Turn down the bolt on M24/47 Mauser?

[dscottw88]

I Have a Yugo m24/47 Mauser and wanted to refinish the stock but than I got to thinking that while I am at it, I'll have the bolt turned down.

Can anyone think of a reason this would be a bad or good idea? And how much it would cost in terms of having a smith look at it? I'm not trying to bubba the rifle, and at the same time, I dont feel like this will "ruin" it either.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[wayne in boca]

I believe an M48 bolt (turned down style)will fit a 24/47.Then you would not become a Bubba,since you can switch it back anytime.

 

[dscottw88]

Any ideas on where I could find an entire m48 bolt? Or how much it will cost?

 

[JoeLad]

Your question got me thinking, as I'd like to change out the straight handled bolt on my 24/47.

I checked with Numrich. Their website says they're sold out on the M48 bolt.
You could try a "WTB" ad...

 

[elmerfudd]

I'd just sell the 24/47 and buy an M48. There are plenty of them out there in like new condition except for the cosmo soaked stocks.

Or you could keep the 24/47 and buy an M48.

 

[dscottw88]

I like my 24/47 though and wanted to keep the rifle, but just turn the bolt. Iv'e heard a couple things about m48s that has me kind of hesitant in purchasding the entire rifle. If I were to buy another one I would just go with a K98.

 

[cracked butt]

The bolts between the two rifles are interchangeable, but you might end up with too little or dagerously too much headspace.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I wouldn't switch out bolts. I would have someone turn down the bolt for you, there is a guy out there that does it... I have the email address of a fella who charges $40 to turn down your bolt for you...

Also, a K98 wouldn't be a bad idea, they are great rifles.

 

[elmerfudd]

A K98 would be a good idea too, but I think the Yugos have much nicer bores. Most of the Yugos I saw for sale back when they were widely available were really in fantastic condition. They were pretty much new except for the pound and a half or so of cosmoline they were packed in. The RC K98s have more history to them, but the ones I've seen haven't been as nice as the Yugos.

 

[dscottw88]

Hey, Rocky, would you be willing to send me a PM with that guys email? For $40 you cant go wrong.

 

[Funderb]

there are several gun smithing services for less $$ on ebay and gunbroker. check them out a bit. I had my bolt turned, out of spite, really, for the rifle. and now it's great.

 

[Inspector3711]

check out mausercentral.com the forum there is small but the guys know their stuff.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

there are several gun smithing services for less $$ on ebay and gunbroker. check them out a bit. I had my bolt turned, out of spite, really, for the rifle. and now it's great.

Don't happen to have a picture of it now do you??

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

If you refinish it and turn down the bolt, you are bubbba'ing the rifle. Trade it for an M48.

 

[kBob]

If he wants to turn down his bolt handle, it is his bolt handle. Tell your kids not to buy it from his kids 30 years from now, if it bothers you.

I have a friend that "destroyed" the value of an FR8 by having the bolt handle turned down.....of course it improved the handling and storage options on the rifle 100 percent. His rifle.....and yes I would buy it from him for a few bucks more than he has in it right now.

I thought "bubba-izing" was a good term a few years back when I saw it mainly applied to rifles that had been poorly modified with a hacksaw in the home shop and the stock wittled away to useless ness. I have a hard time thinking of having the bolt bent and stock relieved by a professional as Bubba-izing.

Still personally if this person wanted to wittle the stock back to VG-1 "sporter" profile and pianted gloss baby blue, shortened and have a inch thick red rubber recoil pad installed and cut back the barrel to 16.1 inches, install an original Johnson muzzle break and have all the metal tefloned flaming pink, remove the rear sight leaf and elevator and drop on a silver pistol scope on a scout mount and call it Mary......I might cry.....but it's his rifle.

"Having the bolt handle bent will make a straight bolt handled Mauser handle better. That's why the K98k has a bent handle."

I suspect that is the information he is looking for rather than judgement of his choice to do so.

One of the better shooting rifles I have seen was a shot out M98 that had been rebarreled. reciever tapped for a good scope mount and restocked with modern ideas. Does making changes to a "piece of Junk" to make it a good shooting, easy handling rifle consititue "Bubba-izing?"

-Bob Holingsworth

 

[Funderb]

Unfortunately, the only photo I have is the sportered rifle without the bolt. But I can throw a pic up here when I get back home. (whenever that happens, ha.) It's a pretty good job for the thirty bucks I paid for the work, looks more industrial than a true sport bolt, but that's the way I like it.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I like my 24/47 though and wanted to keep the rifle, but just turn the bolt. Iv'e heard a couple things about m48s that has me kind of hesitant in purchasding the entire rifle. If I were to buy another one I would just go with a K98.

In many instances the M48 is a superior rifle to the k98. The yugos weren't running short on quality steel at the end of a long war when they built their rifles. Late war K98s, while being more collectible, are sometimes considered to be inferior firearms. If being able to shoot it a lot means anything to you. Get the yugos. Either the 24/47 you already have or the M48 are quality rifles.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Bubba?

Modifying a mil-surp does NOT make you an automatic "Bubba". Simply bending the bolt handle will NOT make you a "Bubba". All Mausers are not collector items by default. I have several highly modified 98s that I can assure you are not "Bubba'd". Having said that....if you braze or glue anything onto the rifle or add sequins ....then you are a Bubba.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

If it's his rifle and makes it more practical for him to use, who cares?

Some of you guys may buy your rifles to look at them or to re-sell them.

I buy my rifles to shoot them. If they aren't perfect and there's something I can change to make it better, why shouldn't I?

 

[JonB]

+1 to what RockyMtnTactical said.

I've been thinking of turning the bolt on my 24/47 as well in order to add a scope.

 

[cracked butt]

I've been thinking of turning the bolt on my 24/47 as well in order to add a scope.

Just to be well advised, a bent mauser bolt in the way of a K98 or M48 does not work with a normal scopemount- make sure that its bent properly for that application.

I personally wouldn't bend a bolt just to have it bent- not from the standpoint of collector value, but for fact that it doesn't really improve the functionality of the rifle (and aninexpensive one to start with) enough tojustify the cost- $150 for a 24/47 + $50+ to bend the bolt?

 

[Funderb]

If your yugo 24/47 sights are so far off that iron sight accuracy is almost impossible, I say bent bolt with the scope is the way to go.
And I was tired of straight bolts.