Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Differences between K98 and M48 Mauser???

Have a buddy who is contemplating a purchase from Mitchel's. Specifically, he was looking at a Yougo M48. Are there significant structural or integrity differences between a classsic 98 Mauser action and the M48.? Does the M48 have the same strengths and build capacities as the 98? A brief listing of their differences would suffice. Thanks in advance, 1Minute

the #1 difference is the 48 is an intermediate action(8x57, 7x57 length) the 98K is long enough to handle 30-06 length cartridges

Mitchell's has a good explanation on their website as well as a manual that is downloadable which contains more information.

The M48 is an intermediate length action while the M98 is a standard long action. Internally they are basically the same. Externally, the M48 could use some improvement over some of the early M98's but they looks far better than some of the last ditch Mausers.

Mitchell's M48's are certainly overpriced for what you are getting, especially if this is for a build project. These rifles were all arsenalized and never fired, so one is as good as the other except for arsenal marks from storage.

You can build on any of the quality Mauser's but don't expect to make a bundle on the re-sale. The U.S. market is saturated with moderately priced, loosely named "custom Mausers". The benefit comes from having your own "custom" Mauser.

Here is a synopsis of the M48:

Yugoslavian Mauser Rifles Explained

Following my extensive update to the Yugo Mauser and German Mauser sections of our web site, I decided on a whim to search the 'net using terms like 'Yugo Mauser', 'Mauser M48', 'Mauser M98', and so on out of idle curiosity. I found a good deal more than I'd initially bargained for; the amount of misinformation on the topic of Yugoslavian Mausers was staggering! This is not to be taken as meaning "everything written thus far on the topic is wrong," only that a certain amount of what has been said on discussion groups, forums, and even by some advertisers is incorrect (again, there are many advertisers who make every attempt to correctly research and offer clients accurate information about their wares).

This document is intended to help the reader understand a bit about these fine Mauser pattern rifles and to clear up some of the myths circulating around the Internet. Explanations and history regarding all the different models will follow. Here are a couple examples of common misconceptions and why they occur:

- The differences between the Model �1924� and the �M-24� Mausers are so minor it is quite difficult to tell them apart (which explains why some people argue about the M-24 being either pre-war, WWII, or post-war, and either refinished or not). The truth is these people are mistakenly lumping the Yugoslavian 1924, M-24, M-24/47, and M-24/52 into a single designation when there are in fact four distinct variations thereof, each produced at a different time.

- Others mistakenly confuse the Yugo M-48 designation (post-war mfg.) with the Yugo M-98 (remarked German K-98) and so on ad nauseum until the information available on the Internet is a tangle of conflicting views (some correct, some partially so, and some incorrect).

As for the minority of advertisers who do not seem to mind saying anything and everything (however unverified or knowingly incorrect) about their products in order to increase sales, these are unfortunately contributors to perpetuating myths and untruths about a particular product on the market.
That said, much of the erroneous commentary regarding Yugoslavian Mausers which can be found on the Internet seems well meant and not an intentional attempt to misrepresent these fine rifles.
Click here to view one advertiser's misleading Yugo rifle remarks
What of our ability to shed light on the subject, state factual information, and offer informed, expert opinions?

Many who know Marstar need no further explanation however I will provide one here for clarity's sake: Marstar Canada has dealt directly with (now former) Yugoslavian military and civil officials for over fifteen years. We frequently meet and have always maintained contact with military and armament production representatives there, have toured the factories where Yugoslavian military ordnance was produced, and thus have ready access to information straight from the source.

As stated previously, arguments on discussion forums regarding the period of production, country of origin, and whether or not they were arsenal refinished are due to people confusing the M-48 rifle with the Yugo M-98 (refer to the section on the M-98 for more details about that rifle). All M-48 series rifles feature a turned-down bolt handle.

NO RIFLE MARKED 'M-48' WAS EVER MADE DURING WWII. �48� DENOTES YEAR OF ADOPTION (1948).

All Yugoslavian Mauser rifles bearing 'M-48' markings were made in Yugoslavia at the Preduzece 44 (Zastava) factory. While it is true an extremely small number of prototypes were made during the Second World War, none of these research prototypes were ever marked 'M-48'. So far as we are aware, there are no prototypes for sale anywhere in North America - or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world - and if there were one, the asking price would be understandably quite high as a prized collectors' item - and its markings definitely different from those of the M-48 series.

These rifles are readily available in as new, un-issued condition. It is conceivable that a very small number of M-48s are arsenal refinished and some are available used, however these would definitely stand out from the rest since they would all bear unique �arsenal refinished� markings. We have sold both un-issued and used condition M-48s (offering each in accurately-graded condition).

The M-48 is very similar to the German Mauser K-98 save for the much finer craftsmanship and materials used in comparison with later-WWII German rifles. Practically all parts of the M-48 are crafted from milled as opposed to stamped steel. Typically the Mauser M-48 series rifles will be offered with a Yugo-made bayonet copied from the early pattern German K-98 wood-handled bayonet (a barrel support ring was added to the Yugo version).

COMPARISON OF FLOOR PLATES

Yugoslavian Model M-48A Mauser Rifle

This is the first major variant of the Yugoslavian M-48 Mauser pattern rifle. In order to reduce production costs without compromising quality, the Preduzece 44 (Zastava) factory introduced stamped barrel bands, trigger guards, and floor plates, the latter (along with the 'M-48A' receiver markings) being the main distinguishing feature between this rifle and the earlier M-48'
Yugoslavian Model M-48B Mauser Rifle

This is the second and last variant of the M-48 series, also produced by Zastava, made extensive use of stamped metal parts. All other specifications are identical to the others in the M-48 series or differ in such minute ways as to be deemed insignificant. Naturally the receiver markings are 'M-48B'.

Yugoslavian Model M-48BO Mauser Rifle

These rifles, of which only a few thousand were produced, are a very obscure and interesting anecdote of history. 'BO' stands for 'bez oznake�, which means 'without markings' as these rifles have NONE save for a serial number!

The M-48BO is a true early example of a 'sanitized' weapon: there are no markings present anywhere on the rifle except a couple serial numbers. They are not even marked 'M-48'! Our sources from within the (former) Yugoslavian military state the 'BO' rifles were intended for sale to Egypt, but even the paltry few thousand which were at that point ready for initial delivery to that country could not be shipped due to the onset of the Suez Crisis of 1956. No more were produced for reasons outlined in the following paragraph.

Following the Suez Crisis, most of the world's armies (including Egypt and Yugoslavia) phased out bolt action rifles in favour of self-loading (semi-auto) or fully automatic infantry service rifles. The M-48BO was thus relegated to the storehouse and left in packing crates until we discovered them in a forgotten corner of a warehouse a couple years ago.

Unless you are a stockmaker, go with the standard 98. Semi-inletted and synthetic options for the m48 are pretty slim.

Another difference between the K98 and the Yugo M48 is that the Yugo uses what's called a "Safety Breeching" system where the protrusion on the left bolt face is omitted allowing the boltface to fit closer to the barrel breech therefore more of the cartridge is supported by the chamber. When this system is used, a slight extractor cut is made in the barrel breech allowing for the closer proximity of the bolt face. Rojelio

Thanks for the information, and will pass it along. Happy holidays, 1Minute

on the stock issue i do believe Boyds makes stocks specifically for the Yugo 48s. actually im sure of it as i was looking for one not long ago before i got side tracked on another project and they were one of two places that made stocks for the 48 i forget the other one.