Don't overlook sporterized Mausers

[That one dude]

I hate seeing military surplus guns being chopped up and sporterized as much as the next guy, but I figured I might as well spend my time enjoying them when I do see them instead of hating on them.

A little over a year ago I picked up a sporterized Gewher 98, still in 8mm, since it's still got the original barrel on it. The bolt was smooth as butter, and it had a hair 2 stage trigger on it because it was a Timney. Most importantly, the bore looked like it was brand new. It also had a Williams side scope mount with the rings that put the scope over top of the receiver, and the scope was a Twilight 2-6x scope.

The shop I got it from only wanted I think $180 for it if I remember correctly, since it is just a sporterized Mauser after all. But I could tell just by checking it out that it was a very well done sporter, done by someone who knew damn well what they were doing. So I snatched it, and since then the only thing I've done to it was free-float the barrel.

I haven't really sat down and did some serious accuracy testing with it until yesterday, but when I did........ Wow. The gun, made in 1916, that I picked up for less than $200, was shooting groups under 1" at 100 yards, and it would have been even better if I was a better shot and had a higher power scope. The ammo I was using was Sellier and Bellot (I don't know if I spelled it right) 196gr. soft point. Needless to say, I was impressed.

'Nuff said. The point I'm making is don't ignore these guns when you see them. At least look them over, check the functionality, and check the bore, and if everything checks out, throw some money out for it. I now have a tack driver that fires an awesome cartridge because I chose not to overlook something that a lot of other people do.

[dirtmcgirt76239]

the mauser brothers designed the best gun, everything since has been a compromise for cost, speed etc.

I wish I could find a couple like the one you found, nice score. No sin since you didnt do it, if it was matching number original etc and the guy did it in the 90s or later he should feel bad.

If someone messed with it though in the 50s or 60s meh, can't blame, them, I heard you could get them for 12 bucks at the hardware store.

The ones I run into the lands and grooves might be pronounced but never looks good much less great the bore always has a decent amount of surface rust and or pitting, so I am afraid to buy them for the asking price these days.

[ah1f39]

I picked up a K98 about a year and a half ago. Made in 1943 by J.P.Sauer and Sohn. It still has all it's markings. Unfortunately the barrel has been shortened about 2 inches and re-crowned. The sights have been changed to buck-horn sights. The original stock has been shortened and shaved down to within an inch of its life. I weighs about half that of an unmodified stock.

The bore is still beautiful, and it shoots nice tight groups.

I've debated on whether or not to find an unmodified stock to bring it somewhat closer to it's original form. Still debating.

The price was $175 otd. Modified or not it's still a piece of history. I couldn't pass it up.

[That one dude]

the mauser brothers designed the best gun, everything since has been a compromise for cost, speed etc.

I wish I could find a couple like the one you found, nice score. No sin since you didnt do it, if it was matching number original etc and the guy did it in the 90s or later he should feel bad.

If someone messed with it though in the 50s or 60s meh, can't blame, them, I heard you could get them for 12 bucks at the hardware store.

The ones I run into the lands and grooves might be pronounced but never looks good much less great the bore always has a decent amount of surface rust and or pitting, so I am afraid to buy them for the asking price these days.

I agree that the Mauser brothers have made one Hell of an action. I'm even convinced that I need a .450 Bushmaster on a Mauser '98 action.

I fell Hella lucky to have found the one I did. It'll stay with me for a while, that's for sure. If you do find one that at least has a good bore, I personally would try to pick it up for no more than $200, unless the gun over all is REAL nice. But if just the bore is nice, I think the rest of the gun could at least be worked on to smooth everything out (trigger, bolt). I agree that there's some crummy ones out there that certain shops ask way too much for, in fact I can name one off the top of my head.

My best advice is just keep looking and you'll find one. If I find any myself I'll post something in this thread about it so you know about it. Good luck!

[That one dude]

I picked up a K98 about a year and a half ago. Made in 1943 by J.P.Sauer and Sohn. It still has all it's markings. Unfortunately the barrel has been shortened about 2 inches and re-crowned. The sights have been changed to buck-horn sights. The original stock has been shortened and shaved down to within an inch of its life. I weighs about half that of an unmodified stock.

The bore is still beautiful, and it shoots nice tight groups.

I've debated on whether or not to find an unmodified stock to bring it somewhat closer to it's original form. Still debating.

The price was $175 otd. Modified or not it's still a piece of history. I couldn't pass it up.

Nice find, I also still see them as pieces of history and look at the stamps from time to time. If I were you I'd go ahead and find an original stock like you said, so that way it at least still has the Kar98k look, maybe even throw an old vintage scope on it. Since it's already chopped up I see no harm in sporterizing it further. That's just my 2 cents though, whatever makes you happy. You only live once.

[CyborgHunter]

My father studied gunsmithing under Dick Williams, and under his (Dick's) watchful eye, sporterized a 1909 Argentine Mauser and rechambered it to .338 Win Mag.

I am quite happy to own that gun now.

[That one dude]

My father studied gunsmithing under Dick Williams, and under his (Dick's) watchful eye, sporterized a 1909 Argentine Mauser and rechambered it to .338 Win Mag.

I am quite happy to own that gun now.

That honestly sounds amazing. I knew Mauser '98 actions were strong but not .338 Win Mag strong. I bet you've taken plenty of big game with it?

[CyborgHunter]

That honestly sounds amazing. I knew Mauser '98 actions were strong but not .338 Win Mag strong. I bet you've taken plenty of big game with it?

No, I have to admit that I have yet to take it hunting.
I have had it to the range. It packs a 'ell of a kick!

