have a M96 Swedish sporter with a 20" barrel, a Fajen Walnut stock, a low scope safety, and an old El Paso Weaver V9 scope in medium weaver style rings. I load 85grn Sierra Varminter hollowpoints over IMR3031 powder for smaller game, and 140grn Sierra Gameking BTSPs over H4350 and Reloder 19 for deer. The rifle is exceptionally accurate with both loads. It's also significantly lighter action than the later 98 Mausers. I have another M94 Swedish sporter with a 16" barrel, walnut stock, and Williams peep sights. It's death on rabbit to deer sized game, and its always a toss up between grabbing it and my 16" Win 94 trapper in .357 Magnum when I want a light, short, handy rifle to knock about the pasture with.

The Husqvarna 640s are awesome rifles, and you shouldn't pass up one of those either if you can find one. I have one in .270, and it's a dream to shoot and carry. Much lighter than most other commercial bolt action rifles, and an action that feels like it's on roller bearings.

I think that you'll find 8x57 a little bit much for shooting Coyotes and varmint sized game. Remember, it's essentially the ballistic equivalent of the .30-06. Then again, modern American loads perform more like a .30-30, so you may be alright there. I still think that you'll find the Swede a far superior rifle.

 

[morcey2]

My recommendation: Look for a mauser that someone else has already sporterized. 6.5x55, 7x57, 8x57, 30-06, 308, or even 7.65x53 would be sufficient for what you're suggesting. I've seen quite a few that go for sub-$300 and have already been D&T'd for optics. As to whether that was a professional quality job or bubba-with-a-hand-drill job can be tricky to determing without being able to shoot the gun prior to purchase. Be willing to sort through quite a few to find one with a good bore and crown.

I've got many mausers and hunt primarily with them (1903 excepted). The stock sights on most of them are lousy for precision shooting beyond about 100 yards. The older your eyes get, the shorter that distance is. If you pick up a Yugo 24/47 or M48, you'll have effectively a new gun. The sights aren't great, as I've said, but you can replace them with a Mojo Sight for not too much. It's an adjustable rear peep sight which replaces the original rear sight and has an improved front sight.

As cal30_sniper has said, 8x57 is a little much for coyotes and smaller, but it will work. I've got a 7x57 that fills that hole right now, but it's still just a little too much. I've got both a 257 Roberts and 6mm Remington being built right now. (both based on the 7x57 cartridge.)

Something else with 8x57 is that you'll need to shop judiciously for ammunition. Federal, Winchester, and Remington ammo is loaded very lightly to keep it from blowing up 1888 Commission rifles with a 0.318" bore and has about the same ballistics as a 30-30. Prvi Partizan is a little bit better, but not much. Hornady, S&B, Norma, and one other that I'm forgetting all have full power loads, but they're a little pricey. If you reload, that's much better because you can load what you want. My hunting loads are 175 grain Sierra and 200 grain Nosler Partitions.

Conclusion: You might be dollars ahead buying a savage Axis or Stevens 200 in 243, 7mm-08, 30-06, or 308 from the get-go. Stevens usually go for less than $400 new. Used Savage axis with scopes are selling for around $400 in this area at the moment. One of the mausers will probably get you where you want to be initially, but you're looking at about $150 for the bolt handle to be forged or welded, a low-swing safety installed, and the receiver to be drilled-and-tapped for a scope.

Matt

 

[mountain_man]

Are there any new production rifles in 6.5 swede? The more that I read about it the more that I really like it. It seems like it provides really good performance and doesn't punish the shooter. How is the ammo availability for 6.5 in the US?

 

[dak0ta]

CZ, Tikka, SAKO

 

[Cosmoline]

Depending on what you're shooting, the twist rate can make a difference with the 6.5. The military bores tended to be given a fast twist for the long bullets they used. Most modern loading tend to favor the smaller bullets.

Also keep in mind that the original Swedes are '96 not '98. They're a lighter, faster handling action that isn't quite as strong. The original surplus rifles will often have a bras disk where the current bore wear and other facts were notated over the course of the rifle's history.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Are there any new production rifles in 6.5 swede? The more that I read about it the more that I really like it. It seems like it provides really good performance and doesn't punish the shooter. How is the ammo availability for 6.5 in the US?

PPU, 139 gr SP all the way.

I've been getting it for about $15 per 20 online.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Conclusion: You might be dollars ahead buying a savage Axis or Stevens 200 in 243, 7mm-08, 30-06, or 308 from the get-go. Stevens usually go for less than $400 new. Used Savage axis with scopes are selling for around $400 in this area at the moment. One of the mausers will probably get you where you want to be initially, but you're looking at about $150 for the bolt handle to be forged or welded, a low-swing safety installed, and the receiver to be drilled-and-tapped for a scope.

You can buy one heck of an older commercial Mauser 98 or a really, really nice sporter job for $400. I have never understood why so many people buy "brand new" rifles of dubious quality and worksmanship when such fine old examples are available, and usually for less money. A well cared firearm is easy to identify, as is a bad sporter job. If it looks like a hack job, it most likely is. If the exterior is done well, and the work appears to be quality, chances are, so is the mechanical work that you can't really see. Just stay away from other people's junk and you'll usually be perfectly okay.

Depending on what you're shooting, the twist rate can make a difference with the 6.5. The military bores tended to be given a fast twist for the long bullets they used. Most modern loading tend to favor the smaller bullets.

I shoot 85 grain bullets out of 3 of my 4 Swedish Mausers with great results (all military barrels, in lengths from 17" to 29"). I haven't tried them through the M96/38 I just picked up, but I probably will soon. In the other rifles, they are just as accurate as the 140grn loads that I have tried. 120grn bullets worked good in all 3 as well.

