I was looking at buying one of the Mitchell Mausers M48 made in Serbia in 1943. I heard a military collector make the statement they were way overpriced and there was a lot of difference between a M48 and a German 98. What exactly is the difference other than where they were made? I was just looking for a nice clean shooter that was in 8mm Mauser. Having the "real" thing was not really high on my list. What say you and were would you suggest to go to get the best buy on either a M98 or M48 shooter?
Tell me about a Mauser 98 vs M48?
- Thread starter Bill B.
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spacemanspiff
Senior Member
to begin with, the m48/m48a is a fine gun. however, what myself and other milsurp enthusiasts object to is how mitchells tries to market them as. i'm sure you've seen the ads in various gunrags, for a 'WWII-era unissued German K98 M48'.
its misleading, as many people (do a search for mitchells here, you'll see that theres a LOT of other people who are lured in by mitchells advertising) assume its a rifle that *would* have been issued to an axis soldier.
now, others will correct me, but i was under the impression that all the mitchells m48s were made after the war?
peruse your local gunshops and pawnshops, you just might find an actual pre-WWII mauser in good condition. there are a couple of sources for them, the yugoslavians captured a bunch of k98s, wiped as much identifying marks as they could from the action, and put them in storage. these typically have etched on them 'M98' or 'Mod 98'. they are very nice rifles.
the others come from russia, who recently started selling off their supplies, and now theres a good amount of russian capture mausers available. they seem to have had more wear/tear, then again, they were surrendered by germans on the eastern front.
both the russians and yugos rearsenaled everything, and after they put them all back together, etched matching serial numbers on them. the russians did a slightly poorer job at this than the yugos, in my opinion.
personally, i like the idea of the history behind a german rifle captured by allied forces. theres usually a lot more personality in such a rifle, than a m48a that has gone straight from the factory to storage.
also, dimension-wise, the m48's were not exactly the same as k98s were. you'd almost have to hold them both to see what i mean.
its misleading, as many people (do a search for mitchells here, you'll see that theres a LOT of other people who are lured in by mitchells advertising) assume its a rifle that *would* have been issued to an axis soldier.
now, others will correct me, but i was under the impression that all the mitchells m48s were made after the war?
peruse your local gunshops and pawnshops, you just might find an actual pre-WWII mauser in good condition. there are a couple of sources for them, the yugoslavians captured a bunch of k98s, wiped as much identifying marks as they could from the action, and put them in storage. these typically have etched on them 'M98' or 'Mod 98'. they are very nice rifles.
the others come from russia, who recently started selling off their supplies, and now theres a good amount of russian capture mausers available. they seem to have had more wear/tear, then again, they were surrendered by germans on the eastern front.
both the russians and yugos rearsenaled everything, and after they put them all back together, etched matching serial numbers on them. the russians did a slightly poorer job at this than the yugos, in my opinion.
personally, i like the idea of the history behind a german rifle captured by allied forces. theres usually a lot more personality in such a rifle, than a m48a that has gone straight from the factory to storage.
also, dimension-wise, the m48's were not exactly the same as k98s were. you'd almost have to hold them both to see what i mean.
Be careful what pay for Milsurps
You can buy a M48 in good to very good condition for around $100 with a C&R license from several sources right now. A German K98k in good condition, not all the marks, can be gotten for less than $150 from several reputable sources also.
If I do this right a picture will be attached and the top rifle is a K98k and the bottom a M48.
You can buy a M48 in good to very good condition for around $100 with a C&R license from several sources right now. A German K98k in good condition, not all the marks, can be gotten for less than $150 from several reputable sources also.
If I do this right a picture will be attached and the top rifle is a K98k and the bottom a M48.
Attachments
IMHO, the people at Mitchell's are nothing but swindlers. They're selling post war M48's and duping unsuspecting collectors.
As posted above you can find good condition M48's for pretty cheap. If you're looking for a K98K with markings, I'd suggest that you look into a Russian Capture K98K. For about $200 you can get a rifle with all the Nazi markings and have a rifle used during WWII.
As posted above you can find good condition M48's for pretty cheap. If you're looking for a K98K with markings, I'd suggest that you look into a Russian Capture K98K. For about $200 you can get a rifle with all the Nazi markings and have a rifle used during WWII.
Beetle Bailey
Member
IINM, Mitchell's Mausers wants $300 for an unissued Yugo M48. A couple years ago unissued M48's could be had for about $180, so Mitchell's earned a reputation for being overpriced. Also, as other posters have already mentioned, many people feel they advertise in a deceptive manner. I would search the online gun auctions for a nice M48 rather than pay Mitchell's Mausers price.
I've got an M48 I use as my "beater rifle." It shoots better than 2" groups with Yugo surplus 8mm ammo. It works just fine and you can't beat a low cost rifle that shoots low cost ammo. As far as differences between the M48 and my RC 98k, most of the differences are cosmetic. The most notable is that the M48 has an "intermediate length action" vs. the 98k's "long action."