[dirtmcgirt76239]

I agree that the Mauser brothers have made one Hell of an action. I'm even convinced that I need a .450 Bushmaster on a Mauser '98 action.

I fell Hella lucky to have found the one I did. It'll stay with me for a while, that's for sure. If you do find one that at least has a good bore, I personally would try to pick it up for no more than $200, unless the gun over all is REAL nice. But if just the bore is nice, I think the rest of the gun could at least be worked on to smooth everything out (trigger, bolt). I agree that there's some crummy ones out there that certain shops ask way too much for, in fact I can name one off the top of my head.

My best advice is just keep looking and you'll find one. If I find any myself I'll post something in this thread about it so you know about it. Good luck!

I pretty much don't expect to run into one, kinda keeping an eye out for a jc higgins model 50 or 51, which is a FN commercial action.

Pretty reasonable priced, keep in good condition but used, I do not fuss over a little wear, or a scuff or two, no big deal to me. A rusty crusty bore really grinds my gears.

[That one dude]

I pretty much don't expect to run into one, kinda keeping an eye out for a jc higgins model 50 or 51, which is a FN commercial action.

Pretty reasonable priced, keep in good condition but used, I do not fuss over a little wear, or a scuff or two, no big deal to me. A rusty crusty bore really grinds my gears.

A crummy bore is always a deal breaker for me, unless they're asking next to nothing for it... At that point I figure it's at least worth the action.

I found a 1943 Tula ex-sniper Mosin at Cabelas the other day, and my first thought was "ok, sweet. I might pick it up and make it a sniper again". But I looked down the bore and it was so covered in rust that I couldn't even see the rifling. It was a damn shame

[greg531]

I think the best deal in a Mauser, is the Israeli ones, converted to 308 Winchester. They left on, the old stocks, and triggers, but a new barrel, that has not seen much or no rounds through it, and not those 8mm ones, that had been feed corrosive ammo, and been sitting around in a warehouse for the last 80 years, that some look like a sewer pipe, inside them.

[Rlxlvr]

I’ve owned a few sporterized Nazi mausers. I unsporterized them as much as possible then moved them on to collectors who could appreciate non numbers matching guns. Most of them didn’t have import marks so I assume they probably were bring backs. I had a 43 Bnz I wish I had kept. Everything was near mint and original except the stock was cut down and I believe the top wood removed. But it was a stunner. Parts are getting scarce now so I believe many of these are being parted out as I don’t see them pop up for less than $300 ever anymore

[Harms Way]

Kind of crazy I guess, But I have always stopped to look at sporterized Milsurp rifles,... Mausers, Springfields, Enfields ETC,.. There was a time you could get them all day long for under $200. And some were extremely well done. However there are the heart breakers as well. A couple of years ago, I bought a masterfully sporterized Arisaka type 38 (and normally I never give Arisakas a second glance), It was an estate and the family didn't know much about it.
When I bought it, they said you might as well take the ammunition for it as well,... They give me three boxes of 7x57 Mauser,... I said "This isn't the right ammunition for this rifle"... They told me this was the only rifle he had, And they insisted that was the ammo for the rifle. When I looked at the crest it said “Republica Mexicana”,... To be honest with you I never knew that there ever was a Mexican Type 38 Arisaka,... Chambered in 7x57, But there it was !
So I was left with mixed feelings,.. It was way to far customized to be restored, But it would have been very rare and valuable had it been left alone. Mostly I just showed it to gun guys to see the look on they're faces, Until one day somebody wanted to give it a home. It was a very rare and collectible rifle, Destroyed by one of the finest sporterizing jobs I had ever seen.

[westcliffe01]

I have bought a few 8x57 Mausers, Yugoslavian pattern. What I found with them is that if you need to do any gunsmithing, it is not a financially viable proposition compared to a modern rifle and it will never be as good as a modern rifle either.

Things usually needed:
Bolt handle turned down
Trigger work/replacement
Fitting a scope base

I never found any smith in my local area who would do this work for less than the price of a used Savage 10/12/16 or 110/112/116. I can assure you that had I spent the money, the Savage would still be the superior rifle any day of the week...

One of the 2 Mausers I bought had a very corroded and pitted barrel from shooting corrosive ammo and not cleaning it immediately afterward. It was again not financially viable to replace the barrel, unless you had your own equipment to do the machining, even though at the time it was possible to get partially chambered barrels for the Yugo mausers.

In my opinion, keep them stock and shoot with iron sights or leave them alone unless you can do all the work yourself.

[sargent]

I hunt with a sporterized Gew 98 in 30/06. The gun is a tack driver it has a timney trigger and vortex optics. I gave $239 for it at a local shop. I own many modern bolt guns and never use them. I always use this one, its my favorite. I refinished the stock and the blueing last year. Great gun!

https://i.imgur.com/2rUPLzt.jpg

[qz2026]

I have purchased a few sporterized rifles before. My criteria though was to find such a weapon that I could return to it's previous glory. I always passed on guns that had had the barrels cut down, had third party front sights, that were drilled and tapped, were missing serialized parts such as butt plates or if the bores were sewer pipes. Surprisingly I found a few that only needed their stocks changed to original military stocks.

[jackstan]

A young man at work inherited his Grandfathers Smith Corona 1903A3 and wanted to hunt with it . Of course to him that meant cut the stock down , drill and tap for a see through mount , shorten the barrel and add sights . It was explained to him that he could by a brand new factory sporter for less than what he was going to be charged (ripped off) for the conversion of a valuable rifle .

All of the reasoning in the world didn't stop him from chopping the rifle into a sporter that was worth less than a new factory rifle .

Jack