 

[stan rose]

Some of my favorite rifles are sporterized Mausers from the 50's and 60's. While there are a lot of poorly done ones out there the nice ones are every bit as good as a modern commercial rifle, some are like custom rifles.

 

[morcey2]

You can buy one heck of an older commercial Mauser 98 or a really, really nice sporter job for $400. I have never understood why so many people buy "brand new" rifles of dubious quality and worksmanship when such fine old examples are available, and usually for less money. A well cared firearm is easy to identify, as is a bad sporter job. If it looks like a hack job, it most likely is. If the exterior is done well, and the work appears to be quality, chances are, so is the mechanical work that you can't really see. Just stay away from other people's junk and you'll usually be perfectly okay.

No argument from me, but they're getting a little harder to find. I've been able find a that would be worth it, but many of the ones I've seen lately are of questionable construction. or deconstruction in the case of some of the D&T jobs. Find a good one, and it's the best deal out there especially if you get one with good optics already on it.

Matt

 

[headoftheholler]

+1 on a sporter swede (6.5x55)
Find one that has already been D&T'd, I own two, one is a Kimber conversion and the other is in a nice Fajen walnut stock, both are way, way, more accurate than I am, and I can shoot pretty damn well.

 

[Elkins45]

Less than three years ago I bought a NIB Zastava commercial 98 Mauser pattern rifle for just a tad over $300 including tax. This was from an FFL retail shop in Louisville. I sold it because I had the opportunity to buy the same gun in a true LH action and just couldn't pass it up.

There are some great used Interarms and FN commercial guns ou there just waiting to be given a new home, and all for about the same price as one of the entry level Savage or Marlin guns. No offense to those fine gunmakers, but I would choose a 98 Mauser over an Axis every time.

 

[dak0ta]

If you like the 96 action, but want some 98 features, I really recommend the Husqvarna 1600 series in 30-06. Trust me.

 

[Numeric]

I have a M98-pattern CZ-Brno Vz.98/22 that shoots 2MOA with surplus Yugoslavian M49. These are very well-built rifles that ironically command less $$$ than almost any other M98-pattern rifle.

 

[Float Pilot]

I have been thinking about thinning my rifle herd...
While it is utilitarian, I will probable sell the titanium M-700 before I sale any Win M-70, Husky 1600s actioned rifle or other Mauser type action.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Here's a few of my favorite Mauser sporters from my collection...

M96 Carl Gustaf Swedish Mauser Sporter, 6.5x55. 20" barrel, Fajen walnut stock, Weaver mounts and rings, and an old El Paso Weaver V9.

M95 Chilean Mauser, 7x57. 24" barrel, walnut stock, single stage trigger, Weaver mounts and rings, vintage Redfield 4X scope.

Husqvarna 640 (FN Mauser 98 commercial action), 270 Win. Early 1950s manufacture, Leupold mounts and rings, old El Paso Weaver K6 rangefinding reticle scope.

Model 1909 Peruvian Mauser sporter, 7x57 Ackley Improved. 24" heavy sporter barrel, Timney Featherweight Trigger, FN Mauser low swing safety, Redfield Base and Leupold Rings, another old El Paso Weaver V9 scope. I'm still working on finding a good stock for this one. The one it came with isn't too pretty, and the LOP is set up for a kid or small woman.

No way you could talk me into trading any of these for a new Savage, Stevens, Mossberg, Remington, Ruger, etc. You can't replace old time craftsmanship and history, it gives a weapon a certain amount of character.

 

[Gordon]

Factory Mauser Sporter in 8x57mm was brought back by my Uncle from WW2 Germany. He used it for hunting deer in up state NY with other NYPD cops up to the mid 50s.I have never hunted with it but have shott it maybe400 times and it is sighted in and accurate. He had the Lyman rear peep installed in 1953.
[ [/URL]

Rare Savage Model 1920 "Mini Mauser" in .250 Savage-Sweet!


I have a FEW other Mausers but they are mostly original milsurps : 1912 Steyr short Rifle in .308, FN 98 "Palace Guard" carbine in 30-06 , 1891 Argentine Engineer Carbine in 7.65 ,1894 Swedish Carbine in 6.5 and a 1934 Brazilian Carbine in 7x57 to name a few. The 98 pattern IS superior in every way IMHO

I picked this 1909 Argentine Militia short rifle in 30-06 up a year or so ago and it is my "rough rifle" because I can legally carry it unloaded in a locked rack in my truck with 30-06 five round strippers in my glove box.It can go into actionvery quickly, is reliable as a rock and puts the 220 grain Corelokt Remingtons which the sights seem set for at 100 yards into 3" rested on the hood of my truck.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Factory Mauser Sporter in 8x57mm was brought back by my Uncle from WW2 Germany. He used it for hunting deer in up state NY with other NYPD cops up to the mid 50s.I have never hunted with it but have shott it maybe400 times and it is sighted in and accurate. He had the Lyman rear peep installed in 1953.
[ [/URL]

That is a gorgeous rifle...

 

[dak0ta]

Husqvarna 640 (1952) chambered in 8x57 IS

 

[rodinal220]

CZ550 series and some of their other bolt guns use Mauser based actions.The CZ 527 is a mini-mauser action for the 7.62x39 round.

 

[mountain_man]

Float Pilot, I have never heard or seen the husquvarna rifles before, they seem well built. What do they go for?

 

[dak0ta]

They go for very good prices considering the build quality, steel quality, smoothness, fit and finish, pride of ownership.

$350-$800 I'd say depending on model. 640, 1640, 9000 are the main ones. 9000 being push feed.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I paid $300 for my Husqvarna 640 in .270. They can be had for less than $400, the problem is finding one. They're not the most common bolt action rifle out there.

 

[Boxhead]

The 96 Swede can be made into a fine 7x57 that I know.