Yugo M48 8mm Mauser?

[A Person]

I've been thinking about adding a good cheap military style bolt action rifle to my SHTF collection, to use as a rifle for my team to guard the hideout with while I'm on patrol, or for one of my team members that does not have a military surplus style rifle. Also for a rifle that can "reach out" a bit further than my SKS. I was originally going to get a Mosin Nagant 91/30, but I decided to opt for something shorter and lighter without a tradeoff in accuracy and that is tough so I don't have to worry about scratching it up in the brush or dropping it, LIKE a Mosin. Then I stumbled across the M48 Mauser. It comes with actually MORE accessories than the Mosin Nagant. It seems to fit the bill for me perfectly, and the price range is between 200-250 dollars, so it's not going to break the bank either. And another factor is ive always wanted a K98 style mauser rifle and was never able to afford one until now. Does this seem like a good option? Is accuracy good, for those of you that own one?

 

[critter]

Fantastic option IMHO. I had one in pristine shape. Quite accurate, tough as nails (it IS a M98 after all-well, almost). Tons of aftermarket stuff should you decide to go that route.

AND there isn't anything on N. American continent that the 8mm won't do pretty well. Not a very good varmint round and not real good at 1000 yds and I'd want better against big brown bears, but it covers most other bases really well. Ammo and components are available.


What's not to like?

 

[A Person]

Thanks for the input, critter. The one thing that's beginning to throw me off is availability of ammo. I've been having trouble finding much actual surplus or bulk 8mm Mauser ammo, and when I do, it's overpriced. I'm very suprized TulAmmo or Silver Bear or even wolf don't make 8mm Mauser ammo. That's a major minus to me, because on the other hand 7.62x54mmR is literally everywhere. If I do decide to get something else, the M44 carbine and it's copy, the Chineese type 53 seem to fit my bill in everything BUT accuracy, so I'd still rather get the M48. If anyone can find me some decently priced surplus 8mm Mauser, it would be appreciated greatly.

 

[GBExpat]

The Yugo M48 is an excellent rifle.

Just be aware that it is not an exact clone of the German K98k (you mentioned accessorizing).

Sorry, but I have recently been looking for any ammo offerings.

 

[Sam1911]

Avoiding the SHTF questions -- because we dont' do SHTF threads! -- most of the 8mm Mauser ammo supply is about like the .303 British supply. The surplus stuff that's still around is OLD and questionalbe, and even so it is getting expensive. I've still got maybe 700 rds of old 8mm surplus that was made over 50 years ago. Accuracy isn't any better than a decent Mosin with its surplus ammo, but a round or two out of every 10 don't light off on the first try.

At the very least, if you stay with the Mosins you can buy "surplus" ammo that was made within your own lifetime, at least! ('Cause they're still making it, today in fact.)

Reloading can do fantastic things for any of these surplus rifles, though, and besides -- if you're hunting or even defending your home, FMJ ammo isn't exactly a good thing.

Oh...and the accessories it will come with? About as good as the ones that came with your Mosin. Historical curiosities, but not really worth the trouble to use.

 

[Kyle M.]

I don't know if theres any cheap 8mm surplus ammo left. But I've noticed new ammo is plentiful and available from sellier and bellot, remington, hornady, winchester, federal, and wolf to name a few. Jgsales.com has 1000rd cases of surplus for $279. I got my first mauser a turkish 38 back in 04 and at the time was getting 1,000 rounds of surplus for $40. I miss those days.

 

[Sam1911]

From J&G:

Persian writing on headstamp. It has a Berdan primer and is corrosive. Comes loose packed in a 1000rd case. 1930's production and hangfires/duds are to be expected!

That's pretty much my experience, though mine is Hungarian or something.

It isn't bad for banging the steel gongs at the range, but then you can give every primer 3 tries and then throw out the round if it really won't fire.

Some folks take the whole "SHTF" thing sooper serious like and dud ammo just won't do!

 

[T.R.]

Years ago, I was stationed in Spain with USAF. It took almost a year to get my license and hunting arrangements completed for fallow deer. I hunted with a rifle supplied by the outfitter; it was a custom Mauser in 7.9mm. I had no trouble at all clobbering a large fallow buck with this rifle.

TR

 

[Numeric]

I got some 61-stamped "50's Yugo 8mm" from SOG. Brass-cased, Berdan-primed assumed corrosive. It came on new shiny stripper clips in 15-rd boxes. All cartridges were shiny and looked brand new. Cases were annealed. I fired 45 rounds without a hiccup through my Vz. 98/22. A little less accurate than the Yugo M75 "sniper" stuff, but more due to my skill-level than any fault of the ammo. Including shipping it's $0.33 per shot. Not an outstanding deal, but better than anywhere else.

But using weapons that needs obsolete/imported ammo for TFHS is silly. Buy it because it's fun to shoot, not to battle the biker mutants.

 

[crazysccrmd]

Mine was in excellent condition and shot great, it has since been sporterized into a great hunting rifle. With reloads I can make rounds to fit just about any hunting need. Prvi, wolf and s&b make decent factory offered hunting loads that are loaded to euro specs and cost around$20/box. American 8x57 just plain sucks so don't waste the money

 

[cleardiddion]

Picked mine up a few years (already!) for 150 bucks otd from a crate of 98's.
Nothing but a few storage marks on it.