I compared the two bolts side by side and the M48 bolt is just a little bit shorter, just short enough that the bolts aren't interchangable. Not a big deal unless you plan on customizing or if you somehow accidentally lose the bolt.
Personally, I like my RC 98k better since it shoots well also, and has a great deal of history and therefore, a great deal of personality. But if you are just looking for a shooter, go with a good Yugo M48. HTH.
I've got an M48 I use as my "beater rifle." It shoots better than 2" groups with Yugo surplus 8mm ammo. It works just fine and you can't beat a low cost rifle that shoots low cost ammo. As far as differences between the M48 and my RC 98k, most of the differences are cosmetic. The most notable is that the M48 has an "intermediate length action" vs. the 98k's "long action."
I compared the two bolts side by side and the M48 bolt is just a little bit shorter, just short enough that the bolts aren't interchangable. Not a big deal unless you plan on customizing or if you somehow accidentally lose the bolt.
Personally, I like my RC 98k better since it shoots well also, and has a great deal of history and therefore, a great deal of personality. But if you are just looking for a shooter, go with a good Yugo M48. HTH.
cracked butt
Member
The M48s weren't made until 1950 and the M48as weren't made until at least 1952.
The 1943 date on the receiver refers to the formation of new Yugoslavia. The roman numerals in the crest are the month and date of this occurance.
MilsurpShooter
Member
The M48 was made in Yugoslavia after the war, it's own historical mention is that it is regarded as the last bolt action rifle to be produced in mass for war, and is still used in a sniper role at times. The hand guard extends past the point where it would on a K98, and the action is a little bit shorter then the standard K98, means standard parts for the K98 may not exactly fit the M48. Mitchells, well... I admit my rifle is from them before I knew better and I can't ask for more, however you can get much better deals in other places. Just don't go to Mitchells and buy an M48 expecting it to have the waffenampt and the initials of some Konrad Heimler in it lol.
K98 and M48 both fire the same ammo, due to the M48 being a semi newer rifle you can get a good barrel or maybe even an un-issued if you look around, try that with a K98. The only thing it has going against it is the lack of historical perspective.
K98 and M48 both fire the same ammo, due to the M48 being a semi newer rifle you can get a good barrel or maybe even an un-issued if you look around, try that with a K98. The only thing it has going against it is the lack of historical perspective.
I have no clue about the history issues, but I did buy a Mitchell's Mauser from a local shop for the same $300 advertised price you see in the magazine ads. It came in the Mitchell's box with bayonet and all the accoutrements in plastic wrap.
Some friends did the same. Ours shoot great, and we enjoy them. I frequently read about how you can get a similar rifle or better for much less $, but we never see Mausers in our local shops or gun shows except those that have been sporterized and do not have the extra accompaniments.
I may have been screwed, but I enjoyed it and felt like I got my money's worth.
If I see one of those great deals I read about appear in a local shop or show, I'll grab it. Meanwhile, I have a really neat and fun $300 rifle leaned up in the corner with the trusty bayonet affixed. It's a great shooter and an interesting conversation piece.
Some friends did the same. Ours shoot great, and we enjoy them. I frequently read about how you can get a similar rifle or better for much less $, but we never see Mausers in our local shops or gun shows except those that have been sporterized and do not have the extra accompaniments.
I may have been screwed, but I enjoyed it and felt like I got my money's worth.
If I see one of those great deals I read about appear in a local shop or show, I'll grab it. Meanwhile, I have a really neat and fun $300 rifle leaned up in the corner with the trusty bayonet affixed. It's a great shooter and an interesting conversation piece.
Cosmoline
Member
Which of course it wasn't. The Finns continued producing M-39's into the 1970's, the Danes were making the Madsen for Columbia well into the 1950's, and of course many nations continue to produce and issue bolt action rifles for snipers and marksmen right up to the present day. Not only that, but the Soviet M-44 Mosin was still being made into the late '40's and in Poland, China, Romania and other USSR allies well into the 1950's.
Remander you can get such deals
All you have to do is get a Curio and Relic firearms license. It's not near the trouble to get and maintain as a Class 1 license. AIM, Century, SOG, etc. will ship direct to you at "wholesale" prices. I write "wholesale", but at least discounted from the average gun store.
Here is a link to one site that tells you about it...not my own site, I might add.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/howtogetyourcurionrelicffl03/index.asp
All you have to do is get a Curio and Relic firearms license. It's not near the trouble to get and maintain as a Class 1 license. AIM, Century, SOG, etc. will ship direct to you at "wholesale" prices. I write "wholesale", but at least discounted from the average gun store.
Here is a link to one site that tells you about it...not my own site, I might add.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/howtogetyourcurionrelicffl03/index.asp
TooTaxed
Member
Thanks for the link for a C&R, Niner!
kjeff50cal
Member
Cosmoline said:
I have a Lee Enfield 2A (Indian, LE Mod I Mark III* based battle rifle) in 7.62 X 51 Nato that was made in 1968 (not rebarreled nor rearsenaled). It may have been rearsenaled later in life but it was manufactured in 1968 in Ishapore Arsenal. (And no she is not for sale
)kjeff50cal
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