Yugo Mauser M48 BO

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Zombiphobia

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Ok, I've had this rifle for a few years now and decided I wanted to use scope mount base that replaces the rear site, but I cannot figure out how to remove the rear site, or if it's even removeable at all. I took out the screw, removed the upper hand guard of the stock and it looks like the entire rear site piece is permanently attached.

Does anyone know if this sucker can be removed, and if so, how?

Thanks.
 
You need a small propane torch. The hand held kind that you buy can of propane, and screw the torch attachment onto. Apply the heat to rear sight collar and solder will start sweating out from between there and the barrel. Then you can knock it loose with a small hammer, and it will just slide off the end of the barrel.
 
Unless the 48 BO model has different rear sights, which I doubt, it's pinned to the sight base. You probably have to drift out the sight spring in the bottom to fit the scope base.

Here's a break down for the M48, but only shows the rear sight up, but the pin is evident.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/yugom48/rifledisassembly/index.asp

Don't loosen the sight base with a torch, you need that to mount the scope base.

NCsmitty
 
I see now as I re-read what you mean. I was thinking of taking the whole thing off, like to have a barrel with no sights and the scope on the reciever.
 
Hello Zombiphobia, I don't have an M48, I have 4 24/47s though. I don't know if they're the same or not. I have no idea. I have never really looked at a 48 up close. I know they are basically the same action though. One thing, are you trying to fit a scout scope on it? If so, I would think if you sweat the rear sight off you might as well just go ahead and drill and tap it for mounts because I'm thinking taking the rear sight off is going to lower any collector value it may have. However, I think B-Square makes a mount that doesn't require doing anything to it. I believe it may clamp on to the rifle without any bolts. I'm not sure about this but before you alter your rifle any at all, you might look into that.

Another thing you might think about is that there are so many of these now and these were not used in WWII because they were built 1948 and up after the war. So I don't think they have a lot of collector value to them. They aren't in the same class as say a K-98 or an Obendorf. Also, right now if you want a sporter, you can get a 24/47 cheap for under $200. at Samco, Sarco, Classic, and several other places. Like I said, I have four of them, one of which was only a barreled action. It is presently at my gun smith's shop getting the bolt bent, drilled and tapped, a Timney trigger installed and a Winchester Mod. 70 style 3 position swing safety installed, along with a 26 inch Shilen .25 cal. stainless barrel reamed to .257 Roberts Ackley Improved. One of the three others will remain military. Later when my gun fund rebounds I will have another one Rebarreled to a 6mm Remington. Then one more made into either a 6.5mmx57 or a 7mmx57 Mauser. These actions are great for the 57mm case, of which the 6mm Rem. and the .257 Roberts are made on, along with the 7x57 and 8x57. So they're a natural to build a sporter in those cartridges. And you can still get them for under or right at $200. And if you want to put a scope on one and leave it in the original caliber, for $200 you could do that and have a nice 8mm shooter. Of course unless you make it a scout, you'll need to bend the bolt and drill and tap it which total will cost you about $60-$70. The military triggers on them are not too bad either. However you may want to put a Beuler style safety on it to clear the scope which I think will cost an additional $30 or so and has to be fitted by a gun smith unless you are up to the task, which many people do themselves. If you decide to put a Timney Trigger on it too it will cost about $80-$100 and that's fitted on by a gun smith I think for that price. They're nice.
 
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Scout 'scope mount...

Zombiephobia--You said
decided I wanted to use scope mount base that replaces the rear site
Click to expand...
so what you want to do is remove the rear sight itself, but NOT THE BASE, which as noted above is permanently attached to the bbl.

I did that; bought a B-Square Scout 'Scope mount, and it came with instructions on removing the rear sight. The Surplus Rifle site that NC Smitty noted will have those instructions--Surplus Rifle is a GREAT place for info on any milsurp.

BTW, the B-Square mount went right on the sight base for me, no problems, and the Leupold Scout 'Scope went right on the base the same.