Excellent gun and it shot very well, especially with S&B and surprisingly Turkish surplus.
And, as others have stated, it's not an exact copy of the K98. Think of it as a cousin. Those fellas did a great job of making a rifle on a proven action and making everything in proportion to the round.

M44 carbine and it's copy, the Chineese type 53 seem to fit my bill in everything BUT accuracy

I wouldn't say that exactly. The shorter sight radius makes accurate shooting a bit tougher than it's brothers but they are pretty capable rifles. One thing you have to remember about those is that they were sighted with the bayonet extended and the POI can be waaaaaaayyy off with the pigsticker folded (unless someone's buggered with the sights).

 

[AethelstanAegen]

The Yugo Mausers tend to be in great shape. My M24/47 is quite accurate and a very nice rifle all around. As others have mentioned though, surplus ammo has rather dried up. I really enjoy mine and shoot it pretty often, though I also enjoy my 91/30 and I can afford to shoot the M-N much more often. The safety on the Mauser is in my opinion much, much easier and safer to engage/disengage than the M-N.

 

[A Person]

Sam1911: I really thank you for your input and for "this time" not deleting the SHTF part (remember that argument on my SHTF Handgun thread, haha.) While I would rather have an M48, I think I'm either going to have to go with either an M44 or 91/30. I love mosins, but I DO NOT like the safety system. Oh well. But one thing I disagree with you with is the accessories. While the bayonet is more for a historical or conversation piece than practical use (other than charging up and thrusting it into a cardboard target whilst screaming "FOR THE MOTHERLAAAND!"), the ammo pouches and cleaning kits I find are both cool AND useful. Since I already have a Type 56 SKS as a handy little rifle, I guess I'll get the 91/30.

 

[Sam1911]

Ok, well sure you can use them -- I just find that I never really use any of the issued gear. My modern, store-bought cleaning equipment is better, plastic oil bottles are more useful and leak-free, modern ammo pouches are more convenient, and so forth. But they all will work if you want to use them.

 

[A Person]

Yeah, I would never use the cleaning kit except in an emergency, but I can't take my whole Mossy Oak complete cleaning kit when North Korean Paratroopers rush into town, now can I? Haha.
It would be good to put in my "on the go" or "survival" cleaning kit because gun maintenance is still important when you are dug into a foxhole or in a makeshift bunker fending off waves of North Koreans through the winter... Oh sorry, there I go again with one of my modern day "Red Dawn" fantasies.

 

[Ignition Override]

A Person: Are you familiar with how high the Yugo shoots at 100 yards?

 

[Float Pilot]

my team to guard the hideout

while I'm on patrol,

you are dug into a foxhole or in a makeshift bunker

Elvis and Bruce Lee are outside warming up the Black Helicopter.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

A Person: Are you familiar with how high the Yugo shoots at 100 yards?

This is very dependent on the ammo. With Prvi Partizan or the old Romanian surplus, mine does not shoot very high at 100...it did with the Turkish stuff.

 

[303 hunter]

I bought an M48A about 5 years ago. It was in new,unfired condition. While it is accurate,and has a decent trigger,the sights are mediocre at best. Nice collectable,but not for HD situations. Just my $.02

 

[elwoodm]

as far as weight goes the M48 is heavier than a mosin. the yugo is shorter by far but when it comes to ammo the mosin wins hands down. just started hand loading for the M48 because of cost on 8mm. the M48 can be a collectors piece or a beater that sits in the closet. the 91/30 if you can check it out before you buy with that long sight radius can be vary surprising. like 303 hunter i got my M48 6 years ago and love it. its so hard to choose just might have to buy both

 

[tahoe2]

I love my Yugo's; M24/47 prints 1-1/4" @ 100 with my handloads & a scope from the bench w/(175 grn Sierras, 180 grn Nosler BT's, and 200 grn Speer hot core's).
The M48A in military dress, I can hold 4" to 6" @ 100 and a German M98k with a "Mojo" ghost ring sight I am down to 3" to 4" @ 100.
Those guns are super fun to shoot, I hunt with the 24/47. You can't go wrong with a mauser.

 

[SaxonPig]

"I've been thinking about adding a good cheap military style bolt action rifle to my SHTF collection, to use as a rifle for my team to guard the hideout with while I'm on patrol, or for one of my team members that does not have a military surplus style rifle."

Huh? Why not just put a level 10 paladin on guard? Roll a D10...

 

[A Person]

Thank you, Float Pilot, but I would rather have Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, and the rest of that familiar band of teenage guerilla fighters as my team. Haha.

 

[tactikel]

I have shot both, a nice Mosin Hex, and a Yugo M48. The Mauser was by FAR the better rifle. It had a smoother action, trigger, better sights, and was more accurate. My shooting buddy had no trouble hitting clay pigeons (4.25") at 100yards 4 out of 5 shots. We shot S&B 8mm vs commie ammo out of a tin can for the Mosin. If you want the better rifle IMHO the M48 is the one, if cheap ammo is important get the Mosin.
You may consider an entry level Stevens or Savage bolt action in .308. Not much more $ but accurate, durable, and easy to find accurate ammo for.

 

[MAKster]

Don't let the more expensive 8mm ammo scare you off. You probably aren't going to shoot it enough that ammo cost alone should cause you to buy your second choice rifle. 8mm and 7.62x54 are full power rounds so you might only shoot 20 rounds before your shoulder starts to hurt. Its not like an AR or AK where you can easily shoot 100 rounds.