Yugo M48 Mauser Questions

[wcwhitey]

I am thinking about picking up a Mauser. I like the looks of the M48 and the features (200 yd rear sight, turned bolt). I would like to know who sells them and what I can expect price wise. Also not being that familiar are there any other models that have the same features or are there other good deals to consider. I am willing to go up to about $200 for a nice example maybe more for a REALLY nice example. Thanks, Bill

 

[GD]

The M48A can be found pretty easily for under $200. There are other similar models such as the M24/47 but most of them are straight bolt. Many of the Russian capture K98k's are in great condition and can be had for a little more. At gunshows I have found the following deals in the last year - A k98k 1944 CE for $130, a mint M48A for $70, and a K98k 1944 DOT for $150. All were in at least very good condition with great bores. The only bad thing about my M48A is that it shoots 10" high at 100 yards on the lowest rear sight setting.

 

[MisterPX]

I don't recall seeing any more M48's from retailers.
However, with that price range, you should have no issues finding any secondhand. IICR< they were like $110 6 months ago.

 

[MisterPX]

double tap

 

[MisterPX]

failure drill

 

[MHBushmaster]

A few things on the M48, first, they were made post WWII.
Second, they are not 98k's, they have an intermediate lenght action that is shorter than a true 98k action.
M48's are wide arc bolts, meaning they are not full bent and have no need for a notch in the stock. As such, they are a royal PITA to scope if that is a route that would be looking to go towards in the future.
M48's have extra stock material making them more heavy and having a fatter profile as compared to a true 98k action. A benefit from this is that the extra weight helps some with the somewhat stout recoil of 8mm mil surp ammo.
The M48A have stamped floor plates on the magazine, and all M48's have a less pronounced front sight point when compared to true 98k's.
That being said, I enjoy shooting my 98ks' and my Yugo M48 equally as much.

 

[MisterPX]

arrgh.

 

[wcwhitey]

Thanks for the input. I did not know that about the bolt, something to consider. My have to consider a 98K or clone instead. Got more research to do. Bill

 

[jacobhh]

There's more than one way to scope a Mauser.

K98K Burris 2-7X Handgun S&K no drill mount

 

[SpeedAKL]

I was looking at them too. One thing I've noticed is that commercial 7.92mm JS is different from the surplus ammo dimensionally. Can the Mauser surplus guns fire commercial-grade ammo? I'm kind of confused as to this.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Speedakl,What dimensional differences are you referring to?

 

[jacobhh]

I believe a German Czeck or Yugo built after 1908
with a '98 action should be OK if it's in good shape.
I suppose you should have a gunsmith check it out.
Check headspace in any case, the bolts have been
swapped around for years and on the RC's the practice
was institutionalized.

 

[jacobhh]

What dimensional differences are you referring to?

Pre 1909 were .320 the later JS are the .323 aka 8mm Mauser

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Hmmm. I knew that the Gew 88 Commision rifles were .318 and converted to .323 but I have never heard of an 8mm that was .320. I think I'll dig out my Mauser shop manual. This calls for more research. Thanks.

 

[jacobhh]

I'll dig out my Mauser shop manual. This calls for more research

Kuhnhausen pg, 87. He says 1905. I read once 1908 so I
always throw in the extra 3 years as a safety margin.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

This is still the .318 round which hasn't been manufactured in over a century. The confusion, as I see it, comes in when speaking of land and groove dimensions as opposed to bullet diameter. Now, back to the original statement that military surplus ammo and commercial ammo have different diminsions. Can anyone enlighten me on that?

 

[jacobhh]

This is still the .318 round which hasn't been manufactured in over a century

Yes, but the man's concern is can he fire modern ammo in a
surplus gun and he can if it was manufactured, according to
Kuhnhausen, after 1905. If you slug the bbl and the groove to
groove is .320, you can't use a modern .323 bullet. So you're
correct, in all probability he's never going to run into a .318
bullet but he may run into a gun that slugs .320 groove to groove
so .318 bullet size is esoteric trivia and .320 groove to groove is
germaine info.

 

[jacobhh]

double

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Agreed. His concern is more to the condition of the rifle and not the bore diameter. This is just being prudent as ALL surplus rifle shooters should be. That question is settled. Now, I am still in the dark as to dimensional differences between commercial and surplus ammo. Well, I guess it's time to breakout the micrometers and calipers.

 

[jacobhh]

I am still in the dark as to dimensional differences between commercial and surplus ammo.

I suppose you shouldn't run across any. The only concern would be
getting something measurably larger than .323, if it was somehow the
old smaller stuff it woul only keyhole worse case unless it was bad ammo
and didn't leave the bore, but you have to be cognitive of that with
any size bullet.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

A couple of my 8x57 Mausers and food for them.

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

I believe a German Czeck or Yugo built after 1908
with a '98 action should be OK if it's in good shape.
I suppose you should have a gunsmith check it out.
Check headspace in any case, the bolts have been
swapped around for years and on the RC's the practice
was institutionalized.
__________________
JoeO

First of all, The M48 action IS NOT A MOD 98 COMPATIBLE ACTION. The bolts are not interchangeable with any 'regular' Mod 98 pattern action like the Czech mousers or the M1924 Yugos, the bolt is shorter. There is no reason for this as the M48's were made on german machines after the war, but they changed the action just enough for it not to interghange parts.

Also, there are NO dimentional diffrences in commercial and military surplus 7.92x57JS FMJ aka 8mm Mauser ammo. As in the M49 Yugo ball from the 1950's, the Romanian steel core light ball from the 70's, and new production commercial S&B, Igman, Privi, and even the American commercial ammo are all the same dimentions. The powder charge is a little lighter when going from the others to the American commercial stuff though.

 

[jacobhh]

Huh?

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

the bolts have been
swapped around for years and on the RC's the practice
was institutionalized.

Huh?

There is no way that you can interchange receivers or bolts on guns that use actions/bolt bodys that are diffrent lengths.

 

[jacobhh]

I meant K98 sn X to sn y etc. The reference to RC's and
neadspace should have given you a clue, but I'll
try to be clearer in the future, Thanks for the heads-up.