Another BTW, the trigger that Timney makes for the k98K Mauser fits the M-48 (although many retro parts for the 98 do not) and mine went on with no adjustments. It was NOT a job for a gunsmith--Tap out one pin, military trigger mechanism comes off, put on the Timney, re-install the same pin, tighten a couple of screws, done. I have installed Timneys on several milsurps, and it almost always goes like that.

My M-48, with its scout 'scope, Timney trigger, and a Boyd's stock, will hold 1.5 MOA out to 200 yd, with my handloads. Took a deer with it this past season.

I like the M-48. Hope yours goes well. Please keep us posted, preferably with pix. :)
 
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If you actually have a BO model I would recommend AGAINST cutting it up. Only 3,000 of these were produced and they have some collector value. Cutting up ANY original M98 is a bad idea at this point. If you want a hunting rifle with a scope buy a commercial model rifle.
 
I really need to work on being more clear...

I am NOT about to take a torch to any firearm for any reason.

I simply want to use the basic scope mount that replaces the rear site.. far as I can tell, they're just supposed to be able to screw in and might have a clamp on it. I thought that by removing the screw on the rear sight, it would come off, but doesn't, that screw, I found out, goes thru the sight base itself whic appears to be pretty firmly/permanently attached to the barrel.

And yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a BO, but not for certain.

There's no crest on it and no marking except the serial number on receiver, bolt and stock. The mag plate and trigger guard appear pretty solid like they were milled, but I'm not sure.


EDIT: Just checked that link from NCSMITTY and that's what I'll do with it. I was really wanting to put a full sized scop on, and will see if it's manageable, but I'm willing to settle for a pistol scope "scout" type of deal if I have to.
 
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I'm willing to settle for a pistol scope "scout" type of deal if I have to.
Click to expand...

By using the method mentioned at the scope link, you are not permanently altering the rifle to the point that it cannot be restored back to near original condition.
I have no idea what your skill level is, and you do need to know what you're doing, should you proceed to install the scout style mount.
Good luck.



NCsmitty
 
I don't think the one in that pic is a Yugo, and it looks more like a K-98 to me with that cut out for the sling on the butt stock. Also, the bolt's bent. Of course I am not all knowledgeable about these Yugo Mausers so I could be way off here. But it sure looks to me like a K-98 in that picture. I really am not familiar with a BO Yugo. Never heard of it, but that doesn't mean anything, the only Yugo's I really know anything about are the 24/47s.
 
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I bought a 24/47 with a bent bolt, ther are out there. You can also get a scope mount that requires some stock inletting but doesn't mess with the rifle itself. I had the front and back sights removed on mine becaue it has zero collector worth.

scope_mount.jpg

And a before and after shot:

before_and_after_rifle1_1024.gif
 
NCSmitty, I think I can manage a scout mount. I looked at those instructions and saw what I was missing- the retaining pin in the sight leaf.

Saxonpig- that looks almost exactly like what I've got except my entire bolt is plain steel, unblued. I was buying a reg M48(with Yugoslavian crest) from one of those shotgun news people who sells a lot of milsurp stuff and this is what they sent me. I let them know it wasn't what I ordered and basically got "well, it had the best bore"... no further contact. O well, it shoots great.
 
snake284:
That gun in SaxonPig's photo looks exactly like my Yugo 48A, but I could be mistaken.

Being spoiled by Enfield #4/#5 and Garand aperture sights, I don't hunt, but don't like my Mauser's iron sights one bit.
It's probably due to my lack of training.
 
The only difference with the BO is the total lack of markings. They were cleansed for clandestine use by the Egyptians (against Israel) who canceled the order at the last minute. BO is the initials for "Without Markings" in Yugoslavian.
 
Ignition Override said:
snake284:
That gun in SaxonPig's photo looks exactly like my Yugo 48A, but I could be mistaken.

