Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles M98 Low Profile Safety

Wanting to swap out my safety to a low profile one so the scope doesn't have to be 3" above the rifle.

Anyone done this? How difficult is it to do? Looked for some instructions online and the one I found quick last night was quite vague.

Brownells still sells the Beuhler style safety, last one I bought was almost 50 bucks which is a blatant ripoff IMO. They can be tricky to install properly, depending on the knowledge of the installer, some just drop in, some you need to adjust by very careful grinding so that they just lift the striker/cocking piece off of the sear.

any other options?

The Wisner requires machining of the shroud but you end up with a nice 2-position Model 70-style safety. I have several of these.

Dakota, Gentry, and others make a 3-position shroud safety that replaces the whole assembly and requires machining and fitting as well. I’ve had a couple of these and they’re my favorite.

All available through Brownells.

Choices range for about $50 to $300 starting with the Buehler style safety on up to the Recknagel or Lapour style side swing safety. Eric pretty much covered it. All but the Buehler style require some machining work.

Or, you can install an aftermarket trigger like the Timney with a trigger block safety for a little over $100.

The Wisner one looks good but really don't have the tools to do so.





who installed it for you?

Be aware that unlike the 3 position safety, as supplied, the two position safeties don't allow you to open the bolt with the safety on. For some, that is a deal breaker.

Jim Kobe, JKob on the forum can install either for you.

Alternatively, SARCO and Numrich/Gun Parts Corp sell a 1-piece low scope safety for 98s for under $20. Like the Buehler style, you want to be comfortable with disassembling a Mauser 98 bolt (Kuhnhausen's "The Mauser Bolt Actions" is an excellent source on how to) before attempting installation.

I have done about a dozen of these, roughly half Buehler and half 1-piece. Sometimes they just drop in; often it takes a little grinding on the cocking pice as flintlocke mentioned. I have one 98 where I could not get a 1-piece safety in, as it just could not be inserted into the bolt shroud. I'm saving that one for a rainy day before working on it again..

That GPC safety is a piece of crap. My Dad asked me to install one for him, first trip to the range the wing broke off. I've heard from Mauser "sporterizing" enthusiasts that they have encountered the same issues. That safety is a copy of I believe the one used by Santa Barbara on their commercial Mausers. The difference being that the Santa Barbara piece was made from better materials. Just my 2 cents.

PM jkob, Fire contributor.

He’s a good Mauser smith, can install any of the mentioned options.

DF

Not a deal breaker for me.





Will do... thanks

Jim fixed a two position Mauser safety to NOT lock the bolt. It can be done.

DF

Yes, it can be DONE, hence my saying, "as supplied." But, you lose the option to lock the bolt.

I guess I understand the push to lock the bolt. I've never thought that was a big deal, prefer to load and unload my rifles with the safety engaged.

To me, choosing between locking the bolt or loading/unloading on safe with a two position safety, I'll go with the latter.

YMMV

DF

I load/unload from the bottom so not a big deal. I can see if you have to cycle each round to unload it would be beneficial. I just unload the mag and then cycle the bolt for the chambered one.

but as you said. YMMV. a lot of ways to do it, do what you're comfortable doing.

You load Mauser 98s from the bottom?

Lol, that was my reaction too.

With a hinged floor plate, maybe unloading from the bottom....

But loading...?

DF

Yeah, loading from the bottom works OK, especially with a hinged floorplate, but apparently not many people try it.

I have installed the Buehler-style safety made by Timney on several actions (and the original Buehler on a couple) with no problems, but have done considerably work on 98s. Have at least FN commercial actions with Gentry 3-position safeties, installed by Gentry, and they work great.

I'm amazed at the cost of the Buhler style model! Agreeing with above, Ripppppppp....! I'd try eBay. If to find one purporting to be genuine Buhler, they were quite good. That said, also concurring and extending to many safety conversions, not necessarily drop-in functionality.
Good luck!
John