Is the Mauser 98 a good rifle? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 04-09-2007, 11:00 AM

I'm looking to get a bolt action rifle, just something to shoot at the range a few times a year. I'm thinking about getting a WW2 surplus Mauser 98, since I kind of want to start a collect of WW2 era weapons.

So is their anything one should know about them? Seems like you can get nice ones for $400, is the ammunition crazy expensive? Hard to get?

pj67coll · #2 04-09-2007, 12:03 PM

I have four Mauser K98's. German WWII. And numerous other Model 98 Mausers. They are the best bolt action rifle ever made. Be careful though. Don't know how clued up you are on these things but there are a lot of people advertising variations of K98's falsely. The Model 1898 action which was taken into service by the German's in 1898 has been made in many variations by different manufacturers since then. In particular FN in Belgium, CZ in Czechoslovakia and a few others. These all predated the K98 which was the shortened version if the WWI Gewehr 98, made by the Germans from 1935 until 1945.

The actual K98's I have are what are termed "Russian capture". They were captured in the millions by the Reds at the end of WWII and slapped together from giant spare parts piles in the 1950's. I got them from J&G in Prescott AZ for $189:00 each but sadly the supply seems to have dried up.

I have acquired a couple thousand rounds of surplus Turkish and Rumanian ammo for very cheap but you can buy commercial rounds for about the price of 30 06 ammo. You can also find some original WWII German ammo at gunshows. Beware though that all the surpluss ammo is corrosive and requires decent cleaning after shooting.

They are an interesting rifle to take to the range. They are not a target rifle. They are designed for combat and as such ruggedness and reliablity are more relevant than accuracy. Many people complain about the sights, but in my opinion this just makes them more interesting to shoot.

Beware. A genuine K98 will have a handguard that does not go further back than the front of the rear sight. Also. They will have turned down bolts and german markings on them that other's will not have.

There is a company called Mitchells Mausers that sells Yugoslavian M48's which are NOT a K98, though they are a very good Model 98 rifle. Mitchells may have gotten their hands on a few K98's now as well but some folks in the suplus rifle community were critical of them some time back for advertising M48's as a K98 type rifle when they are not.

For a good genuine K98 $400.00 sounds like a steal at todays prices.

- Peter.

Hatterasguy · #3 04-09-2007, 12:15 PM

So how do you pick up a good surplus rifle? What kind of numbers or documentation should one look for? Any good sources?

I'm more interested in the K98 because I am a WW2 buff, but I also want to shoot the thing. Because at least to me thats part of the fun.

Anyway I have seem advertised with German markings, like SS issued etc. How does one confirm those?

Hatterasguy · #4 04-09-2007, 12:38 PM

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4

They seem to have a decent forum.

From what reading I have done, I think I want an early or pre war model, with all the proper markings matching parts etc. Even better would be one with markings from for a specific group like the Army, SS, Gastapo etc.

pj67coll · #5 04-09-2007, 03:02 PM

I can't get to it while I'm at work but I'll send you the link to the surplus firearms board I'm a member of. Pretty decent bunch of folks and knowledgable.

As for specific markings and codes etc... To quote one Han Solo "well that's the real trick isn't it?" The only markings on the metal parts of the rifle will be manufacturers markings and inspectors codes. The one exception to this would be the S rune stamping of the SS rifles. I'm frankly not that interested in the SS/Nazi specifics of it as much as the general history of the rifle itself so I'm not qualified to talk about SS markings as such. However the distinction between Heer, (army) Luftwaffe (airforce) and Kriegsmarine (Navy) is made only by a stamping on the side of the butt.

I got into collecting these things rather late so there are slim pickings but your best bet seems to be to acquire an FFL (Curio and Relic collectors license) which enables you to buy online directly from dealers who actually still have these things.

There are some dealers who have a very good rep online and others who are not so good. It would probably behoove you to do some online research on the milsurp forum before making a decision.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #6 04-09-2007, 03:12 PM

This is the Curio and Relic firearms forum of which I'm a member. I suggest you join. Much good info broken down by rifle type and nationality.

http://p223.ezboard.com/The-Curio-and-Relic-Firearms-Forum/bcurioandrelicfirearmsforum

- Peter.

Unleashed · #7 04-09-2007, 03:40 PM

The Mausers are good, but the Lee Enfields are better.

Biased? Me? Never.

pj67coll · #8 04-09-2007, 03:51 PM

I have two Lee Enfields as well. Thery're nice. But no way as good as a Mauser.

- Peter.

Unleashed · #9 04-09-2007, 03:56 PM

Which numbers?
I have a SMLE.

pj67coll · #10 04-09-2007, 04:00 PM

No 4 Mk1's. Both 1943 manufacture. One at an arsenal in Wales, forget it's name now. The other a US Savage Arm's lend lease rifle.

- Peter.

Hatterasguy · #11 04-09-2007, 04:23 PM

The Lee Enfield is a great rifle too! I'm a WW2 buff and as time and money allow I would like to start buying some of the weapons. No rush a little at a time, I don't care how long it takes me. I just want to find the best possible example (that you wouldn't be afraid to shoot once in awhile) for reasonable money. After the K98 I'm thinking Garand, then maybe something Japanese.

After looking a little, looks like quality K98's are in the $600+ range, some do get up their.

Actualy I'm kind of hoping to come across them, I know my boss has a couple K98's that his father brought back from the war. So I figure as I sell older people's houses I'll keep my eye out for them. I would prefer to purchase one with a story, more so from the person who brought it back. As the history part is the most import for me.

pj67coll · #12 04-09-2007, 04:49 PM

There's a saying amongs't the collectors. Buy the rifle, not the story. Sort of applies to cars too I guess, or anything for that matter. There are genuine bring-backs with some history to them but ultimately condition is the most important thing if you want a good shooter. That being said, I've shot all my K98's. Some are better than others, but all are safe, reliable shooters.

- Peter.

Botnst · #13 04-09-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

There's a saying amongs't the collectors. Buy the rifle, not the story. Sort of applies to cars too I guess, or anything for that matter. There are genuine bring-backs with some history to them but ultimately condition is the most important thing if you want a good shooter. That being said, I've shot all my K98's. Some are better than others, but all are safe, reliable shooters.

- Peter.

Yep. And also extremely modifiable. So many people have been there before that you can go just about anywhere with the model. I have a distant cousin who builds custom rifles for a grand or so. All based off a bunch of M-98's he bought a couple dozen years ago. He rebarrels and rechambers and restocks. Or not. the dang things are so well built you can have huge gas pressures compared to the original chambering. But I believe that you have to be careful as to who manufactured them when under license from Mauser? Dim memory says.

B

pj67coll · #14 04-09-2007, 06:16 PM

Anything from Belgium or Czechoslovakia is fine. Yugoslavia too. Some of the early Turk manufacture may not be as good, nor the Chinese but these are few and far between.

- Peter.

diametricalbenz · #15 04-09-2007, 07:59 PM

I have a Yugo M48, as mentioned earlier it's not a K-98 but it is a nice shooter and quite accurate with the iron sights. It was unfortunately covered in cosmoline which was fun to remove. Gotta love that thick steel buttplate cap.

I have an Arisaka 99 as well but no Enfield just yet. Thinking of a Tanker with the cone suppressor someday...