Being spoiled by Enfield #4/#5 and Garand aperture sights, I don't hunt, but don't like my Mauser's iron sights one bit.
It's probably due to my lack of training.
Click to expand...
surplusrifle.com said the yugo mausers iron sights are the worst they have ever seen... it is not lack of training.

Here is a video of me shooting

Yugo Mauser - 300 Yard, No Scope, Iron Sights Only, M48A 1950s Rifle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX62gTHX6Xs
 
mikerault said:
I bought a 24/47 with a bent bolt, ther are out there. You can also get a scope mount that requires some stock inletting but doesn't mess with the rifle itself. I had the front and back sights removed on mine becaue it has zero collector worth.
Click to expand...
Does that scope mount hold true and steady for you?

Have you had any problems with it?

I have not read anything about that mount and am wondering how it works.
 
The only difference with the BO is the total lack of markings. They were cleansed for clandestine use by the Egyptians (against Israel) who canceled the order at the last minute. BO is the initials for "Without Markings" in Yugoslavian.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. I'd read somewhere they were made for export and left blank for the purchasing nations to mark them, but by the time they were ready for export, they'd been rendered obsolete so they were just kept in storage.. or something to that effect.

It's got an outstanding bore though.. seriously looks almost brand new. Bright, no pitting, very strong rifling..only problem is the bolt has some slightly rough spots and it can be a little annoying to cycle, can feel it rubbing. But man, it's so accurate and fun I forget about the rough bolt.
 
While I love my Yugos I wouldn't give a plug nickle for a grocery basket full of Yugo Mauser Iron Sights. They do suck. Mine shoots about 6 inches high at 100 yards. They're hopeless. But there's a lot of beautiful Yugo rifles out there that would make beautiful builds. That's what I'm doing with them. I am having a rifle built on one as we speak.
 
You're right Mikerault about the bolt. I now remember seeing a Yugo with bent bolt. Of course that isn't bent enough for scoping because it will still hit the scope, unless it's a scout scope arrangement. Myself, I don't think Yugos have that much value anyway, since they were built after WWII and the market is flooded with them now because since the Iron Curtain fell they are finding so many. If it's me I'd sporterize the thing and get some good out of it. Like I said, I have four Yugo 24/47s and I'm going to use all but one for builds. I'm keeping one military stock just for the hell of it. The rest are bound for the sporter shop. One is being done as we speak into a .257 Roberts Ackley Improved with a Shilen barrel, Timney Trigger, and three position Model 70 style safety. Then I'm putting a Leupold SF 4.5-14X56mm Obj. and 30 mm tube VX-3L scope on it. The next will be a 6mm Rem. which is one of my favorite cartridges. Then after that down the line, I'm not sure what I will build. Maybe I'll build a 7x57 or possibly 6.5X57MM. No telling. But I'll use these three actions, plus the Charles Daly Zastava I bought off Gun Broker a couple years back. Not sure yet what I'll build off that. It being a commercial Mauser and already having a sporter trigger and safety and it's drilled and tapped. Maybe I'll build another .270 Win. or maybe a 25-06. I also have a Ruger 77 Mk1 made in 1988 in 30-06 I bought in a LGS for $375. I already have a 30-06 and I bought this one for a build. I'm thinking of re-barreling it into a 35 Whelen. Anyway, Mausers are great actions to build rifles on. But you gotta have a clear plan in mind. Otherwise you can spend a lot more money than needed. The build in progress is my third build, so I'm getting the hang of it.
 
597newbie:
As for my actual lack of training not being the main factor, you are a gentleman and diplomat to say that in post #19.

My goal is to find somebody at the range to teach a few shooting techniques with the sights, but for months have not touched it.

I would rather sell the Yugo than perm. alter a milsurp, but maybe that new mount could work with nothing drilled etc.
The ammo is pretty cheap (I have 3,000 rds.) compared to any 'full-power' ammo except for x54R, .223, 7.62x39.
 
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