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I've been looking for a Mauser 98 to build either a 338-06 or a 9,3x62 on. I am getting a bit confused trying to distinguish between all the different Mausers. I have noticed that most of the cheap ones around right now are Turkish which look like large ring actions with small ring barrels, or Yugo's which look like a bit shorter action. I don't really want either of those I just want a large ring 98.

Anyways I was in a pawn shop tonite and think I found one. It is an 8mm that has been sporterized and it says 1940 and 660 on the top of the receiver. It also has German Nazi markings on the barrel and receiver that look like an eagle with it's wings out and it's standing on a swastica in a circle.

The serial #s on the barrel and receiver match but are only four digits long and it has the letter i under the #. I can pick it up for $150 and it's in great shape. Is this a better way to go than one of the cheaper Mausers around?
Any help would be appreciated.

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That's about the going rate around my parts for a 98..Some people like to collect the rifles with the Nazi markings intact..I don't particularly care about them and would have them polished off.

I've used one VZ-24 and have an Argentine Model 1909 Mauser 98 for my next one..It's still in the ripening phase to borrow a great line from our dear Mule Deer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mike


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There is nothing wrong with the Turk Actions, they perfectly suitable for building a rifle. If you like you can rethread a Remington barrel to small ring threads. Can't do that on a large ring thread. $150 is a bit high for a sporterized Mauser, but not bad if the action is in great shape.

You might try and look for a VZ24. There are mountains of them around and they can be usually be had for under $100.

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The Turks will work, however, there are dimensional quality variations that can drive a smith nuts. For example, the VZ24 primary to secondary torque shoulder measurement will vary about .001 as you run around the ring. A Turk may well go .005 to.010. I built 3 Turks in 2002, and cursed everyone of them.
The VZ24 was adopted in 1924, hence the '24'. It is the same action as the 98/22. The 1922 verzion has a 29+" barrel and the VZ barrel is shorter. You should be able to find a 98/22 or VZ24 for well under a $100. The problems with them are, the 98/22's are often pitted under the wood line and the VZ's usually have the crest scrubbed. Depending on who did the scrubbing, the action may be undesireable for sporting.
The early German 98's are great, but as the war progressed, quality went down hill. Avoid the Yugos as they are shorter.
If you get a rifle that has already been sported, be sure that the scope holes are in it straight and on center. You cannot easily fix screwed up scope base holes. I just had to make bases for an '03 that was drilled off center. To pay someone to make bases would be prohibitive.
The long and short of it, is that the action in question, if not buggered, would make a nice rifle. Is spending another $50 worth not having to spend months looking for another action? Only you can answer that question. I would spend the money if the action was not butchered.
My 338 is built on an Obendorf from 1936. It was pretty pricey when I had it built, but that was in 1974. After 30 years, it looks like money well spent. Mike

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yes you can do that on a large ring thread, the shank of a remington barrel is larger than a large ring mauser.


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yes you can do that on a large ring thread, the shank of a remington barrel is larger than a large ring mauser.


Don't think so. Have tried that and you can turn down a Remington shank to thread for a small ring or a Husqvarna, but not a large ring. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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Send a PM to Kutenay on this board, or go to Kifaru and ask him.

He's the mauser miester.

see: http://www.kifaru.net/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=3


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My smith says you can do it


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Your 'smith is wrong. The major diameter of a large ring mauser is approximately 1.1" the Remington is 1.062 nominal and usually under 1.060 actual. The Remington can be rethreaded to fit the Turkish which is a small ring thread (approx.1"). It is possible to bush the tenon and thread the bushing but otherwise the Remington can not be put into a large ring mauser. When installing a bushing to do this I turn the tenon to 15/16 and thread 20 TPI. The threaded bushing is installed with loctite then threaded to fit the mauser. Works fine.GD

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My smith says you can do it


I think he is wrong, but help yourself!

The threads on a Remington are 1.050" x 16 turns per inch, standard threads on a large ring Mauser are 1.10" and 12 threads per inch.

I would be glad to be corrected on this, as I have several 700 barrels and a few 98s that could use them if it worked. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

He must be thinking you have a small ring mauser which is .980" and 12 threads per inch.

Ted

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There are at least three different threads in "Turk" mactions.
Sort of a "small" ring, Sort of a "large", and at least one used
to clean up old actions. Turkey bought the latest Model Mausers, but tried tokeep the spare parts to a minimum.
The actions could have come from many sources, and reworked many times.
Good luck1

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I talked to my smith last night on this, he said that the diameter of the two is very close, the remington being slightly larger, Not completly removing the remington threads,he cuts the mauser threads over the top of them. the mauser threads naturally will be cut deeper than the rem threads. He then installs the barrel sets the headspace . He claims he has done this lots of times and it works. He is a very reputable smith and I don't have any reaon to doubt his word on this.

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Well, sorry, he may be "a very reputable smith" but he is wrong on this one!

The Remington thread is smaller, not larger, than the standard large ring Mauser thread, as any reputable smith can tell you.

Having said that, as greydog has pointed out to you, he may be talking about a large ring Mauser with a small diameter thread like some of the Turkish Mausers have. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

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While were on this subject, can you cut the threads completely off a rem barrel, re-thread the shank for a mauser, and then rechamber? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

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Unless you are dead set on a Mauser action, there are cheaper ways these days to build a sporting rifle. Believe me, I have run a lot of money down a rat hole building rifles on military 98 actions. Unless you can get a good one for free, it's generaly smarter to buy a used, modern bolt rifle.

For instance, buy a used Ruger 77 in .270 or .30-06 for $300 or so, then send it to somebody like Dan Pedersen (www.cutrifle.com) to be rebored, rerifled and rechambered to .either .338-06 or 9.3x62. Dan will produce a cut-rifled, hand-lapped bore that is superior to the average button-rifled aftermarket "affordable" barrel. It will also fit right back in the factory stock, and won't need to be polished and blued, like a 98 action and aftermarket barrel. Last time I had this done it cost $200. So you'd have $500 in the project.

If you find a decent, recent-model 77 Mark II, it will also be controlled-round feed, and much slicker than any military 98 that hasn't had $150 worth of polishing done.

MD

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Muledeer,

Thanks for your wise response, you just verified that I may have made a good decision a few days ago. I had worked up a spreadsheet of my mauser plans and after that decided to go find a Ruger.

As luck would have it I found a guy who had a like new M77 MK II stainless in 30-06. It had already had the trigger done to a nice 3.5 pounds and had an R3 pad on it. Plus it had the new tupperware stock instead of the old boat paddle and of course it had rings.

I got it for $325 and then ordered a shilen SS match #3 contour 338 with 1:10 twist for $208. It's going to cost another $125 to have it threaded, chambered, crowned, and finished. I thought about a rebore but had no idea who did it. Oh well, this way I can have a 24" barrel. I also decided to just get a CZ if I get a 9,3x62.

The only problem is that I now have 2 all original 1908 Brazilian mausers and a sporterized 1940 660. I'm sure I'll come up with a project for them one day. 375 Taylor, 9,3x64, 6.5-06 hmm!!!

Burleyboy

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Smart deal! You might just hold onto those Brazilian Mausers, if they're in decent condition. Prices for all-original military Mausers aren't going to go anywhere except up.

MD


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